Guides · 6 min read · Published 31 October 2026

Practising spoken English by talking to new people

Grammar apps only go so far. How to use real conversations to get more fluent, without feeling embarrassed about your mistakes.

Plenty of people read English well, write it well and still freeze when they have to speak it. That isn't a knowledge problem. It's a practice problem. Speaking is a skill you build by doing it, out loud, with real people who answer back. Random video chat happens to be a pretty good place for that, as long as you go about it the right way.

Why real conversation beats another app

Grammar exercises teach you rules. Conversation teaches you speed. When someone asks you a question you have a second or two to answer, and that little bit of pressure is exactly what trains your brain to stop translating in your head. You also hear different accents, which helps far more than listening to the same textbook voice every day.

Say it at the start

Don't hide it. Open with something like "Hi! I'm practising my English, so please forgive my mistakes." Most people are happy to help, and some will slow down or explain a word without you asking. It also gives you permission to be imperfect, which is the whole point.

Mistakes are the practice

You'll mix up tenses. You'll lose a word halfway through a sentence. Good. Native speakers make mistakes in casual talk all the time; they just don't notice. If you get stuck, describe the thing instead: "the thing you use to cut paper" works just as well as "scissors". Keeping the conversation moving matters more than getting every sentence right.

Keep a small list

After a call, write down two or three words or phrases you heard and liked, or things you wanted to say but couldn't. Look them up later. Over a few weeks that list turns into vocabulary you actually use, not words you memorised and forgot.

Easy topics to start with

• Food. Everyone has opinions about food, and you probably know the words already.
• Your city, the weather, a festival coming up.
• Films and series you've watched recently.
• What you're studying or working on, in general terms.

Save harder topics, like politics or abstract ideas, for when you feel more comfortable.

Find a few regular partners

Random calls are great for variety, but real progress comes from talking to the same few people again and again. If you have a good conversation, follow the person. If they follow you back you can message each other and plan a call another day. A regular partner who knows your level is worth a lot. See from strangers to friends for how that works.

A word on safety

Language practice is a lovely reason to meet people, and sadly it's also a cover some scammers use. Be wary of a "teacher" or "partner" who soon asks for money, pushes you onto another app or offers paid courses you never asked about. Keep personal details to yourself as you would on any call; our safety guide has the basics.

Be patient with yourself

Fluency doesn't arrive on a particular day. One evening you'll notice you just answered a question without thinking about the grammar, and that's it, that's the progress. Ten minutes of real conversation most days will get you there faster than an hour of exercises once a week.