How to learn English quickly

English is the second most studied language in the world. There have never been so many educational resources at your fingertips, articles full of miracle tips, and online communities to motivate each other. So, you don’t know where to turn and you’re wondering how to learn English quickly ?

4 effective tips to learn English quickly and easily

1. Practice speaking as soon as possible

If you really want to learn to speak English fluently and quickly , there is no secret: you need to have regular conversations with a native speaker.

The sooner you break down the barrier that prevents you from practicing your spoken language skills, the sooner you will become fluent in English.

A 2016 study published by the University of Michigan demonstrated that learning a language via webcam conversations tends to achieve results much more quickly than with traditional methods. Scientists followed two groups of people as they began learning a new language:

After twelve weeks, the researchers found that group A had not made significant improvement, while group B had developed language skills significantly . In the latter, learners had acquired a more varied vocabulary, performed better on listening comprehension tests, were more comfortable with grammar and could speak with more confidence.

In other words, even if you regularly do vocabulary exercises, study grammar, and take theoretical lessons for weeks, you may not know how to put these skills into practice until you learn English by speaking it. This is a very common mistake. How many times have you heard someone say, “I can understand most of what I hear in English, but I don’t speak it well”?

Luckily, it’s never been easier to find someone to practice speaking with, even if you’re learning English at home! You will easily find sites to learn and practice English online , including Preply, which has thousands of teachers ready to chat by webcam. On Preply, you can adjust the filters to only show teachers whose hourly rate fits your budget.

Having the full attention of a native speaker during online English lessons for beginners may seem intense, but that’s because it works. You will see real progress quickly. We are so convinced of the effectiveness of this method that we offer a 100% money back guarantee.

2. Read in English

It’s never been easier to find sites to read in English , nor has it been faster to look up information on Google Translate if you don’t understand what you’re reading. If you’re not quite ready to tackle Shakespeare’s works, try something else, like:

If you can’t get started, or quit as soon as you start, try learning this list of words called “Fry words.” These are said to be the first 1,000 words needed to read in English, and constitute approximately 50% of all written text.

3. Create a learning routine

If you want to learn English very quickly , you must make it a regular practice in your daily life. And no, it’s not enough to promise that you’ll spend more time working on your language skills. You need to find a concreteway to guarantee that you will study, even if sometimes obstacles get in your way.

If you’re strong-willed, you can set an alarm on your phone to remind you to work on your English at a specific time of day, like when you get home from work, for example. But for most of us, it’s much easier to stay motivated when someone else depends on us.

In a study, the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) found that you have a 65% chance of achieving a goal if you commit to someone. Even more encouraging: if you have a specific meeting with this person to discuss your progress in English , the chances of reaching your goal increase to 95% .

You can look for a language partner who also learns English and with whom to compare your progress, or find a qualified teacher who will meet your needs by giving you conversational English lessons .

If you decide to take distance learning English courses on Preply, watch videos from several teachers before you decide. Look for a teacher with whom you have common interests. Our teachers are there to support you throughout your learning!

4. Set realistic goals

In the language learning community, there is a lot of emphasis on the need to learn to speak English fluently. But is it really useful to set such a goal when you are just starting your language journey? Probably not.

What is certain is that when we speak a foreign language, whatever our level, we never really stop learning. Research has shown that most people continue to learn an additional word in their native language every day into their 40s.

You will learn faster if you set goals tailored to your own needs. The best ones are those that allow you to track your progress. They are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-limited (also called “SMART”). Here are some examples :