Do you have a “language helper?”: A story from a language learner
Do you have a “language helper?”: A story from a language learner Heading link
A language helper is a conversation partner that helps you learn English. This is someone who is patient, kind, and willing to answer all of your questions about English. What does this type of friendship look like?
When I lived in Bosnia, I learned Bosnian. I met some college students and we became friends. One day, we made a deal. I shook my friend’s hand and said, “I promise to only speak Bosnian with you, unless it’s an emergency!” She said, “OK! I will make sure you keep this promise!”
The next week, we went for coffee together, and she helped me begin to speak. I was so scared! I messed up almost every word I said. But step-by-step, with her patience, the language came alive. Instead of thinking about how to say something, I could finally think of what to say!
What should you look for if you want to find a language helper? Someone who is:
- Patient
- Interested in you as a person and friend
- Open to other cultures and languages
- Available – if they never have time, you can never meet
Good luck out there! Let us know how it goes at tutorium@uic.edu.