A few things that make a first language exchange easy, from years of Guildford Babel nights.
- Pick somewhere public
A café, pub or library in town. Somewhere with a bit of background noise feels less like an exam.
- Keep the first one short
An hour is plenty. If it clicks, book the next one before you leave.
- Split the time fairly
Half an hour in each language. Set a timer on your phone so nobody has to be the one to say "switch".
- Bring three easy topics
Your weekend, food you love, a place you would like to visit. Simple beats clever.
- Correct gently, and only if asked
Agree at the start how much correcting you each want. Writing words down on a napkin works wonders.
- Mistakes are the point
Everyone is nearly fluent at something. The one who makes the most mistakes usually learns the most.
- Go Dutch
Each pays for your own drink. Easy, and nobody feels they owe anything.
- Trust your gut
Tell a friend where you are going. If anything feels wrong, leave, and report it privately from their profile.