Check out our updated Community
Val
Should or should not a busy person look for a language partner?
I guess that on this site there are many people who are very busy with work and family, but they also study
languages and want to have a language partner. On the other hand, circumstances
can change very often and they need to cancel a language exchange meeting, which
can be unpleasant for a language
partner.
What is your opinion about the problem?
Apr 16, 2019 6:57 AM
Comments · 17
People ask for exchange then disappears.
Probably, many partners prefer text chat only and avoid real conversations.
It's so hard to find a serious partner here.
A Teacher (professional or community tutor) is better for me.
April 16, 2019
Because I know that I'm too busy, unreliable and likely to cancel last minute, I'm not looking for language exchange. I had great language exchange partners for Chinese and Spanish but it just feels so bad to let them down. For me, it's easier to just exchange written or recorded audio messages. Live sessions are too much of a hassle for me. So, when someone sends me a request, I always make clear that I'm not regular language partner material.
April 16, 2019
My opinion is that both partners should be very clear about their availability and give as much advance notice as possible if something else comes up. People should treat meetings with language partners as they would with any friend. If you are too busy to commit to any kind of schedule or at least be able to provide enough advance notice for any changes in meetings, then having a partner is probably not for you.
I agree that it is difficult to find a good language partner. I`ve been lucky and found two over the time that I`ve been here. In both cases we have treated the other with a lot of respect and patience. Finding someone at an appropriate language level, in a workable time zone, and who is respectful and patient is not easy. It`s so worth it when it works out though :)
Best of luck!
April 16, 2019
Hi Val
With respect to all, some people are here without any purpose. This is the biggest problem. Timing is the other problem.
April 16, 2019
I’ve never relied on language exchange because of many reasons that have been mentioned here many times. I do agree that hiring a tutor is the best option to improve your spoken language. Yes, you have to pay for it, but you usually get what you pay for. On top of everything else YOU decide what to talk about, YOU are allowed to refuse if you do not want to do something, the tutors usually meet your needs and expectations and they are rarely late or no showing up. I thing nobody is so busy that they can’t plan 30 to 60 minutes of their free time in advance to do something they like to do. We are all acting according to our priorities and we are accustomed to taking prirority over other things. You know, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”.
April 18, 2019
Show More
