Studying grammar and kanji is important, but at some point you have to accually use the language as well. One of the best ways to do so is by engaging in a Japanese language exchange.
With the rise of technology, it’s now easier than ever to find a language exchange partner through various apps and websites. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most popular Japanese language exchange apps available.
More Japanese language apps
What to talk about in a language exchange?
When engaging in a language exchange it’s important to have a variety of conversation topics ready to keep the conversation flowing and interesting. Itäs also a good Idea to practice different aspects of the Japanese language. If you’re not the smoothes small talker, here are some ideas for conversation topics:
Daily life
Talk about your daily routine, what you like to do in your free time, and your hobbies and interests.
Travel
Share your travel experiences or talk about places you would like to visit.
Work or school
Discuss your job or studies and any challenges you face in those areas.
Current events
Talk about news and current events happening in your country or around the world.
Culture
Discuss the culture and customs of your country and learn about the culture of your conversation partner.
Food
Talk about your favorite dishes and cuisines and learn about new foods from your conversation partner’s country.
Personal interests
Share your personal interests and passions, and ask your conversation partner about theirs.
Where can I do Japanese language exchange?
Beeing in Japan is obviously the easiest way to meet native speakers in real life. But with apps and the Internet doing Japanese laguage exchange is quite simple, where ever you happen to be.
There are apps where you can practice writing messages to Japanese speakers, doing video chats or finding a real life language exchange in your area.
Language exchange apps
Here are our favourite Japanese language exchange apps that connect you with native Japanese speakers for real-life conversations.
HelloTalk
HelloTalk is a language exchange app that connects users who want to learn each other’s language. The app lets you find conversation partners, chat with them, and exchange language and cultural knowledge.
How it workd is that you choose what language you speak and what language you want to learn, and what level you are. You can then find matches with Japanese speakers who wants to learn your language. However, in the free version you can only choose one language that you speak so choose carefully.
For example: If your native language is a not very popular language you might get fewer matches. But if you are also fluent in a popular language like english you might want to consider choosing that instead. You can of course also pay for the premium version which lets you set multimle languages.
Besides language, you can also search for partners based on location and other criteria. HelloTalk also includes features such as text and voice translation, voice recognition, and a built-in correction tool to help users improve their writing skills. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. It’s a great way to practice speaking and listening with a native speaker and also to learn about the culture of the country where the language is spoken.
The good
- Many users
- Includes features such as text and voice translation, voice recognition, and a built-in correction tool to help you improve your writing skills.
The Bad
- The fact that you can search based on gender and other personal info sometimes turns the app into a dating app. It doesn’t have to be negative though, just be aware.
Price: $6.99 / month, $46 / year. Lifetime membership $175.00.
MyLanguageExchange.com
MyLanguageExchange.com is a website that looks like it hasn’t been updated since the dawning of the Internet. But don’t let that scare you, it’s accually a great place to meet people for Japanese language exchange!
The website helps you to find conversation partners, with whom you correspond with via email/messaging through the website. You can search for partners based on language, location,age, gender, and interests.
The website also includes a language learning section where you can access a variety of language learning resources. For example grammar and vocabulary exercises, conversation prompts, and language learning tips.
MyLanguageExchange.com is a great option for those who prefer to communicate via email-like conversations, where the preasure to reply instantly is less prevalent.
The good
- Membership subscription is cheap (compared to other language exhange services) and does not renew automatically.
The Bad
- No app and a website that should be put out of its missery.
Price: US $5.99 /1 month, $11.99 US / 3 month, $27.99 / 12 month.
Meetup
Meetup is a social networking app that helps people connect with others who share similar interests. It can also be used for language exchange and is a good way to find people to meet and practice with in real life meetings.
Meetup groups are organized around a particular theme or interest, such as language exchange, and members can join these groups to participate in events and activities related to that theme.
Using Meetup for language exchange is easy. Just search for language exchange groups in your area. When you find one that seems interesting you RSVP to the event to join. Attend the event and meet up with the others. Usually language exchange events through Meetup
However, although Meetup are used by many groups for language exchange, it is not specifically made for that purpose. Therefore groups and events may not be as frequent or as specialized as other language exchange apps. It is also very dependant on where you live, as group meetings tend to be more frequent in big cities.
The good
- Great way to meet people with a similar interest as you in a real life setting.
The bad
- Depending on where you live Japanese language exchange groups might be scarse. (You can always try to start one yourself.)
Price: Free to use. Organizing groups can cost money though, and depending on the organizer a small fee might be required to join a group.
Try Meetup
Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app that works like most others. Connect with native speakers who want to learn your language. You can find partners based on language, location, and other criteria. The app aslo helps you to find conversation partners at the same level of proficiency. Once you find a good partner you can chat with them, either through text or video.
Besides talking one-on-one there is also a group feature. This lets you talk – or listen – to others in a group audio chat room.
The good
- Many users which makes it easy to find a language partner.
The bad
- Beeing forced to upload a photo of yourself can be a dealbreaker for some. “Is this a language exchange app or a dating app?” If you don’t mind, then this should not be an issue.
Price: Free, enough for most people. The Pro version will give you extra features, such as searching for people nearby, get rid of ads and highlight your profile. Pro will cost you about US $14 per month, or slighly less than $7 per moth if you purchase 1 year.
Try Tandem
Dating apps
Using dating apps for language exchange can be a great way to improve your language skills while also potentially meeting new people. There are surprisingly many who wants to chat for a long time before even considering meeting anyone.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that dating apps are primarily designed for romantic and social connections, so while you may find conversation partners, it might not always be clear that you are on the same page.
Make sure you’re 100% honest about your intentions and try to only talk to people looking for friends, rather than a dating partner. Some dating apps, like Bumble, givs you the option to choose “searching for friends” rather than romantic partners.
In Japan many popular dating apps are restricted to Japan, but Tinder, Bumble and OK Cupid also have many users.
Have fun – and be respectful!
The good
- Connecting with people on dating apps tend to open up to more “real” and fun conversations than dedicted language exchange apps.
The Bad
- If you’re not good at small talk this is probably not for you. Looks might also be an important factor, unfortunately…
Price: You are probably going to need a premium account regardless of what app you choose. Changing location is often locked behind a premium subscription. Check each app for prices.
Tinder
Bumble
OkCupid
