How can I find someone to practise speaking English with?

Talking regularly with other people is a very good way to improve your English, but you don’t necessarily need to practise with a native English speaker.

What matters most is finding someone you can communicate with regularly. This could be another English learner, a teacher, a language-exchange partner, or someone who uses English confidently.

Try looking for English conversation groups or language exchanges online or in your local area. When you practise, don’t worry about speaking perfectly. Concentrate on expressing your ideas clearly, listening to the other person and keeping the conversation going.

You can also practise when you don’t have a partner. Choose a simple topic, speak about it aloud for one or two minutes, and record yourself on your phone. Listen again and notice where you hesitate or have difficulty expressing an idea.

For IELTS Speaking in particular, remember that you do not need a British, American or other native-speaker accent. The important thing is that your speech can be understood clearly.

A good target: try to have two or three short English conversations each week. Regular practice is more useful than occasionally speaking to a native speaker.