This spring semester, the KDI School campus became a little more vibrant every Friday afternoon as students gathered to learn Spanish and Portuguese through a special initiative organized by the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Forum. Held every Friday at 4:00 p.m. throughout the semester, the classes created a welcoming space where language learning became an opportunity for friendship, cultural exchange, and community building. 

Led by students from Latin America and the Caribbean countries, the weekly sessions invited classmates from around the world to explore two of the most widely spoken languages in the world in a warm and relaxed environment. More than a traditional classroom setting, the program reflected the spirit of KDI School’s international community— students teaching students, sharing their cultures, and learning from one another. 

Each week, participants gathered with curiosity and enthusiasm to practice common expressions, greetings, pronunciation, and everyday conversation in Spanish and Portuguese. For many attendees, it was their first introduction to the languages. For others, it was a chance to improve skills they had always wanted to develop. 

But what made the classes especially memorable was that they went far beyond vocabulary and grammar. In every session, students were introduced to the music, customs, traditions, and everyday culture of Latin America and the Caribbean. Lessons often included discussions about regional expressions, popular songs, cultural celebrations, food traditions, and diversity that exists across Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries. 

“Language is one the best ways to understand people,” said Jair Guamani,(MDP 2025) President of the LAC Forum, “We wanted these classes to be more than memorizing words. We wanted people to feel the warmth, joy, and the diversity of our region.”

That spirit could be felt throughout the semester. Laughter often filled the room as students practiced new pronunciations, learned playful expressions, or tried to sing along to Latin songs during class. Participants were encouraged to speak without fear of making mistakes, creating an atmosphere where confidence grew naturally. 

For many international students at KDI School, the program also became an important social space at the end of a busy academic week. Fridays at 4:00 p.m. turned into a time when students could relax, meet new friends, and connect outside lectures and assignments. 

“One of the best parts was how friendly everyone was," shared Fahira Anindita Hanoum (MPM 2025), a student from Indonesia . “Even if you knew nothing of Spanish, you felt welcome from the first day.”

Another student from Spain, Erika Fernandez (MPM 2025), noted that the classes helped build friendships across cultures: “At KDI School, we meet people from many countries, but sometimes schedules are busy. These classes gave us a chance to come together in a fun way.”

The student instructors also found the experience meaningful. Teaching their native languages allowed them to proudly share a part of home while contributing to campus life. 

“It felt special to teach words and expressions that are part of our everyday life,” said Juan Felipe Cacerez (MDP 2025), a student from Colombia who volunteered as a teacher for one of the classes. “But even more special was seeing people become interested in our culture.” 

Because Latin America and the Caribbean are regions known for cultural richness and diversity, the classes highlighted how language is deeply connected to identity. Students learned that Spanish spoken in the Dominican Republic may sound different from Spanish in Colombia, Mexico or Argentina, while Portuguese carries its own unique expressions and rhythms across countries such as Brazil. 

By introducing these differences in a fun accessible way, the classes helped participants appreciate the diversity within the region itself. 

The initiative also reflected the broader mission of the LAC Forum: to create stronger connections between students and raise awareness of Latin America and Caribbean cultures within the KDIS community. Through events like these, the forum has continued to provide opportunities for dialogue, celebration and mutual understanding. 

As the semester progressed, the Friday gatherings became something many students looked forward to. What began as language lessons gradually grew into a small community built on curiosity, kindness, and shared experiences. 

In an academic environment focused on public policy and global development, the classes offered an important reminder: international understanding is built not only through institutions and research, but also everyday human connection. 

As the spring semester comes to a close, the Spanish and Portuguese classes organized by the LAC Forum leave behind more than a new vocabulary. They leave friendships, cultural appreciation, and memories of a campus brought closer together through language. 

For many students, the experience was a celebration of what makes KDI School unique. A place where learning extends beyond textbooks and where the world can meet in one room at 4:00 p.m. every Friday.