Job Discussion Forums

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

Hi all,

I have been in Taiwan for a couple of months now and have my teaching down and lesson planning to a nice time limit.

I now have a fair bit of spare time on my hands and would like to build on my existing knowledge of the Chinese language. Does anyone know of a language exchange programme in the Taichung city area? Is anyone currently a member of one or know of any friends that are members who would like to get in touch?

Any information would be very much appreciated. Please could you email me at [email protected]

Thanks in advance

Shaun

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

You could give this site a try www.myu.com.tw

They are set up for matching teachers with private students, but they may have a capacity to handle the sort of request you have.

Rice Paddy Daddy · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Japan

Never works.

Like privates, they never work out long term.

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

If you are determined to learn, you can make almost any arrangement work. Still, in my experience RPD has a point. I started out self-studying and then moved into language exchange. I found my progress was too slow. It wasn't until I made the sacrifice, enrolled in classes and attended 4 to 5 times a week that I made real progress. However, you talk about "existing knowledge," sugessting that you already have a achieved a certain level in the language. If you are mid level or higher, a language exchange may help you address specific language points and concerns you may have. It also makes a language exchange more fair as you will have a level of Chinese sufficient to converse in the language as much as you partner does in English. That is the problem with exchanges: they often result in mainly one language being used most of the time. It usually means English as locals are often better at it than we are at Chinese (at least initially). Have you tried forumosa.com? They have a langauge exchange bulletin board.

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

Thanks for your time to all that replied both on this board and by PM. I appreciate the advice.

I am looking at both formal classes and a language exchange programme. The latter is likely to come once I have built up my skills a bit more.

Take care

Shaun