Practicing a language is a fun way to spend time

Intermountain Catholic

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From left: Bob (Roberto) Nies, Whit Wirsing and Mauricio Mixco at one of the gatherings of the Spanish Pandilla at the Newman Center in Salt Lake City. IC photo/Laura Vallejo

SALT LAKE CITY – A group of people of various ages and ethnicities gather every Thursday at 7 p.m. at Saint Catherine of Siena/Newman Center to practice Spanish.

The group, named The Spanish Pandilla, was formed in January with the help of Father Peter Do, St. Catherine associate pastor.

The group’s organizer, Bob (Roberto) Nies, was involved in a Spanish-language group at the Salt Lake Public Library when another man, Génaro Carrión, put the bug in Nies’ ear about forming a group at the Newman Center.

"I went to Fr. Do and shared the idea, and he loved it," said Nies. "He told me ‘We should do it.’"

Since January the Spanish Pandilla gathers every week at the Newman Center, sharing a wide range of topics.

"Sometimes we read articles in the news that are in Spanish; others, we include short literature stories," said Nies.

The language proficiency level of the group fluctuates between intermediate and advanced Spanish. Sometimes they even share idioms and their meanings in both languages.

The people who attend the group vary from parishioners of the Newman Center to students of the University of Utah, so anyone can join the group.

"People don’t have to be parishioners here [at the Newman Center] to come," said Nies.

The Spanish Pandilla usually gathers for around 90 minutes up to two hours.

One of the participants is Mauricio Mixco, who has Hispanic roots and is fluent in both languages.

"I like this group, we have fun," said Mixco in Spanish.

"We are welcoming," said Whit Wirsing.

Nies said that the Spanish Pandilla relays in the importance of practicing to maintain language skills.

"It would be good for people to come because this would help you to keep the language and improve it," said Nies. "It will also help them learn how to say new things in Spanish; you can learn to understand better words that you hear in Spanish."

"Take advantage!" suggested Nies with a big smile.

To participate in the Spanish Pandilla, attend a gathering, which meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Newman Center, 170 South University St., Salt Lake City.