Maybe you are a "visual learner" , you learn through seeing not through listening. It needs seeing the someone's body language and facial expression to fully understand the content of the words. ( It's the type who thinks in pictures and learn best from visual displays)
- It's good to have a closer friend (not virtual) to practice the English language together, then it will be easier with your chatting friends. Well, it's my problem too, so hard to open the mouth, so I don't chat anymore :D :D. Not give it up !