With the advancement of technology, the line between formal learning and social learning is become blurred. An up and coming trend is the emergence of social language exchange platforms. Requiring only an internet connection and the need for thrill that accompanies language learning, many language learners are turning towards these platforms to practice their classroom knowledge of a particular language.
Read on to find out more about why language exchange platforms are ideal for language practice.
1. Native speakers
The ability of learning and picking up a language has been proven to be a lot more effective when you immerse yourself in an environment that is dominated by the speakers of that particular language. Language exchange platforms offer just that. You can communicate with the native speakers and sharpen your skills and pick up certain attributes such as accents and the manner of speaking that textbooks cannot offer.
2. Experience Unadulterated Culture
Language exchange enables you to interact with members from various cultures. You interact with a person who is a part of the culture whose language you are trying to learn. You could make an expensive trip to the country to experience the culture of the language you are trying to learn. Or, you could experience the same at the convenience of your room without spending anything. An added benefit is the ease with which you can interact with people from across the globe, at the same time. You could be talking with somebody in Japan learning about their tea culture and simultaneously learning about the Carnival de Rio in Brazil with another member.
3. Free
Most language exchange platforms are free of charge. Consider it to be a public library where instead of books, there are people who want to learn or speak a different language. You are welcome to approach anybody at will and strike up a conversation. All this at your convenience and no costs. Talk about a bargain!
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4. A Social Network of Language Learners
Language exchange platforms expose you to speakers of different languages. They might belong to a language you are learning, a language you intend to learn or an entirely new language you haven’t even considered learning. These platforms enable you to interact with various individuals at a social level where you can chat, share, learning content or simply engage in discussing language or culture. You can make new friends and in the process, practice or pick up their native tongue.
5. A Community Effort, No hidden Agenda
Crowdsourcing is the process of getting work or funding, usually online, from a crowd of people with the same goals and interests. When it comes to language exchange platforms, the same principle is applied. Members from a community come together, usually online, to start a discussion where anybody can participate. The absence of corporate players or big companies ensure that there are no hidden agendas. The intention is to create a platform for the community to engage in social learning that is void of commercial interests.
Start learning your next language and then hang out with language buddies online!
Govind Nair
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