by Brian Lin
You must have seen ads like the one above if you have paid attention to the bulletin boards in the AV building and the language training center. One might sometimes wonder what these people are looking for, since more often than not their English is not clear enough to be understood; however, they are admirable in their attempt to do something about it through one of the simplest and cheapest methods there is - language exchange. As the name suggests, a language exchange takes place when speakers of two different languages decide to get together and teach one another. It also usually means that neither party needs to pay any fees and that the whole set-up is totally up to the people involved. Under these simple rules, students eager to improve their English can find a native speaker with whom to study without having to worry about the high one-on-one fee, and foreigners learning Chinese can meet someone to speak Chinese with on a regular basis. In both cases they are likely to learn not only good language skills but also the culture - and possibly even more. There are many good things to be said about having a language exchange. Some might even consider it the best way to learn a language, for it combines speaking and listening comprehension training; and if conducted well, it could even include reading and writing. Nowadays, with the emphasis on practical conversation skills, this seems to be the perfect approach. But language exchanges, not unlike most things in life, are far from perfect. Students should be aware of possible pitfalls. Are you lonesome tonight? If so, a language exchange session probably isn’t your best solution. One of the most appealing features of having a language exchange is that you can do it freely and with someone who is on an equal footing with you. Instead of being teachers and students, you are partners, and in some cases, friends. Therefore, a language exchange session without a prepared syllabus or program of practicing language skills can strikingly resemble a get-together between two friends. Without discouraging friendship, DFLL instructor Mr. Bruce Bagnell suggests that “Partners committing themselves to a language exchange should enter into the arrangement with both eyes wide open: Are you trying to learn a language with someone else’s help, or are you trying primarily to make friends?” If you are not as serious about the former as the latter, maybe you should think twice before posting your ad. However, this does not mean that friendship can not evolve from a language exchange. A good exchange arrangement can bring about not only improvement in language skills but quite often builds a good friendship as well. My own experience in doing language exchanges since high school proves that when two people are committed to helping each other with some goal they are trying to achieve, the sincerity in working together can serve as a strong catalyst in the development of friendship. But it should be a fortunate outcome, not the motive for conducting the language exchange in the first place. Another thing to watch out for is that most people who “exchange languages” have little if any experience in teaching their own language - or teaching in general - and thus may not know how to make learning interesting or effective. As we learn our native language through daily conversation with our family as a child, we are usually left with the impression that our own language does not have a grammar-as most Chinese speakers would probably say about Chinese. Although we speak Chinese proficiently, unless trained, we may not be well suited to teaching the language. The same logic applies to other languages. Therefore students eager to improve their English should look out for the myth that a foreigner is always a better teacher. Sometimes non-native speakers with a good command of the language may offer experience in learning the language that could be extremely valuable as you struggle through the bottleneck stages of learning. One of my former language exchange partners was a Korean-American girl who spoke perfect French and had a certificate to teach French in the US. She proved to be more beneficial to me than the Frenchmen with whom I’d done a language exchange before. It would also be helpful over the long run if your level of the foreign language is in the same ballpark as your partner in the language he wants to learn; because when the balance is off, one person will usually be getting more out of the exchange than the other, which may eventually lead to feelings of unfairness. Besides personal qualities such as diligence, patience, a desire to learn and a sense of humor, professional or at least quasi-professional training is of great help. “Your partner does not have to be-and probably will not be-a qualified language teacher,” Mr. Bagnell remarked, “but I would not choose an illiterate farmer or a junior high school-graduated taxi driver to help me learn Chinese. Similarly, a partner who has a higher level of education, preferably in the humanities or social sciences, and preferably with some experience in language teaching, would be a great choice.” We, in turn, should possess the same qualities as much as possible. Language exchanges can produce great results or just the opposite. It depends greatly on the attitude with which you enter the arrangement and how it is carried out. Give it a try - it might be just the thing for you. a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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