Search for interlocutors on italki
One of the most important opportunities that the Internet provides for learning foreign languages is the ability to communicate with foreigners. Speaking practice is especially important. To learn to speak a foreign language, it is not enough just to know the words, you need to practice communication. In this review, I will talk about sites and applications where you will find partners to practice a foreign language (not just English).
Note: this is a general overview of sites for language practice, I have already written about the sites mentioned earlier, so I add links to more detailed reviews to the brief reviews.
1.
User profile on italki
If your level allows you to communicate at least a little in English, be sure to try to take at least one such lesson - the effect of speaking classes is very noticeable.
2. HelloLingo
The fastest and easiest way to find a companion is on Hellolingo
Attention: unfortunately HelloLingo is scheduled to close on May 18, 2019. I'll leave this mini-review here in case the service recovers.
In 2015, much to the dismay of users, the popular language site sharedtalk.com closed, where it was easy to find someone to chat with in a foreign language. Fortunately, the project has recently been reborn, becoming even better, now it is called HelloLingo.
This site is convenient for quick communication: I went in for a while, chatted with a random interlocutor, and left. Here you can find foreigners for longer communication. You can communicate in text and voice chat, and if you want to switch to voice communication, you first need to write off in text mode - you can’t call right away.
The site has an interesting feature - you can’t put a profile photo here. The developers did this to avoid turning the language practice site into a dating site. The problem with many language communities is that there are many who want to flirt with beautiful foreign women. This is not welcome on Hellolingo!
3.Speaky
Speaky has a more social design than HelloLingo
Language social network Speaky(previously called Gospeaky) is great if you find HelloLingo's design and social features too simplistic. Here you can put a photo on the profile, in addition, there is a convenient filtering function for native speakers and non-native speakers. In addition, Speaky has a mobile version (application), which, however, does not shine with particularly rich functionality.
When this site first appeared, in 2015, it was possible to communicate on it in text and voice chat, now the voice chat has been removed - apparently due to the fact that many people still preferred to exchange contacts and talk on the more convenient Skype.
A curious feature of text chat is the ability to correct messages. Ask the interlocutor to correct mistakes, and he will be able to edit your remarks in the chat: the correct option will be highlighted in green, and the wrong one in red.
4. Interpals
Interpals has very detailed people search and blacklist settings
On the Interpals they often complain because of the abundance of all kinds of spammers, fakes and “harassers”. Here, unlike HelloTalk, they do not try to get rid of flirting fans, you can even search for users with the “Flirting” filter - hence the abundance of the corresponding audience. But still, this old language site, which has been operating since 1998, is home to quite a lot of quite conscientious language lovers.
If you are plagued by annoying users, there are incredibly advanced blacklist settings at your service, where you can block people of a certain gender, age, and location.
5. Tandem
The review is called “6 sites for communicating with foreigners”, but Tandem- this is not a website, but an application for practicing languages, that is, there is no version for PC. Unlike HelloLingo, which tries to look NOT like a social network as much as possible, the Tandem app, on the contrary, looks like a dating site with photos, profiles, interests, etc. However, in this community, communication is not welcome for the purpose of language practice.
Tandem is positioned as an application for finding 1) tutors, 2) partners for communication in foreign languages. It is really convenient to find interlocutors, due to the fact that users post a lot of information about themselves (interests, level, goals, etc.) and even leave reviews about each other. As for tutors, I see no reason to look for them on Tandem - the choice is still small, the prices, on the contrary, are rather high, and studying languages via video link on a phone is less convenient than on a PC.
6. HelloTalk
HelloTalk- this is also an application, not a website, it has a web version, but with very limited features. If you only want to communicate with foreigners using , then HelloTalk is a great option.
But how the HelloTalk application is much better than the same Speaky: it has everything you might need: text correction (as in Speaky), sending photos, voice messages, convenient user search.
You can learn more about HelloTalk from or from this video.
Is it possible to practice without an interlocutor?
It is impossible to practice communication without an interlocutor, because what kind of communication can there be without the participation of a second person? However, it is still possible to develop speaking skills alone (although it is NOT the same as practicing with a live person), I talked about it in more detail in this video:
Conclusion
If you are serious about conversational practice, I recommend studying with tutors and taking “conversational” lessons from them. In my experience, this is the most efficient way. Yes, you will spend money (very little compared to the courses), but you won’t spend much time looking for interlocutors in free language social networks, in which there are scammers, spammers, fakes, or anxious people.
Friends! I don't do tutoring right now, but if you need a teacher, I recommend this wonderful site- there are native (and non-native) teachers there 👅 for all occasions and for every pocket 🙂 I myself went through more than 80 lessons with teachers that I found there! I advise you to try it too!
Who is fluent in nine languages? One of his tips for those who want to learn a foreign language is to find yourself a language partner for continuous practice of the language. Ideally, if it is also a native speaker. Where to find it? There are many sites on the web specifically designed to help you find a language partner to learn English or any other language. We have compiled a selection of the most popular resources.
On this site you can find a language partner from almost any country in the world, for example, from the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, India, Morocco, Thailand, Chile, etc. To start communication on this service, you need to register and fill out your profile. For example, you will need to indicate which language you speak and which language you want to learn. At the same time, the system allows you to specify several languages - for example, you can indicate that you speak Russian, but you want to practice English and French.
The user is also invited to write a short message describing himself and his interests to attract attention, add a photo and indicate exactly how you would like to practice the language. For example, through email correspondence, Skype communication, live communication. You can also enter your name on Skype if you wish, so that you can be contacted directly.
You can choose an interlocutor for yourself by gender, by the languages \u200b\u200bthat he speaks and which he wants to learn, by country of residence or by city. For example, we were able to find more than 500 English-speaking users who would be interested in improving their knowledge of the Russian language.
In addition to the main function of finding a language partner, the main page displays the latest discussion topics on the forum, which are often related to learning a foreign language, so you can immediately connect to the discussion.
Although this site is designed for finding a language teacher around the world, there is a separate section where you can find a common language practice partner. The search criteria are the same as on the previous site: gender, country and city of residence, language you speak, and the one you would like to learn. You can also specify that the system searches exclusively for native speakers of a foreign language, and not for users who simply know it well. By the way, it is very convenient that the system also shows whether a person is currently on the site, plus - next to each foreign language, it is indicated at what level he speaks it.
Other goodies include, for example, Articles sections, where you can find articles on learning different foreign languages (there is a filter by language to sort out inappropriate content), and Notebook. It allows you to train written skills in a foreign language. The essence is simple: you make a record on any topic, for example, talk about your work, family, travel, publish it, and other users can correct errors and leave their comments.
Users also have the opportunity to participate in discussions and ask questions that they have in the course of learning the language. But it is worth noting that if you have a free account, then you will be somewhat limited in your actions. For example, you can only ask two questions a day, add only two users as friends, and so on.
On this service, the same principle of operation as on the previous ones: you register, enter data about yourself and choose the most suitable language partner for the language he speaks and the one he wants to learn.
It is very convenient that there is an online chat in the user profile, where all suitable users who are currently on the site are displayed - you can immediately start chatting. Moreover, you can both correspond and turn on audio and video chat. Also, if you wish, you can save the correspondence on your desktop.
Another feature of the resource is a built-in video chat, a mobile version and an online translator, which makes communication much easier. You can also set appointments for your language partners here and add them to your schedule.
Here you can practice only English. All content of the site can be conditionally divided into two parts. The first is, in fact, the search and selection of a foreign interlocutor to communicate in English in text, audio or video chats. Moreover, if you do not want or are not ready to communicate face-to-face, then you can chat in a general chat. The second part is the study area. There are articles, videos, thematic collections of words, dictionaries, etc. And the third part is your virtual coach. The user needs to indicate the level of English proficiency and the topics in which he would like to improve knowledge. Depending on this, exercises for training are automatically selected.
Finally, we offer you a few more resources -
Busuu
Here you can attend interactive language courses, practice communicating with native speakers and take free online lessons. Each lesson is conducted on a specific topic and consists of a vocabulary, written exercises, dialogues, a mandatory conversation with a native speaker and a final test.
Most of the content is free. Premium account costs about 200 rubles per month. It provides access to video lessons, language tests and the opportunity to receive a certificate after completing the course.
Chip: game form of education, Busuu language garden. If you don't study, it will wither. If you study, berries will appear.
Languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese and English.
Sharedtalk
A social network that suits those who already have a good understanding of the language and want to practice with a native speaker. It is enough to register, enter the partner search parameters - mother tongue and target language - and a list of suitable options will appear indicating country, age, gender and a brief summary.
Chip: The network is based on the communication of users with each other. There are no additional options.
Languages: 30 languages, among which there are such as Afrikaans, Hindi, Azerbaijani, Tamil.
My Language Exchange
There are several communication options. You can make a pen pal or play language games like guessing a famous quote. You can choose your interlocutor by country, age and gender. The site has collective dictionaries where all users enter new vocabulary. You can also have your own personal virtual notebook.
Chip: You can talk not only in text, but also in voice chat.
Languages: 115, including major European and Asian.
English, Baby!
The main plus of the site is daily free lessons, each time on a new topic. You can learn the language using thematic audio materials, for example, monologues and interviews of American and British celebrities. Here you can learn grammar, chat, prepare for TOEFL and even enroll in a foreign language school. There is also a special section for English teachers, where teachers can exchange experiences.
Languages: English.
Lang8
According to the idea of the site, the user writes a post in the language he is learning, and native speakers help to correct all spelling, grammatical and speech errors. You can add tags to each note to structure your experience. The most popular posts and corrections are highlighted in the top. Also, you can make friends here.
There is a free account and premium. Free allows you to learn only two languages and make 500 notes in a notebook. Premium account costs about 300 rubles per month. It allows you to upload posts and comments in PDF format, photos, make an unlimited number of notes in a notebook and gives you some other additional features.
Chip: blogosphere - the user is immersed in the whirlpool of diaries, he can make notes, comment.
Languages: language interface in 19 European and Asian languages.
Ling
In addition to virtual communication, here you can use the help of a teacher, download audio lessons or send a written work for verification. The social network is intended for people with any level of knowledge of the language. The emphasis here is not on grammar, but on expanding vocabulary and free communication. All learned words can be saved in your profile, and for a paid account (it costs from 400 to 1600 rubles per month) and export your dictionary to your computer. There is also a free version, but with limited functionality.
Chip: a rich library of texts and podcasts, the ability to link words, making cards with them. Glasses are used to get help from tutors. For example, they are needed when correcting a letter, a conversation, and also for buying premium lessons. They can be bought or earned as a tutor, as well as by inviting friends or publishing lessons in the library.
Languages: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Swedish, Korean. The beta version contains Finnish, Norwegian, Hebrew, Turkish, Latin, Esperanto, Arabic, Czech, Polish, Dutch. New languages are added regularly.
Livemocha
An international community where the study of foreign languages is based on communication with native speakers. The user performs exercises in a foreign language, and native speakers check and comment on them. In turn, Russian language learners will expect help from native Russian speakers. The course of study is divided into separate lessons, which include written and oral exercises.
Chip: all tasks and content can be accessed by the user using either coins, which are earned by completing tasks or helping others, or beans, which are bought.
Languages: 35 languages, including not only English, Italian, French, German, but also rarer ones, such as Urdu, Arabic, Indonesian.
Interpals
Completely free social network for learning languages. You can log in to the site through your Facebook profile. The user has a chat and a forum. You can choose a partner for communication using key parameters: language, age, gender. The web shows who is online and who is offline.
Chip: The network is based on finding a partner who speaks the language of interest and sharing knowledge.
Languages: over 100 languages, including major European and Asian languages.
Italki
Here you can practice conversations with ordinary users, correct mistakes, ask questions to a native speaker, or create your own language learning team. You can log in to the network through Facebook or by registering via email.
Chip: there are sections for finding a language partner, and for a fee you can find a tutor.
Languages: more than 100, including major European and Asian ones.
English can be learned in a variety of ways. Of course, studying or taking courses is more entertaining, and there is hope for successful development. But nowadays, many people prefer to comprehend English on their own. Do not think that in this case nothing will work. It will certainly work out with great desire and perseverance. The problem is only how fully you can practice this or that skill in practice.
Learning words on your own is not difficult, but how to be completely confident in their pronunciation? Especially if you are not in contact with anyone who teaches English. You can also comprehend alone, but how to see if you are applying them correctly in practice? After devoting at least a few months to English, you realize that you already have a vocabulary sufficient for initial communication in English. However, when it comes to a live conversation, our notorious “language barrier” arises. I know a lot, but I can't say. I can’t find the right word or I’m afraid to make mistakes. This problem is closely related to the lack of proper language practice. What to do to correct all the mentioned situations, but there is absolutely no time to attend courses?
There is an exit. And it's available to anyone with internet access. I would advise you to pay attention to chats in English. The word "chat" is no surprise now. Everyone knows that it comes from English " chat" (chat, conversation) and denotes a means of exchanging messages over a computer network in real time. Initially, chats were just online correspondence. Now we can use both voice and video chats.
How can chat in English help in the learning process? First of all, any chat is a conversation between two people, in our case it is you and that is already of some value. Communicating in any chat, you meet new people, make new friends, and this is already a big plus.
If we are talking about a standard non-English chat, that is, chat chat, you can practice spelling skills and practice grammar knowledge when writing messages. Just immediately agree with the person that you would like to pay attention to the quality of correspondence. The fact is that chat in English is so popular that special slang for chat has long appeared, which has many in its arsenal. They are designed to communicate quickly, but since we use chat in English as a teaching tool, both you and your interlocutor will have to give up slang.
If we are talking about voice chats in English, pronunciation practice, listening comprehension training in English, as well as improving conversational speech come to the fore. You just imagine as if you are talking with the interlocutor on the phone. Very often, along with the voice chat in English, there is also a video chat. This is already a full-fledged conversation with a native speaker, well, perhaps on the monitor screen. You can not only tell something, but also show. You learn not to be shy in the company of a person who speaks fluent English. In any case, you can always ask something again. With frequent communication, you also begin to imitate the intonation of the interlocutor and try to get rid of the accent. These factors also positively influence your knowledge of the English language.
Where can I find chat in English?
If you decide that chat in English will help you, and it will, visit several of the resources presented and choose what suits you best:
- - one of the most popular resources in this area, containing not only a chat in English, but also English lessons, blogs, forums and all kinds of information materials.
Resources for learning foreign languages regularly appear on the network: texts for reading, audio and video with tasks for training listening comprehension. And most importantly, there are services that help you find interlocutors for conversational practice among native speakers of a foreign language!
Bookmark this article so you don't lose the list!
1 italki
I really love this resource, because it is suitable for different purposes: language exchange, full-fledged lessons with a teacher, conversational practice with any native speaker, or just communication with like-minded people from all over the world.
When the plans include not only communication, but also a balanced training of all language aspects, you should try the paid option of the site - classes with a professional teacher. You can schedule a lesson in advance or take it as soon as you enter the site. Through the search, you will find people who can contact you without prior arrangement.
2 LingvoHabit
LingvoHabit is a platform where you will move towards fluent communication in English with the help of daily interactive mini-lessons.
What you can do on the platform right now:
- select and save relevant materials;
- celebrate progress in learning and practice;
- undergo a variety of vocabulary training;
- keep a dictionary, checking the degree of memorization of phrases and words;
- train grammar and vocabulary in mini-lessons with exercises;
- improve listening comprehension of English through lessons on films and songs;
- pump the language in practice at marathons and courses.
3 Speaky
Cool site that I recently discovered for myself. I will review it soon after I test it.
Registration is simple and fast. When you get to your profile, you can start chatting with other members. On the right side of the screen, a list of potential online interlocutors appears, each of which is easy to write a message in the chat. If you add each other as friends, you can call by connecting the video.
4 Verbling
A site for those who are mostly interested in lessons with native speakers, and not just the practice of communicating on various topics.
The choice of a teacher is based on different parameters. For example, a native speaker of French who teaches Spanish. Or an Englishman who will teach you his native language. 🙂 In general, there are many options.
Connect to individual sessions in the morning, afternoon or evening. To get more speaking practice, meet new people and save on lesson costs, join a group class or invite your friends to learn a language together!
5 HelloTalk
The site provides communication through text chats and voice messages in more than 100 languages. There is a convenient mobile application.
The program helps even in pronunciation training: there is an option to listen to each message that is sent to you. The resource also helps to create your own database of materials for learning a language: sentences, pictures, words, audio.
With the help of special tools of the program, native speakers can easily correct you if necessary. You, too, can become such an assistant for someone.
6 Pen4Pals
More than 15,000 people around the world who are ready to practice learning foreign languages through a language exchange are waiting for you on this resource. The site has a simple search option for various parameters: gender, native language, language of study.
7 Couchsurfing
Community of travelers from different countries. Join meetings around the world, stay with new friends in another country, host them at home. Or just chat with a native speaker over a cup of coffee.
8 Polyglot Club
Do you learn languages not out of necessity, but because you absolutely love it? Check out this resource.
The site regularly organizes meetings for everyone who wants to practice communication in different languages. Choose the language of study and the city where you live. You will find out what meetings are taking place near you and you can organize your own. On the site, native speakers answer questions about learning it and offer a language exchange.
9 Interpals
This site is mostly intended for communication with foreigners by correspondence. Of course, when you find like-minded people, you will personally agree to communicate on Skype.
If you are not yet ready for conversational practice, this site will provide an opportunity to start communicating with native speakers in writing. This will help you learn how to formulate phrases in another language, gain confidence before a real conversation, find new friends with whom you can really continue to communicate further.
10 Meet up
When you know a language at an advanced level, or even live abroad, you are looking for ways to improve your level of a foreign language. One option is to attend meetings and lectures on a variety of topics in the area where you are now.
11 Internationals
An additional site under the heading for advanced users of foreign languages. Through this resource, you can connect with people around the world and attend various events and meetings. It is especially great for immigrants - you can quickly acquire an interesting social circle and find new friends.
12 conversion exchange
Another resource for finding interlocutors for a language exchange. The choice of friends depends on the country of residence, the language of study and the native language, as well as the type of communication: in chat, by correspondence and in conversation. To fully use the search, you must register.
13 Penpaland
After registering on this language exchange site, you can not only find new pen pals, but also maintain your own microblog, as well as create photo albums. A real social network, only with more benefits!
14 Easy Language Exchange
On this resource you can easily find interlocutors for language exchange and correspondence. An additional site option is registration as a teacher. If it matters to you, go for it!
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15 LingQ
Among the features of the site are communication with other participants by correspondence and in conversation, lessons and courses with teachers, online sessions individually and in a group. You can ask to correct your writing or pronunciation. Please note that some of the options are paid.
16 Livemocha[closed]
This is a global community for learning 36 languages, where you can take training courses and create your own company of like-minded native speakers who will become your language exchange partners, Skype interlocutors, and in the future good friends.
17 Paltalk
The service provides video chats with people around the world. You can join other members in the online chat room to discuss music, sports, language learning, events and more. Additionally, there is an option to communicate via text messages.
18 Lang-8
Surely, while learning a language, you encountered a problem: you make up sentences and examples with new words, but there is no one to check you. This service solves the problem. Copy here the dialogue, text, phrases that you have composed, and get corrections from native speakers. Help the participants who are learning Russian by answering their questions if you feel you can give a hint.
19 The Mixer
Free educational site for finding language exchange partners with subsequent practice on Skype. Contacts can be viewed directly in the user's profile. There are free lessons in English, Chinese, Spanish, French, German.
20 My Language Exchange
The site is dedicated to language exchange. It looks like this: you find a person who is interested in learning your native language, but at the same time is a native speaker of the language that you are learning. By choosing a form of communication (chat, email, conversation), you help each other in learning languages: mutual lessons, tips, vocabulary consultations or just talking on different topics.
The site has more than a million members from 133 countries who practice 115 languages in total! Unfortunately, you can write messages to other people only after a monetary contribution on the site. Free options: respond to requests and messages from other people, chat on the forum.
What service do I use?
All of these sites are useful in their own way. Try training on several and you will decide which site is right for you. As for me, I chose the site for language practice italki. It is convenient to search for teachers and native speakers for lessons and language exchange, track completed lessons and teacher feedback. And another bonus: it is easy to find a teacher who can conduct a lesson or conversation practice via Skype without prior arrangement.
If you have a goal for which you need to learn a new language, but you are afraid to start practicing and communicating with native speakers, follow the 30-day program of my author's marathon.
Every day you will do exercises to practice every aspect of the language, including speaking, and learn how to apply languages in life step by step.
What other sites for practicing communication in a foreign language do you know? Share in the comments!
