It's easier to work on your Spanish speaking skills when you have a native speaker to talk to. Here are some suggestions for finding someone you can talk with.

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: One week

1. Check with the English as a Second Language program at a local community college. Help a Spanish speaker learn English while you learn Spanish.
2. Check with churches that may have Spanish members. If your community has a significant Spanish-speaking population, check first with a Catholic church.
3. Some larger cities have international friendship associations that foster communication among people of different cultures. Contact such an organization if there is one.
4. See if a local high school has foreign-exchange students from Spanish-speaking countries.
5. Check with local Spanish teachers to see if they have suggestions.
6. Post a request on a bulletin board in a place frequented by Spanish speakers. Again, someone might be willing to trade Spanish conversation for English conversation.
7. If all else fails, find a Spanish-language chat room that matches your interests. You may be able to find someone with whom you can schedule a voice chat.
   
   

1. Be respectful of personal and cultural differences with potential conversation partners.
2. Don't go it alone if you don't have to. Learning a language often is more fun and more productive in a small group than when conversing one on one.
   
   

Related Features:

• http://spanish.about.com/msub8.htm
• http://www.LanguageTrade.com
• http://spanish.about.com/msub22.htm