Maggie Thatcher
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KFS Osaka
Sep 21, 2009, 1:01:51 AM9/21/09
to osaka...@googlegroups.com
A bit of an odd suggestion but I suppose it would help.
There are many groups doing language exchange but for me I find the whole system very unfair. My level of Japanese is poor and nearly 95% of the time when I do language exchange my partner is only interested in their own learning.
This is my main reason for not going to these places or meeting up with people more than once. It is good practice but people should keep in mind that its an exchange. I also avoid so called British pubs as they are full on some not so nice foreigners.
My advice for people learning English is to get some confidence and say hello to people you see on the street. If you say you want to practice English and invite them for a coffee then you can pay for the coffee and have a short practice.
This is what I do with my Japanese so I have good practice with general questions about what job someone has. If they have any family and so on.
My other piece of advice is to read out loud. Just by practicing saying the words helps.
Love,
Ben
There are many groups doing language exchange but for me I find the whole system very unfair. My level of Japanese is poor and nearly 95% of the time when I do language exchange my partner is only interested in their own learning.
This is my main reason for not going to these places or meeting up with people more than once. It is good practice but people should keep in mind that its an exchange. I also avoid so called British pubs as they are full on some not so nice foreigners.
My advice for people learning English is to get some confidence and say hello to people you see on the street. If you say you want to practice English and invite them for a coffee then you can pay for the coffee and have a short practice.
This is what I do with my Japanese so I have good practice with general questions about what job someone has. If they have any family and so on.
My other piece of advice is to read out loud. Just by practicing saying the words helps.
Love,
Ben
waveishere
Sep 21, 2009, 9:54:00 PM9/21/09
to 大阪語学グループ
You are right that sometimes people do not exchange languages fairly
when they meet. So it's really up to you or the organisers of the
venue
to specify how any language exchange is done.
When I was in Sydney, I went to one group that had a sign saying
English or Japanese, and every 30mins it was switched, the group went
for about 3 hours so there was plenty of time to speak in the language
you want to learn.
When I have language exchanges, to make it easier at the start I
specify how long you want to meet and how long we speak for in each
language.
eg. A: So how about we speak for 30 mins English and 30mins in
Japanese?
B: Well since we have time how about 45mins in each?
A: ok, and since I can't speak Japanese/English well you can
speak ____ to help with the explanations a bit.
B: ok, sounds good.
A: Would you like just speaking practice, or would you like to
look at some articles, or do some grammar practice?
....
If you be specific about what you want to learn and what your partner
wants to learn, you can usually help each other more than just having
a free conversation.
when they meet. So it's really up to you or the organisers of the
venue
to specify how any language exchange is done.
When I was in Sydney, I went to one group that had a sign saying
English or Japanese, and every 30mins it was switched, the group went
for about 3 hours so there was plenty of time to speak in the language
you want to learn.
When I have language exchanges, to make it easier at the start I
specify how long you want to meet and how long we speak for in each
language.
eg. A: So how about we speak for 30 mins English and 30mins in
Japanese?
B: Well since we have time how about 45mins in each?
A: ok, and since I can't speak Japanese/English well you can
speak ____ to help with the explanations a bit.
B: ok, sounds good.
A: Would you like just speaking practice, or would you like to
look at some articles, or do some grammar practice?
....
If you be specific about what you want to learn and what your partner
wants to learn, you can usually help each other more than just having
a free conversation.
BSO
Sep 22, 2009, 3:30:07 AM9/22/09
to osaka...@googlegroups.com
Sorry, I changed my email from last message to my original one.
You are right about coming to an agreement about how each other will learn. My style is a bit different and so less successful. I just want to give my point of view so those looking for language exchange might understand a little. However I realize that everyone is different.
Sorry for the long story but I think some points might be helpful:
I came to Japan 18 months ago with a plan to learn the language. I did have some lessons before in London but once my original teacher moved back to Niigata it was very difficult to find a replacement.
So when I got to Osaka I needed two things. People to be friends with and people to help my study. I looked in the various magazines, internet sites and also put an advert up at international house. From my advert I got ten replies, 5 were looking for boyfriends, 3 were just loony, but 2 are still friends however none of them actually do much to help my study. The two friends are good for helping with cultural exchange which is just as important.
From the internet I met quite a few people but about 90% were looking for boyfriend more than lesson. So essentially wasting my time. The same pattern happens with the magazine adverts. After a while having to meet new people is not that much fun and very costly.
I have also been to a few of the more organized language exchange groups but they can be very stale. Sometime there is no thought about the environment in which the meeting takes place. This is a matter of taste but for real exchange you need somewhere comfortable but not too noisy and not too quiet. Also a chance to swap who you are talking to without leaving anyone out. I have been stuck with some very dull people in the past.
Now I get most success by meeting strangers on the street. It has a low initial hit rate but if someone is prepared to go and have coffee they are normally quite interesting to talk too and also likely to meet up with you again. Even if they are busy the short initial conversation is good practice for me. It is also the only way I have found to meet Japanese people who can not speak English and so our language levels are closer.
When I think what would be fun for me. I always think of going out for a meal with a small group of maybe seven but having it organized enough so the conversation does not stick to one language or level of ability. Also it is important for me that the amount of Japanese people is always higher than the amount of foreigners. This type of meeting happening once a month so you get used to the group would be helpful.
One last point which I think is very important to Japanese study is the use of natural Japanese rather than formal Japanese. The text books can teach you a language that people can understand but as no one actually uses it so you are stuck when it come to listening to conversations.
You are right about coming to an agreement about how each other will learn. My style is a bit different and so less successful. I just want to give my point of view so those looking for language exchange might understand a little. However I realize that everyone is different.
Sorry for the long story but I think some points might be helpful:
I came to Japan 18 months ago with a plan to learn the language. I did have some lessons before in London but once my original teacher moved back to Niigata it was very difficult to find a replacement.
So when I got to Osaka I needed two things. People to be friends with and people to help my study. I looked in the various magazines, internet sites and also put an advert up at international house. From my advert I got ten replies, 5 were looking for boyfriends, 3 were just loony, but 2 are still friends however none of them actually do much to help my study. The two friends are good for helping with cultural exchange which is just as important.
From the internet I met quite a few people but about 90% were looking for boyfriend more than lesson. So essentially wasting my time. The same pattern happens with the magazine adverts. After a while having to meet new people is not that much fun and very costly.
I have also been to a few of the more organized language exchange groups but they can be very stale. Sometime there is no thought about the environment in which the meeting takes place. This is a matter of taste but for real exchange you need somewhere comfortable but not too noisy and not too quiet. Also a chance to swap who you are talking to without leaving anyone out. I have been stuck with some very dull people in the past.
Now I get most success by meeting strangers on the street. It has a low initial hit rate but if someone is prepared to go and have coffee they are normally quite interesting to talk too and also likely to meet up with you again. Even if they are busy the short initial conversation is good practice for me. It is also the only way I have found to meet Japanese people who can not speak English and so our language levels are closer.
When I think what would be fun for me. I always think of going out for a meal with a small group of maybe seven but having it organized enough so the conversation does not stick to one language or level of ability. Also it is important for me that the amount of Japanese people is always higher than the amount of foreigners. This type of meeting happening once a month so you get used to the group would be helpful.
One last point which I think is very important to Japanese study is the use of natural Japanese rather than formal Japanese. The text books can teach you a language that people can understand but as no one actually uses it so you are stuck when it come to listening to conversations.
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