How to transition from beginner to intermediate in a language exchange

If you’ve already downloaded Tandem and have been using it for a while, you might notice something: conversations are easier than they were at the beginning, but maybe you still don’t feel “intermediate.”

You can introduce yourself without thinking too hard. You can talk about your job, your hobbies, and your weekend. But when conversations go deeper or move quickly, things start to feel harder again. You might feel like you repeat the same conversations with new language partners, or understand most of what you hear, but struggle to respond naturally. Basically, you’re a pro with the beginner topics, but you may avoid more complex ones because you’re not sure how to express your thoughts.

That in-between stage is normal. It’s also where many learners plateau.

Transitioning from beginner to intermediate isn’t about memorizing advanced grammar or suddenly sounding fluent. It’s about expanding how you participate in conversations; saying more, asking better follow-up questions, and staying in the exchange even when it becomes slightly challenging.

This guide walks through practical ways to do that inside your language exchange conversations, without turning them into formal lessons.

First, what does “intermediate” actually mean?

Before you aim for it, it helps to define it. You’re likely moving into intermediate territory when you can:

• Hold a 20–30 minute conversation without switching to your native language.
• Talk about more than just daily routines.
• Ask follow-up questions naturally.
• Understand the main idea, even if you miss some words.
• Explain opinions, not just facts.

It’s not necessarily about having perfect grammar, but rather about being able to stay flexible in a conversation without faltering too much. This type of flexibility is typically only built through deliberate practice and experience.

Tips to help you transition from beginner to intermediate

1. Upgrade your goal from “talking” to “saying more”

Beginner conversations often stay at the level of short answers. While you may be able to say a few extra things depending on the category, many sentences are framed like the following:

• “I like movies.”
• “I work in marketing.”
• “My city is small.”

Intermediate speech starts when you add an extra layer to what you’re saying. Try using a simple expansion formula:

Answer + reason + detail

• “I like movies because they help me relax. I usually watch comedies, especially on weekends.”

Answer + example

• “I’m learning English for work. For example, I often need to write emails to international clients.”

Now vs. before

• “I didn’t like cooking before, but now I cook more often because it’s cheaper and healthier.”

To help you advance, consider making this your rule for a week: never answer with just one sentence. Add one more sentence every time to help you get better at speaking in a more complex manner.

2. Move from “question lists” to follow-up questions

A big difference between beginner and intermediate exchanges is that intermediate conversations feel more connected. That usually comes from follow-ups. Try this simple ladder to help get some practice:

• Question: “What do you do on weekends?”
• Follow-up: “Do you usually go out or stay home?”
• Personal link: “I’m similar. I usually… / I’m different because…”

Here are a few easy follow-up starters you can keep ready:

• “How did you get into that?”
• “What do you like about it?”
• “How often do you do it?”
• “Is that common where you live?”
• “What would you recommend to a beginner?”

If you do nothing else, do this: ask one follow-up after every answer your language partner gives. This is also a great tool to help strengthen your relationship and bridge the gap between your language partner and friends.

3. Start practicing “intermediate functions” (not just vocabulary)

Intermediate isn’t only “more words.” It’s being able to do more things with your language. You don’t need to spend hours alone learning vocabulary. Instead, you need to start learning how to apply what you already know to more advanced situations or conversations. Pick one function per conversation and practice it on purpose:

• Give an opinion: “I think… because…”
• Agree/disagree politely: “I see what you mean, but…”
• Compare: “In my country…, but in your country…”
• Tell a story: “Last week… then… after that…”
• Explain a problem: “The issue is… so I decided to…”
• Speculate: “If I had more time, I would…”

A successful way to do this in language exchange is to tell your chat partner at the start:

“Today I want to practice giving opinions and explaining reasons. Can we choose a topic like travel or work culture?”

4. Add light structure to your sessions (so you don’t plateau)

You don’t need to turn Tandem into a classroom and try to get your language exchange partner to tutor you. But a little structure helps you progress faster. You can do this by restructuring the way you receive feedback or changing up your conversation style. Try one of these simple formats:

Option A: Conversation + mini feedback

• 20 minutes conversation
• 5 minutes corrections (your top repeated mistake)
• 5 minutes useful phrases recap

Option B: Topic-based

• Pick one topic (food, work, study, travel, culture)
• Use 3 prepared prompts
• End by summarizing what you learned

Option C: “Two goals”

• One speaking goal (example: longer answers)
• One listening goal (example: fewer repeats)

You can say:

“At the end, could you tell me one mistake I keep making and one phrase that would sound more natural?”

That kind of feedback is gold at the beginner-to-intermediate stage.

5. Learn to “repair” conversations instead of switching languages

One habit that keeps people in beginner mode is switching to their native language the moment things get difficult. Instead, practice repair strategies; phrases that keep you in the target language even when you’re stuck.

Useful repair phrases:

• “I don’t know the word, but it’s like…”
• “Let me explain in a different way.”
• “Can I describe it?”
• “What’s the word for ___?”
• “Can you give me an example?”

This is a real intermediate skill: staying in the conversation even when your language isn’t perfect.

6. Make your input slightly harder (without making it miserable)

To grow into intermediate, you need a little more real-world listening. This is one of the best ways to help you grow in fluency, especially when you familiarize yourself with different accents or regional dialects. On Tandem, you can do this gently:

• Ask your language partner to speak at a normal pace for just three to five minutes
• Try language partners from different regions (new accents = new listening skills)
• Use short “content + chat” sessions

A simple script:

“Can we try normal speed for a few minutes? If I miss something, I’ll ask.”

You’re not trying to understand 100%. You’re training your brain to keep up with native speakers, which is a highly transferable skill in language learning.

7. Use “content prompts” to go beyond small talk

If you feel stuck in the same beginner topics, bring something small to the conversation that you and your language partner can discuss. Some examples include:

• a photo from your week
• a short article headline
• a 30-second video
• a meme
• a simple “Would you rather” question

Then practice intermediate moves:

• summarizing
• reacting
• giving an opinion
• asking follow-ups

Example:

“I saw a short video about people living without phones. What do you think, could you do that?”

This creates more natural intermediate-level conversation without forcing it.

Moving forward: Trying out some intermediate skills on Tandem

Transitioning from beginner to intermediate doesn’t happen all at once. There isn’t a moment when everything suddenly feels easy. Instead, progress shows up in small shifts:

• You explain ideas in more detail
• You ask follow-up questions naturally
• You stay in the conversation, even when it gets slightly uncomfortable
• You recover instead of switching languages immediately

Those are the habits that move you forward. When you’re practicing on Tandem, you already have what you need: real conversations with real people. The difference now is intention. Choose one small goal for your next exchange (longer answers, clearer opinions, more follow-ups, targeted feedback) and focus on that. You don’t need to transform your speaking overnight. You just need slightly more challenge than yesterday.