How to Practise English Speaking

If you do not live in an English speaking country and you have no friends or family to speak English, where you can practice your English speaking skills? 

It's easier to have a conversation if you have a reason to talk - something to talk about. These ideas all they give a reason to talk to someone else. 

Start a movie or book club 

Invite people to discuss a movie that you all do together, or a book that you all are reading. Prepare questions before, to help people talk about specifics. 

Volunteer to help others 

Your name or company often receives foreign guests? Can you offer to translate for them? Or maybe you can offer to help children or students with their English homework. 

Take part in a film conversation 

Watch a movie on DVD and decide where you can talk to the film character. Listen to what the character says (and its answer) and then back, and either mute or pause the DVD after the film character speaks. Take the role of another character, and respond to the first character. You can also find movie scripts on the IMDb site. Print it, then practice taking a role in the film. 

use Skype 

Chat with other people on a forum, students through Skype. You can get to know them first by writing to them, then invite them for a conversation. 

Take English classes 

This is the most expensive option, but to pay for private lessons or group is a good way to practice your English regularly. If you have a job, maybe your company can also arrange classes for you. 

Before we start talking 

- Try to plan what you mean. Make sure you know the most important words or technical terms you need. 

- Practice standard expressions. For example, "Nice to meet you" or "How are you?" Getting these right expressions makes you feel more confident to continue the conversation. 

- In addition to focusing on what you want to say, also concentrate on listening to the other person. Give your full attention, and make sure you understand the use of explanatory expressions like "Sorry, do you mean ..." or "Sorry, but I do not understand. Could you repeat that please?" Do not forget: be a good speaker also means being a good listener. People want to have conversations with you if they know you are interested in what they say!

Types of shops in English

Store - a store that sells many different items in different departments. Harrods is probably the world's best known stores. 

Supermarket - a store that sells mainly food and household products. 

Grocer (UK) / supermarket (US) - a store that sells food. 

Greengrocer - sells fresh fruit and vegetables. 

Butcher - sells fresh meat. 

Baker - sells fresh bread and pastries. 

Fish - fresh fish sold. 

Chemical (UK) / Pharmacy (US) - sells medicines and toiletries. 

Pharmacy (US) - selling drugs. 

Kiosk - sells newspapers and magazines. 

Stationer - sells paper products. 

Optical - sells glasses / contact lenses. 

DIY store - sells things for home improvement. 

hardware shop / hardware / ironmonger - non-perishable, such as nails and screws products. 

corner store (UK) - a store in the corner of your street, selling a range of staples - food, newspapers, candy, bread, etc. 

delicatessen (deli) - selling specialist food usually is not found in supermarkets. For example, an Italian deli, an Asian deli. 

library / bookstore - books. 

market traders (people who work in a market) with stalls selling fruit and vegetables, clothing, household items and so on - market. 

pet shop - for pets and pet food. 

flea market - a group of stalls selling furniture or old clothes. 

tea shop (United Kingdom) - like a cafe, but sells tea and cakes. 

petrol station (United Kingdom) / station (US) sells gasoline, automobile products and sometimes food.