If you want to improve your English conversations, your smartphone can become your best friend. We usually don’t have much time or occasion to speak English, so here are the best ten apps to improve your English speaking skills from the comfort of your home and every time you want.
1. Improspeak: practice with real people
Improspeak is a new original platform where you can talk and share your passions in a community of exciting people.
All you need is a webcam and a microphone; Improspeak will match you with someone based on your shared interests, then the conversation can start.
If you don’t know what to say or struggle to find topics to talk about, this platform gives you fun question cards that you can use to keep the conversation going.
What is good about Improspeak is moderation: after the chat, you will rate your conversation buddy – this system keeps away pervs and bullies from the community.
If you want to improve your English speaking skills while having meaningful conversations with interesting people, Imorospeak is the perfect solution for you. Oh and, by the way, it’s free.
2. Duolingo: start with the right foot
Duolingo is one of the most popular apps for learning a new language, and it’s perfect for beginners.
The app arranges lessons by speaking, listening and grammar, and adapts them to the user’s learning style.
Duolingo has a gamified learning system that helps you stay motivated: it keeps track of your progress and rewards you every time you complete a lesson with score points.
All you need is twenty minutes a day!
3. Italki: chose your favorite modality
Italki is an app that helps you become a better English speaker. You can choose between three modalities:
- Tandem modality: it’s a language exchange that connects you with native English speakers who want to learn your language, so you teach them yours while they teach you theirs in a reciprocal way.
- Choose a teacher: you can pick a qualified teacher for private online lessons to join on Skype or Hangout. Every teacher has a profile that includes a video-presentation, the languages they’re teaching and their price list, so you can consider which option you prefer and then you can schedule your first lesson.
- Choose a Tutor: you can use the tutor modality as a middle ground, where you only practice the language you want to learn with someone (not qualified) who is willing to assist you.
Teachers and tutors set the prices.
4. Hello Talk: find a language partner to practice with
Hello Talk is a free app where you can find a language partner to do a language exchange. You can choose your partners based on where they’re from, what language they speak and which one they want to learn.
Once you find your partner, you can send messages and organise video calls; however, the different time zones between you and your partner could make it hard to have live conversations.
Since there is no qualification required for you and your conversation partner, you may both make mistakes. To avoid this, Hello Talk has a grammar correction tool that helps you find errors before you send a message.
5. SpeakingPal: train with a virtual friend
If you’re shy and you want to practice English by yourself before talking to a stranger, you can use SpeakingPal, a free app that lets you have scripted conversations with a video chatbot.
SpeakingPal has a speech recognition system that lets you know if you’re making mistakes and helps you correct them and check your pronunciation.
The app also includes script translations so you can expand your vocabulary while reading the scripts.
Last but not least, SpeakingPal helps you track your progress, so you can see how much you’ve improved!
6. TalkEnglish: play scripted conversations
TalkEnglish is an app that helps you with your English fluency by repetition.
It comes with many scripted dialogues on different topics about your day to day life like food, family and work.
In each lesson, you will read and listen to a scripted conversation; then, you will answer multiple questions to see if your understanding is good.
TalkEnglish helps you practice your speaking skills by playing the part of one of the characters in the dialogues, so you don’t need to find a conversation partner.
You can also record your conversations to listen and compare them to the original character and check if you make mistakes!
7. Accent Training: learn different accents
Accent Training lets you practice your accent with short scripts about everyday topics.
You can listen to scripts read by native speakers while reading; then, you can record yourself to compare your pronunciation to the native speaker’s.
Since English is often shortened with verbal contractions (for example it is – it’s), Accent Training provides a “reduced speech” setting and some exercises to help you pronounce specific tricky sentences!
8. Hi Native: quick answers for everything you need
Hi Native is a Question and Answer platform that works like a forum.
You can ask the community for quick translations, pronunciation and vocabulary checks or even correct your short texts; someone in the forum will help you out.
It’s a great app, especially for students who need someone to proofread their essays or practice for their English exams through a great community of people!
9. Speaky: find new pen-pals around the world
Speaky is an app that allows you to practice English conversation with pen-pals around the World in a Language exchange modality.
You can see the available language partners online and add them to your friend list; then, you’ll have access to a private chat where you can send messages, audios and videos.
This app also has a filter option that matches you with people based on your similar interests, so you will be able to find a partner with whom you have more in common!
10. Busuu: practice in a tandem with native speakers
On this app, you can find a partner to practice English. There are over 50 million native speakers on it.
Busuu is well known in the English learning community and provides a detailed search option to find what you’re looking for.
You can choose your learning modality and find a native speaker who wants to learn your language (tandem modality) or another English learner to practice conversation with!
In conclusion
These are the best free apps to improve your English speaking skills in your day-to-day life. Now it’s your turn! You can choose the one that fits you best or even all of them; remember to practice as much as possible and have fun!
