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English Conversation Practice: An Easy Way to Improve Your Spoken English

In this article, we discuss English conversation practice as an easy way to improve your spoken English

Klara learned English in school for several years but still struggled with speaking. She asked us for advice – keep reading for the 9 top tips we shared with her, and find out how an interest in gardening was the key to Klara’s success.

Table of Contents

Why English conversation practice is important

Klara knew that English conversation practice is a crucial aspect of improving spoken English. It helps you not only to become more confident in speaking but also to enhance your listening skills.

Engaging in conversations with like-minded individuals provides you with the opportunity to practice speaking in a comfortable and supportive environment. It is also a great way to expand your vocabulary and learn new phrases and expressions.

Even if you don’t have someone to practice with in person, there are language exchange apps and online resources available. Remember, the key to success is consistent effort and practice. So, just like Klara, start practising today and watch your English speaking skills improve!

How to get started with English conversation practice

Step 1: Choose your English conversation resource

Klara wasn’t sure how to get started but as we explained to her, to choose the best English conversation resource to improve your spoken English, start by considering your level of proficiency.

If you are a beginner, look for resources that offer lower-level clubs or beginner-friendly conversation partners.

Next, consider the relevance of the topics covered and choose resources that align with your interests and goals. Look for resources that offer audio or video recordings to help you practice your listening and speaking skills.

Additionally, consider the availability of language exchange partners or tutors who specialize in English conversation. Finally, don’t forget to test your internet connection, microphone, and webcam before joining any online conversation clubs or sessions.

Remember, the key to improving your spoken English is consistent practice and a positive attitude. Keep practising, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes!

Step 2: Practice English conversation sentences

Klara decided to use an English conversation app as well as a language exchange but also joined a gardening club with some English-speaking members. She decided to try to learn some phrases and sentences in English to use at the club.

To effectively practice English conversation sentences, start by selecting appropriate sentences that match your level of proficiency. Practice saying the sentences out loud, paying attention to pronunciation and rhythm.

Repeat the sentences multiple times and record yourself to compare with a native speaker’s pronunciation. Additionally, try talking to yourself, describing what you see, and listening to English media. Incorporate new vocabulary and grammar structures by creating a vocabulary list, describing pictures, and writing comments in blogs.

Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep practising consistently to improve your English speaking skills.

In the end, Klara was able to speak to four different people in English at the club, and one of the club members offered to help Klara practice her English – in exchange for some new plants. Success!

Step 3: Use English conversation apps

If you’re trying to improve your spoken English, conversation apps can be a great tool. Not only are they convenient and accessible, but they can also provide a variety of learning methods such as pronunciation practice, vocabulary building, and speech recognition.

Some popular options include ELSA for beginners and those looking to improve their American pronunciation. Additionally, you can practice with others by finding speaking clubs or using language exchange apps.

For a comprehensive app that covers a range of topics and skills, consider English Conversation Practice, which includes audio support and features like listening tests and games.

To use these apps effectively, be sure to practice regularly, actively engage with the material, and track your progress using features like conversation recording tools.

Klara chose her app and decided to practice every morning before going to college, for 20 minutes. She would make a note of three new phrases and repeat them several times during the day.

Step 4: Take an online English-speaking course

Klara’s confidence is increasing, and she feels comfortable using the app and talking to her friend from the gardening club. She is thinking about taking an online English course as a next step.

Taking an online English-speaking course can be a great way to improve your spoken English skills from the comfort of your own home. Not only do online courses offer the convenience of learning from anywhere with an internet connection, but they also provide a safe and inclusive learning environment.

When choosing a course, consider factors such as your current level of English, course content, and pricing. To make the most out of your course, practice speaking with classmates or a personal tutor in live group classes or one-to-one lessons.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as they are a natural part of the learning process. Additionally, focus on fluency and pronunciation exercises, and utilize resources such as podcasts and movies to improve your listening and reading skills.

Step 5: Listen to and watch English media content

As we know, Klara loves gardening and she is particularly interested in creating balcony gardens in the city centre.

She has learned several useful phrases, including:

gardening on a budget, urban gardening, self-sufficiency, urban planning and maximising the use of your space!

To improve your spoken English skills using English media content, it is important to establish a consistent routine of listening and watching. Start by selecting appropriate content for your skill level, such as English movies, series, podcasts, and YouTube videos.

We told Klara to avoid using subtitles in her native language, as it can distract her from listening to the English language being spoken. Instead, use English subtitles or pause the content to look up unfamiliar words. However, if the video is quite complex, it’s fine to watch with subtitles the first time to note useful phrases and then watch again, focusing on the keywords and pronunciation.

Actively engage with the content by taking notes, repeating phrases out loud, and paying attention to pronunciation, intonation, and speed/rhythm. Make the most of your downtime by listening to English music or audiobooks.

Our top tip – change the language on your phone to English to immerse yourself in the language even when not actively studying. Remember, practice is key to improving your spoken English skills, so start practising today!

Step 6: Try tongue twisters

Tongue twisters can be a fun and effective way to improve your English conversation skills. They focus on specific English sounds and help you improve your pronunciation. Here are three examples of tongue twisters:

  1. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
  2. She sells seashells by the seashore.
  3. How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?

Repeating these tongue twisters many times will help you master the challenging sounds and improve your speaking skills. You can also try to increase the speed of your pronunciation to make it more challenging.

Klara was delighted to find that several English tongue twisters are about gardening! Her favourite is:

If you plan to plant a plant, don’t just plan to plant a plant, plan to plant more plants to plant, if you plan to plant!

(Can you say that one quickly and clearly?)

Remember, the key to improving your English conversation skills is consistent practice. Incorporate tongue twisters into your daily routine and enjoy the challenge!

Step 7: Describe what you see

To effectively use English to “Describe what you see”, follow these simple steps:

  1. Choose a picture from a source like Pinterest and describe it in as much detail as possible. This will help you learn more about adjectives and how to describe feelings and perceptions.
  2. If you’re in a place where you can’t speak out loud, describe what you see in your mind. This will help you think fast and react to what’s happening, just like in a real conversation.
  3. If you feel brave enough, describe how your day went to your family, friends or partner. This will help you practice using the past simple and past continuous tenses correctly.
  4. Regularly write down new words and expressions with their meanings and useful examples. This will help you remember them better and learn to spell more effectively.
  5. Use these words to compose a story. This will help you construct sentences correctly and practice using different words in context.
  6. Practice speaking by standing in front of a mirror and discussing a topic for 3 minutes. Focus on pronunciation and expressing your ideas without stopping or taking pauses.

Remember that it’s okay to make mistakes and that the important thing is to keep trying. With practice, you’ll become more confident and fluent in English conversation.

Klara, of course, felt most comfortable describing gardening-related pictures, and found that she was actively searching for new phrases to better describe what she saw. The phrase she learned yesterday was ‘hardy perennials’ – meaning, strong plants that flower every year.

Step 8: Find a language partner or a speaking tutor

Klara enjoys talking to her friend in the gardening club, but is much more confident speaking English now and so she wants to find another language partner to speak to more regularly.

If you want to improve your spoken English, finding a language partner or speaking tutor can be very helpful. Language exchange partners are normally free and can be found on websites like italki and ConversationExchange.com.

Another option is to find a tutor who specializes in English conversation, and Verbling is a great platform for that. Language tutors and teachers cost money, but their knowledge of the language and teaching skills will normally allow you to get better and faster results than with a language exchange partner.

Additionally, you can use Google and social media groups to find speaking clubs in your city or groups that focus on your areas of interest. If you’re unable to find someone to speak to regularly, you can always find someone on a language exchange app like Tandem or HelloTalk.

Remember, the most important thing is to practice regularly and surround yourself with like-minded people who are open to practicing together.

Step 9: Take an ESL conversation course

Taking an ESL conversation course is a great way to improve your spoken English. In a conversation class, you’ll practice speaking with other students who have a similar level of English, which can help you feel more comfortable speaking.

Additionally, you’ll have a fluent speaker as your teacher who can provide personalized feedback and help you improve your pronunciation and grammar.

To find a suitable course, you can research online, ask for recommendations from friends or language exchange partners, and consider factors such as cost and schedule.

Additionally, a lot of students who want to improve their English take an IELTS course (there are more details at IELTS podcast) to really focus on all four English skills.

To make the most out of the course, actively participate in class, take notes, collect vocabulary lists and practice outside of class by speaking with classmates or finding conversation partners online. With practice and dedication, you can gain confidence in your English speaking abilities and become more fluent.

Thanks, Klara for sharing your story – and send us some pictures when you finish your urban balcony garden!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Some of these questions were already covered in this blog post but I will still list them here (because not everyone carefully reads every paragraph) so here’s the TL;DR version.

How can I improve my spoken English?

  • Improving spoken English requires consistent practice and dedication. To start, join English speaking clubs or voice chats to practice speaking with native speakers.
  • Use a mirror to focus on fluency and English pronunciation exercises to perfect your accent.
  • Listening exercises such as podcasts, movies, TV shows, and news can improve your listening skills. Make special time for reading English books, magazines, and articles, and change the language on your phone to English.
  • To build confidence, listen and practice speaking whenever possible, even if it’s just asking a question at a store or saying hello to the bus driver. Don’t worry about making mistakes, as everyone does.
  • Lastly, learn frequently used words, common structures and sentence patterns, expressions, phrasal verbs, and idioms to improve your daily conversations in English.
  • Remember to practice consistently and have fun with it!

What are the best resources for English conversation practice?

If you’re looking to improve your English conversation skills, there are plenty of resources available to help you. Here are some of the best options:

  • Find a language exchange partner through websites like ConversationExchange.com or Tandem. This is a great way to practice speaking with a native English speaker and improve your language skills for free.
  • Use language learning apps like HelloTalk, which connects you with native speakers who are also looking to practice their language skills. You can chat, voice message, and even video call with your language partner.
  • Join English speaking clubs or groups in your city or online through social media. This is a good way to meet like-minded people who are also looking to practice their English speaking skills.
  • Consider finding a tutor who specializes in English conversation. While this option may cost money, it can be a more effective way to improve your skills quickly.

Remember, the key to improving your English conversation skills is to practice regularly and surround yourself with people who are also dedicated to improving their language skills.

How can I get help from a tutor?

To improve their English conversation skills, learners can seek help from a tutor who specializes in English conversation. Finding a tutor can be done through websites like IELTS Podcast.

Tutors provide personalized lessons that cater to the learner’s needs and goals, and their expertise and teaching skills can lead to faster progress compared to language exchange partners.

Learners can expect to engage in fun and interactive speaking exercises during tutoring sessions. To prepare for sessions, learners can plan their time wisely and focus on the skills they need to improve.

With the help of a dedicated tutor, learners can upgrade their English skills over time to the level of a native speaker.

How can I improve my pronunciation and accent?

Record yourself to understand your weak points and practice alongside a tool like YouGlish to hear how an English word is pronounced in different accents.

Reading out loud is an excellent exercise that helps improve pronunciation, accent, and intonation. Additionally, listening to dialogues can help improve accent, vocabulary, and listening comprehension time.

To build confidence, listen more, practice speaking whenever possible, and don’t worry about making mistakes.

What kind of vocabulary should I learn?

Above all, focus on vocabulary to support your interests and help you better live the life you want, in English. To improve your English speaking skills, it’s essential to focus on building a strong vocabulary.

Start by regularly writing down unknown words and expressions with their meanings and examples. Use these words to compose a story, which will help you construct sentences correctly and remember different words.

Additionally, you can practice speaking English with the key vocabulary words in each unit and compare your pronunciation with the native speaker’s. Changing the language of your device to English is also an easy and helpful way to improve your vocabulary.

Lastly, reading is one of the best ways to learn new words that you can use in your English conversations. So, make sure to read regularly and try to include new words in your daily conversation. For example, you can focus on vocabulary related to your job, mental health, or sports and culture.

Are there any podcasts that can help me with English conversation practice?

If you’re looking for podcasts that can help you with English conversation practice, there are a few great options to choose from. “Stuff You Should Know” is a podcast that covers a wide range of interesting topics and is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about the world around them.

“Snowpiercer” is a series that tells the story of a group of people living on a train, and is a great option for those interested in science fiction.

Additionally, there are podcasts created specifically for English learners, such as “English as a Second Language” and “All Ears English.” These podcasts offer helpful tips and advice for improving your English conversation skills and are geared towards non-native speakers.

Overall, podcasts can be a fun and effective way to practice your English conversation skills and learn new vocabulary – find one that’s interesting for you so that you will stick with it.

Are there any self-study courses available for English conversation practice?

There are many self-study courses available for English conversation practice, which can be a great way to improve your language skills. The IELTS podcast has plenty of free material to help you get started.

There are language exchange partners and tutors available online or in your area who can help you improve your conversation skills. Apps like “English Conversation Practice” offer a variety of resources, including conversations with native speakers, sentence-building games, short stories, phrasal verbs, and commonly used sentences.

With dedication and practice, anyone can improve their English conversation skills and become more confident in speaking the language. So, don’t hesitate to take advantage of these resources and start practising today!