Befriending a language partner is a good system and could be a great help in kick starting your spoken German. For a list of websites and apps offering German Language Exchange Partners see below.
Most potential German Language Exchange Partners are happy to communicate via email, text chat, voice chat, or Zoom or Skype. Spending regular time with a language partner who is a native German speaker is likely to help you improve your German in no time. Plus they can help you correct some of those embarassing mistakes.
Working with a German Language Partner is likely to be fun and informative. If you like sharing aspects of your life with someone from another country, it can be a very good way to have a positive cultural exchange and make some new friends.
Before you sign up to become a German Language Exchange Partner though here a few things to think about first.
Regional Accent Differences
In German speaking countries there is some variation in pronunciation and phrasing. Before you link up with a German Language Partner think about whether this may be an issue for you. I, myself, enjoy regional differences and find it a plus but if are concerned about picking up an accent then it may be preferable to pick a German Language Exchange Partner from northern Germany.
Profile of Your Ideal German Language Partner
How important is it to you to have a German Language Exchange Partner who you will have things in common with you. There are enough native German speakers out there to be able to find a match in terms of gender, age and interests if this is important to you. If you like hiking and photography, for instance, you are likely to find a German speaker who shares these interests. Keep in mind though that part of the overall experience of cultural exchange is building friendship despite differences.
Time and Availability
Think about your weekly schedule. How many hours per week have you got available to support one or more people to learn to speak English in exchange for them helping you learn German? My suggestion is to just start with one German Language Partner to begin with. See how it goes and then decide if you want to branch out a bit and add other German Language Exchange Partners as time goes on.
Beware of Scammers
There are some non bona fide people on penpal and language partner websites who spoil things for the rest of us. Choose your German Language Partner carefully and don't ever give anyone money if someone starts in with the sob stories. Take care sharing too much personal information with your chosen German Language Partner until you have had a chance to get a sense of whether this person is for real.
Remember to Have Fun
Remember above all learning German (Deutsch lernen) is meant to be fun. If for any reason you don't feel like you and your German Language Partner are a good fit it is best to be honest about it. Above all be polite and friendly if you decide to move on to a new language partner. Thank them for their time and effort. There will be other German Language Partners out there who you may find are a better match. If you have a less than positive experience, my advice is don't be put off, simply try again. At the end of the day we are all people and we are not going to get on with everyone.
Websites Offering German Language Partners
This list of German Language Partners is a starting place. Try one of these websites to find a suitable German Language learning partner for free.
mylanguageexchange.com
www.conversationexchange.com
interpals.net
The Best Apps for Finding a Language Exchange Partner / Buddy Include:
Hello Talk
Tandem
HiNative
Meetup
Low Cost Teacher
If you don't mind a low cost paid option you can find language teachers at: Low Cost Language teachers at itaki.com
Meet in Person If you live in a large city and would like to meet up with German speakers in person try this list of German Language Meetup Groups for the nearest group to you.
Good luck. Viel Glück!
Related Links
12 Great Ways to Find a Partner for German Language Exchange
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