Even though English is regarded as an accessible and generally simple language to learn, with 750,000 words and spelling that may confound even the most experienced learner, learning English quickly often seem unattainable. Here are 9 reasons why English rocks. But as long as you have the appropriate plan, I’m here to tell you that it isn’t.
In 2024, mastering English quickly is a goal shared by many, whether for travel, work, or personal growth. How to Learn English Quickly provides you with practical strategies and tips to accelerate your language learning journey. This guide covers effective methods such as immersive language experiences, daily practice routines, utilizing language apps, and engaging in conversations with native speakers. By focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing, you can develop a well-rounded skill set in a shorter time. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your fluency, this guide will help you achieve your English learning goals faster and more efficiently.
Here are our best tips for quickly learning English:
1. Read everything you can get your hands on.
If it’s written in English, whether it’s classic literature, paperbacks, newspapers, websites, emails, your social media feed, or the back of a cereal box, read it. Why? Well, this content will have a lot of new words and some words you already know. This helps you improve quickly because it gives you new examples of words you’ve learned in context, which helps you remember them. On the other hand, you need to learn new words and phrases to build your vocabulary, especially in a language with so many words like English. Don’t just read and move on, though. You have to…
2. Make an effort to remember new words.
This tip has been around for a long time because it works. When we learn something new, we often like a new word or phrase so much that it seems impossible to forget it. But believe us when we say that not everything works the first time. To stop this, make it a habit to carry a cool notebook with you or use a tool like Evernote. Every time you hear or read a new word or phrase, write it down in a sentence and make a note of what it means. This saves you time because you won’t have to go back to that word and ask, “What did that word or phrase mean again?”
3. Speak with real people
What good is a language if it can’t be used to talk? Thanks to Whatsapp, we humans have gotten very good at communicating without speaking. But when it comes down to it, speaking a language helps you remember it much better than just reading or writing it. Think about how many times you’ve heard someone say, “I understand English, but I can’t speak it.” A lot of people who want to be able to speak English have made talking into a huge, impossible obstacle that makes them feel scared. Don’t act that way. Find native speakers to practice with on your own, sign up for a class, or take classes online.
4. Sign up for podcasts or channels on YouTube (in English)
Like humor? Politics? Blogging? Cooking? There is an English-speaking podcast or YouTube channel for just about every interest you can think of. Subscribe to a few and watch or listen to them on your way to school or work. At first, the native accents might be hard to understand, but if you stick with it, you’ll soon start to understand what you hear (and learn a lot of new words from a native speaker!)
5. Go abroad
We’d love to know if there’s a better way to learn English than to live and study in a country where English is the main language. It’s no secret that English is the most widely spoken language in the world. With so many countries to choose from, you can pick the best place to learn English based on the weather, your favorite city, or the hemisphere. Think about Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada, and South Africa, just to name a few!
6. Use your friends
Have online friends who use English? Don’t just skip over them in your newsfeed; instead, look at the things they share and plan to learn more about one or two of them every day. They could be articles from newspapers or magazines, videos, talks, blog posts, songs, or anything else. As long as it’s in English and about something you’re interested in, it will help you.
7. Get a lot of answers.
The cat may have died of curiosity, but the language learner became fluent because of it! You will soon have a lot of questions as you learn English. Don’t sit on your questions; be curious and find answers. If you are taking a class, ask your teacher. That is why they are there. But if you’re learning on your own, don’t worry. You can find answers in blogs or on language websites, ask other people who are learning, or read through forums. You’ll be happy you did!
8. Follow the example of the stars
Choose an actor or singer you like who is a native English speaker to mix up your learning. Now, go online and watch some of the interviews they’ve done. Watch it once to get the main idea, then watch it again and write down interesting phrases and words you hear. The slang, stories, jokes, and anecdotes from these interviews will give you a lot to work with.
9. Start with what you need the most
If you keep reminding yourself why you want to learn English, you will probably learn it much faster. Are you going to another country to study? Then, pay attention to words that are important to your studies. Have an international meeting?
Learn some new ways to start a conversation with the other people in the group. Taking a year off? It looks like words about travel and tourism will be your guide. If you just start learning English and think you’ll be able to learn everything at once, you’ll probably end up confused and tired. Which leads us to…
10. Don’t beat yourself up when you’re feeling bad.
Don’t say, “I don’t speak English” or “I’ll never get this” when you feel like you’re not making progress, which happens to all language learners at some point. In fact, you should never use those phrases again! They only make it hard for you to see how far you’ve come and make you think it’s impossible for you to learn English well. Say instead, “I’m learning English and getting better every day,” “It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it,” “I’m so much better than I was six months ago,” and other phrases to remind yourself of the big picture.
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I am Nilay, an experienced English Language Assessment Director at the International English Test, where I have been working full-time since February 2020. I specialize in helping people worldwide validate their English proficiency through comprehensive assessments and certifications.
Before joining the International English Test, I worked as a self-employed English Language Assessment Consultant from January 2015 to December 2019. During this time, I assisted companies and individuals in improving their language skills, helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.
I hold a degree in Engineering and have also studied at Shafston International College in Australia. My educational background has equipped me with the tools to make a meaningful impact in the field of English language learning. Additionally, I enjoy sharing my expertise through articles that explore effective teaching methods and language assessment strategies, contributing to the International English Test and the broader assessment community.
