English Conversation For Beginners: 4 Steps To Get Fluent Fast

Photo by Trung Thanh

Engaging in English conversation can be tricky for beginners. You’ve got the words, and you know how they sound. It’s just tricky trying to say them naturally in conversation.

Learning a language is all about absorbing and releasing. We absorb by reading and listening, and release by speaking and writing. The important thing to note here is that you’re not alone – lots of people find it difficult to get words out or put pen to paper. 

Speaking, in particular, is difficult because we tend to spend less time practising this specific skill. Maybe you’re more of a listener, lack the confidence, or simply don’t have access to everyday English speakers. Whatever it may be – don’t you worry. Read on to learn four easy, effective steps for beginners to get better at English conversations! 

English Conversation Tip For Beginners #1: Listen To English All Day, Every Day

As we mentioned earlier, learning English is all about input and output. And one way to converse better is to improve your listening skills in English. 

Although improving listening skills may not sound like a fun-filled activity to most, we beg to differ. There are countless ways for you to listen to English as you go about your day. 

On the way to school? Listen to an English radio station. On public transport? Pop your headphones in and listen to a podcast. You can also opt to watch television shows and movies in English with subtitles on. This listening practice can help you understand familiar words and basic phrases, and is a great way for beginners to start improving their English conversation skills. 

English Conversation Tip For Beginners #2: Get Familiar With Key Phrases

The next step is to explore key phrases used in conversations. For example, sparking up a conversation would usually involve saying hello, hi, or good morning. 

Once you’ve greeted someone, you can go on to make some ‘small talk’; a form of light conversation between people who don't know each other well. It’s ‘small’ because you talk about unimportant things, in a way that fills up silences and makes you both feel more comfortable with each other. Here’s how to get started: 

1. Introduce Yourself

If you’re meeting someone for the first time, it would be polite to first introduce yourself and ask for their name.

Example:

My name is _____. What’s your name?

2. Choose A Universal Topic

For a topic to be considered universal, it can be shared and discussed by almost anyone. Topics like the weather, current news, and entertainment are typically safe conversation staters when speaking to new people. 

Example: 

“Nowadays, the weather has been very hot, hasn’t it?”

3. Ask A Question

If you’re unsure about which topic to go with, don’t worry. You can always ask someone about their day to get the conversation started. 

Example:

How has your day been so far? or What have you been up to today?

4. Make An Observation 

Another option for kicking off an English conversation as a beginner is to talk about something within view of you and the other person. Scan the area for something to comment on, or look at your conversation partner for something to compliment them on – everyone loves a good compliment.

Example:

I love your shoes! Where did you get them from?

Photo by Brooke Cagle

English Conversation Tip For Beginners #3: Tap Into Technology

Language learning isn’t what it used to be, all thanks to technology. While you can practise reading, writing, listening and speaking with zero tech and a chalkboard, devices and wifi will just help speed up the process. 

For beginners nervous about practising their English conversation skills, this is the perfect tip for you. If you own a smartphone or tablet, you can easily have a conversation with voice-activated assistants, also known as Siri or Bixby. These voice-activated assistants won’t respond if you don’t pronounce something correctly, so keep trying until they do (and you get the pronunciation right). All you have to do is set your smartphone language to English and converse away.

Also, if you don’t have access to English speakers to practise your conversation skills with, technology is here to help! With free video call tools like Skype, Google Hangouts, and Zoom, it’s easier than ever for beginners to have conversations with English-speaking friends and family. 

English Conversation Tip For Beginners #4: Find Opportunities For Small Talk

Photo by Yan Krukov

Once you’ve got all the right tools to get your conversations going, all that’s left is to practice. 

As mentioned earlier, you can use technology to seek out friends and family who speak English to practise with. Beyond this, there are also many fun ways to start practising in real-world situations. 

One great way is to go shopping! Brush up on the basic vocabulary you'll use in a shop, and make your way to your local mall. You can ask questions about different products, and practise your small talk with the sales assistant as you browse the items in the store. Another way to put your conversation skills to test is at a restaurant. Again, you should familiarise yourself with phrases used to order from a menu and ask questions about the food. 

From doctor’s visits and grocery stores to post offices and canteens, there are lots of small ways for beginners to practise their English conversation skills every day!