Speaking practice

How can you improve your speaking?

Most of you spend all your time in the same classes with the same people. You often have lunch with friends who speak the same language so you have few opportunities to speak to different people and practise your speaking skills.

Here are some ways you can work on your speaking skills:

• go to the study groups. They are every Tue, Wed, Thu at 11.45 and 1.30. They last 45 minutes and are quite relaxed and informal. There are often Conversation/ Vocabulary/ Watch & Discuss study groups. You will meet new people and develop your speaking skills.
• take part in the social activities programme. This is a good way to make new friends and to practise speaking in English to different people.
• speak to a new student every day. Ask them how they are and what class they are in. Talk to the teachers and say good morning to the people on reception.
• talk to a native English speaker: all you need is one question. Ask them for directions. Go to a hotel and ask for a restaurant recommendation. Ask the person in the shop if they are having a good day. Try and build your confidence.
• read the conversations on the blog with a partner. I have written a few conversations for Ryan and Aziz. Practise them with a partner.
• when the lesson finishes, talk about it for two minutes with a classmate. What did you enjoy? What are you having for lunch? Get into the routine of having a short conversation.

This is the City Art Gallery in Manchester:

They often have FREE English conversation classes. The free classes are twice a month: the second Wednesday afternoon and the third Thursday evening. You don't need to book or arrange anything. Just go. There are more details here: http://www.manchestergalleries.org/whats-on/community-programmes-1311243048/adults-learning-english/

The art gallery also does free tours three times a week. Each tour has a different guide, so each tour is different. This is good listening practise. You can find more information here: http://www.manchestergalleries.org/whats-on/events/adult-programmes-and-events-1155052066/

The easiest way to get to the art gallery, is to walk to Piccadilly bus station and follow the tram lines: