Language Exchange Tips

This post gives some methods for language exchanging. Of course, the resources in the Learn English tab within this website provide plenty of language exchange methods. For example, you could watch a cartoon and follow along with the transcript. You can then have a discussion with your language exchange partner using the discussion questions at the bottom of each post about the cartoon. The discussion questions are about the cartoon generally, and they incorporate new vocabulary from the episode. Some of the cartoons include (1)Phineas and Ferb and (2) Jimmy Neutron. The same format is used with a tv show with real people - Family Matters. Similarly, the same format is used with a variety of stand-up comedians. All of these videos are family/kid/school friendly.

This article provides a few more methods.

Create Stories

You can read on your own and put the new words with their respective context in AnkiApp. After that, review in Anki and put the missed words on a list. With those vocabulary words create a story with discussion questions. Then have a teacher help you correct the story and explain the grammar. With the corrected story you can read it to your language exchange partners. They can correct your pronunciation if you want, and you can discuss the conversation questions. That works for any language.

English File Books

If your language partner is learning English, use the English File books. The native English speaker will need to learn more about ESL in order to provide the most help. ESL teachers, like me, can provide options and resources like this. But then you are getting into the teacher category and not language exchange. However, it is possible for a language exchange to utilize good resources like English File books.

Split the Time

Split the time in half. I think an hour is good, so 30 minutes in one language and 30 minutes in the other language. If a timer is not set, the person who is better in the target language will get more practice time, while the less proficient partner will get less practice time.

Get More out of the Exchange than just Language Learning

You have to enjoy talking to your language exchange partner and have more of a reason for talking to the person than just learning the language. That is too high of an expectation for a language learning partner. And when you have these high expectations and really want to make the most of your time, you can get inpatient and anxious, which is not good for language learning or building a relationship.

Enjoy Building Relationships

Language learning is a gradual process. It helps if you have some other objective besides the language learning, like you learn something from the person. For many people, it’s a way to get to know new people. Maybe one of those language exchange partners can become a friend … or maybe even a girlfriend/boyfriend. If it doesn’t work out that way, that is fine because you still learned the language and there are many other people out there. But the point is that you are taking pressure off the language learning while still going about it in the most effective way possible.

Study Independently As Well

I think it’s also important to do language study outside of the language exchange, and you cannot just depend on talking with others. Your independent language study is then practiced when you language exchange.