Over the years, I have exchanged languages so many times. My language skills would not have improved so much if I hadn’t used this tool for language learning.
When I’m looking for people, what should I do? I have always kept in touch with people around me throughout my life, and I always found it relatively easy to find someone interested in exchanging languages because I surrounded myself with people who spoke the speech I was learning.
Is there anyone in Shinjuku or Shibuya you would like to meet to talk Japanese? Do you want to make some Japanese friends explore Japan with? Making friends, improving your Japanese conversational skills, or finding a romantic partner can all be accomplished through language exchange.
This article explains how to get the most out of your Japanese Language Exchange experience. In this article, we cover a variety of topics related to studying Japanese.
1. A good partner is hard to find
Many Japanese people in Japan desperately seek an English language exchange partner but cannot find one. There are many English schools and private English teachers in Japan, but for people who prefer the accessible route or live in isolated areas without access to native English speakers, the Internet is the best option.
When it comes to finding a Japanese language partner, here are some tips:
The same gender
If you want to exchange languages with a partner of the same gender, I strongly recommend finding someone of the same gender. A young guy like myself was my best partner back then. You may imitate your partner’s speech patterns to some degree since there are differences between Japanese males and females.
Those of the same gender can talk about how to impress Japanese women without being shy :).
Compatibility
Finding someone with similar interests is much more motivating. This will give you something to discuss. As a result of the same place, your life is also enriched. Using teenage girl slang is not appropriate for middle-aged men. You can discuss Drama, One-piece, Arashi songs Etc.
I have had some bad experiences; I am a fan of one piece, But at That time, my partner was a middle-aged man with a severe mind, and I could not have a conversation.
The goal in your mind
Although similarities are essential, they aren’t everything. The person who helped me improve my Japanese was a guy with whom I had little in common. The person you need to teach you needs to be a good teacher. If a person appears to be a teacher on a language exchange website, you can always have a few trial conversations to see how it goes.
Look for someone available when you are. If you’re in the Americas or Europe, Japan is globally and has a considerable time difference from you.
2. Your exchange should be structured
I think it’s best to structure your lessons rather than blab until you’re both too tired to continue. We split Japanese and English classes with my partner, and I sweated bullets and made utterances I hoped would be understandable to a Japanese person for about half an hour. Afterward, we spoke English for half an hour. In this way, we both benefited from our lessons.
3. Learn how to converse daily
For you and your partner, speaking only Japanese may be challenging (and vice versa). This slows the lesson considerably if you have to look up everything in your dictionary. You can make it easier for your partner if you learn some basic conversation. Things like these would include:
お元気ですか。
どこですか。
いくらですか。
Choosing a lesson topic in advance is recommended. You might describe your family or school or talk about where you grew up. Simple everyday conversation topics are best at first. Learn vocabulary and phrases for the conversation if you choose an issue beforehand.
4. Practice with Patterns
It is best to learn Japanese through phrase patterns since the structures of Japanese and English are so different. Word-for-word translations of English sentences into Japanese rarely convey the same meaning. The reason why online translators don’t work is because of this.
Instead, you should learn phrase patterns and substitute different words into the template. Here’s a simple example:
It is generally difficult to compare the Japanese with the English because they are so backward. By simply plugging different words into this pattern, you can make various sentences of the same structure:
5. Call for corrections
It is your chance to speak authentic Japanese with a native speaker, so ask your partner to correct you. Grammar correction would probably be necessary for other languages as well. With Japanese, it’s more likely to fix word choices and make phrases sound more natural. I mentioned earlier that accurate spoken Japanese is quite different from textbook Japanese.
You can quickly lose sight of your fundamental purpose for using the app when establishing good friendships with other users! Before finding a partner for the Japanese language exchange, you should write down specific goals for yourself. You can set goals that are as simple or as complex as you like, such as learning 10 new kanji every week or being able to tell someone where you live in Japanese.
It will be vital to ensure you are on the right track and learning the language after these goals have been communicated to your partner. Check out our tips below to learn how to take advantage of this experience effectively.
4 best website Japanese language exchange partner
The stigma attached to meeting people online, as many people do, needs to be dispelled as soon as possible. The Internet has no longer been shrouded in mystery as there was a few years ago. Quite a few people are now going to this store when they need something, as a matter of fact. Aside from that, there is also the option of exchanging languages.
1. Learn Japanese with Hellotalk
HelloTalk allows you to exchange languages with people around the world. In your profile, you can tell us a little about yourself and select your native language and the language and level you are currently learning. In the next step, you’ll be able to search for native language partners worldwide! Language exchanges are top-rated on HelloTalk, with many users eager to start.
You use the same platform to chat as you would to text. HelloTalk has several valuable features that distinguish it from similar language exchange apps. Transcriptions are also available, so users can practice reading and writing and speaking and comprehension.
For the same in-person experience, you can also directly call or video call someone. In case you’re not in Tokyo and wish to have direct conversations with your partner, these features are advantageous. You can get facial expressions, gestures, tone, and pronunciation through voice messages, video calls, or in-person conversations.
2. Lext Talk (App Store)
The Last Talk application allows users to connect with people around the world. As soon as your profile is complete, you can select which language you speak and which language you are interested in learning.
Text Talk’s map is one of its most convenient features. By browsing and navigating Lex Talk’s map, users can find a language partner close to their location or a partner in a particular area. Therefore, if you’re looking for someone who speaks the Kansai dialect, things will be much easier. Apart from meeting people with similar interests, you can chat in your preferred language with Lex Talk since it has chatrooms with themes.
3. Conversation Exchange
Depending on your preferences, you can have face-to-face conversations, voice chats, or written correspondences. Your network can be expanded by adding language partners via the search menu. This site has only been used by our team to find English-speaking conversation partners, but you’ll find tandems in other languages as well, including Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese, and Russian.
Setting up your profile involves selecting which languages you’re learning and what level you’re at. Putting too low a level will prevent you from making progress while putting too high a level will prevent you from understanding your partner. A good way to determine your level is to take a language test (e.g., A2, B1, etc.).
4. Tandem
Using Tandem on iOS or Android, language learners can exchange language with native speakers. Text or voice chats are available for members to find language exchange partners. There are 300 languages supported by the app as of July 2020, including 20 sign languages, 20 indigenous languages, and six fictional languages, such as Mandalorian and Klingon.
Is Tandem better than HelloTalk?
There are a lot of similarities between Tandem and HelloTalk. Both have a lot of free functionality, and they’re only really different in how they look.
There’s no doubt that Tandem is a trendier version of HelloTalk, but it’s all about personal preference. People seem to use both apps for dating. It’s always good to keep in mind, even if we didn’t come across it ourselves.
These two apps let you practice a language on a daily basis without feeling like you’re studying. Hello, talk and Tandem are great if you like social messaging apps. You can use them to supplement study, but you can’t rely on them alone.
If you want to learn a language in-depth, we’ve got the top courses based on the language you want to learn.
Where can I make Japanese friends online?
It has been my pleasure to exchange languages with so many people over the years. If I hadn’t used this language learning tool, I wouldn’t have improved so much.
What should I do when looking for people? I have always kept in touch with people around me throughout my life. Since I surrounded myself with people who spoke the language I was learning, I was always able to find someone interested in exchanging languages.
OkCupid
The Japanese version of OkCupid focuses on more details than Bumble or Tinder. Taking 45 minutes to fill out a profile is an indication of this. Leaving most of it empty may not be the best move based on reviews from others. You may have less luck finding OkCupid’s users if you are easy to find on numerous dating sites, according to past reviews.
Tapple
It’s a dating app that lets you fill out the qualifiers of what type of person you’re looking for, then join groups based on your interests. Those men who meet your criteria and share your interests are shown, and you can like, skip, or super like them.
Even though many people have met and talked through the app, users are hesitant to meet offline, according to a user. Those who prefer online dating might not find it the ideal platform for serious relationships.
Pairs
There have been many TV and train commercials for Pairs, another online dating service. By hiding your full name on this site, you can go by your initials instead of your Facebook profile. A user on Pairs said there are plenty of men to choose from, but few are interested in serious relationships with non-native Japanese speakers.
HiNative
HiNative allows users to ask questions of native speakers from around the world and receive answers from them. It’s a really flexible app that can be used anywhere on the go and is available on desktops, iPhones, and Android phones. If you need translations quickly, help with basic language skills, or even personalized feedback, this is a great tool!
Is it safe to use a conversation Japanese exchange site or an app?
A language exchange website or application might come to mind if you’re learning a new foreign language or improving your Japanese skill. Language exchanges don’t need explanation. Language partners should be learning your native language and speaking the language you’re learning natively.
Many people from around the world are using language exchange sites and apps. The scams, however, also attract people who are looking for ways to make money illegally. Unless you have established a long-term relationship with the user, you should not trust them.
Various websites offer this kind of service for free, such as Interpals, Conversation Exchange, My Language Exchange, and Tandem.
My own language hobby has led me to try all of them. However, I’m not going to review each of them here. Here is my overall opinion after using them. I have some takeaways.
Is it hard to make Japanese friends?
In spite of the difficulty of integrating as a foreigner, that does not mean you will be treated badly.t you better than the Japanese themselves, and they will treat you better than your Western friends do. Keeping in mind that the Japanese are extremely educated people who take great care to maintain harmony and peace within their social circles. There is no way you will be disappointed if you make a Japanese friend.
Making Japanese friends is not that difficult – it depends on the person, their personality, and their circumstances. The Japanese are supposedly not very proficient in English. Japan has a lot of people who are passionate about travel and continually take language classes and Taking
I enjoy attending cultural events, traveling to different countries, and tasting the local cuisine of each one. English and foreign languages are being taught in schools earlier and earlier, so some young Japanese know basic English phrases.