Featured Events
Tuesday
June 18
6:30 pm
June 18
6:30 pm
Can we create a new group for people who only need help practicing English???
I spoke to a friend the other day about couchsurfing and she said 'I used to go onto the couchsurfing community but I don't anyone more because all the posts are from people trying to find foreigners to practice English with'. I thought that was extreme but she has a point. Too many people in HCMC use couchsurfing only to look for people to practice English with and then half the posts are about this at times.
I thought this to be a shame as i'd like to see her (my friend) at events!!!
In other cities around the world there are more interesting events and posts for more things than just opportunities for people to practice a language.
It would be nice if people came to an event because they wanted to 1) be a part of the event 2) get some time to practice English. This is true most of the time.
but don't join an event and write 'great I can practice English!' because then your main reason is to practice English not join the event!
I know it's a cultural thing too. In other languages, you wouldn't say to people 'can we be friends? I want to practice English'! It's ok to say it in Viet 'Can we be friends?' after just meeting someone but in English and many other languages it sounds weird and desperate. Many people who don't learn Viet don't know this and many Viet just translate words not culture. It is not ok to say in many cultures 'Can we be friends?' when you don't know someone or you have just met them...you can say you are looking to meet interesting people...
If someone says to me 'Can we be friends?' after I just met them I am less likely to help. If you want to make friends, then just say that! I did it when I first came to Viet nam. I said I am new and I'd like to meet people to show me around and take me to nice places.
Some of the people I met in my first two weeks I am still friends with today. That was great! I got a lot of replies. So...if you are Viet and want to make friends then say I live here I can teach you about the city and show you some cool personal places, I think more people will reply positively and then make some suggestions. As couchsurfing.org is very international you will definitely have a chance to practice many languages and English.
This is better and a lot more meaningful than 'I am Viet, I want to practice English. Can we be friends?'
If we make a group for people who want to meet people just to practice English and make friends, then we will have more energy, time and space for interesting events and posts like...
- bicycle trip to the countryside/meditation in the park/art show/dance class/party this saturday etc These are more cultural and social.
This is couchsurfing!
1) Meeting and sharing!
...and of course a lot of language practice will come through this at the same time ;)
So, what do you think?
Can we try to clean up the community a bit more by referring newcomers who are only interested in learning a language to a special group?
and then more interesting posts will show with more space available!
I only moan because I care! :) I hope I haven't offended anyone but it would be nice to see only interesting and social posts!
Chuc may mon!
I joined many different CF communities and only in this community do I find so many posts about "help with English!". This is couchsurfing and so many Vietnamese people are taking advantages and changing the beautiful meaning of its. I feel pretty annoyed whenever I see such posts about helping with English. Some may defend "okay, you are good at English so you don't care. We need to learn. It's none of your business". But yes, I'm sure most foreigners here who are travelers would feel uncomfortable as well since I get email notifications all day. There are thousands of websites to learn English on the Internet and they can always find available talking/chatting partners and teacher. Why do they have to bombard this TRAVELING community? I find it a shame being a Vietnamese member here because I don't find such posts on many other communities I join around the world.
There are language communities on CF as well, though I find it funny to have such communities on a "lonelyplanet" website like this.
However, I agree with you Tom, it's better people stop saying "hey, let's hang out! I want to practice English" because surely they will get the chance to practice language. Instead, they should have more respect for the community, the travelers as well as themselves not showing themselves a shallow person.
I know my message sounds harsh and Tom's message is very gentle and understanding already.
Trúc, I totally agree with you. Give Couchsurfing the proper function it is here named.
Worse still, some guy always post for event of meeting locals to practice languages. It's despicable the way Couchsurfing is abused for business like coffeeshop and restaurants, and the couchsurfers in Saigon community are just procurers for Cafés or restaurants. In so doing those people don't serve anybody, they serve themselves, they are profiteers.
Yes, i also saw many posts about "let's gather at this and that cafe, restaurant" to practice English. I find it ironic because for the sake of speaking language, we don't have to practically gather at such places. Being a local, I know the prices of drinking that recommended there are not cheap at all. I know many English clubs at coffee shops which offer a much cheaper price for students, and they never go to CF to post and call students to come there but they still have foreign volunteers.
I can only assume that the Viet people who come here and ask help with English are either too lazy or too bad at Google.
Good ideas Tom, there are group of Saigon language Exchange @ https://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=62651
and Language Exchange @ https://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=4441
Let join.- Has anybody know anything about Secondary Oatmill? Do you believe in a member without a complete profile? I just got a private message from Oatmill, not through Couchsurfing (?), I am still wondering how he can get in touch through my Yahoo Messenger. He seems to be knowledgeable and know a lot about other CS members. He identified himself as a free worker of some sort. He sounded indignant about some members as though he was seeking fair treatment for a friend of his. Sounded like sort of vigilante justice.
Hey Oatmeal, this is a commmunity of nice Couchsurfers. Don't kick up a rumpus!
Respectful Sir:
Have you gone absent-minded? I am sure not. Haven't we met before? You knew me long before I had known Couchsurfing. You told me you joined English activities to deter possible Alzheimer when I asked why you were present at American Center in Diamond Plaza. You wrote your Messenger address in my handbook and introduced Couchsurfing website to me. Hahaha! I know in your eyes I was just a pathetic Effing S.O.B!
I am kidding. I didn't think you would post in public.
Anyway, hope you can pull a leg out of the sucking-down six-feet deep. Live up a hundred Dear Sir!!
Your Oldtimer! - hello everyone, I am Chi, I am an English teacher, I 've got a Class and I'm looking for foreign tracher, the pay should be 12,5$. If you are interested, please contract me.
Listen to me: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0IuRwo0wZrN
- Dear Friends,
Please join our group:
https://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=63404
This is not a group for dating; it has been established for single CS members. But both couples and singles are more than welcome.
By singles, I don’t mean just the word definition. There are a lot of moments in our life, although we may be a couple, we are singles in our mind. If we think realistically, we confirm the necessity of these moments in couple’s life to avoid tiring each other and make it stronger.
The main purpose of this group is to find the problems and solutions in single life style or at least in single moments especially in solo travelling as well finding a travel mate and sharing the experiences.
If we believe erasing the question has not reduced any problem so far, it gives us an opportunity to hear each other, eliminate misunderstandings, and solve the problems to have better relations in the future.
We have been facing wrong behaviors from males to females and vice versa in society. We should agree that CS is a part of our life; so as a part of society, it is not an exception in this regard. But now, we have the opportunity to think about and use the possibilities to improve our relations to a better way. So please be an active member who participates in the discussions, but in a rational way and consider the CS rules.
It is worthy to notify again using this group directly to date is not allowed by the CS rules. So please do not misunderstand the name.
This group is open to everyone who needs a cozy place to calm down, breathe deeply, shout their untold words and cry smoothly without being teased by others. It is open to everyone who has forgotten the softness of rain, the sound of wind through their hair and misses their solitude. It is open to everyone who is tired.
Mostafa
- Who's Secondary Oat MILL? Is he related to Joey Arnold, the Original Oat MEAL? Notice that MILL is not spelled MEAL. MILL is M - I - L - L and MEAL is M - E - A - L. Why are people pretending to be Joseph Scott Arnold? Why do people think that Oat MILL is Oat MEAL? Have people lost their ability to spell?
- Hi all, as you can read, my Vietnamese is poor, and I would like to improve. I am very keen to have regular coffee shop lessons where I can learn Vietnamese, and in turn help you with English. My availability is limited, generally just during the day 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday, but if anybody has sometime then, I would appreciate it. Would prefer to meet in D1 or D4. Thanks.
- Hi everyone. I am a little girl from Hanoi who travels to Ho Chi Minh to explore this city and elsewhere around. So I would love to find any other traveller who may want tovisit other countries in Southeast Asia after Vietnam. Because so do I. You can comment here or drop me message in inbox. I am available to hang out with you in Ho Chi Minh city too. I can speak English and French.just for fun and more experience. Cheers!
- Hi! Would anyone know where I can take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh and how much would it cost? I'm currently in Hoi An and I'll probably be in HCM on Saturday or Sunday. Thanks!
the sinh bus is good ! I had been PP by this bus ^^ https://www.thesinhtourist.vn/landscapes/sg/1/sai-gon
- I'm starting to get hesitant about my plan to ride from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi... If there's anyone around that has done it and would like to share their experience with me, I would love to take you out for a cup of coffee! Thanks.
I did a trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and further to Sapa.
If you have a little experience it is a piece of cake. I had no problems and a great time. I also met many people that did the same thing and had no problems.
Let me know when you have time and we can meet for a coffee.
Don't let anyone tell you, that it's not possible. It sure is possible! :D
Cheers
- Hi I am planning to come to HCM for 5 days on this September. Can u suggest me what to do thr for 5days, but i would like to go to (more...)
Dear Sharifah,
I'm Khanh, living in HCMC. Welcome to my friendly city. I think 5 days is not enough to visit all places you want. There is my recommendation for your 6 - day trip:
- Day 1: city tour (the Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post office, Reunification Hall, City Hall, Opera house, War Crime Museum, Thien Hau temple,..).
- Day 2: Cu Chi tunnel, Cao Dai temple (Tay Ninh province)
- Day 3 & 4: Mekong delta (Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho)
- Day 5 & 6: Mui Ne Beach
Send me messages if you have any queries.
Best regards,
Khanh
- Hello Ho Chi Minh surfers
I'm looking for a place to stay for 3 nights from around the 14th June.
I'm catching a train, I hope today, if not tomorrow, I can confirm my train times later today :-)
I would very much appreciate someone accommodating me and telling me all about your city that I have heard such wonderful things about. I'm planning on living in HCM for at least a year but this is my first visit.
Thanks so much
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facebook link
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