Are you trying to learn French? Or do you just want to find a French buddy to talk to?
Imagine having someone to try your French on! Pretty awesome. I bet you would be looking forward to your French conversations.
Finding a native speaker to chat with is a sure way to improve your French vocabulary, grammar, but also to memorize it all.
Now, there is a myriad of websites and apps to find language partners. But finding the perfect one is as hard as trouver une aiguille dans une meule de foin. How exactly to find a French pen-pal?
Worry no more, I’ve got you covered.
I used all of these websites myself. And I recommend them to anyone trying to learn a language.
PS: Remember, French native comes in all nationalities, as there is plenty of French-speaking countries.
First on the list, HelloLingo
Back in my pen-pal days, I was using SharedTalk, the free chat system of Rosetta Stone. It had a wonderfully active community.
Yet, it was shut down a few years ago. However, the community missed it so much, some members decided to create a replacement. A few versions later, HelloLingo was born.
It is a chat platform, with chat rooms for different languages. Everything SharedTalk had, and everything you’ll ever need to speak with native and learners from all over the world.
You can remain totally anonymous. Or give out your skype details, or your facebook account, or whatever it is you want to communicate on.
Give it a try ! FYI I met a bunch of wonderful people there.
PS: I recommend you have at least an early intermediate level before you try to find a native to talk to.
If HelloLingo failed you, try Interpals
No luck? What about Facebook?
Yes, it can be a bit random. But if you’re smart about it, you’ll definitely find someone.
Simply reply to the post, or add your own ad.
Alternatively, you can post your ad in the comments ! (I know a LOT of French people are actually reading this blog ahah)
Which brings me to the one trick to get off instantly with your new pen-pals
You cannot just simply write ten words and expect the right person to come to you.
I’ve had many people come to me like that:
Bonjour, je suis américain.
And that’s all… How am I supposed to draw on that?
Be smarter. Go beyond the simple greetings.
If you want a pen-pal that you will actually like, don’t be afraid to show off your personality.
You’re not just ‘an American guy’ or ‘a British gal’. You are ‘a Dallas-born musician’ or ‘an aspiring astronaut from Manchester’. Tell us about you so that you will not only have more answers, but more success in finding a pen-pal who’s the right fit.
Here’s some question if you don’t know what to write:
- What’s you best quality?
- What’s you worst flaw?
- What are you passionate about?
- What’s your favourite conversation topic?
- Which personality are you looking up to?
And that, my friend, is how you are going to find your perfect French pen-pal.
One last thing before we go
Do you really want a penpal?
I’m serious.
A lot of learners don’t really understand that a language exchange goes both ways.
Your penpal will NOT be your French teacher, your tutor or your translator. And your conversations will not be french classes or courses.
You will practice with them your conversational French (and your French slang, let’s be honest), but they won’t teach you per say.
Remember that please 😉
2 thoughts on “How to find a French pen-pal and one trick to hit it off instantly with them”
I’m recently retired with no family, and I’ve always wanted to learn french.
I believe it would make a nice hobby.
I am planning on moving to France next year and would like to learn french and also help someone with english if they are wishing to learn.