| One of the most effective ways to learn proper | | | | Your second option is to check whether or not |
| pronunciation and smooth your conversational skills | | | | there are any time banks or knowledge markets |
| in a foreign language is to regularly speak with a | | | | in your town. To clarify, a time bank is basically a |
| native speaker of this language. And since you | | | | system where you "deposit" time by helping |
| don't always have the time or the money for | | | | others with your talents, and then "cash in" the |
| linguistic vacations, and you probably wish you | | | | hours you've earned by getting help by someone |
| could trade at least one of your virtual, online | | | | who has the skills you're looking for. It's a |
| native-speaker contacts for someone met offline, | | | | simplified explanation, but you get the idea. The |
| you're now given a list of three simple ways to | | | | knowledge market is similar, but there might be |
| find what you need right where you live... | | | | some monetary transactions involved. You could |
| Your circle of influence | | | | join these types of associations, and offer your |
| The very first thing you can do it to ask your | | | | knowledge and time in return for conversation |
| family, friends, colleagues, business partners or | | | | time with a native speaker of the language you've |
| fellow students, if they happen to know any | | | | been learning. |
| native speaker in your town. Maybe they're not, | | | | International friendship associations |
| but they can always mention it to their circle of | | | | Another way of meeting native speakers is to |
| influence, and so on, until you find just the person | | | | look for a friendship association your country |
| you were looking for. Use social networks, too, | | | | might have established with the country where |
| and post the story about your search on | | | | the foreign language in question is spoken. Usually, |
| different forums, as well as on as many relevant | | | | there's a lot of social events going on, with a |
| bulletin boards offline you can think of. Ask the | | | | significant number of new and exciting |
| people you know to stay alert, and let you know | | | | opportunities to hang out with friends of a |
| should they hear about any cool new friend that's | | | | different nationality, and becoming a part of a |
| a native speaker of your target language. When | | | | vibrant community of knowledgeable, |
| the word spreads, it's very likely you'll be | | | | communicative people that love cultural and |
| introduced to the right guy or gal. | | | | linguistic exchange. |
| Time bank or knowledge market | | | | |