Well, I am glad that there are actually people reading my messages.
I was not expecting any respond here.
I was not trying to brag or anything. I must point out previous language
exchange experience, because I got many queries about language exchange
when I discuss similar topic on other forums before. Yes, there are many
people who need help, whether financially, linguistically or mentally; it
does not mean I have the responsibility to help them. Learning a new
language needs time and a strong will. That’s not something I can provide.
Often, I meet people who spend too little time practicing and asking for
tips to improve their English. There are a lot of ways to improve English
like learning grammar, watching English movies without subtitle or reading
English articles. Personally, I see oral communication as the final step
(that’s just me, I don’t know about others). I do have some friends who
wanted to practice English with me, but it turned out that their basic
grammar and vocabulary is too weak (it’s wasting our time to practice
English conversation). I am willing to help those who have done their
homework but lacked an opportunity to achieve the next level, but most
people I met (or should I say all) just want a shortcut and thinking their
English can improve dramatically just by practicing it with a foreigner.
What makes me think so? I have corrected so many essays that have no verbs
at all (not even one in the whole essay; in fact, it’s really an achievement)
or emails that full of errors (I am not picky, but when I meant full,
it’s REALLY full of them) asking me to be a language exchange
partner. Maybe it’s just bad luck for me. It was not that bad about
7 years ago, but, now, I don’t know what’s going on.
Your assumption was right: money is not a concern for me, well, at least
for now, but hiring a foreigner would be one of the craziest options for me,
just like I don’t expect to pay or get paid when speaking Mandarin with
someone else. I don’t need linguistic guidance or correction. If they do not
enjoy the conversation or the topic, WALK AWAY! When I first came back to
Taiwan about 7 years ago, I meet all kind of fun people in the pubs. Now,
everything has changed. I don’t want to mention it again,
but I guess it’s fairly easy to find out what I am saying just by going to
the pubs I mentioned before.
It makes me sick when I see the whole society has such frenzy into English.
English is just one of thousand languages in this world; it does not make
a person a better being. I have a bottom line when I am in Taiwan; that is:
I never speak English unless I must to. I have many friends who have similar
background to mine, but we never speak English with each other when we meet
in Taiwan; we only speak Mandarin and Taiwanese. To me (again it’s my
personal view), it is kind of awkward and rude to speak a
language people surround you do not understand when you all can speak
the local language. I never speak Mandarin in front of people who do not
understand it when I was in the states, unless I must; I think it is a
kind of respect. I do the same thing is Taiwan. Maybe I am a little too
extreme, but I would go somewhere private if I have to speak English on
the phone when meeting with my local Taiwanese friends (well, I usually
talk loudly on the phone in front of them). I guess the whole thing return
to one key point: I don’t feel comfortable talking in English with someone
who I know I can communicate easily in another language.
I apologize if my previous post sounded offensive or cocky; that was not my
intention (that would not do me any good anyway). I indeed feel nervous that
I am losing my English tongue, but maybe that’s the price I have to pay for
my Mandarin improvement. My Mandarin doesnsound like a Taiwanese now.
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