For months, I studied Spanish alone on the train. I knew useful words, but I felt nervous when I had to speak. A friend suggested a language exchange. I found Elena on a community website. She wanted to practise English, and I wanted to practise Spanish. We agreed to meet in a cafe near the library, where there was enough space to talk quietly.
Our first meeting did not go very well. We spent almost the whole hour speaking English because it was easier for both of us. Afterwards, we made a simple plan: twenty minutes in English, twenty in Spanish, and ten minutes to discuss useful expressions. We take turns choosing a topic before each meeting. Last week it was food; next week Elena wants to discuss travel.
At first, I asked Elena to correct every mistake. This stopped our conversation too often. Now she writes down two or three important mistakes and explains them at the end. If I cannot remember a word, she waits while I try to describe it instead of immediately giving me the answer.
We usually meet every other Wednesday. When Elena was busy with an exam, we used voice messages for two weeks. They were helpful, but I prefer meeting in person because it is easier to ask a quick question. I am still not a confident speaker in every situation. However, I no longer spend the first five minutes planning every sentence in my head.