How to Practise Your English Speaking

If you don't live in an English-speaking country, and you don't have friends or family to speak English with, where can you practise your English speaking skills?
It's easier to have a conversation if you have a reason to speak – something to talk about. These ideas all give you a reason to speak with another person.
Start a film or book club
Invite people to discuss a film that you all watch together, or a book that you are all reading. Prepare questions before, to help people talk about specific aspects.
Volunteer to help other people
Does your town or company often welcome foreign guests? Can you offer to translate for them? Or perhaps you can offer to help children or students with their English homework.
Take part in a film conversation
Watch a film on DVD, and decide in which part you can speak with the film character. Listen to what the character says (and the reply) then rewind, and either mute or pause the DVD after the film character speaks. Take the other character's role, and reply to the first character. You can also find film scripts on the IMDb site. Print it out, then practise taking a role in the film.
Use Skype
Chat with other people in a penpal forum via Skype. You can get to know them first by writing to them, then invite them for a conversation.
Take English lessons
This is the most expensive option, but paying for private or group lessons is a good way to regularly practise your English. If you have a job, maybe your company can also arrange lessons for you.
Before you start speaking
– Try to plan what you want to say. Make sure you know the most important words or technical terms that you'll need.
– Practise standard expressions. For example, "Pleased to meet you", or "How are you?" Getting these expressions right makes you feel more confident to continue the conversation.
– As well as concentrating on what you want to say, also concentrate on listening to the other person. Give your full attention, and make sure you understand by using clarifying expressions such as "Sorry, do you mean…" or "I'm sorry, but I don't understand. Can you repeat that please?" Don't forget: being a good speaker also means being a good listener. People will want to have conversations with you if they know you're interested in what they say!
See our page Better English speaking skills for more tips to improve your fluency and your confidence!

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• Talking about the news in English
• Talking About Fear in English

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24 comments

Elvira
good

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kedellah
my goal in the world to lear english

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razi
my goal speak english well

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well
my goal speak english very well

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Zafyra eunice
I want to learn how to speak english, very well

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vangie
Speak english without fear! Have confidence in speaking english.

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fatima
good

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Nurilign
my goal speak and write very well engilsh

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Andrew
Thank you for information - very usefull.

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Dannie
There is also language exchange, I am using http://www.easylanguageexchange.com/ very interesting people and I have conversations with them!

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sydizohreh@gmail.com
i wish i could speak english like a native speaker.that is big wish

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sarwein
my big wish, iwant learn English as soon

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priya
speak english boldly without fear how is it possible ?

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alireza
I hope Ill talk very well, now days its my goal

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Eric Roth
Excellent list of practical tips. I would also add try to interview a native English speaker. I would also suggest - and I know this sounds weird - but talk to TV characters and try to guess the conversation. You can compare your response with the TV character's next line. This game can be fun - but it also helps you understand conversation patterns better too.

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tadesse mayet
i want to learn English. i hop will talk excellent English when i connect with you.

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Song an
Im glad to be your student ,thankyouverymuch

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Manal
I wish I can speak English very fluently and I get the Ielts to study at the Uni this September...

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Jose Marcal
Thank you very much, the information is very useful.Best RegardsJose

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divya
very nice.

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Salah
very nice idea and i will try to do that.

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Alireza
Nice,Thank you.

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Markos
These are good advices...thanks

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Nadeem
very nice i like your hints,,,,,

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How to Have a Great Conversation

• 4,003,951 views
• 178 Editors
• Edited 17 days ago

Two Methods:Sample Conversation TopicsHaving Your Own Great Conversation

The art of conversation takes practice, but it's not as hard as you might think. Whether it's at a dinner party, your school, or over the phone, a great conversation starts when two or more people are on the same page and feel comfortable talking with each other. By following the steps in this article, you can learn to relax and have a great conversation with just about anybody.

Sample Conversation Topics

Sample Ways to Keep a Conversation Going

Sample Conversation Starters

Great Conversation Topic Examples

Having Your Own Great Conversation

1. 
   1
   Find out a few things about the person you'll be talking to (if you can) before you actually start a conversation. Websites as well as Facebook and Twitter profiles can be good sources of information, as long as you're careful not to come across as a stalker. Kick off the conversation with some interesting information that's not too personal.
   • "I was looking at the biochemistry department website and saw that you're working on a pretty interesting thesis! How did you come to choose that topic?"
   • "I saw on the office memo that you're working on the outreach project for local schools. How's that going?"
   • "Is it true that you just went skydiving?"
2. 
   2
   Ask questions so that the other person can talk about himself or herself."What do you like to do?" "What sort of things have you done in your life?" "What is happening to you now?" "What did you do today or last weekend?" Identify things about them that you might be interested in hearing about, and politely ask questions. People love having a chance to discuss their passions or their subjects of expertise.
   • Ask questions for clarification. If your conversation partner is talking about an occupation or activity you do not understand, take the opportunity to learn more.
   • Make sure that your interest appears genuine. Maintain eye contact and nod your head or interject comments like, "That's interesting."
   • Use open-ended questions. Skip the simple "yes" or "no" questions. Instead, ask a question that will allow your partner to talk extensively. "So you love to go hang gliding. What made you get into it in the first place?"
   • Start superficial. Ask more generic questions at first. Then, gauge your partner's comfort level. If your partner seems willing to open up, then you can ask some more personal questions.
3. 
   3
   Inject invitation and inspiration.
   • An "invitation" happens when you say something that lets your partner know that it's his or her turn to speak. Generally, invitations come in the form of questions.
   • "Inspiration" means that you come up with a great topic that makes your partner want to have a discussion. For instance, you could share a funny story that will remind your partner of a similar thing that happened in his or her life, or you could share your thoughts about something and inspire your partner to respond.^[1]
4. 
   4
   Comment on a general interest topic. Some people briefly read the current events section of the news so that if the conversation runs dry, they can comment on something of general interest.^[2] "Did you hear about the new underground park being built in uptown?" is both interesting and informative.
5. 
   5
   Listen actively. A conversation will go nowhere if you are too busy thinking of other things, including what you plan to say next. If you listen well, you'll identify questions to ask based on the other person's statements.
   • Paraphrase back what you heard the person say. "So you're saying that skydiving is the biggest rush you've ever experienced?" Doing this shows respect for the other person and gives him or her the chance to correct your understanding, affirm it or embellish upon it.
   • Encourage the other person to do most of the talking. Your conversation partner will feel as though you are attentive and engaged, and you will get the credit for being a great conversationalist.
6. 

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conversation

[kon-ver-sey-shuh n]  

• Synonyms
• Examples
• Word Origin

noun

1.

informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spokenwords; oral communication between persons; talk; colloquy.

2.

an instance of this.

3.

association or social intercourse; intimate acquaintance.

4.

criminal conversation.

5.

the ability to talk socially with others:

She writes well but has no conversation.

6.

Obsolete.

1. behavior or manner of living.
2. close familiarity; intimate acquaintance, as from constant use orstudy.

Origin

Middle English

Latin

1300-1350

1300-50; Middle English conversacio (u) n < Latin conversātiōn- (stem ofconversātiō) society, intercourse, equivalent to conversāt (us) pastparticiple of conversārī to associate with (see converse1) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

preconversation, noun

Synonyms

1. dialogue, chat.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014.
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Examples from the web for conversation

• Sometimes as two people typed out a conversation, with the slight delay that entailed, dialogue overlapped.
• The casual comfort of the two chairs seems to invite relaxation and intimate conversation.
• Few foliage plants prompt as much conversation as coleus.

British Dictionary definitions for conversation

conversation

/ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃən/

noun

1.

the interchange through speech of information, ideas, etc; spoken communication

2.

make conversation, to talk in an artificial way

related

adjective colloquial

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word Origin and History for conversation

n.

mid-14c., "living together, having dealings with others," also "manner ofconducting oneself in the world;" from Old French conversation, fromLatin conversationem (nominative conversatio) "act of living with," nounof action from past participle stem of conversari "to live with, keepcompany with," literally "turn about with," from Latin com- "with" (seecom- ) + vertare, frequentative of vertere (see versus ). 

Specific sense of "talk" is 1570s. Used as a synonym for "sexualintercourse" from at least 1511, hence criminal conversation, legal termfor adultery from late 18c. Related: Conversationalist ; conversationist.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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conversation in the Bible

generally the goings out and in of social intercourse (Eph. 2:3; 4:22;R.V., "manner of life"); one's deportment or course of life. This word isnever used in Scripture in the sense of verbal communication from one toanother (Ps. 50:23; Heb. 13:5). In Phil. 1:27 and 3:20, a different Greekword is used. It there means one's relations to a community as a citizen,i.e., citizenship.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms and Phrases with conversation

conversation

In addition to the idiom beginning with conversation also see: make conversation

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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