Learning English can be a daunting process. Even once you have mastered basic conversation skills, there is still so much to learn in terms of grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.
If you’re wondering about the best way to learn English or you aren’t sure what to do next in your language-learning journey, we are here to help.
In this ‘How to learn English‘ guide, we have some practical tips and ideas to help you (or the person you’re assisting) to get the most out of the time you spend studying and practicing.
We also have some resources to help you learn the key English skills:
- Reading and writing
- Listening, speaking, and pronunciation
- Grammar and vocabulary
But first, let’s look at some ways to learn English more effectively.
How to learn English step by step
We’re going to assume that if you are reading this guide, you already understand basic English (or you are helping someone else to learn the language).
Everybody’s learning journey will look a little different, but here are some steps that you can take to improve your English and become more confident using the language.
1. Begin with what you really need
Why do you want to learn English, and what are you going to use it for?
If you need English for business, you could take a business English course that focuses on the vocabulary you are likely to need at work. If you want to travel, you will need to be able to book accommodation, transport, and excursions.
By concentrating on the words and phrases that are going to be most relevant, you will feel like you are making better progress and learning something useful.
Later, when you are at a more advanced level, you can fill in the gaps in your knowledge if you wish to be able to speak English fluently in a broader range of situations.
2. Set realistic and meaningful goals
The next step to learning English effectively is to be realistic about how much you can study, and to set yourself meaningful goals to achieve.
Your goals should be challenging, but still achievable. For example:
- I will study English for 1 hour a day this month.
- I want to reach level B2 by September 30th.
- I will complete [a particular module or course] this week.
- By the time I go on vacation next month, I want to be able to order food at a restaurant and book a day trip.
We have a separate guide with example goals for English language learners, so you can make sure your personal objectives are challenging but achievable.
If you’re not sure of your current English level, you can take a free level assessment with Gymglish. Signing up here also gives you one month of free access to their English course!
3. Study pronunciation
One of the things that you should learn about early on is English pronunciation. Although it can be tricky due to silent letters and strange letter combinations like ‘ough’, it makes a big difference if you can figure out the pronunciation of a new word without having to look it up.
As you read English, you probably say the words in your head, and a good grasp of pronunciation rules will ensure your inner voice is saying them correctly!
4. Read whatever you can
Read anything and everything you can in English; it’s a great way to learn new words and recognize common sentence structures.
Here are some ideas you may not have thought of before:
- Read the news in English – there are many ESL news sites that present the news for different levels.
- Change your phone language to English.
- Join some English-learning communities on social media, and read the resources shared there.
- When waiting in line at the supermarket, see if there is any English on the packets in your cart.
- Read some blogs about topics you’re interested in, whether it’s sports, hobbies, food, or anything else!
5. Take notes of new vocabulary
Writing down new words helps them stick in your head far better than just reading them once. When you come across a new English word or phrase, we recommend you follow these steps:
- Write it down in a notebook or as a phone memo.
- If you have time, also write down the sentence or context in which you read it.
- Try to understand the meaning from the context.
- Look it up in a dictionary and check you have the correct definition and pronunciation.
- Try writing your own sentence using the word.
This may seem like a lot of work for every word you find, but it is a very effective way to memorize new vocabulary.
You might also want to use an app like Quizlet to make your own digital flashcards.
6. Use a language-learning app
Having a language app on your phone gives you access to your English studies anytime, anywhere. This means you can learn in bite-sized chunks at a time that is convenient to you, rather than having to travel to attend lessons on a fixed schedule.
Here are some of the top language apps you might want to check out:
- Gymglish: Daily lessons that take 10-15 minutes, available for levels A2 to C2. A touch of humor makes the courses fun to complete, and adaptive learning technology means every lesson is customized according to your previous progress. Get a 1-month free trial.
- FluentU: Learn using real-life video content with interactive subtitles. An engaging way for visual learners to understand different accents and dialects and learn new English phrases as they are used in daily life.
- Busuu: Join a global community of learners and access learning tools including flashcards and video content.
- Quizlet: Create your own digital flashcards for free and then practice with an AI language tutor.
7. Listen to podcasts
Podcasts are one of the best ways to learn English on the go, especially as they are usually free to access.
There are many good podcasts for English learners that cover basic vocabulary and grammar. But if you are already at intermediate level, you could consider adding some general English podcasts (not specifically about learning English). These will help improve your listening skills and let you learn conversational English as spoken by native speakers.
We have a separate guide to the best podcasts for learning English where you can choose between American English and British English accents and find topics that interest you.
Building podcasts into your normal routine is a great way to practice English every day, perhaps on the way to work or while exercising.
8. Watch YouTube, TV shows, and movies
You probably already spend some of your free time watching movies and TV shows, so why not use that time to learn English as well?
As your level of fluency develops, try to progress through the following steps:
- Watching English movies or TV shows with subtitles in your native language
- Watching with subtitles in English
- Watching without subtitles
Not only will your English comprehension improve, but you’ll find movies more enjoyable when you don’t have to read along anymore!
9. Learn through immersion
One of the best ways to learn English quickly is to immerse yourself in the language. Fortunately, because English is the most widely spoken language in the world, this isn’t too difficult.
If you start doing all the things to learn English that we have mentioned here, you will already be well on the way to becoming immersed in the language. Some other things you can try are:
- Hang out with English-speaking friends and agree to only speak in English while you’re together.
- Find a pen pal or language exchange partner..
- Keep a journal or diary that you write in English.
- Listen to music in English and try to understand the language without looking at the lyrics.
Read our full guide to immersive English learning for more ideas.
10. Go abroad
Perhaps the best way to improve your English is to live in an English-speaking country for some time. This takes immersion to a new level as you’ll be hanging out with native speakers and doing every little bit of your life in English.
If living abroad is not an option for you, at least try to travel to another country where people speak English. Even if English is not the native language, it is usually the default language between two people who don’t speak each other’s native languages.
This is just one of the benefits of learning English – it connects you with over a billion other people who speak at least conversational English.
What is the best way to learn English key skills?
We have covered some general tips for how to learn the English language, but now let’s look at some ways to develop specific skills.
For example, if you already understand written English well but you struggle with listening comprehension, that might be an area you want to improve.
Reading
We already mentioned some ways you can incorporate more reading into your daily life (aside from the obvious things like reading books and magazines).
If you need something a little easier for your current level, try reading some children’s stories. These are usually short and use simple language, so are a good starting point for English learners. The American Literature website has a wide selection here.
Listening
Listen to podcasts or use a language app to expose yourself to different accents and learn English listening skills.
If you find it difficult to follow conversations at a natural speed, you can use materials designed for English learners or just slow down the play speed of the podcast or video until you understand it better.
Writing
If you are confident holding conversations but your spelling and writing skills are lacking, make use of a free writing checker like Grammarly. This checks and corrects whatever you write online, and you can practice by just writing a paragraph about your day or about a certain topic.
You could also check out Write & Improve, a free tool from Cambridge University that gives you short writing tasks and provides feedback on your answers.
Speaking and pronunciation
If you have spent a lot of time reading books, watching movies, or studying with apps, you may find that your comprehension is good but you are less confident speaking.
One of the best ways to improve your English speaking skills is to take private or group classes with an English tutor. This can be online or in-person, but it will give you a chance to practice speaking in a safe environment where you can receive correction and guidance.
Alternatively, make an effort to talk to friends or colleagues who are learning English. Don’t worry too much about making mistakes; the important thing at this stage is to build your confidence and make yourself understood.
We have more tips in this article: How to learn to speak English
Grammar
English grammar is so complicated that even native English speakers often get words mixed up, so don’t be too disheartened if this is something you struggle with.
It is an important part of good communication, though, so do spend the time needed to understand different tenses and learn the correct way to structure sentences.
Find some tips and resources for learning English grammar here.
Vocabulary
Keep an English dictionary on hand so you can easily check the meaning of new words, phrases, and idioms you encounter. Follow the steps we mentioned above to help you memorize them and start using them in simple conversations.
Also familiarize yourself with word patterns, especially prefixes and suffixes, as these will help you understand the meaning of words more easily.
Check out some more ways to learn English vocabulary in our separate guide.
How can I learn English by myself?
If you don’t have anyone to practice speaking with and taking an English class near you is not an option, there are still plenty of ways to learn English from home.
We have covered many of these already, but you may also want to look at joining an online language exchange. This will connect you with someone who speaks English and wants to learn your language. As you chat together in both languages, you help each other learn new words and build confidence.
Picking a couple of good English learning books will help you keep progressing with your studies.
We’d also recommend you look at online English courses or download an app on your phone to help you learn English in a structured way.
How to learn English: Conclusion
Learning a new language is exciting but challenging, and English is certainly one of the more difficult languages to learn.
You have already taken the first step towards improving your English, and we hope this article has helped you understand how to learn English more effectively and given you new ideas for ways to get better at reading, speaking, writing, and listening.
Find some more English learning tips here, or continue browsing our other articles to learn something new today!
