What to talk about in a language exchange
Updated
The best language exchange topics are ones you can actually say something about at your level. Beginners do well with everyday, personal subjects such as home, work, food and plans. Intermediate learners can tell stories and give opinions. Advanced learners can argue, explain and play with idioms. Below you'll find topics and questions for each level, plus ways to rescue a conversation that's gone quiet.
Why the right topic matters
A topic that's too hard turns your half of the exchange into a dictionary hunt. One that's too easy gets you nowhere. The sweet spot is a subject you know well in your own language, pitched slightly above what feels comfortable in the new one.
The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is handy here. Its self-assessment grid describes what people can do in conversation at each level, from A1 to C2, and those descriptions point straight at the kind of topics that work.
Topics for beginners (A1 and A2)
At A1, the grid says you can "ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics", provided the other person is happy to repeat or rephrase. At A2, you can "handle very short social exchanges". So stay concrete and close to home.
Good topics: yourself and your family, where you live, your job or studies, daily routine, food you like, the weather, what you did at the weekend, plans for tomorrow.
Questions to try:
- Where do you live? What's it like?
- What do you usually eat for breakfast?
- What do you do in the evening?
- Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- What did you do last weekend?
Tip: in text chat, beginners can write a few sentences, then ask their partner to write a corrected version back. You end up with a short, personal text you can reuse.
Topics for intermediate learners (B1 and B2)
At B1, the grid says you can "enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events)". At B2, you can "take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views".
That's the jump from describing to telling stories and giving reasons.
Good topics: travel stories, a film or series you've watched, how you got into your job, differences between your countries, childhood memories, plans and ambitions, local news, a hobby explained properly.
Questions to try:
- What's the best trip you've ever taken, and what went wrong?
- Tell me about a film you liked. What happens in it?
- What surprised you most about my country or language?
- What would you change about your job if you could?
- Is there a tradition from your childhood you still keep?
Topics for advanced learners (C1 and C2)
At C1, the grid says you can "formulate ideas and opinions with precision". At C2, you have "a good familiarity with idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms". This is where exchanges get fun, because you can talk about language itself.
Good topics: opinions on current events, work problems and how you'd solve them, books and their themes, humour and why jokes don't translate, regional accents and slang, social questions you both care about.
Questions to try:
- What's a word in your language that has no good translation?
- Which idioms do people your age actually use, and which sound old-fashioned?
- How would you explain your job to a ten-year-old, and to your boss?
- What's something people abroad often get wrong about your country?
- Should cities ban cars from their centres? Convince me.
Topics at a glance
| Level | What you can handle | Topics that work |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Simple questions on very familiar things | Name, home, family, food, numbers and times |
| A2 | Short, routine exchanges | Daily routine, weekend, shopping, simple plans |
| B1 | Unprepared chat on familiar subjects | Travel, hobbies, work, films, childhood |
| B2 | Discussion, giving and defending views | Cultural differences, news, ambitions, opinions |
| C1 | Precise ideas and opinions | Work problems, books, social questions |
| C2 | Idioms and fine shades of meaning | Slang, humour, wordplay, regional speech |
Topics that suit a language exchange especially well
Some subjects only really work when both people are learners. They also make the exchange feel fair, because each of you is the expert half the time.
- Words that don't translate. Each of you brings one.
- False friends. Words that look alike but don't mean the same thing, such as German bekommen (to get) and English become. Each of you will have a list.
- How you'd say it. Take one everyday situation, such as apologising for being late, and compare the phrases each language uses.
- Songs, memes and ads. Short, real and full of language textbooks leave out.
- Your city for a visitor. What would you actually recommend, and what would you skip?
What to avoid early on
Nothing is banned, but some topics can make a new partner uncomfortable before you know each other. Money, very personal questions and heated politics are best left until they come up naturally. Pay attention to what someone says they're here for, too. On Talkabout, people show a mood on their profile. If someone's is "Here to practise", keep the conversation on the language.
How to keep the conversation going
Running out of things to say is normal, even in your own language. A few habits help:
- Ask open questions. "What was the best part?" beats "Was it good?"
- Follow up. Ask about the answer before moving on to a new subject.
- Keep notes. Jot down what your partner mentioned, then ask about it next time.
- Prepare one topic each. The University of Münster's tandem guidance suggests bringing material such as newspapers, pictures, films or recipes, which give you a natural reason to talk.
- Switch to a task. Describe a photo, retell a story, or explain a recipe step by step.
If you're both finding the flow difficult, the problem might be structure rather than topics. Our guide on how to structure a language exchange has a session plan you can borrow, and how to correct someone kindly helps when corrections are stopping the conversation.
FAQ
What should I talk about in my first language exchange?
Keep it simple and personal. Where you live, what you do, why you're learning the language and what you'd like to get out of the exchange. It gives you both easy vocabulary and something to build on next time.
What topics should I avoid in a language exchange?
Early on, skip anything that puts someone on the spot, such as money, very personal questions or heated politics, unless they bring it up. Follow their lead, and respect it if someone says they only want to practise.
How do I keep a language exchange conversation going?
Ask open questions that start with how, why or what, follow up on the answer instead of jumping to a new topic, and keep a note of things they mentioned so you can ask about them next time.
What if we run out of things to say?
Switch to a task. Describe a photo, explain a word that has no translation, retell a film plot or compare how you'd say the same thing in both languages. Tasks give quiet conversations a shape.
Start practising
Topics are easier with someone to try them on. Talkabout is a free language exchange that runs in your browser, for adults. Find partners for Spanish, German or Japanese, or sign up and pick your own languages. Not sure where to begin? Read how to find a language exchange partner.