A few more tips for you language lovers...
1. Make simple stuff part of your own skill: Conversational English is supposed to be very simple in terms of language structure and vocabulary. When following a textbook, people have a tendency to "rush through the book" and go for "advanced levels". This is wrong. Language is a skill, not knowledge. You do not "read" a textbook, you "practice" it. Your skill level is measured by how well you can apply what you have learned, rather than how many lessons or books you have gone through.
2. Just like playing tennis or any other sports, you need to find a qualified coach, especially at the beginning. If he/she can spend 20 minutes with you, possibly on a weekly basis, to tell you where you need to improve next, followed by your own practice for the rest of the week, you'll progress much faster.
3. Until you reach a certain conversational level, getting together to speak English may not be for you yet - it would just waste your time. You might as well do more private practice first. Practice those boring language patterns, over and over again! Yes, it's very boring...
Have fun!
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