Ideas on how make use of time with a study partner?

[80Percent]

I recently picked up a study partner and our plan is to meet every week. Kinda not sure how to get the best out of this time. We're both fairly novice so conversation is like, pretty slow going. We're now both working on the same textbook. What should we do together?

Go over exercises? Prepare sentences to share with the other person? test each other on content we covered?

In the future we'll definitely do Chinatown trips to practice our Mandarin outside our usual practices but for now we want to get the most out of our sit down time (1-1.5 hours a week) and I have no idea what to do. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Speakeasy]

Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail
Although the above adage has been ascribed to John Wooden, Benjamin Franklin, Yoda, and many others, I suspect that the notion itself has existed since the dawn of time. I am a strong believer in preparation, as I would assume are most gold-medalists.

Structured / Unstructured
As you and your language partner are still at the Beginner’s Level, I suggest that you agree beforehand on a small selection of specific topics of conversation and that you prepare yourselves by reviewing the basic vocabulary associated with these topics. You might even agree to work with specific materials such as a small collection of dialogues drawn from courses or phrase-books to which both of you have access. For example, you could act as a “tutor” for each other’s selected dialogue, explaining a few elementary alternatives for expressing the same ideas. From there, while still remaining within the specific topic, you might wish to expand the conversation into something having less structure; that is, some form of role-playing.

Related Discussion Threads (Some Near, Some Distant)
There are a number of discussion threads on the HTLAL and LLORG that touch upon the question of how to work with a tutor or language partner. While none of those listed below provide a specific “hit list” or “how to” guide on how to proceed, merely reading through them might help you develop your own approach. Good luck!

Anyone learn from a private tutor? – HTLAL – December, 2001
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30492&PN=27

Find conversation partners – LLORG – June, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2943

Are most tutors useless for advanced learners? – LLORG – May, 2017
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5790

Finding a language coach – HTLAL – August, 2012
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33559&PN=21

How to prepare for a first Skype session? – LLORG – January, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1923

Skype classes – LLORG – August, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3277

Skype Lessons – Tips for Best Workout with Native Speaker – LLORG – October, 2015
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1454

Skype Speaking Practice – HTLAL – March, 2014
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38289&PN=11

When to start with tutors – is it suitable for pure beginners? – LLORG – May, 2017
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5795

Tutoring activities to activate or automate – LLORG – October, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4671

Why do teachers like to teach? (rant) – LLORG – November, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4969

How to Study? – HTLAL – February, 2009
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13841&PN=49

CanadianLinguist’s FORCE Cycle – HTLAL – May, 2015
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40507

Beyond C2 and diminishing returns
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35186&PN=21&TPN=1

[80Percent]

Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail
Although the above adage has been ascribed to John Wooden, Benjamin Franklin, Yoda, and many others, I suspect that the notion itself has existed since the dawn of time. I am a strong believer in preparation, as I would assume are most gold-medalists.

Structured / Unstructured
As you and your language partner are still at the Beginner’s Level, I suggest that you agree beforehand on a small selection of specific topics of conversation and that you prepare yourselves by reviewing the basic vocabulary associated with these topics. You might even agree to work with specific materials such as a small collection of dialogues drawn from courses or phrase-books to which both of you have access. For example, you could act as a “tutor” for each other’s selected dialogue, explaining a few elementary alternatives for expressing the same ideas. From there, while still remaining within the specific topic, you might wish to expand the conversation into something having less structure; that is, some form of role-playing.

Related Discussion Threads (Some Near, Some Distant)
There are a number of discussion threads on the HTLAL and LLORG that touch upon the question of how to work with a tutor or language partner. While none of those listed below provide a specific “hit list” or “how to” guide on how to proceed, merely reading through them might help you develop your own approach. Good luck!

Anyone learn from a private tutor? – HTLAL – December, 2001
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30492&PN=27

Find conversation partners – LLORG – June, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2943

Are most tutors useless for advanced learners? – LLORG – May, 2017
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5790

Finding a language coach – HTLAL – August, 2012
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33559&PN=21

How to prepare for a first Skype session? – LLORG – January, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1923

Skype classes – LLORG – August, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3277

Skype Lessons – Tips for Best Workout with Native Speaker – LLORG – October, 2015
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1454

Skype Speaking Practice – HTLAL – March, 2014
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38289&PN=11

When to start with tutors – is it suitable for pure beginners? – LLORG – May, 2017
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5795

Tutoring activities to activate or automate – LLORG – October, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4671

Why do teachers like to teach? (rant) – LLORG – November, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4969

How to Study? – HTLAL – February, 2009
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13841&PN=49

CanadianLinguist’s FORCE Cycle – HTLAL – May, 2015
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40507

Beyond C2 and diminishing returns
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35186&PN=21&TPN=1

Wow. Big thanks. : )!

[IronMike]

Since you're meeting weekly, each of you take turns "running" the meeting.

a) Inform your partner that next meeting you'll be going over "family" vocabulary. Bring a list of vocab that will help with talking about your family, and maybe even have a short 4-5 sentence blurb on your family.
b) Prepare a list of questions speakers of your TL would ask about your family.
c) Watch a video and/or listen to a clip of someone talking about their family.

Then the next time, before your partner starts running the meeting, review what you went over last time and/or have your partner give his/her 4-5 sentence blurb on their family.

Or something along those lines. Maybe once in a while (every 4-6 weeks?) invite a native speaker to come to your meeting, go over things you guys have talked about and ask for his/her feedback on your pronunciation, grammar, word-choice, whatever. Maybe buy that person lunch or a coffee as their fee.

Sounds like this could be very productive for you and your partner. Definitely report back so we know how you're doing. Good luck!

[80Percent]

Since you're meeting weekly, each of you take turns "running" the meeting.

a) Inform your partner that next meeting you'll be going over "family" vocabulary. Bring a list of vocab that will help with talking about your family, and maybe even have a short 4-5 sentence blurb on your family.
b) Prepare a list of questions speakers of your TL would ask about your family.
c) Watch a video and/or listen to a clip of someone talking about their family.

Then the next time, before your partner starts running the meeting, review what you went over last time and/or have your partner give his/her 4-5 sentence blurb on their family.

Or something along those lines. Maybe once in a while (every 4-6 weeks?) invite a native speaker to come to your meeting, go over things you guys have talked about and ask for his/her feedback on your pronunciation, grammar, word-choice, whatever. Maybe buy that person lunch or a coffee as their fee.

Sounds like this could be very productive for you and your partner. Definitely report back so we know how you're doing. Good luck!

Thanks! I will show her this and we'll work something out. Will report back. Thanks!

And i know just who to invite, the person who runs the meetup where i met the study partner is also a tutor and we're super friendly, she would totally come and hang with us and help. What a cool idea.

[IronMike]

Since this topic popped up recently, thought I'd bump this thread. @80Percent, you still out there somewhere? How's the partnership going?