Anyone elses language exchanges only lasting one meeting?

[thefrownclown]

For the record, I went to the TTMIK Language Cast last week and found it pretty useless. The venue was so loud and crowded I couldn't hear anybody, and I was speaking with English speakers most of the time. The Korean speakers were mostly Korean hanging out in a corner speaking rapid fire full on Korean. Everyone else was hitting on, picking up or flirting with a person of the opposite sex in English. It felt like a pick up scene and most of it was in English as afar as I could tell. It didn't do much for my Korean.

To be fair though, I went with a friend who said it worked great for him. He plans to go again next week and I agreed I'd give it another try. I'm leaning towards the idea of getting a tutor.
Also, I and some friends attend the free langugae courses at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center. You should check them out if your interested. We generally try to get togeher afterward and try to speak Korean only for ten minute segments. After a few beers we all sound great ;-)

[WorkingTitle3484]

Language exchanges are like helping a friend move to a new place.  If both parties are ready to work, it's easy, painless and mutually beneficial.  But, not having a plan for an exchange is like not packing your items up in boxes.  You'll never want to help that friend again, know what I mean?

[naturegirl321]

I've given up. I've tried and it turns into : please edit my 10 page research assignment or dealing with people talk about how horrible their English skills are, yet somehow they managed to get a degree from MIT.  You also might telling them ahead of time that you're married. I did that and found that some people didn't even return my email after that, so saved time.

Oi have one now, she's an ex student, but it's still mainly teaching her English.

[Rina]

It's not you. My Korean friend said she'd meet people and flake out on them all the time on language exchanges. Then she said she'd feel bad about it. If you're serious about learning Korean, find someone who isn't in college or just out of college and is maybe married.

[RangerMcGreggor]

For the record, I went to the TTMIK Language Cast last week and found it pretty useless. The venue was so loud and crowded I couldn't hear anybody, and I was speaking with English speakers most of the time. The Korean speakers were mostly Korean hanging out in a corner speaking rapid fire full on Korean. Everyone else was hitting on, picking up or flirting with a person of the opposite sex in English. It felt like a pick up scene and most of it was in English as afar as I could tell. It didn't do much for my Korean.

It's better to meet friends who MIGHT later help you with Korean, then just go there for tutoring.  I go there all the time, but I mostly go there to hang out with friends I've made before.  If you're past the basic level though, it's pretty good though.


And yeah it happens alot.  I had one who sticked with me who is actually pretty serious (She's an actual Korean tutor) but like alot of social things, expect to miss more than succeed.