The Best Methods to Learn English Easily

In this lesson, we will outline a variety of practical tips to help you speak English with ease.

Whether you’re looking for online courses, mobile apps, or TV shows, there are plenty of ways to study the English language from the comfort of your home at an affordable price!

Choosing quality online resources

The first method for learning English easily is to take online courses. With a reliable internet connection, you no longer need to travel to make progress! In this lesson, we will suggest:

1. Free websites for learning English
2. YouTube channels to help you improve your English skills
3. Platforms that offer paid English courses

The best sites to learn English for free

There are plenty of websites to help you improve your English skills at no cost. Here’s our selection of the top 4 resources:

1. ISpeakSpokeSpoken
2. Sherpas
3. To Fluency
4. English Club

1. ISpeakSpokeSpoken

At ISpeakSpokeSpoken, we make it a point of honor to help you progress effectively in English while having fun, and for free. Our site offers over 350 lessons designed to boost your English knowledge.

2. Sherpas

Sherpas caters mainly to students, from middle school through higher education. The platform offers private English lessons with experienced tutors, which can be taken online or in person.

3. To Fluency

To Fluency is a site that offers both grammar lessons and language tips. Articles are paired with videos, making it easier to understand and improve pronunciation.

4. English Club

English Club is packed with free resources for learning English. In addition to the classic lessons, there are quizzes and advice to 
prepare for English exams like TOEFL and TOEIC.

What is the best YouTube channel for learning English?

Prefer learning through videos? There’s plenty to choose from when it comes to free English courses on YouTube. Here are 3 top-rated channels:

1. ISpeakSpokeSpoken
2. engVid
3. Go Natural English

1. ISpeakSpokeSpoken

On YouTube, Adrien, an English instructor, shares lessons in an engaging, joyful and good-natured atmosphere!

Since 2012, the channel has been helping learners improve their English, whether they want to practice public speaking, memorize vocabulary, or work on pronunciation—all in a relaxed environment.

With over 550,000 subscribers, ISpeakSpokeSpoken has become a popular resource for learning English: a great source of pride for us! To the ISpeakSpokeSpoken YouTube channel.

2. EngVid

With over 4 million subscribers, EngVid offers grammar and pronunciation lessons taught by native English speakers. The channel covers practical topics from phrasal verbs to slang, making it both informative and fun. To the EngVid YouTube channel.

3. Go Natural English

Hosted by American teacher Gabby, Go Natural English aims to help viewers speak English like a native. With more than 2 million subscribers, Gabby’s about 10-minute videos are packed with helpful tips and strategies to boost fluency. Go to the YouTube channel Go Natural English.

Online English Courses

Many organizations offer structured online English courses with personalized support from experienced instructors; all from your computer or smartphone. Here are 3 top options:

1. The ISpeakSpokeSpoken Academy
2. The British Council
3. Superprof

1. ISpeakSpokeSpoken Academy

The ISpeakSpokeSpoken Academy aims to help you speak English fluently through consistent practice.

Each week, you can join two live group classes with 5 to 10 other learners at your level, led by a professional instructor. Additional resources include access to a Facebook group for community support and additional resources to help you progress in English.

In addition, every month, regularly updated content is published on the platform, such as grammar lessons, vocabulary classes, and dictation exercises—ideal for immersive learning.

2. British Council

The British Council, a UK-based cultural institution, promotes English language learning worldwide. They offer a wide range of online courses and resources suitable for all ages, from children to adults. Their programs include flexible options to accommodate different learning goals.

3. Superprof

Superprof is a platform connecting learners of all ages with tutors across various subjects, including English. The site allows you to freely consult the profiles of registered “superprofs” and choose based on criteria like price, qualifications, reviews, and whether they offer in-person or online lessons.

Learning English with TV Shows, Movies, and Series

Watching series in English is a fantastic way to learn while having fun! Not only do you get to enjoy great shows, but you also assimilate English without even realizing it as you watch.

This method helps you get comfortable with everyday English, learn common expressions, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation and listening skills.

Here are a few popular series to watch in their original English versions with subtitles, or even without subtitles for an added challenge:

1. Breaking Bad
2. Friends
3. House of Cards
4. Game of Thrones

Breaking Bad

Over 5 seasons, follow the transformation of Walter White, a chemistry teacher and father who turns to methamphetamine production and sales after learning he has cancer. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the show is packed with suspense and dark humor, offering a mix of technical and everyday English in a gripping storyline.

Friends

Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross bring you New York English in short, funny, and highly relatable episodes, each around 20 minutes. This iconic show is perfect for learning casual, conversational English, and enjoyable to rewatch over and over again.

House of Cards

Set in Washington D.C., this six-season political drama follows the manipulative Frank Underwood, a member of the Democratic Party, and his wife Claire, who runs an environmental NGO. Given the complex political plots, subtitles are a must, helping you tackle more formal English and political jargon.

Game of Thrones

Based on George R.R. Martin’s epic saga, Game of Thrones transports you into a fantasy world with influences from historical events like the War of the Roses. The British-heavy cast provides excellent exposure to various British accents, making it ideal for practicing a more formal style of English while enjoying a medieval adventure.

Memorize only essential vocabulary

To make your English learning journey effective, concentrate on essential words, common expressions, and vocabulary tailored to your needs and interests.

For instance, if you’re learning English for work, prioritize professional vocabulary. You don’t need an extensive vocabulary to communicate in a foreign language. In fact, about 500-800 words are enough for basic conversations, while around 1,500 words cover 80% of everyday situations. By focusing on high-utility words, you’ll progress faster, as you’ll frequently use what you learn, boosting both motivation and retention.

Practice English with native speakers (even remotely)

Regular conversations with native speakers—whether from the UK, USA, Canada, or Australia—offer significant benefits. Chatting with a foreign friend is a fun and effective way to put into practice what you have learned, helping you:

• Improve pronunciation and accent
• Expand vocabulary
• Sharpen listening skills
• Increase cultural understanding by learning about your partner’s background

Finding a native-speaking partner is not always easy, so here are two platforms that can help:

1. Tandem
2. HelloTalk

Tandem

If you’re a French speaker wanting to practice English, Tandem connects you with a native English speaker who, on the other hand, wants to learn French. You can communicate through:

• messages
• voice notes
• audio calls
• video calls

HelloTalk

HelloTalk’s user-friendly interface is packed with tools to make language learning fun and less formal. The app lets you chat with individual members or join group discussions, creating a collaborative and interactive learning experience.

Read texts in English adapted to your level

Reading English texts is a great way to expand your vocabulary—especially if you make an effort to look up unknown words! When you’re engaged in an interesting story, you’ll retain new vocabulary more naturally.

Plus, reading is convenient; you can do it anywhere, with no need for battery or internet.

Here are 4 platforms offering a range of texts, some free and some paid.

1. Project Gutenberg
2. Z-Library
3. Open Library
4. ESOL Courses

Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is a digital library with a vast collection of public domain books. It’s a great place to discover classics like Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—all available for free.

Z-Library

Billed as the world’s largest digital library, Z-Library lets you search for books by language and file format, making it easy to download texts for devices like Kindle or as PDFs.

Open Library

Open Library aims to catalog every published book across languages in a freely accessible online database. You’ll find a large selection of English texts available for digital borrowing.

ESOL Courses

ESOL Courses specializes in leveled reading materials, offering content categorized by proficiency:

• Beginner (A1-A2)
• Intermediate (B1-B2)
• Advanced (C1-C2)

Specialized Podcasts for Learning English

Listening to podcasts (audio or video shows available for download or streaming on-demand) is an excellent way to improve your English. Often free, they come in various formats (from a few minutes to hours) and cover diverse topics (language learning, history, politics, humor, and more). Podcasts help expand vocabulary and sharpen listening skills.

Here are four recommended podcasts:

1. Learning English Broadcast
2. Speak English with ESLPod.com
3. The English We Speak
4. Effortless English Podcast

Learning English Broadcast

This program uses simple vocabulary and short sentences, read at a slow pace. Ideal for a gentle introduction to the world of podcasts 
in English!

Speak English with ESLPod.com

Hosted by two former language teachers, these daily lessons introduce new vocabulary and expressions, all transcribed on the episode’s web page for easy reference.

The English We Speak

Produced by the prestigious BBC, this weekly 3-minute show covers popular or slang expressions like gathering dust, the plot thickens, and cool cat, helping you learn English idioms and colloquial terms.

Effortless English Podcast

With a distinctly American flair, AJ Hoge offers practical advice in a dynamic way to perfect your spoken English., blending vocabulary with insights into American culture.

Daily English Practice with Mobile Apps

Language-learning apps are a great solution for those who want to practice English daily but may not have the chance to speak it often or take regular classes. Available on iOS and Android, these apps offer flexibility and tailored support.

Here are three standout options::

1. MosaLingua
2. Babbel
3. Duolingo

MosaLingua

MosaLingua is primarily focused on vocabulary building, using a flashcard-based system to help users retain new words over the long term. Each flashcard introduces a new term, with repetition exercises to solidify memorization.

Babbel

Babbel, a paid language-learning system launched in 2007, is available on both its website and mobile app. It emphasizes daily practice, encouraging users to dedicate just 10–15 minutes each day to language exercises.

Duolingo

Designed to feel like a game, Duolingo makes learning fun with an interactive experience. Its lessons are arranged in a learning tree of thematic units, represented by colored or gray circles. As you complete exercises, you advance through these units, reinforcing your skills in a playful format.

Choosing the right learning books

There’s more to life than screens! While TV shows, YouTube videos, and smartphone apps are great tools for improving your English, books are also a valuable resource.

We encourage you to read English short stories or novels in their original version. However, we also recommend getting a well-known learning book.

Here are five we suggest for you:

1. Mastering English
2. English from A to Z
3. English in 5 Minutes a Day
4. I’m Starting English Again in 2 Months for Dummies
5. Assimil: English

Mastering English

Mary Dell offers a book for beginners and advanced learners, covering levels from A1 to C1. All grammar is explained in simple terms, from the alphabet to pronunciation, including complex structures. The rules are illustrated with drawings, dialogues, and useful expressions.

English from A to Z

This book, published by Hatier, is a complete, practical, and effective guide to the English language. It includes:

• Grammar and conjugation rules
• Difficult words to translate between languages
• Over 400 exercises with answers for practice

English in 5 Minutes a Day

This small book by Brigitte Lallement and Nathalie Pierret helps you refresh your fundamental knowledge and reinforce your skills with just 5 minutes of practice daily. It offers 60 lessons and exercises designed for daily, effective learning.

I’m Starting English Again in 2 Months for Dummies

The well-known For Dummies series also tackles learning the English language. This book is for people who haven’t practiced English in a while and want to regain their fluency. It features about 60 lessons, with regular reviews to reinforce each concept, plus downloadable audio files.

Assimil: English

This is the bestseller from Assimil, a French publishing house famous for popularizing its own language-learning method. The self-learning method in the book is based on the principle of intuitive assimilation.

Your questions about learning English

Here are our answers to the most frequently asked questions from online users about the most effective ways to learn Shakespeare’s language!

Why can’t I learn English?

If you’re struggling to progress in English, one of these four factors might be blocking you:

1. Lack of consistency

Learning a language is mostly about memory and reflexes. If you’re always searching for words, regular exposure to the language will help.

At ISpeakSpokeSpoken, we recommend practicing English once a day, at least four times a week. Start with 30-60 minute sessions.

2. Lack of practice

To speak English, it’s not enough to understand what you read or hear—you must also be able to express your ideas. Practice makes perfect.

To practice English with native speakers, we suggest:

• finding a language partner on platforms like Tandem
• visiting bilingual cafés in your city
• going abroad for an exchange or to work

3. Lack of methodology

Does your method suit your learning style? Is the difficulty level appropriate for your skills? The method should adapt to you, not the other way around.

4. Lack of confidence

This is often the biggest obstacle and it requires work on yourself.

You need to identify what is blocking you:

• timidity,
• fear of making mistakes,
• fear of mispronouncing words,
• fear of others’ judgement,
• etc.

If the issue is serious, consider speaking with a psychologist.

How to learn English from scratch

1. Set a SMART goal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound.
2. Select educational resources that match your learning style. Three at most so as not to spread yourself too thin.
3. Learn bit by bit and regularly. Repetition is the key to progress.

How to learn English on your own

You can reach an intermediate level (B1, B2) even by learning English on your own at home. Here are some tips to get there:

• Practice regularly: at least 30 minutes a day.
• Choose activities that you enjoy and that motivate you.
• Study with multimedia resources to develop your listening and pronunciation.
• Immerse yourself as much as possible in the language (series, podcasts, books, TV, etc.).

How to learn English in 6 months

You can achieve a good level of English in 6 months, provided you follow the right method and stay disciplined. Reaching an A1 level requires about 70 hours of study, according to the CEFR guidelines. For A2, expect 150 more hours, and for B1, another 300 hours. 

At ISpeakSpokeSpoken, we’ve created a hands-on method to help you speak English fluently within 60 days!

What are the basics for learning English?

To learn the basics of English, focus on its main pillars: vocabulary, conjugation, grammar, and pronunciation. It’s essential to work on both listening and reading comprehension, as well as speaking and writing. Finally, complement theory with exercises because practice makes perfect!

How to become bilingual in 1 year

The most effective way to become bilingual, no matter the foreign language, is immersion. If ou have the opportunity, spend at least a year abroad.

This could be through an exchange program if you’re studying, or by working abroad.

What is the secret to learning English quickly?

The secret to mastering English quickly is a combination of consistency and practice. Study, practice, and listen to English for at least 30 minutes a day, and you will make rapid progress.