Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Language Exchange - Location really matters!



How much a language exchange can help a person in increasing the proficiency of one’s targeted language. Well. From my viewpoint, I think it is very much dependent on how the language exchange is organized and people that attend the gathering. Location and timing are some of the factors that matter to me, a language exchange in a lively but noisy food court during dinner time is not a good idea. The surrounding is simply too distracting and one may find it difficult to concentrate or even listen to what another person is trying to speak. And worse, the information that one is trying to listen is in the language he or she may not be very good in. All these unnecessarily lead to a poorly organized language exchange session that no one would like to come again the following week.

I appreciate very much the organizers that know the importance of location and try their best in finding an appropriate place to hold a language exchange session. I remember that there is an English language exchange session that is held every Sunday morning at an alfresco area of a food court located in a commercial building in CBD area. The food court is closed on Sunday but the chairs and tables remain there. A welcoming sign for any language exchange group looking for a place that can accommodate dozens of people talking loudly for the sake of practicing language. There are no disturbing waiters that always keep their eyes on every attendant to ensure no outside food is brought in and consumed. Neither the restaurant manager that always wants the attendants to do some minimum purchases of meal and drink before they can occupy the tables for their hours long of language exchange. The attendants just need to focus on the conversation and enjoy the language exchange to the fullest. I think this is the ultimate objective of every one that attends the language exchange – Enjoy, make a few friends, learn something and have a good time!

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