LANGUAGE EXCHANGE RENDEZVOUS
This weekend just gone I invited a few friends around for lunch and afternoon tea, a language exchange rendezvous. This is the second year I've done this with my group of friends who are my language exchange partners. Language exchange is something that I've discovered since coming to Taiwan. I think it's the best way to learn a foreign language and make new friends.
WHAT IS LANGUAGE EXCHANGE?
For those who don't know, language exchange is where you learn from someone who speaks the language you want to learn. In exchange you teach them your native language. The communication format can be whatever you want, email, phone, Skype, face to face. Personally I prefer to, and only do language exchange face to face as its much easier to communicate, and learn pronounciation more accurately. There are many websites and forums that organises these matching services. I guess its not too dissimilar to Tinder, only there's no romance involved. Or may be there is for some...... In addition, especially in Taiwan there are many Facebook groups for language learning as people are keen to learn English.
When I first came to Taiwan, I had at least two language partner at any one time as I was very keen to improve my Chinese. To avoid complication (I'm old school), I only do language exchange with girls. These girls have not only helped me with my Chinese. I've also learnt a lot of traditional and current local culture from them. I'm glad to say that I have made 6 good friends over the years.
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?
Anyway, back to my language exchange rendevous. Taiwanese food isn't my forte so of course I prepared a westernised lunch - chicken bake. This was simple to make as I needed time to prepare afternoon tea.
AFTERNOON TEA
Afternoon tea was Hong Kong style pineapple buns. This is the most popular sweet bun in Hong Kong. When I was in UK, I didn't live near China town so had to learn make a lot of my favourite meals and snacks. This was one where I spent quite a long time perfecting and can now proudly claim I make a mean pineapple bun. The bun is a basic bread recipe with a soft cookie like topping. It is also very popular with Taiwanese, so of course I had to treat my good friends to it. Here's the bread proofing in the morning.
The great thing about making bread is that its actually not that difficult once you master it (so she says after learning for so many years!). But what I really loved about it is that there quite a few processes, some easier than others and you can get everyone involved.
My friends were helping out with shaping them into little balls and making the topping. It was the first time they've made bread and they really enjoyed themselves, especially when the final bake came out from the oven! Bon appetit!
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Check out all my travel posts here on Steemit Worldmap, and also my latest project @LadiesOfAsia where we share fun and cultural diversity across Asia Pacific.
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This is a great technique: you mix language exchange with cultural exchange (learning to prepare non-Chinese food). I agree with your "old school": same-sex exchanges prevents a lot of unnecessary problems.
So which are your favorite sites for finding language partners?
I normal go on FB as there are a couple of local groups there. I google once and I think there was one call languageexchange.com or something like that. I registered my details, and every now and then I get requests from all over Taiwan even though I specifically said I was only looking for F2F with girls in Taichung
Damn, wish I was there! The chicken bake and pineapple buns look so good! 😋 I love language exchange too. Besides the language itself, you learn a lot about the culture and make friends along the way.
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I never knew about language exchange before I came to Taiwan, but then I didnt need to learn a new language then. The best about is learning local culture and lingo etc so its easier to integrate
I like to improve my English too. It's one of the reason that I join steemit. I am curious to know what fruit or vegetable you mix with the chicken. Maybe I would have a try.
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Steemit is a great place to learn English as quite a few people write bilinigual posts from CN (I was a bit lazy with this post) and there are many from other countries who's first language isn't English either so there is less pressure. Not to mention, posting in English will increase your exposure exponantially, as you may have realized already.
For the chicken bake, I put carrots and onion at the bottom of the tray, then marrow at the top as it needed less time. Basically you can throw in anything you like!
Thank you :)
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Those pineapple buns look amazing!! What recipe do you use and how long did it take you to perfect it?? I'd love to learn and make it for the family :)
Maybe the next time you're in the UK, we can get together with @rea and whoever else who'd be interested and do a Chinese cooking/baking session!
My hubby must have endured about a year of my rock buns till he got to eat something decent. And that was only after I decided to enrol myself on a short bread making course run by the council. Then my sister gave me her recipe which involves using tongzhong, which is basically mixing a bit of flour and water to make a paste before chucking it in with the rest of the ingredients. Works like wonder now.
Hopefully I can make a trip back home sometime next year, must catch up then!
Haha the thought of rock buns is hilarious. I have to say bread making is one thing I really feel I need help with. This recipe from your sister, is that something you can share? Would really love to do some Chinese baking at home!!