You've decided you need more speaking practice. Good. Then a little voice says, "But if I practise with someone who's still learning English, won't I just pick up their mistakes?"

It's a fair worry. And the short answer is: yes, you can improve your English by practising with other people who are learning it too. You're far more likely to pick up the things they get right than the things they get wrong. And in some ways, they give you more practice than a native speaker would.

Let me show you why, and how to make that practice really count.

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Won't I pick up their mistakes?

Why the thing you're worried about rarely happens

I understand where this fear comes from. For years, someone corrected your English. A teacher marked your mistakes in red. So it makes sense to think that mistakes are catching, like a cold.

But that isn't really how it works in conversation.

When you hear someone say something a little wrong, you usually notice. You might even think, "Oh, I know that one." Your brain is comparing what you hear with what you already know. That's a skill, and you're using it the whole time.

Researchers have looked at this too. Teresa Pica, at the University of Pennsylvania, has spent years studying how people learn languages through conversation. Looking across the research, she found that people practising together were much more likely to copy a partner's correct English than their mistakes. She also gave a fair warning: practising only with peers won't fix every mistake on its own. We'll come back to that.

So yes, you'll hear mistakes. You'll make some too. That's what practice sounds like.

Why would a non-native speaker be a better practice partner?

More turns, more time, more chances to speak

Here's something people rarely think about.

Have you ever played tennis with someone much better than you? Every time you hit the ball, it comes straight back, fast, into a corner you can't reach. The point is over in two seconds. You spend most of the game picking up balls.

Now play with someone at your level. The ball goes back and forth. You miss some, they miss some. But you hit the ball a hundred times more.

Conversation can be the same. With a fluent native speaker, it's easy to end up listening while they do most of the talking. They finish your sentences. They fill the silence before you've found your word. It feels helpful, and they're usually being kind. But you hit the ball less.

It's something we see in our community every day. When the other person is still learning too, you get more turns, and you use them.

With someone at your level, the ball keeps going back and forth. And all that back and forth is where speaking gets easier.

What makes a good English practice partner?

It isn't how good their English is

When people look for a practice partner, they usually ask one question: "Is their English better than mine?"

There are better questions to ask:

• Do they give you time? A good partner waits while you find your word. They don't rush in.
• Are they curious about you? They ask a second question. "Really? Why?" That's what turns a short answer into a real conversation.
• Do they show up? Someone you can talk to every week will help you more than someone brilliant you see once a year.
• Do you feel safe making mistakes with them? If you're nervous, you'll say less. If you feel relaxed, you'll try more.

Notice that none of these are about grammar. They're about how the person makes you feel while you're speaking. And when you feel good, you come back.

How can you be a good practice partner yourself?

Three small habits that help you both

Practice works best when it works for both people. Next time you talk to someone in English, try these three things.

1. Wait before you help. When your partner is searching for a word, count to three in your head before you offer one. Often, they'll find it themselves. And finding it themselves is how they remember it.

2. Ask one more question. When they finish an answer, don't move on straight away. Ask, "What happened next?" or "How did you feel about that?" It gives them more to say, and it gives you more to listen to.

3. Steal one phrase. Listen for one way of saying something that you liked. Write it down after the conversation. Then use it yourself, in your next one.

That last habit is my favourite. It turns every conversation into a little lesson, and you choose what you learn.

What about accuracy?

Where a coach still helps

I want to be honest here. Practising with peers is wonderful for fluency: speaking more freely, finding your words faster, feeling more relaxed. But if you have a mistake you've been making for years, more conversation alone may not fix it.

Researchers from McGill University in Canada followed university students in Japan for a semester. Practising in pairs helped the students speak more fluently. The students who also learnt how to give each other gentle feedback became more accurate as well.

So the best mix is lots of real conversations, with a little guidance along the way. I wrote more about getting that balance right in Do You Need a Teacher to Improve Your English? And if you're still weighing up native speakers, this guide looks at what they can and can't give you.

Questions we hear all the time

Can I improve my English by speaking with non-native speakers?

Yes. Practising with other people who are learning English gives you regular speaking time, lots of turns in the conversation and a relaxed space to try. You're much more likely to pick up their correct English than their mistakes.

Will I learn bad English from other non-native speakers?

It's unlikely. You'll hear some mistakes, but you'll usually notice them, because you're comparing what you hear with what you already know. If you want to fix a mistake you make often, add some guidance from a coach or teacher.

Is it better to practise with a native speaker?

Not always. Native speakers can be great to talk to, but conversations with them often move fast, and you may end up listening more than speaking. A partner at your level usually gives you more chances to talk.

How do I find a good English speaking partner?

Look for someone who gives you time to speak, asks you questions, feels safe to make mistakes with and can meet regularly. Those things matter more than how advanced their English is.

Emma xx

Ready to find your practice partners?

If you've been waiting for the "right" person to practise with, you might already be surrounded by them. They're just learning English too.

Here's a simple way to start:

✨ Get your free 7-day Guest Pass. No credit card, nothing to cancel. Start here.

✨ Join one conversation. You'll be in a small group with women from all over the world, and someone from the Hey Lady! team will be there to guide you. If you're nervous, you can join a listen-only event first.

✨ Decide if it's right for you. You're in control. Come back because you want to.

Your next practice partner is probably closer than you think.