The Lessons section of Huitalk is great for beginning conversations however more depth can be explored with the aid of a book. Finding a good language book can be a nightmare. We hope the reviews in our Book Reviews section will help you in your choices.

Where to start?

Look at the Books page and see if anything stands out as good from the reviews and votes. If not then search for other members learning the same language as you and ask them for recommendations. The best advice will come from members that have actually used the books. Once you find a good book go to the Hui Shop and you can buy it easily there.

How to use the book?

Most language books have exercises you can easily follow with your language exchange partner. In that case, do the exercises and send them to your language exchange partner for advice with. If you decide to use books for support we suggest you and your language exchange partner both use them, this will help maintain the exchange of knowledge. Please remember your language exchange partner may not have lots of time to look at your work so try going over it together when chatting or send a little once a week, rather than a lot once a month.

Three steps to success:

1. Preview the book before talking with your partner.

Go over the material you wish to try and cover with your language exchange partner before chatting. You will find the exchange is easier and runs more smoothly.

2. Don’t skip things when working through the material.

Even if it doesn’t seem relevant to you at the time, you might well be surprised when a certain word or piece of grammar occurs. Cover everything in detail and ask your language exchange partner to give you real life examples (many language books give poor examples).

3. Review what you and your language exchange partner covered.

Go over the material from the book and the examples your partner gave you. Then try and have a conversation about it a week later and then send an e-mail about it a week after that.

General Advice