This article was originally posted on WomenLearnThai.com.
Skyping with online language exchange partners…
In my interview with Fiona from Baby Steps to Fluency (no longer online), Fiona explained how she uses language exchange partners to fast forward her studies. When I asked Fiona where she came by her partners, she mentioned How To Learn Any Language and Unilang.
Armed with google, I went in search of more language exchange sites for this post. I discovered that there are many sites available, with a stretch of attributes. Some are simple. You just sign up, do a search, and make contact. Others have more to them: forums, teachers, classes, video, online chat, resources, etc.
Not all language exchanges offer Thai, so I did a quick look to see who did (shown below). Btw – if you know of more language exchanges, please drop a line in the comments or via my contact form.
Online language exchange partners…
Conversation Exchange
They offer three types of exchanges: face to face conversation, correspondence (pen-pal), text and voice chat. My search came up with 67 Thai speakers wanting to learn English via Skype. Their login dates are recent.
Facebook: Skype Language Exchange group
It’s a simple concept. After you join the group, scroll down through the language exchange requests to find a fit. You can also post language requests of your own.
italki.com
On this site there is the ability to hook up with a Thai language exchange partner, a Thai Skype teacher, or both. The Questions and Answers section is another place to ask questions. There are other sections, so poke around. When I did a search for Thai speakers, it came back with 500.
Ju Ju Penpals
JuJu is a community where finding language exchange partners is one of the options, but not the main aim. A search for Thai speakers interested in language exchange gave me 78.
Learn to Speak Thai
On this site you can communicate with a language exchange partner via email, text chat, and voice chat. There are a number of interesting resources on the site: word games, library, forum, and a lot more. The tips section is one of the best advice resource I’ve found. There are 7666 registered Thai speakers signed up to learn English.
lexxing
This is a new community site. Available is chat, blogs, albums and videos (where you post from your trips or whatever), and a forum. When you sign up, you are asked to define your language (whether you want to teach or learn), and your location. After those two are filled out, you can look for a match within registered users. What I liked about this site is that you can also find study partners (needed). There are no Thai matches but it’s early days yet. And while there is no mention of Skype, it’s easy to arrange between users.
Lingomigo
There is so much going on at this site (mostly ads) that other than finding a language partner, I’m not sure what they do. There are four Thai speakers listed.
LingoZone
This is a basic language exchange partner connection site. Besides linking up with someone, you can chat, create an online vocabulary list, and play games (but I believe they are English only). There looks to be around 100 Thai speakers on the site.
My Happy Planet
After you sign up to find friends you can watch videos (mostly music videos from YouTube), and then check out their Thai lessons (none at the moment). There are presently 909 Thai partners listed.
Phrasebase Foreign Language Learning
They have put a lot of thought into this site. It has a forum and several sections to learn Thai (phrases, words, etc). You can upgrade by paying US$5.75 a month to learn 500 Thai words and phrases. In the community there are two Thai teachers, two language exchange partners, and ten students. Problem is, it’s been ten months since their Thai community has checked in. I’m hoping that it’s a technical glitch.
Polyglot Club
This site has a simple aim: to learn languages and make friends. It uses the “Polyglot Approach” and the concept of “Active Ear” (I’ll leave you to find out what that is). There is a video section (what you can already find on YouTube) and a forum. Oh, and the Polyglot Club is affiliated with ASSIMIL (a personal favourite, so it has to be good). At a glance this site is worth looking into. A quick search came up with over 40 Thai speakers wanting to hook up with English speakers learning Thai.
Skype Community
Simple concept. Just sign in and then do a search for ‘Thai’ (not ‘learn Thai’ or you’ll get everything for ‘learn’ as well).
The MIXXER
If you remember, I interviewed Todd Bryant, the creator of Mixxer. The site is fast, signup is easy. Also easy is looking for a language exchange partner. Each member gets a blog where they can write posts in their target language. To find out more, check out their FAQ. There are at least 140 Thai speakers with an interest in English.
UniLang
This is a big site: courses, videos, audio and podcasts, grammar, dictionaries, pronunciation & script, vocabulary, phrasebooks, stories, games & exercises (vocabulary trainer, exercises), linguistics, articles, reviews, news & media, online tools & software. My search for Thai nationals came up with ten, three have been active on the site (forum posts).
VoxSwap: Crunchbase
This is basically a social network for learning languages. I was not able to poke around inside because I received a 500 Internal Server Error. There is an online chat area, forum, and members can upload teaching videos. My quick search came up almost 60 Thai speakers.
How to learn Thai via Skype, the series…
This post is part eight of an eight part series.
- How to learn Thai via Skype
- Interview: Skype Thai Teacher Khun Narisa Naropakorn
- Guest Post: Study Thai Online via Skype
- My Skype Thai Language Learning Experience
- Learn Thai via Skype: Locating Teachers and Schools
- Todd Bryant and Mixxer, the Language Exchange Community
- Baby Steps to Fluency on Skype Language Exchange Partners
- Online Language Exchange Partners
Here’s another addition: Facebook’s Skype Language Exchange group
Either respond to present requests for Skype partners or make one of your own.
You are welcome Jeff 🙂 If I get the time, I will certainly stop by! Btw – I’ve updated your url – and if you have anything in the works (Thai related) please let me know.
Hi Catherine, this is Jeff from JuJu.cc – we wanted to drop by and say thank you for including us on your list, we appreciate it very much! =)
I also wanted to let you know that our homepage URL has changed – instead of being now it is simply http://www.juju.cc … hope this makes sense, and thank you again, we would love to have you join us someday if you are interested! =P
Interesting post: Twelve simple tips to quickly get good input from native speakers on social language-learning websites
You are welcome (and thanks for telling me about the site 🙂
Great, thanks Catherine 🙂
Thank you mao, I’ve added lexxing.com. And no, this way is not spamming 🙂
There’s a new site you can add to this list it’s http://www.lexxing.com. I hope this is not interpreted as spamming, the site is free and looking forward to build a great community of people interested in language exchange.
Hi Martyn, I was surprised to find so many too. But even with that amount of groups, finding a Thai fit might not be as easy.
I wonder if any of the Thai schools have a Skype partner plan for their students learning English. But I don’t even know who to ask.
Catherine I’m surprised at the amount of language exchange sites you managed to find, then again perhaps I’m not.
The world has changed a lot over the past ten years, so many people migrate nowadays and for many different reasons. Work, love, travel, and for many one of those mingles with the other. Learning your target country’s language is an obvious choice or must do for many travellers, and so I’m not surprised this kind of language learning enterprise is so rife.
I like the look of the Polyglot Club, that’s a good name dropper in the right circles and a lovely entry to hobbies on a CV.
Good post.
You are welcome John.
thanks for the tips even though i speak a little Thai I still have a long way to go so these resources will be very helpful
great blog thanks again
Thank you muchly Talen. It has been a fun ride finding resources that are actually useful.
Cat, once again you have outdone yourself and your dedication to Thai language resources makes WLT the premier site for Learning about the Thai language!
Paul, if people can wade through those crazy ads to find anyone, then I wish them well 🙂
Another great resource Cat. Well done. Those four Thai people on Lingomigo might have a busy day answering emails because of your article 🙂