If you need to practice English conversation online and don’t know where to start, this is the perfect guide.
When needing to improve our English fluency, we often struggle with finding classes or partners. The web is full of apps and platforms that can help us. So let’s have a look!
1. Improspeak: practice with a community of interesting people
Improspeak is a new original platform where you can talk and share your passions within a community of amazing people.
All you need is a webcam and a microphone; Improspeak will match you with someone based on your shared interests, then you can have video conversations.
If you don’t know what to say or struggle to find topics to talk about, Improspeak gives you fun question cards that you can use to keep the conversation going.
A unique feature of Improspeak is their moderation: after the chat, you will be able to rate your conversation buddy; this keeps away pervs and bullies.
If you want to practice your English speaking abilities while having meaningful conversations with interesting people, Improspeak is the perfect solution. Oh and, by the way, it’s free.
2. Hello Talk: find a language partner
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 partners, 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.
3. Italki: chose the best modality
Italki is an app that helps you become a better English speaker. It allows you to 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 can 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 (unqualified) that is willing to assist you for a lower fee.
4. Speaky: find 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 similar interests, so you will be able to find a partner with whom you have more in common!
5. Busuu: practice with a native speaker
On Busuu, you can find a partner to practice English with over 50 million native speakers.
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 or exchange modality) or another English learner to practice conversation!
6. Lingoglobe: meet language partners in a forum
Lingoglobe It’s a smaller website built like a forum where you can find exchange language partners to practise conversation with.
You can find a partner by the language they teach, or they want to learn, or you can look for common interests to help keep the conversation going!
Lingoglobe also has a main chat where you can see who’s available in real-time to help you with different time zones.
7. HiNative: the students’ magic wand
HiNative 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 to proofread their essays or practice for their English exams. It is a great community!
8. SpeakingPal: practice with a virtual partner
If you’re too shy to practice with a partner, 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 to 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 to see how much you’ve improved!
9. Duolingo: start with daily exercises
Duolingo is one of the most popular apps for learning a new language, and it’s perfect for beginners.
The lessons are arranged by Speaking, Listening, and Grammar adapted 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 that you need is twenty minutes a day!
10. TalkEnglish: and…scene!
TalkEnglish is an app that helps you with your fluency by repetition.
It comes with many scripted dialogues with 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 about what you just read to see if you missed something.
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 conversation so you can listen and compare to the original character and check if you make mistakes!
11. Accent Training: be able to recognize 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, and 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!
12. My English Pages: a complete knowledge of the native culture
My English Pages is a website that provides different resources for English learners.
This app has a section for vocabulary and grammar, but it also introduces you to the typical figures of speech and common saying used by native speakers in different situations.
My English pages give you context and explanations about several sayings and social scripts to learn fun facts about the native culture other than improving your speaking level.
13. ELSA: Artificial Intelligence assistant
ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) is an English pronunciation app that uses Artificial Intelligence to help you speak English confidently and clearly.
This app uses speech recognition technology, AI and deep learning to train your pronunciation.
You can practice on different topics or choose a personalised challenge to overcome and get immediate feedback.
ELSA can help you:
– Study English for your IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC exams.
– Learn essential English conversations and phrases before a travel trip.
– Practice English related to your field to advance your career.
On this app, you can take a speech test and receive a report on your strengths and weaknesses to know the areas you should focus on.
After you speak, you’ll be able to compare your voice to a native speaker, receive instruction on correcting yourself, and even watch a video that shows you how to produce those challenging sounds.
14. RealLife App: train your pronunciation like a native speaker
The RealLife App gives you podcasts and script transcriptions using different English accents, from the canonic British to the Australian. This way, you can train your pronunciation and sound like a native speaker.
This app focuses on idioms, phrasal verbs, slang, and pronunciation, providing cultural context from the US, UK, and Australia. It has two modalities:
• The Global Speak: where you can practice speaking while making friends with other learners from across cultures via short, engaging video and audio calls.
• Podcast Lessons: recorded by Fluency Coaches from the US, UK and Australia, that will help you improve your fluency.
15. English Listening and Speaking App
The English listening and speaking app has specific sections for IELTS, TOEFL and academic exams, hundreds of tests to improve vocabulary and pronunciation, and several games on sentence building and word chains.
This app has a wide range of different lessons to help you become fluent in English.
You can choose between Conversations, Speaking Practice, Listening Practice and Vocabulary, and you will have specific lessons for your needs.
16. SPEAKLAR: practice anonymously with native speakers
SPEAKLAR will automatically pair you up with an English native that uses the app, so you can start chatting anonymously with that person.
This app provides tests for many topics, including IELTS vocabulary.
You can talk with a verified English Native speaker, play word games, have real-time conversations both individually and in groups, and you can select specific training for TOEFL and IELTS.
17. Cambly: find a teacher for your needs
Cambly offers you professional tutoring with native English speakers.
Every teacher has a profile video presentation, a rating by users, their Languages and topics they’re willing to teach.
You can also follow specific courses by the app, whether you’re on the beginners level or practice for particular tests like TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC.
On Cambly there’s a teacher for every topic you want to improve on!
18. CUDU: Artificial Intelligence to help you
Cudu has a variety of English conversations to help you improve your speaking skills.
Once you choose a topic or a chapter, you can listen and practice with an AI recognition that gives you immediate feedback about your speech. At the end of every chapter, you have to pass an exam to go to the next one.
Cudu also gives you flashcards to practice and track your progress, so you can exercise daily in a quick and fun way!
19. CAKE: daily videos and exercises
Cake app offers practical exercises to simulate a conversation with a native speaker.
On this app, you can find several youtube videos with typical English expressions to practice with for a few minutes a day. You can also record yourself and check your pronunciation with speech analysis technology.
Cake gives you quick daily exercises to become a perfect English speaker!
20. MEMRISE: learn with fun interactive games
Memrise provides several options to improve your English.
You can meet native speakers that will help you learn the natural everyday language, and you have a wide range of great interactive games to learn and practice: Quick Review, Difficult Words, Listening Skills, Classic Review.
On Memrise, there is a Pronunciation Guide to help you speak like a native speaker by recording your pronunciation and comparing it to the locals.
Choose your daily goal, Memrise is tailor-made for you, and it can also be used offline whenever you want!
In conclusion
These are the best platforms to practice English conversation online. 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!
