WHY DO YOU CHARGE FOR INTERCAMBIOS !!!???

The English Oasis group has been running since March 2005 and is steadily growing...and all these people, happily pay 4euro...why!!!!?????

Better than conversation classes
Our intercambios, are virtual conversation classes but with a better student teacher ratio than you can expect to find in traditional academies.
- _-- You are placed into international groups of between 4-6 with native/fluent speakers,
- _-- You're given a fun linguistic activity (you do it in your target language - ie: the language you came to practice, may it be Spanish, English or Catalan).
- _-- After the activity, there is a timer to ensure that you get equal amounts of listening and speaking.
- _-- Someone goes around the tables checking that everyone is participating equally and if there is a problem, you change tables.
- _-- A traditional conversation class doesn't give you all of this and charges you more (and you pay even if you do not attend).
I seriously believe that this is enough to convince you that 4euro is a bargain, but, as I know many of the people who come tell me horror stories of other intercambios they've been to so...I'll give you even more reasons!

The gym or bar analogy
Gym analogy: An analogy I like to use is that of a gym. Exercising is free, you could go running, do sit-ups at home etc...However thousands of people pay to join a gym to do the same thing in a gym...and then often after the initial enthusiasm wanes...stop going...(and some incredibly keep paying for very irregular vistis). Many go for the social and motivational aspects of the gym. It's nice to see other people doing the same as you. However, unlike a gym, we don't have a joining fee. You come when you want, and when you can. If you don't come...you don't pay!

Bar analogy: Another one is a bar. Why do people go to bars and restaurants when they could easily eat at home? It's free at home, and you pay a huge premium for having a drink in a bar. Because you don't want to do it yourself. Because you like to get out of the house, because it's fun, because it's a good place to meet friends...etc... Same for our intercambios!

It's only talking! You charge for talking?!!!
It's definitely not "only talking" and you know it otherwise you wouldn't even be looking at this page you'd be talking with your mother!!! I charge for:
- __-- As an English teacher, I could be working during this time, or, even better, be at home doing something else...but I'm there 3 nights a week + weekends...it's only fair!!!
- __-- Advertising and promotion on various sites, and different companies and schools
- __-- preparing the weekly ice-breakers,
- __ - running the intercambios and, unfortunately, not participating! (I meet and greet, organise people into groups, run around talbes making sure everyone is talking, sit with to "problematic" people when needed, deal with the bar's management, organise the drinks in the venues that need it etc...
- __-- maintaining the website.and sending out weekly emails...we started small and now with 700 members, well, it's a little bit more complicated!!!! However, having 700 members (of whom maybe 250-300 are active) means that, unlike others, there should always be someone at our intercambios)!
- __-- searching for, finding the bars and convincing their owners to let us use their space (in Spain, the concept is new, and incredibly, initially owners are weary...but then once we start, they love us!)

But some intercambios are free!
True, and others charge 10euro. Many intercambio groups (not all) have a short lifespan. They start off well, enthusiastically but after a couple of months disappear as the initial enthusiasm of the organiser wanes. Also, they are not regular. As there is no one officially organising the intercambio, they meet when they can. Organising regular intercambios, especially 3 intercambios a week + weekend activities is hard-work, time-consuming and means a commitment of 3 nights a week + weekend activities. It has to be a labour of love...and is!

I could do it ! It's easy!
Seems easy doesn't it!? However, there are about 700 people signed up to the mailing list. When I was having difficulty adding a 3rd intercambio, I sent out an email to the group asking for an "assistant organiser". Do you know how many people replied? None, zero, zilch, nobody!!!! It's very different doing it once, but commiting yourself to organising intercambios once a week, (yet alone 3 times a week) takes commitment, dedication, planning and a whole lot of enthusiasm. Also, the person needs to be bilingual and a "people person" who is prepared NOT to participate in the intercambios, but run them.

I'm a native Englis speaker, I can talk to anyone anytime!
It's incredible isn't it, that this is not the case. Althoug we live in Barcelona, we incredibly often lack the opportunities we seek to improve our Spanish.

Transparency: Unlike so many services these days, our prices are transparent. We don't give you a "free drink" and charge 10euro for the intercambio. Sure, the bars and cafes we meet in require a minimum consumption...but you would do that naturally...you wouldn't go into a bar and sit for two hours without drinking or eating...we let you choose what you want to drink or eat...some people have a virtual dinner, others nibble...it's up to you!

Weekend activities are often free for those who attended our intercambios the same week!
Our weekend activities have proven to be extremely popular with some 30 people attending the last two. People stay incredibly late and go out for dinner after. They take advantage of the opportunity to meet people from the other intercambio nights. I naturally also ensure noone is left out. Although if our weekend activities continue to grow in popularity, some changes will have to be made, so far, our weekend activities are free for anyone who attended an intercambio during that same week. Those who didn't now pay 3euro and, crickey...many, many people come!

Try us out: There is no joining fee. You come when you want. You come when you can. If you don´t like you, if you didn´t benefit, you don´t come again, simple...but...with ever growing numbers...we are confident we will see you again, and again...and again...! It tend to only be first-timers who are a bit weary. They may have attended other intercambios and been disappointed and so naturally wonder why we charge. All I can say is: COME and TRY US OUT.!!! 

If you are still not convinced...
These intercambios are obviously not for you! Simple!!!