Job Discussion Forums

[G-money]

How does one go about doing a language exchange and what is it all about? I don't think there are any English speakers in the international centre. Thanks.

[Gordon]

You could post a note on a bulletin board somewhere and then get inundated with calls. I would make friesnds with someone and then do a language exchange, more pleasant that way. Make sure they can teach you though and set aside time for each language, otherwise it may be 90% English and 10% Japanese especially if your Japanese is not very good.

[ntropy]

I think Gordon's advice is spot on.

Don't post a general notice or you'll get all sorts of misfits. Try the proposal on someone you know and like and think would be interested. You might meet them at work, school, a sports club, restaurant, bar, etc.

Also, as Gordon says, setting time limits is crucial or you'll end up speaking English all the time and get labelled as a "user." This is still a sore point with my conversation partner who, a decade ago, turned into my wife. She never lets me forget that I used almost all the time for Japanese and she didn't get much time for English. I tell her I'm making up for it by only speaking English for the last five.

[Gordon]

One more thing, try to get an exchange partner of the same sex, otherwise you may sound like someone of the opposite sex. Women and men use different words sometimes.