How to learn English quickly

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How to study English quickly

Top 60 tips and tricks

  1. The best way to learn English is to speak it. So try to create a language-learning environment for yourself. A good teacher will encourage you to start speaking from your very first lesson. At your level, of course!
  2. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. In order to correct a mistake, you first need to recognise it. Over time, you will make fewer mistakes.
  3. Make English lessons part of your daily routine and learn the language every day. Decide how much time you will spend learning the language each day. A textbook and grammar book will help you.
  4. Set yourself a specific goal and deadline: aim to reach two levels within a year, or work through a grammar guide. Alternatively, schedule a language test to help you stay motivated.
  5. Improve your overall English level by developing the four basic language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension.
  6. Get a vocabulary book: a notebook in which you write down new words that you learn. Write sentences using the new words, making sure you use each word at least three times. Don’t try to learn too many new words at once – it’s better to learn 5–10 words a day and work with them thoroughly. This way, you will remember them for a long time. Memorising new words in long lists is only useful for test preparation. Without practising, words quickly erode from your memory.
  7. Make use of a variety of materials, methods and opportunities, such as textbooks and manuals for specific language aspects, adapted and unadapted reading books, newspapers and magazines, podcasts, radio, YouTube videos, TV programmes, tutorials and language conversation clubs, as well as group or individual classes with a teacher. This will help you to create a language-learning environment. Using a variety of methods will increase the intensity of the language input and prevent information overload. Identify the most effective methods for you.
  8. Study English at a time of day that suits you. If you can’t study in the morning, try the evening instead.
  9. Don’t worry too much about taking tests. Learn English for the sake of new opportunities and to expand your knowledge in areas you are interested in. Interest is a great motivator! Use materials that create an atmosphere that makes you want to learn – you’ll achieve more that way.
  10. Learn English using the techniques that work best for you. Prioritise: while variety in learning methods can make learning more interesting, the most effective methods will save you time. Find out what suits you specifically: Do you prefer Talking Club meetings or working on your own in silence?
  11. Learn English by connecting with people who can help you. If you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask your teacher, classmates or friends for help.
  12. Remember that revising what you have learnt is not a waste of time.
  13. Enjoy learning English: mix things up by going outside and taking breaks during your self-study. Don’t lose your enthusiasm for language classes.
  14. Don’t rush through a level just to start a new one. Instead, master the material on your current level by practising it thoroughly.
  15. Use a variety of listening materials, such as the radio, podcasts and audio files. Listening to something multiple times allows you to pick up information that you may have missed the first time. Radio and TV only give you one chance to hear anything. Both are good ways to practise absorbing information.
  16. Read adapted books. They are written specifically for your level of language proficiency. You will find these books interesting and enjoyable to read. Children’s books use simpler vocabulary and can be a good alternative.
  17. Newspapers are an excellent source for learning the meanings of new words in context. Read the article first to understand the general content. Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word. Only look up the most meaningful unfamiliar words that make it difficult to understand the overall meaning.
  18. Learn simple words that have a single root. They will help you to understand the meaning of other words.
  19. Study prefixes and suffixes, as these will greatly expand your vocabulary.
  20. Try to use English wherever possible. Practise everyday words and phrases in your head or in writing.
  21. Rather than trying to translate, learn to form English phrases immediately. Translation is a separate skill that can hinder your ability to speak. If you hear an interesting phrase or have an interesting thought in English, speak it out loud or to yourself.
  22. Each of the four basic language skills requires specific training. For example, you cannot learn to speak by studying grammar or memorising vocabulary. If you want to learn to speak English, you have to start speaking it.
  23. The best way to learn English grammar is to practise using it in conversation. This is the most natural approach.
  24. Learn to write in the English language. To achieve this, start keeping a diary or writing on Instagram in English. Begin by writing a few words or sentences each day. Over time, you will be able to write more.
  25. To improve your writing skills, write down everything that comes into your head in the language you are studying. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Then apply the grammar rules you know and correct the spelling. Finally, ask someone else to read what you have written and check for any errors.
  26. Learning and singing songs in English is a great way to improve your fluency and intonation. Songs will also make your life brighter. Poems are good, too, but make sure you choose ones you really like.
  27. Find someone to talk or correspond with. Ideally, this should be someone with whom you share common interests. This way, you’ll always have something to talk about.
  28. From the outset of learning English, it is important to familiarise yourself with its rhythm and intonation. The best way to do this is by listening and repeating.
  29. Listen to the language more, even at elementary level. Even if you can’t understand everything at first, you will get used to it and eventually pick up more.
  30. Read the text aloud and listen to the audio version at the same time. As well as repetition, this is a good way to improve your speaking skill, but along with that, the visual reliance on the text develops your reading skill. Afterwards, listen to the text again and write down what you hear.
  31. Ask your English teacher if you can record a lesson. This will make it easy for you to repeat what you have learned.
  32. If you are at pre-intermediate level or above, try using a dictionary that defines words in the target language. This will help you to think in English and avoid translation. If you find a standard dictionary too challenging, choose one that is adapted to your level.
  33. Only use a dictionary when necessary. Try to guess the meaning of a word from the context. You may come across the word again and be able to check whether your guess was correct.
  34. Approach learning and practising English with optimism. Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes you may feel that your progress is too slow and that you have no aptitude for languages. Many people have these thoughts, but don’t worry. Sooner or later, depending on how much time you devote to studying, you will achieve your goal. Remember that everyone is capable of learning languages – you have already learned your native language!
  35. Enjoy the learning process. To do that, learn English in an interesting context. We learn better when we enjoy it.
  36. Don’t put yourself under pressure, don’t get nervous and don’t rush when you speak. Take a deep breath. You will speak better if you relax. Remember that mental concentration and physical overstrain are not the same.
  37. Periodically revisit old textbooks and materials that you have studied before. You’ll be surprised at how easy and understandable they are! This shows that your level has improved! Past textbooks can help you to refine your language skills and strengthen your understanding of language structure.
  38. Don’t look for reasons not to learn. There’s never a bad time to learn a new foreign language.
  39. Don’t put off language studies until later. Instead, tackle a small amount of material in a way that suits you and helps you fill your time meaningfully. Always keep something handy that you can use while waiting or whenever you feel like it, such as a book, magazine, newspaper, audio files, podcasts or radio. Or maybe just your phone?
  40. Once you understand the most effective way to learn a language, you can naturally incorporate learning English into your daily routine. This will help you achieve the results you want much faster.
  41. Although it is possible to learn English using a variety of materials and resources to make the process as natural, varied and interesting as possible, it is usually better to use materials that are appropriate for your level. It’s fine if the materials are challenging, but don’t let that discourage you.
  42. When using materials of varying difficulty levels, it is important to set yourself achievable goals. Sometimes at language school, you may feel that the lesson contains nothing new for you. However, learning a foreign language does not mean constantly overloading yourself with new material. Some lessons should focus on improving your confidence and fluency in using words and grammatical structures that you already know, so these lessons will focus more on speaking. Conversely, at elementary levels, teachers may use challenging material, such as newspaper articles, and set elementary tasks, such as finding familiar words in headlines and identifying the theme of the articles.
  43. Don’t worry about your accent. After all, an accent is a unique feature of speech and cultural identity. When learning English, it’s important to familiarise yourself with different ways of speaking, not just your teacher’s accent. Then you can easily understand people from different backgrounds who speak the language, both native and international. Modern textbooks from leading publishers pay a lot of attention to this, so sound files are recorded by speakers with different tones of voice and styles.
  44. Write new words on small cards (without translations!) and carry them with you. Writing the words by hand will help you to remember them better than just looking them up on your smartphone. Many people find physical cards easier to understand than electronic ones. You can also put cards or stickers on items all over the house. This is another way to immerse yourself in the English language. Remember: when learning a language, it should be everywhere!
  45. Get creative when learning English! Although a syllabus can be helpful, it’s even better to solve real-life problems using the language you’re learning. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to use them.
  46. Meet new people with whom you can practise speaking the language you are studying. Find a conversation club in your city or online. Once you find someone with whom you have common interests, it won’t matter what the conversation starts with. Once you discover shared interests, you’ll be able to have conversations that make you forget you’re studying. The important thing is to turn the language from a subject of study into a natural tool of communication.
  47. Sometimes it is useful to repeat what the other person has said and ask them to confirm that you have heard and understood correctly.
  48. Learn words and grammar actively by using them in sentences. This will help you to remember new material more easily and develop your language skills at the same time.
  49. The higher your level of English, the longer it will take to reach the next one. You make the most progress at the lower levels. Once you have mastered the basics, you will need to work through the finer details to expand your grasp of the language.
  50. In speech, words don’t sound separate from each other; they sound connected, so that two words may sound like one. This is very important — pay attention to it! 
  51. Make use of English-language internet resources. There are plenty of resources available to help you learn and practise English. Find something that interests and engages you.
  52. Use a good grammar book, such as English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy, to practise and revise grammar.
  53. Listen and repeat! This way you can practice speaking and listening comprehension skills.
  54. Take an English course in a country where it is spoken. This will provide all the conditions necessary for rapid learning:
    1) You will find yourself fully immersed in the language.
    2) Your motivation will be at its peak thanks to new places, situations and meetings with interesting people.
    3) A qualified teacher will consistently provide you with the material you need to learn and offer advice on how to manage your time. They will also create a dynamic and motivating atmosphere in class.
  55. If you are learning English abroad, try to communicate with people who don’t speak your language. This way, the language you use to communicate will always be the language you are studying. Try not to switch to your native language while you are there. This will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the English language and get the most out of your educational trip.
  56. Learn any language with a qualified teacher. It is better to study with a qualified teacher once a week, who knows advanced teaching techniques, and spend the rest of the time studying independently, than to attend five lessons a week with an inefficient teacher.
  57. If you are attending an English language school abroad, remember that you need to prepare for your classes by doing your homework. This includes revising what you have learnt in class and completing any set tasks. Use a grammar guide to help you understand and practise unfamiliar grammatical structures. Ideally, you should spend at least an hour or an hour and a half on self-study each day.
  58. Don’t get distracted during English lessons — close your social media apps. Focus on the lesson!
  59. Avoid sitting next to people who won’t speak to you in the language you’re studying.
  60. Take an active part in discussions when studying English in a group.
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