How to find a Chinese Language Partner?

Finding a decent Chinese language partner could be difficult, especially if you’re practicing the language with someone that speaks only English. 

In this post, I have provided some tips to find a Chinese language partner that can help you to improve your language. 

Why it’s difficult to find a Chinese Language Partner?

A person who speaks Chinese decently will suggest you spend your time with a native Chinese speaker. It will help you to improve your Chinese. 

However, while learning Mandarin, you will always experience issues, even in China. When you spend time with a native Chinese speaker, you will realize that using one language that both parties are best at promotes the efficiency of communication. 

In China, you will find many foreign friends, but the habits of speaking English will make it difficult to communicate in Mandarin, even after making it clear you want to improve your Mandarin.

So what do you do to find a good Language Partner?

Several effective ways can help you find a good Chinese language partner, though it requires patience and a bit of luck. 

1) Language Exchange

In China, I tried many language exchanges but always get disappointed. Most of the tutors were not experienced to teach Mandarin as a second language, or each lesson we had turned into an off-topic discussion in English.

So, to find the best-suited person for language exchange, you should find people who are bored and want to talk to you.

One of my friends John told me, how he used to spend his time chatting to the guards at the building where he worked.

Guard’s job usually consisted of sitting all day and pressing a button to open the gate when a car comes. They were very bored therefore they were willing to offer a language exchange practice. This is like having free Chinese teachers who help John to improve his language.

The best point was the guards loved to talk with John. These language exchange practices help John to develop his Chinese skill. 

You can also find someone who wants to talk to you, try to visit local shops and restaurants and communicate with the owner and workers there. This communication will ultimately improve your speaking Chinese.

You can talk with local citizens in parks who want to talk to foreigners and interested in your language and culture. 

2) Online Tutoring with an experienced Teacher

While you are practicing Chinese speaking through language exchange, but still you need guidance on grammar, new vocabulary, and language areas where you want to improve.

You need a tutor who is experienced in teaching Mandarin as a second language. It would be great if your language partner is a teacher.

I recommend you to find an online tutor. You will find many tutors on different websites. Always choose a professional tutor who can teach you in the right way.  

Moreover, you don’t need to find a good language partner; instead, you can practice your language with your tutor from the comfort of your home. 

Final Thoughts on Language Partners

Many other things that obstruct your capability to improve your Mandarin are everything you do to spend your time in China. 

If you are not satisfied with your spoken Mandarin, ask yourself the following questions:

Am I spending enough time studying my Chinese textbook and other resources? 

Does the time I am spending with foreign people outweigh the time I am spending with local citizens?

Am I actively engaging myself with the native Chinese that doesn’t speak English?

If the answer is yes to the above questions, try to reconsider the ways how you can spend more time engaging yourself with native Chinese and increasing your studying time.