If you decide to settle abroad or go there for higher studies, then you need to know how to communicate with the local people there. If you decide to go to an English-speaking country then you must pass an English proficiency test. The score that you have to achieve depends on your chosen institution.

All the exams like TOEFL, IELTS, etc. test your English skills in four categories: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You will find lots of resources online to practice reading, writing, and listening skills. But it is difficult to practice speaking. A common advice you will get regarding the practice of speaking is that you should practice standing in front of a mirror. But this method of practicing is not that effective. You need to practice conversations with a partner to get the best results. Of course, you can request a friend of yours to help you. But it is better to practice with someone who is good in English or is a native speaker.

You can look for such a person in your neighborhood, office, or college. But there are sites available today that make it easy to search for an English conversation partner online.

Meetup

It is a platform where like-minded people meet up. After you sign up you can search your city for English conversation groups. Then you can find someone who matches your interests and needs. Once you find someone, it is not necessary to meet the person online. You can have a one-to-one conversation outside the group. People getting in touch with this platform often decide to meet face-to-face in any event.

Language exchange apps

These apps pair up two people who want to learn each other's language. For example, you may speak French but want to learn English. On the other hand, an English-speaking person may want to learn French. So, you two can exchange the teaching services. 'Tandem' and 'HelloTalk' are examples of such apps. In HelloTalk you can carry out conversation not only verbally, but through texts and voice messages as well. These platforms and the method of learning English give the opportunity to learn about others' cultures.

Social media

You have a lot of friends on social media. You can write a post saying that you need an English conversation partner. You can send your request to a few Facebook groups or WhatsApp groups. YouTube is another platform to find a partner. You will find several YouTube videos on English speaking. If you go through the comments section you will find many people looking for speaking partners.

Reddit language community

You can join larger language communities like Reddit. You will find here people seeking conversation partners. Try to give your criteria and see if it matches with that of the other person. You can mention your preferred topic of conversation.

English chat website

You can find a partner in an English chat website like 'Interpals' where you can practice speaking with native speakers. You can also carry out the conversation in groups. These websites provide a comfortable and fun platform for practicing English.

Online tutors

Websites or apps like iTalki, Preply, or Verbling allow conversation with strangers. It is one of the most effective ways to improve your speaking ability. You can choose from many different tutors, all experienced. They will give you feedback on your speaking ability and help you improve it. These apps have become quite popular all over the world and they support multiple languages. So, you can use these apps to learn other languages as well.

Once you find a partner to practice your English, introduce yourself and ask the person the same. This way you can lighten up the conversation. By knowing about each other you can come to a comfort zone and talk freely. You must then discuss each other's expectations. For example, you must decide on the duration of the conversation and the rate.

Before starting the conversation practice, you must make some preparations, like deciding on the topic of conversation. Always ask for feedback about your speech and take down notes about it. Later, you can go through these notes and find out what must be done to improve your speech. Ask questions if you have to clarify matters. During your conversation, if you don't understand something the other person is saying, ask that person to repeat it.

You won't be able to learn English the shortcut way. To improve speaking skills, you must get into conversations with your partner. These conversations will let you actively learn English. In the sites just mentioned, you will find English learning partners to match your various skill levels. They will also provide you with immediate feedback regarding your act. Thus, you will identify your mistake right away and try to improve your performance by taking necessary measures.

When choosing a partner, it is not necessary to have a native speaker. Though there are advantages of having a native speaker like knowing the right pronunciation of a word, there are benefits of choosing a non-native partner as well. The non-native partner can point out mistakes made by most non-native people. With practice, you will become a more confident speaker. You will have a fun learning experience with a partner.

Start practicing speaking many months before your English Proficiency exam. Over the months, your speaking ability will drastically improve. You will notice the change yourself in your accent, use of words, and speech.