Practise speaking English with strangers online

Grammar exercises and apps help you learn English, but speaking with real people is what makes it feel natural. Random chat gives you something many learners find hard to get: short, low-pressure conversations with people from different countries, whenever you have ten minutes.

This guide covers how to use it well, from your first text chat to confident video conversations.

Why conversation practice matters

• You learn to think in English, not translate in your head.
• You hear different accents and speeds of speech.
• You practise the phrases people really use, which are often not the ones in textbooks.
• You get used to not understanding everything, and learn how to keep going anyway.

Start with text, then move to video

If speaking feels scary, begin with random text chat. You have time to think, you can check a word before you send it, and nobody hears your accent. Once writing feels comfortable, try random video chat and practise speaking out loud.

Set your languages and goal

Before you start a chat on RandomHey, two settings help you meet the right people:

1. Choose the languages you speak, up to three. Include English. You will only be matched with someone who shares one of your languages, unless you allow other languages.
2. Choose “Practice a language” as your goal. When you and the other person both choose this goal and share a language, you get conversation starters made for learners, such as “Describe your ideal weekend using simple sentences.”

Matching prefers a shared language first, then shared interests, then the same goal. More details are on how matching works.

Useful phrases for learners

It is completely normal to ask for help. These phrases make it easy:

• “I am practising my English. Could you speak a bit more slowly?”
• “Sorry, could you say that again?”
• “What does that word mean?”
• “How do you say … in English?”
• “Please correct me if I say something wrong.”
• “Did I say that correctly?”

Good topics for practice

Choose topics with everyday vocabulary. Some conversation starters built into RandomHey for learners:

• “What word in the language you are learning do you like the sound of?”
• “What made you want to practise this language?”
• “Teach each other one everyday phrase you use often.”

Food, films, travel and hobbies are all good practice topics. See conversation topics for talking to strangers for more.

Make practice a habit

• Short and often beats long and rare. Two ten-minute chats a day will help more than one long session a week.
• Write down new words after each chat.
• Offer help in return. If the other person is learning your language, spend half the time on each.
• Do not worry about mistakes. Most people are happy to help a learner.

Be patient when few people are online

Specific combinations of language, interests and goal can take longer to match. You will always see how long you have been waiting, and after a while you may be offered wider preferences. We never change them for you, and we never show fake partners or fake online counts.

Other ways to practise

Random chat works best alongside other practice: language exchange groups, classes and conversation clubs give you the chance to talk to the same people again and build on each conversation.

Stay safe while you practise

Keep your personal details to yourself, even when a conversation goes well. Read staying safe when you talk to strangers online for what to watch out for.