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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Any tips for having a balanced language exchange?
I've been doing free language exchanges with some students and always find that I end of speaking way more English that they speak Chinese. My language skills just aren't moving forward which is a shame because I really like the idea of language exchanges. Any tips for how to make it a more balanced exchange?
12 years 9 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Don't live in China. I've often got the "I'll have friend/family member show you around town!" "Well, I want to spend my weekend studying Chinese." "Oh they'll teach you Chinese." then I give a free English lesson thing.
Find some monolingual Chinese and make friends with them. It's the only way.
whatever is said, make sure it is said in engl and spanish. that ensures a complete understanding by both parties. i find it best to date someone who does not speak a lick of english . and go out and do various activities.
(just noticed what i did there) it should be engl , chinese and spanish
crimochina:
forget to mention my secret google translate app for your phone is the best
You have to find a student who's over-confident in English, then they have no problem correcting your Chinese.
Make sure you bail at the first instance when people say, "Oh I hope you can be my friend so that I can practice my english". Trust me its good in the beginning if you are a new comer to china after that these people become a drag as they try to introduce other friends who know no base of english to come and hang around with you. But if you are comfortable with it all then its all upto you. Being friendly is one thing but being taken advantage of is something else.
dharma86:
They say friendship sprouts from usefulness. Whether that be useful to the mind or useful in a real sense. The Chinese just make it a little too obvious how useful, you, the new 'friend' is.
i think you should find some chinese people have teaching experience,not just study with your students. because if they english skill not good enough how could them express their chinese clearly?
at least you should find some adults to help you improve you language, at least they have more studying and life experience.