For English learners who are not living in an English-speaking country, speaking is not easy to improve. It is difficult to find opportunities to use your English.
Because of that, I bet that, like me, you think that speaking is the most difficult skill to improve.
To improve your speaking level, you have to speak regularly, but it’s hard to find a long-lasting speaking partner with whom you can practice your English speaking.
Then, it’s when we need something.
A Long-lasting Speaking Partner
If you cannot go to live in an English-speaking country for some time, then what you need is…
A REGULAR SPEAKING PARTNER
A regular partner is someone with whom you will improve your speaking level.
In my personal experience, it is not easy to find the right partner because:
-You do not know where to find it.
-When you find someone you do not have anything in common.
– When you finally find someone that suits you, that partner does not show up after some meetings, or maybe you are the one who gives up.
Then, how can you find and secure a suitable partner? What do you have to check?
The Four Characteristics of a Good Speaking Partner
- Level
- Shared interests
- Goals
- Availability
1) Level
We all want a native speaker to help us improve our speaking skills. Sometimes, when your speaking level is basic, it is not easy to maintain a conversation, and it is impossible to keep your native partner interested.
Then, it is a good idea to work with a non-native speaker like us.
Whenever possible, someone with a higher level than you will be a good motivation and a good teacher too. Someone as motivated as you to improve their speaking is also a good choice.
2) Shared interests
It is not only about speaking but also about enjoying the process of learning. Sharing things in common with your partner (Topics, Hobbies, etc.) will make it easier. You will share a common interest, and the partnership will last longer.
Sharing common interests = Long-lasting partner = Improving your speaking faster
3) Goals
Have in mind your goals:
-Reach a good speaking level soon
-Enjoying a friendship, and at the same time, improve your speaking
You have to know your goals and the ones of your partner.
You may need a partner as motivated as yourself to meet almost every day. Or maybe you need a friend to meet now and then without any hurry?
It is important to share similar objectives with your partner.
4) Availability
Try to match your availability with your partner. You need a long-term friendship to improve your speaking, and if you cannot meet regularly, you are not following the right path.
If you have a virtual friend through the Internet, you need to be aware of the different Time Zones because sometimes it is not easy to meet someone who wakes up when you go to bed.
My Personal Experience: from Failure to Success
After some partnership failures, I thought about the whole thing and searched for a partner that suited me best for the long run. After that, my English-speaking partnerships are more successful.
Nowadays, I am working on my speaking skills for half an hour almost five days a week with another English learner. Check the following four characteristics of my partnership…
| Level | My partner had a better level than me even though he was not a native English speaker. |
| Shared interests | We started our friendship by sharing our interest in Urban legends, then, over time, switched to other topics. |
| Goals | We both wanted to improve our English speaking level. |
| Availability | Although we lived in different countries with different time zones we tried to meet for 30 minutes almost daily. |
What About You?
Do you have an English-speaking partner?
A native speaker or a non-native speaker?
What is your current strategy to improve your speaking?
All your comments are very welcome!!!