Want to ACCELERATE your language learning with a simple hack? One word: FREELANCERS
There’s no silver bullet to language learning, but this is about as close as you can get. Find out how you can use UpWork to hire freelancers, accelerate your language learning, and build a real friendship for life.
Why Speaking Partners?
Last week I wrote about the importance of finding a good speaking partner when you’re learning a language.
If you want to really develop your personality, humor, and your self in the process of language learning, there’s really almost nothing more important than finding a compatible speaking partner.
But this week, let me go into more detail about the nuts and bolts of hiring someone and how to make the process quick and painless.
In reality, there are a lot of ways you can find a potential speaking partner, but I’ll talk about one that has worked for me using UpWork.
Thank you, Internet
Freelancers may be one of the best additions of this century to the language learning scene.
Historically, it was quite the task to find a solid speaker of the language we want to learn, especially if you were in North America and wanted to learn something like Khosa or if you were in Turkey and wanted to learn something like Navajo.
Now, thankfully, we’re a click away from the freelance economy and the hundreds of thousands of people willing to share their language for a small fee. Plus, the huge number of freelancers means supply is high and prices are reasonable.
UpWork is one of my favorite places to hire freelancers, for many tasks, but especially for language learning. Just last week, it’s where I found my Moroccan tutor for the Summer.
Here’s how it works:
2. Post a job via the menu at the top right
3. Select the appropriate duration for the job
4. Create a job posting title (be creative, use CAPS, and Emojis to attract attention)
5. Add a few skills (and here’s where you can be creative)
In reality, you can learn a language from almost anyone, but you want it to be a good experience. So how can adding skills like these to the job posting help? After all, who cares if your speaking partner knows Python or is into social media marketing as their main gig? Well, it’s true you’re not really hiring someone for data visualization or marketing, but you are, in essence, hiring a friend and conversation partner, and ideally, this person will have some of your shared interests.
So add some of the skills you have and that you use on a regular basis, and chances are you can find someone who can help you talk about the things that make you tick.
6. Set the location.
This is important. Whatever you do, keep it worldwide. If you’re wanting to learn Portuguese for example, there are plenty of people in North America who can help you, but you don’t want to be too selective and miss out on the Portuguese speakers in South America, Europe, Africa, and all over the world who might be a good fit!
7. Write your post
This is where you make sure you’re not overwhelmed with unsuitable applicants.
Be specific about what you’re looking for, and make the job sound fun! Help potential freelancers see that they’ll enjoy this just as much as you do. Let them know what you like/don’t like in language learning. And make sure you’re clear about what you’re hoping for.
8. Finally, wait for applications to roll in!
They’ll come faster than you might expect. You can message people, set up Zoom interviews, and when you’ve found someone, you’ll be on your way! They’ll log their hours, UpWork will bill you (+ a few cents for processing), and that’s it!
Once you find someone, you can set up regular meeting times, and you’ll be on your way to better language skills in no time.
9. Working with Freelancers
Generally, the people I meet on UpWork are hardworking, communicative, and responsible. They are natural go-getters (which is why they’re on a platform like this in the first place), and they’re eager for a good review.
So be generous with your reviews and as generous as your circumstances allow with pay, and be free with your feedback, and you’ll almost certainly find someone who can help you get comfortable in your new language.
Good luck!
(And stop by next week for a post about some less hands-on approaches to hiring if that’s more your style.)
P.S. I like UpWork, but I’m not paid to like it. This post isn’t a paid promotion, just advice from a slightly obsessed language learner
