How to Actually Teach Yourself English (as a Foreign Learner)

When teaching yourself a new language, especially English, it can be difficult to know where to start. Don't worry! We've got you covered in this article.

NOTE: Don't be afraid to translate this page's content using an app (or your browser's native tools) if your English level isn't yet good enough to read fluently.

It's no secret that learning a new language is hard, especially English - especially if your first language is not Germanic or Romance in origin. However, the trickiest part of learning any language is knowing what study routine, method and tools to actually use; what textbooks, what websites, what apps, etc.

That's why we've prepared this article to cover all of the main strategies and tips you need in order to make learning English as smooth as possible for self-learners. You can also apply these methods to any language, although English is our main focus here. So, without further ado, let's get into it!

Vocabulary, and More Vocabulary...

The first thing you should focus on when learning a new language is building a strong foundational lexicon (vocabulary). That's because, without having any foundational words, you won't be able to understand anything in the language, whether it's written or spoken.

You should think of learning a language in baby steps. Vocabulary is always step number one. Once you have acquired enough vocabulary, you will eventually be able to understand written and spoken forms of the target language, which moves you on to step two: listen to and read as much content in the target language as possible.

Read, Read, and Read More

Reading and listening should be your next call to action. However, in my personal language-learning opinion, reading should be the first priority. That's because it's much easier to slowly digest the written form of a language at your own pace, compared to listening.

You should try to find graded reading material at your current language level. Graded readers are texts that have been specifically written for language learners, and they usually are ranked using the CEFR language level metrics (A1-C2). This means you have a better chance of finding content that is at your existing level. It shouldn't be too easy, but also not too hard.

There are plenty of graded reading materials out there, especially online, which makes it easy to find accessible content to read. If you make reading material a daily habit and use it to continue expanding your vocabulary, you will notice drastic improvements in your English level each week.

Listen, Listen, and Listen More

The next best thing aside from reading is, of course, listening. And there is equally as much free material available on the internet (on YouTube and podcasts) for you to sink your language-learning teeth into.

Just like with reading, you should try to find content to consume that is at your current language learning level. That way, you will naturally encounter new vocabulary and grow your comprehension over time. There are plenty of great YouTube channels of people making comprehensible input videos for language learners.

Listening to your target language generally requires your language level to be slightly higher than if you are reading, which is why I personally vote for listening to be something you choose to do after you've already done plenty of reading and vocab acquisition. It's because people usually speak fast, which means you need to be able to digest the words at a faster pace than if you are reading.

Practice Speaking (When Possible)

Speaking should be a staple part of your study routine, and that also counts for beginners. You should practice mimicking the sounds of your target language, even if you can't spontaneously speak fluently yet.

To start, find common useful phrases (like 'Good morning', 'How are you', etc.) and practice making the sounds out loud or to a partner. This is great practice for your brain to get to grips with how to actually produce the foreign sounds.

If you're already at the level where you can speak, we implore you to do it more. Try to find a native English speaker and converse with them daily, or use a tutor who can help you speak on a weekly basis. The more you speak in English, the more practice you are getting. That means the faster your English will improve.

Write Every Day

The final piece to the language-learning puzzle is: writing. Writing is great because you can do it in your own time, and you don't have the same pressure of making mistakes when you are speaking in a natural conversation.

Once again, you can use a tutor to help you with your writing. They can correct mistakes and give you feedback. Or, nowadays you can use AI for the same job, totally free.

Journalling every day, even if it is only a few sentences, is the perfect way to build a new writing habit and reap the benefits of such practice. Sure, it can be challenging at first, but... no pain, no gain. If you stick to this habit, you will soon see your English ability skyrocket.

Try to start with the basics, and you can even write in a strange mix between English and your native language if you forget certain words. The goal is to at least get something down on paper (or a Google Doc/Microsoft Word document).

Final thoughts

And there we have it! That's a solid roadmap to follow on how to teach yourself English. For more tips on what exact resources to use, please see our FAQ section below.

I hope this article has helped you in one way or another. I know it can be sometimes boring to read basic reading, writing, listening and speaking advice, but it truly is the main thing that works. The difference between a successful language learner and a non-successful one is: consistency.

If you can build a habit our of these study tips and climb the ladder of learning as I suggested, you will eventually be able to understand and speak English much more.

FAQs

What resources should I use? (Apps, Websites, Textbooks, and more)

There are a bunch of useful tools you can use to help you with your language-learning journey and make your study sessions more efficient.

Reading

For reading, using graded readers, as suggested in the article, is the best bet. If you have some money to spare, LingQ is also the gold standard reading comprehensible input app for avid language learners.

Listening

For listening, I recommend watching TV or films in your target language (if you are already at the appropriate level). Otherwise, head over to YouTube and find some free comprehensible input content in your target language. You're sure to find plenty.

Once more, if you aren't afraid to splash a bit of cash, Pimsleur has great listening and speaking exercises for language learners of all levels. Plus, it has a vast range of languages to choose from.

Speaking

For speaking, we recommend finding an experienced tutor or native speaker who can become your regular conversation partner. Apps like Tandem are great for finding partners.

Writing

The best part about writing in your language is that you don't really need to rely on any paid services in this day and age. You can use free digital tools like Google Docs, or even rely on the good, old pen and paper. You can even use AI to give you feedback completely free!

Anki (for memorising vocabulary)

Anki is the gold-standard spaced-repetition flashcard app, helping language learners all across the globe memorise vocab as fast as possible. I recommend downloading Anki to your computer or smartphone and using it to help you maximise your vocab acquisition.

Anki is free if you download it on your laptop or PC; however, the IOS app does cost some money upfront. But you should think of it as a long-term investment to secure your language-learning goals.

Assimil content

The last language-learning resource we want to share with you is from the Assimil range. Assimil have plentiful resources, including textbooks and audio exercises. They have a vast range of resources available and a lot of language learners swear by their effectiveness.

What is comprehensible input?

Comprehensible input refers to reading or listening in a target language that you can already comprehend (understand). If you're engaging with content that is at your language-learning level, it should be comprehensible, containing mostly words you know, whilst still exposing you to some new words along the way. That way, you're still learning whilst being able to enjoy the language naturally.

How much vocab should I learn per day?

Studies have shown that, on average, people can learn a rough maximum of 20 new words per day, although even that can be challenging for most people. It's recommended you try to learn between 5-20 words per day and keep this as a daily habit over the long term. Then, over time, you will noticeably see your vocab expand more and more.