4 Curious Lessons I Learned From Language Exchanges

Don’t worry, everybody else’s afraid too.

Mathias Barra
The Language Learning Hub

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Photo by victor dasilva on Unsplash

Most people who haven’t been to language exchanges hold misconceptions about them.

I first took part in a language exchange party 10 years ago. I absolutely loved the experience but had to move away and then never found the guts to join another one. Until two months ago.

Since then, I’ve been enjoying a weekly fun experience of talking to new people while slowly improving my skills.

Every language learner should take part in a language exchange at least once. Even the most shy and introverted people among us.

And this is the first lesson I came to learn.

Everybody’s afraid

I’ve talked to at least 50 people since I first joined the language exchange I go to. Everybody was — at least — mildly worried before the event started.

Despite having joined multiple times, I can always feel my heart beating faster and stronger as I walk towards the café where we meet.

Twice, I even passed in front of it without stopping because I felt I wasn’t ready yet and needed to walk my fear off.

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Mathias Barra
The Language Learning Hub

French polyglot speaking 6 languages. Writer. Helping you learn languages. Get my new ebook → https://linktr.ee/MathiasBarra