One of the most effective ways for people trying to learn English fast and efficiently is to meet and interact with native English speakers within their communities and beyond. There are several ways of doing this that may not be immediately obvious to the student. The aim of this article is to point English language learners to 5 methods of meeting native English speakers to interact with so that they can enhance their language skills.
Volunteer in an organization
Volunteering allows you to meet diverse groups of people to practice your English while engaging in some beneficial work. There are several types of volunteer services and jobs, all you need to do is pick the one that suites you, depending on your expertise and location. Finding a volunteer job is very simple if you have already decided what you want to volunteer for. Go online and search for a job that fits your expertise and sign up for them. The process of searching for volunteer jobs can also enhance your English, as you will have to communicate a lot with others to find the organization that suits you. Ask any current volunteer how the job is, what it entails, and how they feel doing it. Moreover, interact with members of different organization until you find the right fit. It is important that after you join, you get different responsibilities that will give you a chance to meet and interact with several people daily or weekly and practice English more often.
Search online for dedicated websites
There are several websites that are dedicated to help English learners like you to meet and interact with native speakers. Some of them also have native speakers who are interested in learning your language; this will be a good opportunity to teach each other your language through communication. Also, through these websites, you can search for natives that are interested in helping you learn faster by meeting up and chatting. Take advantage of these opportunities, as this will help you speak English fluently. An ideal source you can check is https://preply.com/en/skype/english-native-speakers where you can find a native English speaker who will help you speak English proficiently.
Take part in ceremonies and events
It is very likely that the city you are living in has several varieties of festivals and ceremonies during the year. Some of these events are posted online or they are advertised in newspapers. So go online and search for some festivals that you will feel happy to attend. You can also ask your English teacher about upcoming events as he/she is already conversant with the city. Sign up in several websites so that you can be kept posted about upcoming events. By attending these festivals, you will have the opportunity of meeting native speakers and interacting with them. No matter what your level of English is, don’t shy away from conversations as this will boost your confidence.
Don’t shy away from making friends
When you arrive at an English speaking country, don’t just seek out members of your nationality only. Widen your horizon and include natives as well, as this will help you learn faster. It is even more beneficial if the native shares your interests, as this will allow for better interaction. You can search online for friends and people of common interests. This way apart from learning to speak English faster, you will also have the opportunity to learn about the culture of the country you are residing.
Link up with a Sports Team
This is another excellent means of getting to meet native English speakers to interact and practice. Choose a sport you are interested in and join the team. You may not necessarily need to participate; you can be a spectator to supporter, but the most important thing is that you will become the part of a team. Most of these sports teams also have schedules of events and get-togethers which also provide you a means of meeting native speakers and have fun at the same time. Don’t shy away from starting conversations, the members will be happy to interact with you, and it’s a great way to learn English fast.
written by Smriti Gupta