#22 How to Ask for Restaurant Recommendations｜English Travel Phrases
Izumi English Morning
#43 Practicing with a Language Partner｜English Daily Conversation
Izumi
Working with a language partner is an effective way to improve your language skills.
You can help each other overcome weaknesses, learn new expressions, and stay motivated throughout your studies.
In this article, I introduce useful English expressions you can use when starting a practice session, deciding what to focus on, or requesting feedback from your partner.
Contents
Dialogue
Are you ready to start our practice session?
Yes, I’m ready. What would you like to focus on today?
I’d like to work on my speaking fluency. I still pause too often.
No problem. We can do some role-plays if you’d like.
That sounds great. And could you correct me if I make mistakes?
Of course. Feel free to stop me as well if you have any questions.
1. Asking if Your Partner Is Ready to Start
The expression “Are you ready to ～?” is used to confirm whether someone is prepared to begin an activity.
- Are you ready to start our practice session?
“ready to + verb” means “to be prepared to do something.”
It has a soft tone and works naturally in casual learning situations.
Examples:
- Are you ready to begin?
- Are you ready to move on?
This phrase is useful not only for language practice but also in work-related situations.
2. Asking About the Practice Focus
To ask about your partner’s preferred practice content, use “What would you like to focus on?”
- What would you like to focus on today?
Key points:
- would you like to ～ ?
→ a polite way to ask someone’s preference - focus on ～
→ “to concentrate on / to place emphasis on”
Together, they create a considerate question such as “Which area would you like to focus on today?”
Other useful variations:
- What should we focus on next time?
- Which skill do you want to improve the most?
3. Explaining Your Weaknesses or Goals
The phrase “work on ～” means “to make an effort to improve something.”
It is ideal when explaining your learning goals or areas for improvement.
- I’d like to work on my speaking fluency.
“fluency” is a frequently used term in language learning. “speaking fluency” refers to the ability to speak smoothly without frequent pauses.
Other useful expressions:
- work on my pronunciation
- work on my writing skills
- work on expanding my vocabulary
4. Suggesting a Practice Method
“role-play” refers to practicing conversation by taking on different roles. It is widely used in language learning.
- We can do some role-plays if you’d like.
“if you’d like” means “if that’s okay with you,” and it shows respect for your partner’s preference.
5. Asking for Corrections
When practicing conversation, you may want your partner to correct your mistakes.
- Could you correct me if I make mistakes?
Saying “Correct me.” directly sounds too strong.
Using “Could you ～ ?” softens the request and is more polite.
The conditional phrase “if I make mistakes” adds consideration by saying corrections are needed only when necessary.
Your partner may respond with:
- Feel free to stop me as well if you have any questions.
“feel free to ～” encourages the other person to ask or act without hesitation.
Summary
- Are you ready to start our practice session?
→ A gentle way to check readiness before beginning. - What would you like to focus on?
→ A polite expression for discussing study goals. - I’d like to work on my speaking fluency.
→ Useful for sharing your weaknesses or goals. - We can do some role-plays if you’d like.
→ A considerate way to suggest a practice method. - Could you correct me if I make mistakes?
→ A practical and polite request for feedback.
