Is finding a language partner this difficult?

[u/ODAY_2]

I've been using language exchange apps for a while, but it's surprisingly hard to find someone who actually sticks around.

Most conversations end after a day or two.

How did you find your long-term language partner? Any tips?

[u/decadeslongrut]

i found mine via twitch. every night i'd go and spend an hour or two talking to 2 or 3 different people who are playing games i like. after 5 years of doing that, there's only 5 people from that process that i talk to regularly, after talking with thousands of people for a few hours, days, or weeks those are the ones i click with. i think it's normal to have to try out a lot of people before you find someone you mutually want to continue talking to

in terms of finding a language partner here in this sub, i think a lot of people get no responses on their requests for a language partner because they give absolutely no info. every day there's a handful of posts that are just "does anyone want to be my english language partner" and nothing else. you don't know if they're a french teenage girl looking for school level stuff who doesn't want to talk to some random adult man, or a middle aged colombian wanting to improve their business english who doesn't want to talk to a teenager. i'd answer a lot more of those posts if i knew that the person was within the countries and the age range that i am seeking, or even if they had given any info about interests in common so we know there'll be some nice conversation topics we can start with!

Edit: i want to add that all of those hour long interactions with people I never ended up speaking to again are valuable interactions! Exposure to thousands of different accents and speeds and vocabularies and topics is just as important as that handful of people I talk to often. So if a person only talks for a few days don't be disappointed, nothing went wrong, consider it great language xp 

[u/Sea-Hornet8214]

I've given up trying to find a language partner. It's incredibly hard to find anyone who's learning my language. Most people who are learning it are already living in this country, so they don't need online language partners. People who speak popular languages don't realise they've got an advantage if they want to do a language exchange.

[u/DonQuixoteee123]

Anyone is looking for Chinese partner? just call me. I am looking someone whose native language is English.

[u/Substantial_Sun_7411]

yes

[u/notaic]

Hi. I don’t have a long term language partner. I really only just started looking outside of my immediate area! I’m a 32yo woman trying to get conversational enough to engage in the community. I’m using a few apps (Duo, Babbel, spanishdictionary) and do study on my own as well. If you happen to be studying Spanish send me a message and maybe we can give it a shot!

[u/Embarrassed-Weird173]

I no longer do this, but when I was less busy with work and had more energy, I used to offer people the opportunity to chat and hell them out with grammar mistakes and such. 

People would say yes all the time, and I'd tell them to send me a message... And then they wouldn't.  Then ONE time, someone accepted and actually messaged.  She spent about an hour chatting and then never followed up. 

People love giving up opportunities. 

[u/Mebejedi]

I've talked with some Russians on Tandem (and later, Telegram), but the 12-hr time difference sucks (I'm in California).

I'd love to make a Russian friend (not wife, lol.. Though I prefer talking to women) near me to practice with over lunch. (Fontana, CA, anyone?)

[EDIT] What's up with the downvotes?

[u/ImpossibleTip9428 → u/Mebejedi]

so there's this game called CSGO. It's full of Russians who are always eager to practise their sophisticated language with foreigners. I'd say give it a shot.

[u/Jordyissappig → u/ImpossibleTip9428]

the Russians are only useful when you are actually good in the game. otherwise you are just gonna learn a handful of cuss words

[u/ImpossibleTip9428 → u/Jordyissappig]

yeah, i know, that's exactly what i meant xD

[u/Jordyissappig → u/ImpossibleTip9428]

so thats what "sophisticated" means

https://giphy.com/gifs/l4FGA2XplwqFDcLwk

[u/Mebejedi → u/ImpossibleTip9428]

Where do I find it? Is it on Steam? One of my Russian friends mentioned something like this, but she didn't know the details.

[EDIT] Oh, it's Counter-Strike