5 top resources for speaking practice with a native speaker

It is well known that the best way to successfully master a foreign language is to practice it. One of the key skills in English is speaking. However, many people find it difficult to practice speaking skills without living in an English-speaking environment. Many questions arise: how to find a native speaker, how to start a meaningful conversation, how to keep the communication process going on a regular basis?

Fortunately, the modern world offers many opportunities to communicate with native speakers from the comfort of your own home. For this purpose, special online platforms and applications have been developed to help users find a suitable interlocutor and improve their communication skills in a foreign language.

Free4Talk

The Free4Talk website offers the opportunity to become part of a virtual community aimed at learning and practicing foreign languages. Although English is the most popular language here, other languages can be practiced on the platform as well.

Free4Talk is a free resource, and to start using it, all you need to do is register. After that, you can immediately select a conversation group according to your interests and needs: each group has a language, level, topic, and number of participants. If you cannot find a suitable group to talk in, you can create one yourself and wait for interested users to join it. Free4Talk also acts as a social network, you can subscribe to members you have become friends with, so that you can more easily initiate communication with them again later.

However, it is worth considering the disadvantages of this community. It is not known in advance whether a group member is a real native speaker or just learning the language like you. Therefore, despite the fact that it is very easy to join the conversation, finding a suitable interlocutor may take time.

MyLanguageExchange

The MyLanguageExchange platform was developed by language exchange experts based on a method used for communication between French and English speakers at a language school in Montreal. The essence of language exchange is that speakers of two different languages meet to practice and "teach" each other their language.

MyLanguageExchange helps you find the right native speaker who is, in turn, interested in learning your native language. In addition, the platform offers various materials that can make the meeting more productive. Thanks to this resource, you can not only improve your language conversation skills, but also find new interesting connections.

You can start using the site for free, you must register, create a profile, and write a message to a potential language exchange partner. Access to additional features of the platform is on a paid basis, so many users prefer to find a reliable interlocutor, exchange contacts, and then continue communicating on an alternative platform.

Mixxer

The non-profit platform Mixxer was created by Dickinson College to facilitate language exchange between students. This service is completely free to use after registering. Mixxer offers a search for a language partner through chat, after which it offers conversation practice through user-friendly communication channels such as WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, or others.

In addition to practicing speaking, the developers also offer practicing writing skills. For example, you can ask a native speaker to read and correct a text in a foreign language in exchange for the same service on your part.

In addition to the website, you can also download the Mixxer app on Google Play.

Tandem

The Tandem mobile application offers an easy and fast way to find a speaking partner in a foreign language. The advantage of this app is the thorough process of checking each member's registration and moderation. This makes Tandem a safe and convenient space where each user can remain confident that their interlocutor joins for educational purposes only.

With filters by language, location, and interests, you can find the perfect language learning partner. The application allows you to communicate via chat, audio messages with a correction function and video or audio calls.

To register, you need to download the mobile app from the website, Google Play or App Store, but as the website points out, you can continue to search for a conversation partner in the browser version afterward.

HelloTalk

It is another language exchange mobile app that has quickly gained popularity among millions of language learners. After registering and creating a detailed profile, the app itself will suggest users with similar interests. In addition to the familiar and relatively standard functions, such as chats and calls, HelloTalk decided to please users with additional features.

The application interface offers built-in translation, pronunciation, transliteration and correction tools. Also in HelloTalk you can find the Moments feature, which means the ability to publish a post that will be visible to all native speakers of the language you are learning. Through these posts, you can ask native speakers questions about the language and culture, get feedback and corrections, and share your experiences.

The app is free to use, but has advanced paid features. Available on Google Play and App Store.

Will these resources be enough to master the language?

Of course, speaking practice is invaluable and also helps to develop other related aspects of the language besides speaking itself. When we listen to a conversation partner, we practice our listening skills, during a conversation we enrich and practice our vocabulary, and to pre-arrange a call we also use and practice our writing skills.

However, it is important to remember that conversation practice and language exchange serve as a complement to systematic foreign language learning in a specialized course with a professional teacher. If you are seriously considering starting to learn English, we can recommend ILAC languge academy of Canada, where you can learn the language with native speakers from Canada.

ILAC provides a wide range of language courses tailored to your specific goal, from general English to international language exam preparation. Courses are offered online with convenient schedules, and offline evening language courses are available for those already living in Canada.