Finding regular English conversation practice after moving

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Start with a nearby library

Search your borough website for English conversation, speaking clubs, ESOL conversation and language cafés. Library sessions can be convenient when attending alone. For a concrete example, St John’s Wood Library lists an English Speaking Club ↗, describing a free, unbooked format welcoming different abilities.

Another option is Mayfair Library’s conversation group ↗. Check the next date, holidays and changes before travelling: a recurring group does not guarantee a session on any particular day.

Choose the right difficulty

Ask about level, duration, numbers and facilitation. A beginner group, open conversation and professional networking require different preparation. If speaking in a large group is difficult, try a pair or small organised session first.

A conversation club offers practice but may not provide systematic grammar teaching or correction. A specific examination or workplace writing objective may require separate teaching.

Prepare for the first meeting

Prepare a short introduction, several questions and two topics you can discuss. Note phrases for requesting repetition, asking about a word and taking thinking time. Avoid memorising a long speech: the aim is an exchange.

Afterwards, save a few expressions you actually needed and reuse them. British Council resources by level ↗ can support preparation. Its online test is an approximate guide rather than employment or visa certification.

Build a sustainable routine

Choose a meeting you can realistically reach every week and add small daily speaking tasks. Ask about a product, retell a short item or clarify directions. Track what becomes easier rather than counting every mistake.

For a language exchange, agree time for each language and respectful correction. Meet an unfamiliar person in public initially and do not share identity documents. After several visits, assess whether you speak enough and the group suits you. Change format if necessary rather than spending months attending sessions where you only listen.