How to Get Good at Conversations on a Budget

General discussion about learning languages
Sprachprofi
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How to Get Good at Conversations on a Budget

Postby Sprachprofi » Mon Nov 21, 2022 4:53 pm

I like to use language tutors in order to develop my speaking ability in foreign languages, but they do get expensive after a while. I've just written up some tips on how people can develop their speaking ability if they're on a tight budget: https://languagecrush.com/forum/t/3456

tl;dr:
1. Start with courses that already contain dialogs, ideally matching your situation
2. After the beginner stage, supplement with the free Language Tools Conversations - 100 natural conversations between native speakers.
3. Use Amikumu to detect when there are native speakers of your target language near you.
4. Join learner-run weekly Zooms.
5. Do a classic language exchange, or exchange for something else you can do, like household or computer help.

Do you have other ideas?
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Sae
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Re: How to Get Good at Conversations on a Budget

Postby Sae » Mon Nov 21, 2022 5:19 pm

Never seen Amikumu, I know of HelloTalk and Tandem.

I saw Amikumu say 7000+ languages and looks like they have a lot of niche and specialised options for hooking people up...yet still no Tuvan lol.

But not bad advice in general.

There's also going into a Chinese restaurant with a Go Pro, speaking English and randomly whip out Chinese and put their reactions on YouTube (I jest of course). Though moving away from facetiousness, in addition to using something like Amikumu, if you know of local communities of people who speak your target language, it could be an option to hook up with them. Though I guess I would want a conversational level in the language before I were to do something like that, as it's less a language exchange, but actively using the target language and I think I'd feel uncomfortable pushing people to be my language partner or language guinea pigs because they happen to speak my target language.
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Amandine
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Re: How to Get Good at Conversations on a Budget

Postby Amandine » Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:28 am

Meetup.com has been useful to me to find groups in my target languages. There are about half a dozen different specific language groups in my city plus a couple of general polyglot language exchanges.
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tiia
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Re: How to Get Good at Conversations on a Budget

Postby tiia » Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:47 am

Language Cafés or other groups for just one target language. They are great for conversation practice, but one should know at least something of the language, otherwise it can get difficult.

It's different from language exchanges in the sense, that it's not really an exchange. You go there and speak, what is offered. Depends who's there etc. You can switch tables during the evening, but you don't have to.
There's also the pro that with larger groups you can just go there without having to sign up and you don't have to think about no-shows or last-minute changes in the schedule etc. (With small groups this may be different, if they have to assure no one will be there alone.)
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jimmy
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Re: How to Get Good at Conversations on a Budget

Postby jimmy » Tue Nov 22, 2022 9:03 am

mm I would like to add:

when you come across a foreigner who you try to learn the language that one speaks (native)
then

** don't exaggrate plaase your excitement , think that he is also a human
** do not look please in her/his eyes like you see a thunderbird :)
** consider that that one also need you or something you have.
** further, act friendly as much as you can.
** not everything can be brought by money/fee.
:)
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Kullman
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Re: How to Get Good at Conversations on a Budget

Postby Kullman » Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:57 pm

In my own experience, if that foreigner is visiting your city, he would love to get some tips about landmarks, places to eat, ...

I don't know about other places but Ferrol, where I live, got some landmarks and viewing points which aren't known by other than locals, and some of the typical food (seafood, mostly) can be a bit difficult to foreigners, specially if they don't know what to ask.

A simple recipe of octopus, which involve paprika and olive oil, is one of the galician most typical dishes, and some foreigners find daring the act of eating this kind of animals.
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