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Is a Language Exchange Program safe for.. | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Links & Internet Resources |  | |
| kanaka_peach Newbie United States Joined 5806 days ago 12 posts - 12 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese | Message 1 of 14 13 July 2010 at 7:30am | IP Logged | ||
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a young teen (13-16)?
I want to practice Japanese, but I live no where near a Japanese Community (Deep South) nor do I know any Japanese people. I've heard of these programs around the weg where you can practice your language with a native or somebody also learning, and I thought this would be good practice. The problem is that I'm scared that I might run into some crazy lunatic posing as a teen or something (I'm very paranoid :P). Anyways, what do you think? Would you recommend it to a young teen? If not, what else? If so, which one? Oh and I'm sorry if I posted in the wrong forum... just let me know (I'm new at this) Thanks! :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Volte Tetraglot Senior Member Switzerland Joined 6441 days ago 4474 posts - 6726 votes  Speaks: English*, Esperanto, German, Italian Studies: French, Finnish, Mandarin, Japanese | Message 2 of 14 13 July 2010 at 7:38am | IP Logged | ||
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Nothing is guaranteed to be safe, including walking across your own street. Most things are fine most of the time in practice.
That said, doing language exchanges online is quite safe. If you're nervous, don't give out your full name, address, or similar identifying information (if you're the chess champion of your state, or live in a town of 350 and say which, that's identifying information). At that point, the worst that can realistically happen is that someone will say something rude. Good luck. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
 newyorkeric Diglot Moderator Singapore Joined 6381 days ago 1598 posts - 2174 votes Speaks: English*, Italian Studies: Mandarin, Malay Personal Language Map | Message 3 of 14 13 July 2010 at 8:51am | IP Logged | ||
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Well, I've heard from several female friends that it can be a frustrating experience for a woman on these sites because there are lots of guys there that are more interested in socializing than practicing a language. But as long as you are aware of this when searching for a partner and take the safeguards that Volte suggests then there is no reason it shouldn't be a safe experience.
5 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| numerodix Trilingual Hexaglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 6785 days ago 856 posts - 1226 votes Speaks: EnglishC2*, Norwegian*, Polish*, Italian, Dutch, French Studies: Portuguese, Mandarin | Message 4 of 14 13 July 2010 at 9:13am | IP Logged | ||
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There's nothing to say that you have to use your real identity online. Just make up a username that has no similarity to your real name. If anyone asks about your age, tell them you're 30 or something. Some people give away their real age by the way they write English (characteristic mistakes/feature to a certain age), but you don't, so you're fine.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| zekecoma Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5346 days ago 561 posts - 655 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 5 of 14 13 July 2010 at 9:28am | IP Logged | ||
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I tend to use aliases on the internet. Since it's really easy to pop up your name in
google. Even giving someone your email address and googling it might bring up your real name also. That's why I use aliases unless I truly know someone or really trust someone. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Bnicleve Newbie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5289 days ago 4 posts - 8 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 6 of 14 15 July 2010 at 5:15am | IP Logged | ||
Very true. This has been my experience as a female using language exchanges. I was previously doing well with sites such as LiveMocha, and the moment I posted a picture of myself, I was flooded with friend requests from males who were mainly focused on being inappropriate or waisting my time. Its unforunate for women who are taking language learning seriously, but that seems to be the unspoken rule on many of these sites. My suggestions based on personal mistakes I have made doing language exchanges: 1. DO NOT use webcam with anyone that you don't know, or have not gotten to know. Things have started out with very pleasant, innocent intentions, and then suddenly escaleted to me getting a peep show that I never wanted to see. 2. DO NOT tolerate anything that is initially inappropriate. Give them a little room to start out flirtatious and weird and it will only get worse. 3. DO NOT of course, give out any personal information, your age especially. I was e-stalked for a short time by a user whom I had gotten too familiar with, searching my name and blaa jay blaa. Other than those three, enjoy yourself and keep it classy. ;-) 5 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| GREGORG4000 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5525 days ago 307 posts - 479 votes Speaks: English*, Finnish Studies: Japanese, Korean, Amharic, French | Message 7 of 14 15 July 2010 at 5:17am | IP Logged | ||
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Why on earth would they do that and not use the billions of dating sites already out there :\ Geez.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Arekkusu Hexaglot Senior Member Canada bit.ly/qc_10_lec Joined 5383 days ago 3971 posts - 7747 votes Speaks: English, French*, GermanC1, Spanish, Japanese, Esperanto Studies: Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin, Romanian, Estonian | Message 8 of 14 15 July 2010 at 8:45pm | IP Logged | ||
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I suggest www.lang-8.com. While it's only used for written practice, people become acquainted as they correct eachother's texts, and after a while, you might find that you trust one of them enough to go to another site to chat or talk.
1 person has voted this message useful |
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