You’re absolutely right to want to practise English with native speakers.

There’s something magical about hearing authentic pronunciation, natural rhythm, and those little cultural details no textbook can teach. When a native speaker casually says, “How’s it going?” you think: That’s exactly how I want to sound.

It makes perfect sense. Native speakers often feel like the key to fluency.

But after working with thousands of English learners from over 120 countries, we've discovered something that might surprise you about what actually makes someone an incredible English speaking partner.

Why practising with native speakers feels like the secret to fluency

Let’s be honest, native speakers make English sound effortless!

They use idioms naturally. They know when to say "pretty good" versus "quite good." They can explain why we say "make a decision" but "take a break." Their English flows like water.

When you practise with a native speaker, it feels like you're getting the real deal. No textbook English. No overly formal phrases. Just natural, authentic conversation.

So your desire to practise with native speakers is completely valid. Native speakers absolutely offer something special.

Where to find native English speakers online

Since you're probably looking for native speakers to practise speaking English online, let me help you find them!

Here are your best options:

Online Tutoring Platforms

Preply or iTalki connect you with professional native-speaking teachers. You'll pay $20-50 per hour to practise (the global average in 2025 is around $20 for a newly qualified tutor) but you’ll get to talk to someone who understands how to teach English.

Language Exchange Apps

Apps like HelloTalk or Tandem let you swap languages—you teach them yours, they help you with English. It’s free, but finding a reliable partner can take patience. Perfect for chit chat but you might need something more structured to truly expand your fluency range. If you don't feel confident you could 'lead' someone to fluency, they're probably feeling the same!

Facebook Groups

Facebook has hundreds of free groups offering English conversation practice. Some are led by native speakers, usually ESL teachers who create groups to support their online courses. Although these often lack a structured approach to learning, you may be able find time to connect with the native speaker who runs the group if they are still actively involved.

AI Speaking practice apps

Technically this option should be excluded but.. as you know there are many new apps that offer AI speaking practice. The speaking partners programmed into the app are designed to sound like native English speakers. Which is strange! Because less than 25% of the English speakers in the world are native speakers, so you're talking to the minority. These apps can be very helpful for correcting your pronunciation or even asking grammatical questions, which most native speakers would not know the answer to. We can say they are 'sort of like' talking to a native speaker.

Each of these options helps. But the key is finding someone who's genuinely interested in helping you improve, not just making polite small talk and asking where you are from (which gets a little boring, right?).

If you want to make real progress, you'll need to find speaking partners who makes you feel safe to keep expanding your comfort zone and motivated to keep practising because - let's be honest, the road to true fluency is a long one and there are times when it is hard to keep going!

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What makes a great English speaking partner (this might surprise you)

After connecting thousands of women with real English speaking partners we've learned that being a native speaker doesn't automatically make someone great to practise with. The difference between a speaking partner and a GREAT speaking partner lies in their personal qualities and willingness to practise with you.

The best partners share three qualities:

They make you feel safe to make mistakes

This is HUGE. When you're worried about being judged, your brain focuses on mistakes, errors and self-doubts which blocks the words coming out. You need someone who celebrates your attempts and helps you keep the conversation going, not someone who makes you feel self-conscious about every error and keeps interrupting.

‍They're genuinely interested in what you have to say

Amazing speaking partners ask follow-up questions. They want to know about your life, your thoughts, your experiences. Conversation flows because there's real connection, not just language practice.

They understand the learning journey

Whether they learned a second language themselves or they've taught others, they get what you're going through. They know when to gently correct and when to let mistakes slide or 'model' the right way to say something by saying what you said back to you a better way.

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It is absolutely possible to find native speakers (who are not being paid to speak) who have thes qualities. But we've met so many more non-native speakers who are absolutely brilliant practice partners! 

“Where someone was born” is not the most important characteristic of a great speaking partner.

The truth about how to improve spoken English

Want to know something that completely shifted our perspective?

Some of the most fluent English speakers we've met, worked with and interviewed didn't become fluent by practising exclusively with native speakers.

They realised that limiting their practice partners to "native speakers only" meant that thousands of opportunities to practise at all, would pass them by.

That's important! As you know, the fastest way to improve your spoken English is to practise speaking consistently. That's no secret.

But if you make the choice to exclude 75% or more of the English speaking population, it can make this challenging.

Communities like Hey Lady! create the opportunity to talk every day without intimidation or judgement, and little by little you will push your comfort zone.

The secret to their success

Think about it this way: when children learn their first language, do they only talk to adults with perfect grammar? Of course not. They learn from siblings, friends, cousins; people at all different levels who are just as eager to communicate as they are.

Less than 25% of people who speak English are native speakers. Millions of people including those you see in the media, running successful businesses or celebrated academics all learned English as a second language, just like you are! And they did not rely on native speakers to reach their goals.

Why would we exclude these people when they know exactly what it's like to learn English and build fluency?

One Hey Lady! member put it perfectly: 

"I realised that what I needed wasn't perfect English from my speaking partner. I needed someone who understood my journey and made me excited to keep improving."

Another told us:

“Practising with women who are also learning gave me confidence I never had with native speakers. We feel more comfortable speaking and we focus on communicating, instead of focusing on mistakes.”

This isn't about settling for less. It's about recognising what actually creates fluency: consistent practice in a supportive environment where you feel brave enough to speak for the hundreds of hours it takes to develop this skill.

The more opportunities you have to speak, the more people you speak to, the faster you will build your confidence to talk to anyone (including native speakers!) so don't limit your options! Otherwise, you will only hold yourself back.

Why an English speaking community builds confidence faster

🌈 When you practise with other English learners, something beautiful happens.

Everyone is invested in improvement 

There's no awkward dynamic where one person is "helping" and the other is "receiving help." You're teammates! 🙌🏽

You understand each other's struggles

‍When someone says "I know the word but I can't remember it," you completely get it. When someone makes a mistake you used to make, you can actually help—and helping others reinforces your own learning.

You practise real communication

‍Instead of feeling like every conversation is an exam, you're having genuine conversations about topics you both care about. 

Your English improves exponentially because you're focused on connection, not perfection.

PLUS you build the capacity to talk to anyone

Here's something fascinating that very few learners consider: When you're comfortable speaking English with a diverse group of English speakers, you naturally become more confident with native speakers too. 

Connecting with people from around the world brings unique accents, expressions, and mannerisms into your experiences of English conversations.

And this soon becomes your superpower as you learn to listen closely, adapt quickly, and understand English in all its beautiful variety. 

Among native English speakers there are over 11 different accents. But there are more than 160 other English accents around the world! If you want to understand them all, the best place you can start is in a truly global community.

It will help you be much more prepared for real-life conversations with native speakers.

How Hey Lady! Helps Women practise Speaking English Every Day

This insight led us to create something different at Hey Lady!—a women's English speaking community where connection drives fluency.

We realised that instead of women limiting their speaking opportunities to individual native speakers or expensive tutors that charge for every hour of practice, they needed a community of women who shared their goals. They needed a place where they could feel safe and comfortable to meet people, practise speaking and make mistakes without feeling judged or criticised, but encouraged to learn and grow.

Since launching, we've helped more than 12,000 women from over 120 countries find their English confidence.

Here's how it works: 

Inside Hey Lady! women just like you join daily conversations about topics that matter to them—career challenges, travel dreams, cultural differences, personal growth. 

They practise with others at similar levels, but they also learn from those who are further ahead on their journey.

They have the support of expert English fluency coaches who provide guidance and feedback to help them become independent.

We prioritise communication, connection and confidence first, then support additional learning through grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation lessons.

And year after year, we continue to be inspired by the results. 

"I've been a Hey Lady member for one year, and honestly, I couldn't have imagined this level of improvement a year ago. I'm much more confident in conversations now."

Another told us:

"What I love most is the feeling of being a lucky member of an amazing community. Every day, you can connect with intelligent, open-minded, like-minded, and warm-hearted women from all around the world."

While our professional coaches provide structure and guidance, the real magic happens in those daily conversations between our members. Instead of paying per hour or worrying about finding the "right" native speaker where the conversation feels like a transaction. 

They're simply showing up to connect with friends who happen to be helping them become fluent - almost without realising it!

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Do You Need Native Speakers or English-Speaking Friends?

The truth is—you don’t have to choose.

The women who become truly fluent in our community do both. In Hey Lady! they have an immersive English-speaking community to practise speaking as much as they want, about whatever they want. And with the confidence they build from so much practise, they feel more comfortable to seek out native speakers for exposure to natural language use.

But they build their foundation—their confidence, their speaking habits, their love of English conversation—with people who understand their journey.

The truth is, there's no 'big secret' to becoming fluent and confident other than letting go of self-limiting beliefs like "I have to practise only with native speakers" or "my English has to be perfect to speak".

Learning to speak English fluently is no different to how you might improve any skill - dancing, painting, playing guitar or even learning to code - you will progress faster and enjoy learning so much more when you surround yourself with others who are on the same journey.

It's the same advice you would give to a friend, right? 

Frequently Asked Questions About Practising with Native Speakers

Who gives feedback if I don’t practise with native speakers?”

Many English learners think they need someone to 'correct their mistakes' constantly - and worse, they think only native speakers can speak English competently. This is completely untrue. Feedback comes in many different ways, and in ways that don't block your progress (like constant correction). Consider that when you are speaking to someone, they can encourage you, they can 'model' language for you, you can read their facial expressions and the way they respond to what you said. These are all forms of feedback that accelerate your learning faster than being corrected.

Can practising with non-native speakers still help me understand native speakers?

Yes!—exposure to diverse accents and speaking styles makes you better at understanding all English speakers. Many Hey Lady! members say this prepares them for native speakers too. Remember, even native speakers have hundreds of different accents. Some, like Irish, can be difficult for anyone to understand! 

How often should I practise speaking English to see real progress?

Even 15 minutes of conversation daily builds fluency faster than long, occasional study sessions. Hey Lady! members often join short daily chats, making regular practice simple and motivating. The biggest mistake is not committing to any practice because you are excluding everyone but native speakers.

What should I talk about when practising English?

Focus on real-life topics you enjoy—travel, work, culture, or personal goals—so practice feels natural. In Hey Lady!, conversations are built around meaningful themes, so you always have something to say.

Can I improve spoken English without a teacher?

Teachers can help, but fluency grows fastest from consistent conversation. Communities like Hey Lady! combine peer practice with coach-led sessions, giving you the best of both worlds. The best teachers help you to become independent and to stop relying on them for feedback and corrections. 

How can I stay motivated to practise speaking English every day?

Accountability and connection keep you motivated. When practice feels like talking to friends—as it does in Hey Lady!—it’s so much easier to stay consistent.

Start Your English Fluency Journey Today

If you’re still searching for the perfect native speaker, keep looking—that experience will be valuable when you eventually find them!

But don’t wait to start speaking. Right now, you can surround yourself with women who are eager to practise, ready to cheer you on, and excited to help you gain experience speaking in real conversations.

👉 Want to see for yourself how we can help you? Join Hey Lady! today and start your 7-day FREE trial. You’ll discover what thousands of women already know: the best speaking partners are the ones who make you excited to keep improving.