Many of our students have told us finding time to incorporate English learning into your daily routine can be challenging.
Between family commitments, work and other projects, you might be wondering how you can learn English at home and on the go. Luckily, there are plenty of resources you can turn to to help you master the English language without setting aside large chunks of time from your day.
E2 English offers language courses for every level; from beginner to advanced. So if you’re wondering how to learn English, look no further. Before diving into your English language journey, our best advice is for you to take E2’s free placement test to help you understand your current skill level. The free assessment will give you valuable insight into what areas you need help with and what you’re already excelling at.
Commit time and discipline to learn English as part of your daily habits. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to use apps to learn English and prepare for any English needs you may have coming up. If the idea of taking an English test like IELTS or TOEFL might seem challenging, E2 can help you prepare for your test.
If you want to learn English just for fun, E2 can help there too – no matter how far along you are on your language journey.
1. Productive social media scrolling
We all spend lots of time scrolling through social media, so why not make the most of your social media habit and use it to learn English? Not only are there great resources for learning English on social media, but plenty of accounts that will give you insight into what it is like to live in an English speaking country.
E2’s new TIKTOK channel gives valuable insight into fun English sayings like ‘cool as a cucumber’ or ‘skating on thin ice’, and includes opportunities to engage in a virtual, pre-recorded conversation to test your conversational skills.
2. Find a language buddy for English learning
The odds are good that you’re not the only one in your extended circle trying to learn English. Having a language buddy can help keep you accountable. Set up a weekly date to meet with your language buddy and commit to only speaking English at that time. You can watch an English movie together, discuss your week or act out scenarios.
The good news is that you’re not limited to the friends and family who live close to you. Technology has made it easy to meet up with people all over the world, so you can easily jump on Zoom, Skype or FaceTime and chat with a friend overseas or in another city. When you join E2 English you become part of a community of people wanting to improve their English skills, so tap into this valuable resource and find a friend to practise with.
3. Watch YouTube videos for English learning
It can be tempting to laze about on the couch and watch something on our phones or TVs at the end of the day. If you tune in to the E2 English YouTube channel instead of streaming services, you can relax while learning English simultaneously! The short and fun lessons cover things like tricky grammar, preparing for a test, and how to communicate in English effectively.
If you don’t want the pressure of a real English lesson (even a fun one), browse some English language videos that interest you instead. Videos about fashion, animals, movie reviews and more are all available in English. You can even slow down the playback speed to give you more time to understand what’s being said.
4. Read in English
While this one is not as easy as learning English on the go, it can be very enjoyable. Grab a book intended for a young audience, either children or young adults depending on your English level, and enjoy the story while you get some language practice in.
Novels intended for young audiences are the best books to learn English as the grammar and storyline won’t be so complicated that you end up lost and frustrated. If you don’t feel ready to tackle a whole book, start with a comic series, as the imagery will also give you hints about the context.
5. Watch a movie
Test yourself with a movie once you feel more confident in your English language skills. Like with a book, a film intended for younger audiences won’t be as tricky to follow. Try to pick a movie where you won’t have to struggle with very strong dialects, as some can be challenging to understand even for native English speakers.
Settle in with some popcorn and see how much of the movie you understand. The visuals will help with your comprehension as well. Not only is this a great language learning exercise, but you’ll gain some cultural insight too.
Another option is to choose a movie that you already know and love. Now turn on the English subtitles. If you’re familiar with the dialogue, you can focus on the subtitles and practise your English that way.
6. Translate the news
Grab some English language media and set yourself a translation task, working from English back into your native language. This way, you’ll get a feel for how grammar structures differ from your native language, and you’ll have an opportunity to expand your vocabulary. When you come across words you’re not familiar with, write them down and look them up later.
7. Label it
For a low-effort way to remind yourself of the English word for things, break out your label maker or some stickers and a pen and get labelling. Stick labels with the English word for all your things on the corresponding items. Start in the kitchen with plates, cutlery, microwave, stove, cereal, and the list goes on. You’ll be calling your everyday objects by their English names in no time.
This is a handy trick if you’re going to be living in an English speaking country, as you’ll need to know the names of everyday items once you’ve moved.
8. Change your system language
Change the language on your phone, tablet or computer to English. Much like labelling things around your house, this will help you acquire some everyday English skills that will make navigating life in an English speaking country easier.
You could even go further and start writing down your shopping lists and to-do lists in English. The more you incorporate English into your life in these little ways, the faster you’ll improve.
9. Listen to podcasts like Everyday English with E2
Podcasts are a great way to learn English. If you listen on your phone, you can hone your language skills while in the car, on the bus or while out doing your shopping. Because it’s easier to listen to several hours of a podcast every day than sit down with an English language book, podcasts are an excellent tool for language immersion and, therefore, one of the best ways to improve language skills quickly.
E2 English has developed the Everyday English podcast explicitly designed for English language students wanting to learn English fast. Whether you’re picking up some Aussie slang, or a new piece of grammar, the Everyday English podcast is a great option. If you’re preparing for a language test, use the podcast in conjunction with E2 Test Prep for the best results.
10. Overcome your fear
Learning a new language is a process. Don’t be worried if you don’t feel you’re making much progress straight away. Be gentle with yourself and turn to all of our resources for help. With so many free resources available, you’re bound to find the right learning strategy for you.
There are many ways you can incorporate learning English into your everyday life. They are easy to implement, effective and, best of all, cost nothing. Immersing yourself in the language you’re learning is an incredibly effective way to improve your skills, so implement these tips and you’ll be gaining fluency in no time.
E2’s English language content is curated and endorsed by E2 Test Prep, meaning you can rest assured that you’re learning valuable skills that will see you excel in any English language test you may need to sit. Move effortlessly from learning English at whatever level you’re at to more intensive English test preparation with E2.