The revived Learning Exchange at Pepperdine (LEAP) program has moved on to the tackling the Chinese speaking populace. Tonight LEAP kick-starts the new semester with a Chinese New Year party held for international students from China and International Programs alumni from Shanghai in the HAWC.
The program couples Spanish-speaking Pepperdine workers with Buenos Aires returnees. For each week throughout the semester, the pairs have met for 40 minutes trading off from Spanish to English. The Chinese dialogue-exchange will mirror the Spanish timetable.
Students going to Shanghai next year already see the Chinese division of LEAP as an investment in their new language: “It seems like a good way to supplement my studies outside of the classroom,” said Shanghai-bound freshman Jessica Lee. “If I’m putting so much work into learning Chinese right now, I don’t want to waste it later on.”
Junior and LEAP intern Matt Hibbs said the program’s first semester, focusing on Spanish speakers, has been a success and provides a solid foundation for expanding to Chinese.
“In terms of numbers, [the Spanish exchange] is big and there’s not a ton of room for growth, unlike the Chinese program,” Hibbs said.
LEAP, a weekly dialogue exchange between Pepperdine’s Spanish-speaking staff and Spanish-studying students, was initially met with concerns for participant’s commitment and time arrangements. 
Since its founding in 2009 by Assistant Director of Academics at International Programs Nichole Skelton, the program ran into arrangement difficulties when students and workers failed to keep up with meetings.
By enlisting the help of Hibbs, Skelton and her brainchild burgeoned.
“Many of the students were learning more about the culture while improving their Spanish,” Hibbs said. “Some of them are actually bringing their homework to the meetings. In terms of relationships, I saw the students stop and say ‘Hi’ to the other employees. Basically, they spent a lot more time outside of their meetings talking with their partner.”
Junior Emily Chu, a Buenos Aires veteran, will continue to meet with her partner, Antonio, this semester. Chu says her partner has always accommodated her changing class schedules, and this time, instead of meeting at the Waves Cafe, they will be meeting at the School of Law cafeteria.
“It’s a casual relationship. It’s nice to get to know someone within a school program,” Chu said. “We really talk about anything. He’ll tell me about things he’s done to learn more English, like joining Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Gloria, a custodial staff member on campus, says she and her partner, sophomore Lauren Herzog, managed to work through scheduling differences and meet regularly. She said her language had improved since the last time she spoke with the Graphic in October.
Hibbs said he will continue to promote LEAP through word-of-mouth. He expects that students already benefitting from the exchange will encourage friends and peers returning from Shanghai and Buenos Aires to participate. The same number of employee-student partners from last semester plan to resume meetings.
