How to set goals for learning English and make them achievable

Whatever level you’re currently at, setting goals for learning English is crucial for maintaining motivation, tracking progress, and ensuring success.

But forget about “My goal is to learn English.” – what does that really mean?

Are you learning English for work, for an exam, or so that you can travel more?

We’re going to help you create meaningful English learning goals using methods that are proven to keep you on track.

We also have plenty of examples of goals to learn English to give you some fresh inspiration as you consider what you want to achieve on this journey.

Key Takeaways

• Set SMART goals and break them down into attainable micro-goals to stay on track as you learn English.
• Set goals suitable for your level, focusing on each of the 4 core English skills.
• Harness the power of digital tools to practice English, measure your progress, and reach your English goals faster.
• Stay focused and motivated by setting achievable goals, maintaining a positive mindset, and seeking support from peers & teachers.

Why is it important to set English learning goals?

It’s important to set English learning goals because it helps you to stay motivated and measure and track your progress as you become more fluent.

Without clear goals and a plan for achieving them, the idea of learning English feels quite daunting. It’s a hard language to learn, after all, with a huge vocabulary and complex grammar rules.

But if you set the right goals and break them down into manageable milestones, everything suddenly becomes much more achievable.

Of course, you will still need to work hard and practice daily to achieve your language goals, especially if you want to reach more advanced levels.

Understanding SMART goals for language learning

In order to set goals for learning English that actually make a difference to your progress, it’s helpful to understand the concept of SMART goals.

This framework helps avoid common goal-setting mistakes including:

• Setting goals that can’t be measured
• Setting long-term goals with no path to success
• Basing your goals on someone else’s success
• Focusing on things that don’t help with your overall goal

So, what do SMART goals involve? Each of the five letters stands for a specific aspect of a goal. When combined, they create a comprehensive plan for success.

Here’s what each letter in the SMART acronym stands for, and the questions you can ask yourself to make sure your goal meets this criteria.

Make sure that your goals in learning english align with these five criteria, and you’ll give yourself a much better chance of succeeding long-term.

Examples of bad English language goals

To illustrate this point further, let’s first look at some examples of bad (but common) goals that people have when they learn English.

“I want to be fluent in English”

This is not a bad thing to aim for, but it is too vague. What does it even mean to be fluent in English? How will you know that you have achieved this? How long do you think it will take?

So many questions are left unanswered; this is definitely not a SMART goal for learning English.

“I’m going to learn lots of English words.”

Sure, you need to know thousands of individual words in order to speak English well, but knowing the words alone isn’t enough.

You need to consider which words are going to be most relevant to you, and learn how to create full sentences as well.

“I want to speak with a British accent.”

First of all, there’s no such thing as a British accent. Travel around the British Isles and you will encounter dozens of different regional accents.

Even once you clear up this matter, you need to specify how you will know when you have achieved this goal.

Enough of the bad examples; let’s get on to some good examples of goals to help you learn English.

Examples of SMART goals for english language learners

Everybody has different reasons for learning English, so not all of these examples will be relevant to you. However, we have included them as a way to illustrate what SMART goals should look like, and perhaps inspire you to create some of your own.

1. For a business professional aiming to improve their English for work-related purposes

I will improve my business English vocabulary by learning 5 new industry-specific words each week for the next 3 months, using them in work-related conversations or emails. I will use a flashcard app to help with this.

2. For a student preparing for an English language proficiency test

I want to achieve a score of 7 or above in the IELTS exam within the next 6 months by practicing with at least one past paper per week.

3. For a tourist planning a trip to an English-speaking country

I will learn and practice 10 common phrases or dialogues for travel-related situations (ordering food, asking for directions, etc.) each week for the next two months.

4. For a non-native speaker who wants to enjoy English movies

In 4 months’ time, I want to be able to watch and understand English movies without subtitles. I will watch at least one English movie per week, using subtitles if needed at first, but becoming less reliant on them as my comprehension improves.

5. For a non-native speaker who enjoys reading fiction

I want to read 6 English fiction books this year. I will set aside 30 minutes per day to read and will keep a vocabulary list of new words to increase my vocabulary at the same time.

6. For someone using an app to learn English

Within 4 months, I want to reach level B2 on Gymglish. I will complete a short lesson each day and review my corrections once a week to achieve this.

7. For someone who needs accountability

This month, I will sign up for a language exchange and find an accountability partner. We will check in with each other at least once a week to make sure we are sticking to our language learning goals.

8. For a professional speaking English in social environments

I will Practice small talk phrases with my English tutor this week so I feel confident attending a business lunch next Friday.

By setting SMART goals for language learning like these, you can stay motivated and on track to reach your goals.

Breaking down your goals

Segmenting long-term goals into smaller, attainable micro-goals makes it easier to keep going and track your progress.

We already did this for some of the goals above, for example saying “I will complete a short lesson each day” or “I will spend 30 minutes reading every day”.

Here’s how you can break down your long-term goals for learning english:

1. Identify your ultimate language goal, such as being able to speak English fluently.
2. Break your ultimate goal down into specific steps.
3. Pick one or two of the specific steps to focus on at a time.
4. Set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for each step.

It might help to share these goals with a friend who can keep you accountable by checking in on your progress. If they can practice English together with you, even better!

Goals for learning English at different levels

It’s important to set objectives that are consistent with your English level.

If a goal is too hard, you may quickly become discouraged and give up. If it’s too easy, it may not feel like you’re really achieving anything.

So now let’s consider some specific goals for each level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), helping you identify the right goals for your current stage of learning. Or, if you’re helping another English learner to set their own goals, you can use this as a guide for them.

Beginner level english learning goals

Beginners should concentrate on building a solid foundation in vocabulary, grammar, and fundamental communication skills.

Setting small, achievable goals is particularly important at this stage.

Examples of short-term english learning goals for beginners include:

• Learn 10 new vocabulary words on a particular topic.
• Write 5 grammatically correct sentences to describe daily routines using the simple past tense.
• Hold a simple, casual conversation for 1 minute.
• Complete a particular class or test successfully.
• Study English for 15 minutes every day.

These can be adapted according to the timeline and curriculum the student is working on.

Intermediate level english learning goals

At the intermediate stage, the emphasis should be on honing language skills, broadening vocabulary, and enhancing fluency across different contexts.

Intermediate English learners can look forward to:

• Understanding cultural norms
• Expressing themselves with descriptive language
• Learning common expressions and idioms
• Expanding their vocabulary to be more precise
• Exploring complex grammar structures

Intermediate goals for learning English might include:

• Study English by reading the news.
• Listen to some podcasts for learning English.
• Discuss or perform your hobbies in English.
• Read native-level magazines or online content about topics you are interested in.
• Learn some transition words and practice using them in conversation or writing.
• Get as much exposure to the language as possible by implementing other strategies for English immersion at home.

Advanced level english learning goals

Advanced learners should concentrate on mastering intricate language structures, idiomatic expressions, and sophisticated communication in professional and social environments.

Advanced goals for studying English could include:

• Lead a work meeting or give a presentation in English without feeling anxious.
• Communicate ideas and opinions about topics you are unfamiliar with.
• Be able to use a full range of tenses to describe experiences and plans.
• Read adult fiction books without having to frequently look up single words.
• Take an IELTS course and achieve a score of 8 or above.
• Use English in an academic setting.

Targeted goals for core English skills

Beyond setting goals for different learning stages, it’s important to set targeted objectives for core English skills, namely:

• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking
• Listening

You may wish to break down your main goals into these areas, or focus on one skill in particular.

Reading goals for English language learners

As you develop your reading skills, you can incorporate some of the following into your objectives:

• Read fiction books for children or adults (depending on your level).
• Read the news in English.
• Avoid forgetting vocabulary by noting down individual words as you discover them.
• Make flashcards (paper or electronic) and practice using those words correctly and recognizing them next time you read them.
• Increase your reading speed (take this free test to check your current reading speed and comprehension).
• Be able to look up words in an English-English dictionary and understand the definitions.

Writing goals for English language learners

Improving your writing skills means developing clarity and precision by selecting the right words, and learning how to adapt your writing style for different situations or formats.

Writing objectives for English learners could include:

• Write a thank-you note for your teacher.
• Write a poem or a short play.
• Use a tool like Grammarly to become more aware of your writing tone.
• Write a persuasive argument.
• Conduct a negotiation via email.
• Write 500 words with fewer than 5 grammar or spelling mistakes.
• Edit someone else’s written work to help improve it.

Speaking goals for English language learners

One of the main reasons English learners lack fluency is because they know a lot of words but don’t practice speaking much. When the time comes to speak, they find it hard to articulate themselves because they are not used to talking out loud and recalling words at a fast pace.

Becoming better at speaking in English involves:

• Building confidence
• Expressing yourself precisely and concisely
• Imitating the pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation of native speakers
• Understanding how your native language affects your English pronunciation

Some achievable speaking goals for English learners include:

• Practice speaking English daily with native English speakers on a language exchange platform.
• Meet with non-native speakers regularly at a local meetup.
• Improve pronunciation by consistently repeating phrases to increase your score in your language app.
• Move on from pronouncing each word separately and develop a more natural flow.
• Plan and deliver a short speech in public.
• Participate in a debate.

Listening goals for English learners

Improving your listening skills in English involves better comprehension of:

• Different accents (native and non-native)
• Idiomatic expressions
• Contextual cues
• Connected speech
• Casual vs formal English

Some English study goals for listening could be:

• Do a certain number of listening exercises each day.
• Focus on understanding the overall message even if you don’t recognize every individual word.
• Spend one hour a day listening to English podcasts or lessons.

As you put all these strategies into place in a measurable and attainable way, you’ll find that you can confidently use the language in a broader range of settings.

Achieve your English learning goals faster with the right technology

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, the right technology can help you achieve your English learning goals faster.

Consider using one or more of the following to support you:

• Language apps
• Online games for learning English
• Online English courses
• Language exchange platforms

Specifically, take a look at the following platforms that make it easy for you to improve Your English by studying a little each day:

• Quizlet: Make your own flashcards for free or access other user-generated packs with pre-built phrases on different topics.
• Busuu: An online course that gives you access to a huge community where you can make friends and practice together.
• Gymglish: An online course with AI-personalized lessons and lesson reminders sent via email or app notification so staying on track is easy.
• Italki: Take regular classes with an English teacher and connect with a community of millions of learners where you can chat and practice for free.

All of these apps offer a free trial or limited free version, so why not try a few and see which one suits you best?

Measuring your language learning progress

As your hard work pays off, don’t forget to track how you are improving in each area.

This can be done using tests, apps, or self-assessments. By monitoring your progress, you can stay motivated, celebrate your achievements, and adjust your learning plan as needed.

Some effective ways to track your progress include:

• Taking an English course online
• Using a language app
• Taking tests
• Noting your vocabulary growth
• Teacher assessments

By taking the time to measure progress in your language learning journey, you can ensure that you are on the right track and making steady progress toward your English learning goals.

Staying motivated and focused as you learn English

Many learners set New Year’s resolutions to learn a new language but they lose interest within a few months because they haven’t set proper goals or given themselves a way to feel that they are progressing well.

Whatever time of year it is, you can maintain motivation and focus beyond the first step by:

• Setting SMART goals, as discussed here
• Upholding a positive mindset
• Asking for support from peers or teachers
• Acknowledging achievements along the way

English language learners can find support from peers or teachers through online communities, mainstream classrooms, and online tutoring.

If you need some fresh motivation right now, these quotes about learning English might help.

Summary

Setting goals for English learning is essential for defining your reasons for learning, managing your schedule effectively, and ultimately being successful.

We have suggested some common English learning goals to help inspire you, but don’t just copy these; ensure that your own goals are relevant to your own reasons for learning English.

Also remember to break larger goals down into more manageable sections, and utilize digital tools to keep your learning on track.

With dedication and persistence and by consistently applying what you have learned here, you can improve your English one day at a time!

FAQs