New information technologies significantly improve the quality of our lives. We are awakened in the morning by a smart alarm clock, we make purchases using applications on a smartphone, we can make an appointment with a doctor online, track the location of a child using a smart watch.
Computerization has also affected education. Education in the 21st century has changed dramatically compared to the last century. The method of teaching English is now impossible to imagine without online technologies.
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Previously, in order to start studying, it was necessary to find courses or teachers through a tutoring ad in the newspaper or with the help of acquaintances, then purchase study guides. Then it was required to come to the tutor at a certain time, bring assignments, which the teacher spent time checking during the lesson.
In the modern world, the approach to learning foreign languages has become different. Now the quality level of knowledge is available to everyone. Modern technologies allow you to study without leaving your home, by reading modern English literature on special websites, listening to audio lessons, watching scientific videos, reading the latest news from the English-language press, communicating with American friends from New York! Today it is even possible to completely change your profession with the help of special distance online courses .
Let's look at the options for practicing spoken English.
Sites for practicing English with native speakers
- The universal site italki.com contains sections dedicated to many languages of the world. On this resource, you can find a tutor for yourself or find a free interlocutor with whom you will talk via Zoom or Skype. Pay attention to the prices per hour - there are native speakers who are willing to study for $ 10 per hour, this may be an additional opportunity to pump up grammar.
- Social network to communicate with people around the world speaky.com. This site requires registration, after which
- A site for finding pen pals and those who are ready to chat in another language conversationexchange.com. In addition to practicing English, you can read learning tips and world news in a mini blog. The service is free, all participants are native speakers. You can choose a partner according to the required parameters that you fill out before you start chatting.
- An interesting site with open profiles of participants language-exchanges.org, where you can see the native and studied language, a photo of a person and choose a convenient way to communicate: letters, Skype, live communication on the site.
- Convenient and modern site lingoglobe.com, where you can learn a language with native speakers by creating an account. Available types of training: chat, face-to-face format, correspondence, call, video call.
- Interpals.net language itself as a place to make new friends. You can chat, chat or video chat. The resource is free and easy to use. Registration required.
- Site for finding partners for communication MyLanguageExchange.com - correspondence by e-mail or chat on the site, voice chat and face-to-face meetings are available. The peculiarity is that you can find a person from your country and try to communicate with him first. Questionnaires are open, so you can select interlocutors by age, knowledge, appearance, gender. On the site, you can also teach your native language as a thank you for the lessons.
- Chatting via Skype at speaking24.com. You can join a conference or invite interlocutors to an individual one.
- The busuu.com offers you an English level test and then calculates how long it will take you to reach your desired level if you devote 10 minutes a day to studying. You need to create an account on the site and follow the simple instructions.
- An interesting resource is paltalk.com, where participants create chat rooms for communication on various topics. The platform is available on any device, you can choose any type of communication: video, audio messages, correspondence.
- Deep practice with the site englishbaby.com, which has video chats, correspondence, language exercises, the ability to maintain your own dictionary and save exercises in your office. You need to register and then look for carrier friends around the world.
- completely free site lingozone.com, where media from many countries are also available with whom you can correspond in an internal chat, call up via video, play games together on the site.
- Multifunctional resource polyglotclub.com, which will help you with written language and speaking. The site has the opportunity to ask questions about learning the language, participate in online chat, correct written work, registration is required.
- Learn the language and culture of another country with a native speaker at scrabbin.com. The minimalistic interface will help you not to get confused, the free basis will give you a chance to practice the language as much as necessary.
- The friendly site coeffee.com offers to play linguistic games with native speakers. Fun exercises will help you learn everyday and situational language. Registration required.
- The minimalistic site nyelvcsere.hu was created to find a partner in the base of students, so that both you and your interlocutor learn while communicating.
- The free platform for finding native speakers paljit.com will help you choose the one who really interests you as a teacher.
Sites for practicing spoken English
Numerous foreign language courses, international chats, applications, social networks for language practice (sharedtalk), interpols (InterPals) - these are new opportunities that allow you to learn English at home and on your own. It is enough to enter queries in the search engine: English on Skype, social networks in English, language courses, and you will open communication with native speakers, online translators, speaking clubs, Interpol (an international network for learning foreign languages) and just training programs.
We reviewed popular resources for practicing a foreign language:
- An interesting social network lang-8.com, where you can compose posts in the language you are learning, which are corrected by native speakers, will appeal to teenagers who are active on social networks.
- The original resource internations.org is designed for those who know English at a fairly high level, because it involves live meetings with other expats in your city.
- Paid site for classes with a native teacher online in video format verbling.com.
- A huge database of lessons, written assignments, a library of audio, video materials, books, articles, news on a variety of topics will become available after registering on this site lingq.com.
- A resource for learning new words, translating them with the help of internetpolyglot.com will help to form a good vocabulary.
- Created in 2016, the easylanguageexchange includes an interesting blog, a chat with native speakers, as well as the opportunity to purchase additional English courses.
- Free application hinative.com, available in the App Store Google Play, where you can learn with the help of questions on any topic you study.
- The languageshare.net community, also available as an app, where you can find a friend to communicate in any language and level.
- Puzzle English is a service that will allow you to study, work, travel, watch movies and read books, develop and even move to another country. To get acquainted with the teaching methodology, just click on the "try it for free" button. Just one minute - and you have already picked up a personal curriculum. With the help of puzzle tasks, learning a foreign language is easy and simple. Memorizing words, translating, parsing the rules remains in the past. This network does not let anyone get bored.
Free sites for communication of English lovers
There are several more entertaining sites created for lovers of English and communication in it. You can check out fluentin3months.com, a resource developed by enthusiastic students and educators. Of particular interest to those who love to chat will be the Forum available to registered users.
You can also visit toastmasters.org as a guest - it's free. Here people learn and practice speaking in front of other people - this can be an interesting experience for someone who wants to improve not only speaking, but also oratory.
cool and simple website, howdoyou.do was created especially for those who love to chat in another language. In addition, it allows you to determine the level of the language, get acquainted with grammar topics, join the community, maintain and supplement the dictionary.
How useful is communication with native speakers?
Of course, this is correct and natural speech, listening to which you will learn to speak correctly from the very beginning. In addition, communicating with a representative of another nation is interesting, because you come into contact with another culture and can learn unusual traditions, habits, character traits.
A person from another country is also a source of all kinds of advice in case you are planning a move. Long-term communication contributes to friendly relations and even the emergence of joint plans and projects.
An English-speaking friend is also a partner who will help you write your resume correctly, check your assignment in English, help with an exam or an answer.
Tips for Successful Speaking Practice
This type of study, such as communication with foreigners, can be an effective way to improve your speaking, understand the accent, and increase your active vocabulary. However, it can also be a waste of time. In order for such lessons to be useful, we recommend that you follow a few rules:
- Intensity. It is necessary not only to listen, but also to try to find words, to keep the conversation going. Just listening will not bring the desired effect. Before speaking, write down words and expressions that you may need. Discuss and plan communication topics in advance so that you have the opportunity to prepare a little.
- Frequency. Try to communicate as often as you do the writing exercises. For example, 2-3 times a week for 30-40 minutes will help you advance in speaking in a few months.
- Regularity. An important success factor is systematic exercises that will help you get involved in the process and get into conversation.
- Goal setting. Feel free to talk about what interests you and needs to be learned. It will be much more useful to study and discuss what you like, and not just talk about abstract topics. If you are planning to move, then ask the interlocutor to tell you, for example, how in his country it is better to make purchases, pay utility bills or pass a job interview - this will become an additional motivation for learning.
- Complexity. Speaking is an important component of knowledge, but you should not pay all attention only to training oral skills. Be sure to set aside time for grammar, vocabulary building, reading aloud and to yourself. And then you can not only learn English to the fundamental level B1 Intermediate , but also get to the opportunity to move and work abroad.
Choose a nice person for you, suitable for the level and open English from the other side.
Get your TEFL TESOL certification
Travel, work online, get a job abroad, or be
an EFL and ESL teacher in your country.
We hope that our article will make your journey into the world of English easier and more interesting. We wish you success!