It can be scary to introduce yourself to new people if you are learning a new language. But you might be surprised how most people are very happy to take the time for a conversation. Here are some tips to help you find the courage to find ways to practice speaking:
1. Have a chat with your local barista [the person who makes coffee].
Part of your daily routine may be about having tea or juice in the morning; but in Australia, we're all about coffee!
If you’re like a lot of Aussies, buying a coffee is a part of your daily routine before going to work or after taking your kids to school. If it is, practise your English by having a short chat with the barista after you’ve put in your order. Here are some conversation starters that you might like to try:
"Where did you learn to make such good coffee?"
"What type of coffee is the most popular in this cafe?"
Not only will it give you a good start to the day, but it will also give you an opportunity to practise some of the English words and phrases you’ve learned.
2. Visit the library (or community centre).
Libraries are usually very quiet places, but you’ll find that libraries in Australia carry a lot of English materials and some have English language clubs as well!
Aside from these, you can also book online to join an English conversation club with the library. Many of these clubs now meet online to practise English with other learners.
If your local library doesn't have English clubs or classes, you can also ask your community centre for resources or go online to look for information for the state library where you live.
Join a social group. Source: Getty/FatCamera
3. Join a social group.
People who share the same interests and hobbies sometimes form what is called a social group.
Those who belong to social groups meet up to do activities such as hiking or gardening and to share what they are interested in. There are even some social groups that are simply focused on learning English!
Go online. There are a lot of websites that can connect you to social groups in your area.
4. Volunteer.
Volunteering is a great way to find people with similar values to your own. If people are generous enough to donate their time to volunteer, it's likely they will also be very happy to take the time to talk with you!
A wonderful thing about being in Australia is that there are millions of people who do volunteer work.
Some examples of volunteering include, local op-shops that sell clothes for charity, tree planting organisations, aged care support and helping out at events. If you do join a volunteering group, you can prepare useful phrases ahead of time that you can use to chat with other volunteers. Here are some suggestions:
Why did you volunteer to this group?
What's your favourite thing about volunteering here?
If you want to be more prepared before connecting with others, listen to the to learn new vocabulary words and expressions you can use.