I'm teaching adults in Cambodia at the moment. One of my students, who happens to be a monk, told me the other day that he wants to practice English with foreigners as they are always at his pagoda (temple), but doesn't know how to ask them. I gave him some strategies and told him that I was approached a few times in Vietnam and always spoke with the locals if I had time. I also suggested that people would be even more interested in speaking to him as he happens to be a monk (or is it only me that is fascinated by monks?)
As a traveller who probably isn't also a teacher, how would you feel if a local approached you for a chat? Am I setting my students up for disappointment by telling them that most travellers would be interested in speaking with them?