by Eric Schenck
Over the last 10 years, I’ve learned three languages. Egyptian Arabic, German, and Spanish. And the best thing I’ve done for each one? Meet with quality conversation partners so I can practice speaking.
It’s a simple but effective habit:
- Find someone that speaks your target language
- Make sure they want to learn a language you speak
- Meet with them and “exchange” languages so you can get some quality speaking practice
This can be a mixed bag. I’ve had dozens of conversation partners over the years. Most are just OK. But some are actually great.
Here are five of my most memorable partners from the last decade:
Egyptian Arabic
Mohamed:
I met Mohamed when I first moved to Cairo in 2015. I was working as an English teacher, and he was one of the students at my school.
We became friends fast. Mohamed and I would meet up every other weekend, smoking shisha while learning new vocab. It was a lot of fun.
But it wasn’t all great. He was raised in a conservative society, and some of the things he said left me shaking my head. I got better at Egyptian Arabic, sure. But even more valuable? The experience I had spending time immersed in a different culture. (And at least trying to see things from somebody else’s perspective.)
Ahmed:
Ahmed worked at an Egyptian newspaper and reached out to me on Facebook. His job required a level in English that he simply didn’t have. Ahmed asked if I was up for meeting once a week. In return, he would help me speak Egyptian Arabic as fluently as possible.
I consistently met Ahmed for over a year. With his job, I learned a ton about Egyptian politics. In particular, it was great to hear about the Arab Spring from the eyes of a reporter. In 2011 he spent weeks on the ground in Tahrir Square. It’s one thing reading about protests in the Middle East. It’s something else entirely talking to somebody that was actually there.
On our last meeting before I left for Germany in 2018, he brought me a pack of cookies. They were my favorite. When I asked him how I knew, he told me I had mentioned it the very first time we met. What a guy.
German
Sarah:
I met Sarah in a Facebook group. She worked for an American company and needed to improve her English. We started meeting at cafes. Eventually, I would just go over to her place. Sarah had a balcony at her apartment that overlooked a garden. Each week, regardless of what we were talking about, she would teach me the German words for different flowers.
Useful? Not particularly. But certainly a sign that she actually took an interest in my progress. (And anyway, after three years of dusty Egypt, a little bit of green was a welcome sight.)
Sarah and I eventually turned into each other’s therapist (always a sign that you are getting better in a language). She was having family problems at the same time I was fighting with my girlfriend. We gave each other advice. Listened to each other’s woes. It was a good reminder of something vital: learning a language isn’t just about words. It’s about connecting with another human.
Jannick:
Maybe the weirdest conversation partner I ever had. We practiced languages a few times online, and then Jannick suggested we meet in person. He told me that he was a magician, and liked to practice his tricks with random pedestrians.
I assumed this meetup was off limits. But no such luck. Practicing languages turned into “beer + cigarettes + showing off street magic.” A fun night – just not very good for my vocab.
Spanish
Natalia:
I just moved to a small beach town in Mexico. Not all conversation partners insist on practicing their English with me. Some of them just want to chat in their language, and learn a bit about the U.S. in the process.
Natalia works at a small taco stand. I go there a few times a week, and she’s always up for a conversation. My Spanish is still a work in progress. Thankfully, Natalia is about 80 years old and speaks as slow as a snail. Our conversations started small. A couple months later? I’ve heard all about her grandkids, her desire to purchase a small motorcyle, and what it’s like to be a small business owner.
And the fact that I get to munch on delicious tacos while I listen? An added bonus.
…
One of the best parts of learning a new language is the connection that it facilitates. Reading books, watching shows – these are all a lot of fun. But speaking with a new person, and seeing the world through their eyes?
That’s something that can’t be beat.
I’m forever indebted to my conversation partners over the years, and can only hope I’ve given them as much food for thought as they’ve given me.
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