Search for interlocutors on italki
One of the most important opportunities that the Internet provides for learning foreign languages is the ability to communicate with foreigners. Speaking practice is especially important. To learn to speak a foreign language, it is not enough just to know the words, you need to practice communication. In this review, I will talk about sites and applications where you will find partners to practice a foreign language (not just English).
Note: this is a general overview of sites for language practice, I have already written about the sites mentioned earlier, so I add links to more detailed reviews to the brief reviews.
1.
User profile on italki
If your level allows you to communicate at least a little in English, be sure to try to take at least one such lesson - the effect of speaking classes is very noticeable.
2. HelloLingo
The fastest and easiest way to find a companion is on Hellolingo
Attention: unfortunately HelloLingo is scheduled to close on May 18, 2019. I'll leave this mini-review here in case the service recovers.
In 2015, much to the dismay of users, the popular language site sharedtalk.com closed, where it was easy to find someone to chat with in a foreign language. Fortunately, the project has recently been reborn, becoming even better, now it is called HelloLingo.
This site is convenient for quick communication: I went in for a while, chatted with a random interlocutor, and left. Here you can find foreigners for longer communication. You can communicate in text and voice chat, and if you want to switch to voice communication, you first need to write off in text mode - you can’t call right away.
The site has an interesting feature - you can’t put a profile photo here. The developers did this to avoid turning the language practice site into a dating site. The problem with many language communities is that there are many who want to flirt with beautiful foreign women. This is not welcome on Hellolingo!
3.Speaky
Speaky has a more social design than HelloLingo
Language social network Speaky(previously called Gospeaky) is great if you find HelloLingo's design and social features too simplistic. Here you can put a photo on the profile, in addition, there is a convenient filtering function for native speakers and non-native speakers. In addition, Speaky has a mobile version (application), which, however, does not shine with particularly rich functionality.
When this site first appeared, in 2015, it was possible to communicate on it in text and voice chat, now the voice chat has been removed - apparently due to the fact that many people still preferred to exchange contacts and talk on the more convenient Skype.
A curious feature of text chat is the ability to correct messages. Ask the interlocutor to correct mistakes, and he will be able to edit your remarks in the chat: the correct option will be highlighted in green, and the wrong one in red.
4. Interpals
Interpals has very detailed people search and blacklist settings
On the Interpals they often complain because of the abundance of all kinds of spammers, fakes and “harassers”. Here, unlike HelloTalk, they do not try to get rid of flirting fans, you can even search for users with the “Flirting” filter - hence the abundance of the corresponding audience. But still, this old language site, which has been operating since 1998, is home to quite a lot of quite conscientious language lovers.
If you are plagued by annoying users, there are incredibly advanced blacklist settings at your service, where you can block people of a certain gender, age, and location.
5. Tandem
The review is called “6 sites for communicating with foreigners”, but Tandem- this is not a website, but an application for practicing languages, that is, there is no version for PC. Unlike HelloLingo, which tries to look NOT like a social network as much as possible, the Tandem app, on the contrary, looks like a dating site with photos, profiles, interests, etc. However, in this community, communication is not welcome for the purpose of language practice.
Tandem is positioned as an application for finding 1) tutors, 2) partners for communication in foreign languages. It is really convenient to find interlocutors, due to the fact that users post a lot of information about themselves (interests, level, goals, etc.) and even leave feedback about each other. As for tutors, I see no reason to look for them on Tandem - the choice is still small, the prices, on the contrary, are rather high, and studying languages via video link on a phone is less convenient than on a PC.
6. HelloTalk
HelloTalk- this is also an application, not a website, it has a web version, but with very limited features. If you only want to communicate with foreigners using , then HelloTalk is a great option.
But how the HelloTalk application is much better than the same Speaky: it has everything you might need: text correction (like in Speaky), sending photos, voice messages, convenient search for users.
You can learn more about HelloTalk from or from this video.
Is it possible to practice without an interlocutor?
It is impossible to practice communication without an interlocutor, because what kind of communication can there be without the participation of a second person? However, it is still possible to develop speaking skills alone (although it is NOT the same as practicing with a live person), I talked more about it in this video:
Conclusion
If you are serious about conversational practice, I recommend studying with tutors and taking “conversational” lessons from them. In my experience, this is the most efficient way. Yes, you will spend money (very little compared to the courses), but you won’t spend much time looking for interlocutors in free language social networks, in which there are scammers, spammers, fakes, or anxious people.
Friends! I don't do tutoring right now, but if you need a teacher, I recommend this wonderful site- there are native (and non-native) teachers there 👅 for all occasions and for every pocket 🙂 I myself went through more than 80 lessons with teachers that I found there! I advise you to try it too!
Perhaps, learning English has never been as simple and interesting as it is today, when you can choose the format of classes to your liking and practice when it is convenient.
If you choose 1-2 resources from this list and devote about an hour to them every day, the result will not be long in coming.
Translators and dictionaries
- Multitran is a very simple and handy dictionary where you can find the meaning of almost any word. If you come across a difficult phrase, the local community of translators will suggest its translation.
- Lingvo is a dictionary with over 10 million word usage examples. There are also site experts here who can help with the translation.
- Merriam-webster is an interactive dictionary with many useful sections such as Word of the Day, quizzes and games.
Online Learning Resources
- EnglishDom - here you can learn a language via Skype or join a conversation club and communicate with people from different countries, while training English along the way.
- LinguaLeo - this resource will analyze the level of your preparation and create an individual training plan so that you complete it in a fun way. There is a useful extension that allows you to quickly translate English words from other sites.
- Busuu - here you can do exercises that will be tested by real native speakers. The site also provides an opportunity to obtain an official certificate.
- DuoLingo is a completely free platform that won't let you leave your class. The system assumes motivating elements such as time counters and burning lives.
Online Libraries
For those who want to appreciate English humor in the original, these sites will be a real treasure. Reading various genres online and listening to audiobooks is a great way to memorize new idioms.
Mobile applications
- EasyTen is an application with which you will receive a portion of 10 new words every day.
With the following apps, you can practice your English whenever you want, like on your way to work or before bed. And interesting tasks will help you remember the material without problems.
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Surely every person who studies English has heard this advice: the best way to learn a language is to communicate with its native speakers. What to do if you don't have English acquaintances and a trip to America is not included in your immediate plans? Thanks to the Internet, you can immerse yourself in an English-speaking environment without leaving your home. Language exchange sites can help you with this.
These sites for communication with native speakers are designed so that native speakers of different languages can help each other in their study. As a rule, to get started, you need to register and describe yourself and your interests in your profile a little. Then you can find English-speaking users interested in learning Russian, and send them messages with an offer to meet and chat in real time.
Learning English has never been so interesting! Subscribe to the EnglishDom Youtube channel and improve your English level.
Community of enthusiasts: teachers, students and just English lovers
This community consists of enthusiasts: teachers, students and just lovers of English as a native or foreign language. You can chat with other users who will check the exercises you have completed and explain all the intricacies of using various constructions. You can also record an audio file so that a native English speaker can comment on your pronunciation and suggest ways to improve it. Active users of the site receive points and medals for completing tasks, which is an additional motivation for those who like to compete.
Site for personal communication between people from all over the world
This site brings together people from all over the world, providing them with the opportunity of personal communication, participation in group discussions and the use of various multimedia materials. In addition, users can upload their own materials to the site and make them available.
3. Voice chat is the main tool for developing conversational skills
As with many similar sites, here you need to register and, using the search, choose a partner for communication in Skype or Windows Messenger. But there is another not quite usual advantage. Thanks to this resource, you will get the opportunity not only to chat with other users, but also to learn about native speakers who live in your city and are ready to chat face to face. By meeting online, you can meet in a public place and continue mutual learning.
Practicing speaking with native speakers will certainly benefit any English learner. If you have already reached the Pre-intermediate level, you should definitely give it a try. You will improve not only your listening and speaking skills, but also gain confidence in your abilities, and at the same time make new friends.
Bonus for our new readers!We are offering a free private lesson!
- classes at home or at work at any time
- dream teacher who is fun to study and chat with
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Big and friendly family EnglishDom
Many great online English resources are free. It is also not unimportant that most of the training programs on the Internet are not regulated by time.
Online, you can learn a language at your convenience, without having to disrupt your daily routine.
5 Best Ways to Practice a Language Online for Free
1. Practice English Online Materials for ESL Students
“Self-learning a foreign language” sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? Isn't language something that is used to communicate with others? Actually... yes and no.
Writing and speaking are considered "productive" skills, meaning you produce language. And the “receptive” skills of English (listening and reading) can be easily and conveniently mastered online.
Free English Listening Practice Websites
English listening comprehension sites generally fall into one of three categories:
- Sites for listening to dialogues in a foreign language
Music
If you just want to listen to music, English cyberspace also has plenty of it.
Web services like Pandora and Spotify allow you to create your own music playlists.
Other websites such as iHeartRadio or TuneIn provide an opportunity to listen to music from English-speaking radio stations from all over the world.
Entertainment News
Last but not least, if you're going to use entertainment resources as a free online tool to practice your English, don't forget famous people and celebrities.
There are a huge number of sites focused on news from the entertainment industry - Entertainment Weekly , magazine People , E !
Where can you learn to communicate, and what is conversational practice of English? The process of developing speaking should not be like memorizing any rules, words without using them in speech, writing out endless phrases and constructions that will remain in the ill-fated notebook. You will not learn how to express your thoughts in the language you are learning until you begin to formulate sentences on your own. Let it be at first something simple, nothing terrible. Everyone goes through this, the main thing is not to quit working on your English.
Where does the conversational practice of English begin?
Consider what can be done for conversational practice of English.
1. Get rid of the judgment that to master English it is enough to know the words. You also need to tie them together. Learn three simple tenses to begin with: present, past, and future. This will help you get your bearings in word order and start putting familiar phrases into practice.
2. Teach yourself not just to listen to English songs or watch videos, but to make an oral summary of this material. So you gradually get rid of the fear of speaking.
3. Make up your own examples for every new word you come across. Imagine situations in which one or another phrase can be applied. Otherwise, all information will simply remain in the passive reserve.
4. Find someone who is willing to speak to you in English. Live communication is the most important thing, because the conversational practice of the English language is speaking + listening, and not just a monologue.
Conversational English lessons for beginners exist!
It is a mistake to think that you can sign up for conversational English lessons for beginners only after memorizing all tenses and constructions. You can start talking from the very first lesson. Of course, these will not be super-complex sentences. But they will. Even the very first topic, which always begins the study of any foreign language (the verb "to be"), already allows you to talk about your profession, location, origin, age and mood. And this is already a lot. And even if you have never learned English, well-known international words that have long been "settled" in our native Russian will come to the rescue. We simply do not notice what a huge number of phrases of foreign origin we use every day. Just remember these: l leader (leader), office (office), manager (manager), traffic (traffic), printer (printer), check (check)…. It remains only to arm yourself with enthusiasm, properly organize your training and practice regularly.
"English lessons conversational speech" at school Fluent English
If, after reading the article, you came to the conclusion that you need qualified help in learning English, we can offer a skype course " english lessons conversation". In our school, the conversational practice of English begins with a trial lesson. You can sign up for it by sending a request to Skype fluentenglish24
