I won’t sugarcoat it: learning English is a rollercoaster of confusion, frustration, and occasional triumph. One minute, you’re confidently saying, “I have been learning English for two years,” and the next, you’re wondering why “I am learning English since two years” makes native speakers look at you like you’ve just confessed to a crime.
I was a primary school student when I first started learning English, and honestly? I loved it. It was so different from my native Russian and the Ukrainian I had to learn at school. While most kids were outside playing, I was secretly obsessing over English words in my free time. (Yes, I was that kid.)
At first, everything felt exciting and easy—until I started running into the weirdness of English. Why does “read” (present)
sound different from “read” (past)? Why does “do” become “did” but “go” becomes “went”? Who made these decisions, and can I speak to their manager? (Wait, that should be “may I…”).
I know English is weird. Natives even think it’s weird, and there are loads of memes and jokes poking fun at it. It borrows words from every language it meets, has spelling rules that are more like suggestions (or so it feels, right?), and loves breaking its own grammar rules with way more exceptions than there are actual rules.
But the good news? It’s totally learnable. And because it’s one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, you have an endless supply of resources, native speakers, and sitcoms to help you.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what makes English tricky (or not) and my tried and tested methods for learning it.
Is English Easy to Learn? (Spoiler: It Depends)
Let’s settle this debate right now: English is easy and hard—depending on what language you already speak, how you learn and practice, and how much effort you put into it.
The “Easy” Parts of English
- No genders for nouns (no confusing masculine/feminine rules like in French or Spanish).
- No complicated verb conjugations (compared to languages like Russian or Arabic).
- A ridiculous number of learning resources (from apps to podcasts to YouTube).
The “Hard” Parts of English
- Spelling is an absolute mess. “Through,” “though,” “thorough,” “thought.” Why, oh why???
- Phrasal verbs are chaotic. You can “run out” of milk but also “run into” an old friend or “run up” a bill.
- Pronunciation makes no sense. Why does “comb” rhyme with “home,” but “bomb” rhymes with “mom”?
Factors That Affect How Easy English Is to Learn
Your native language also plays a big role. If you speak German, Dutch, or a Scandinavian language, English might feel familiar.
But if your first language is Mandarin, Japanese, or Arabic, expect a steeper learning curve.
The bottom line? English is learnable, but you’ll need the right methods. Let’s get into those.
Discover helpful tips and explanations for learning English:
My Best Tips to Learn English (That Actually Work)
Here’s the thing—there’s no one magic trick to learning English. If there were, I’d be selling it for millions and retiring on a beach somewhere. But since that’s not the case, let me give you something even better: a list of methods that actually work.
These aren’t just generic “study harder” tips. They’re real, battle-tested strategies that can help you think in English faster and stop second-guessing yourself every time you speak.
The best part? You don’t need superhuman discipline or a million-dollar tutor—just the right mindset, the right resources, and the willingness to laugh at your own mistakes (because, trust me, there will be many).
1. Set a Goal & Make a Plan (Because “I Want to Learn English” Isn’t a Plan)
Saying, “I want to learn English,” is like saying, “I want to get fit.” Cool, but…how?
Instead, set specific, measurable goals—like “I want to have a 10-minute conversation in English within 3 months” or “I want to understand 70% of a Netflix show without subtitles in 9 months.”
Then, make a plan. Will you practice daily? Use apps? Take lessons? Write it down—because if you don’t, it’s just a wish, not a goal.
The first time I decided to learn English (when I was a young adult and decided that I wanted to dive into more than primary-level English), I spent three months doing everything and nothing at the same time.
But back then, there were no apps, no YouTube, and definitely no language-learning podcasts. Instead, I borrowed grammar books, listened to English-language radio, and read whatever English newspapers and magazines I could find—without any real structure.
I was gutted but decided I needed structure, and that started with setting a goal. Once I had my goal with mini-milestones, I made progress.
So don’t just learn English. Decide exactly what you want to achieve and create a plan.
2. Use the Right Resources (Spoiler: One App Won’t Cut It)
I used to think I could learn English with just one resource. After all, we only used books in primary school, and I managed to learn quite a bit.
So when I was re-learning the language, I first focused on grammar books. Then, I switched to newspapers. Then, I convinced myself that if I just listened to enough radio broadcasts, English would magically sink into my brain.
It didn’t.
The truth is, no single method will teach you everything. You need a mix—something to build your vocabulary, something to improve listening, something to practice speaking. If one resource were enough, we’d all be fluent by now.
The best approach? Diversify. Read, listen, write, and speak. Switch between books, real-world English, and active practice. The more ways you engage with the language, the faster it’ll stick.
Think of it like learning to cook. You wouldn’t just watch cooking videos—you’d also chop and cook things, burn things, and eventually make a decent meal (after a lot of practice and re-reading the recipe).
It’s the same with English.
3. Get Comfortable With Making Mistakes
Here’s a secret: Native speakers mess up English all the time.
So why are you afraid of making mistakes? I once said, “I am boring” instead of “I am bored” (which so doesn’t mean the same thing, and no, I don’t have the personality of a raw zucchini— cucumber’s less interesting cousin).
Was it embarrassing? Yes. Did I survive? Also yes.
The world didn’t end just because I made a mistake.
Mistakes are a normal part of language learning. In fact, the people who learn fastest are the ones who make the most mistakes—because they actually try.
So mess up, laugh about it, learn from it, and move on!
4. Think in English, Even If It’s Ugly
If you translate every sentence in your head before speaking, you’ll always be one step behind. I used to do that, but then I realized I sounded like Google Translate after five espressos and a Wi-Fi outage.
So I started thinking directly in English. It was bits and pieces at a time, and my thoughts were simple and awkward. But after a while, it felt more natural instead of foreign, and my English thoughts came to me faster and sounded less robotic.
I recommend you start narrating your day in English in your head. Something like, “I need coffee. Where is my phone? I should text my friend.”
Or do this for your morning routine or while you wash the dishes. Choose a time of day to start thinking in English, and soon, you’ll find yourself thinking more and more in the target language.
Interesting Facts About Languages and Cultures:
5. Master the Art of Small Talk (Yes, Even if You Hate It)
English speakers LOVE small talk. Well, not everyone, but if you want to blend in, you’ll need to master this survival skill:
Talking about the weather. (“Crazy weather today, huh?” Works every time.)
Complimenting something. (“Nice shoes!”)
Asking easy questions. (“What do you do?” “How was your weekend?” “How are the kids?”)
Small talk might feel pointless, but it helps break the ice. And the more you practice, the easier it’ll get—and the less likely you’ll respond to “How’s it going?” with “Yes”—like I did the first time I attended an English-speaking event. (At least I didn’t say “No” and looked even more foolish.)
6. Practice Your Hobbies in English
I once tried forcing myself to watch business news in English because I thought it would make me sound smarter. The problem? I didn’t care about business news. I zoned out, learned nothing, and gave up after five days.
Then, I realized that learning English doesn’t have to be boring. I switched to reading, listening to music in English, writing in my journal in English, and playing word games like Scrabble—things I actually enjoyed.
And suddenly? Learning felt effortless.
So, take something you love—cooking, gaming, fashion, working out—and do it in English. When you’re curious and having fun, English stops feeling like homework—and starts feeling like part of your life.
7. Make Passive Learning Work for You (Because Doing Nothing Can Help)
I used to think that if I wasn’t actively studying—like sitting down with a grammar book or practicing speaking—I wasn’t learning. Turns out, my brain was working even when I wasn’t.
One day, I realized I had picked up random English phrases just from listening to music and watching TV in the background. I hadn’t written them down. I hadn’t memorized them. They had just… stuck.
So, don’t underestimate passive learning:
Change your phone to English.
Follow English-speaking accounts on social media.
Listen to an English podcast while cooking.
Your brain will absorb more than you think—even when you’re just existing.
8. Find a Speaking Partner (Who Won’t Judge You)
I thought my English was pretty decent—until I actually had to use it. The moment I opened my mouth, my brain panicked and deleted half my vocabulary.
I stood there, scrambling to remember words, overthinking every sentence, and by the time I finally worked up the courage to speak… the conversation had already moved on. So, I just nodded awkwardly, pretending I totally understood.
The best way to improve your speaking? Speak.
Find a judgment-free conversation partner—a tutor, a language exchange buddy, or even an AI chatbot. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll get. And confidence? That’s half the battle won.
9. Use Writing to Boost Speaking Skills
For the longest time, I focused only on listening and speaking because, well, that’s how you communicate, right? Writing felt like an extra step—until I realized it actually made speaking way easier.
The first few times I tried writing in English, it was painfully slow. I second-guessed every sentence, rewrote words five times, triple-checked spelling and grammar rules, and somehow still ended up questioning “their” vs. “there.”
But after a while, I noticed something strange: when I spoke, my sentences started coming out more naturally. And even my writing was slowly improving and getting easier.
Writing forces you to slow down and organize your thoughts—which means when you actually have to speak, your brain isn’t scrambling for words.
Start small: write a journal entry, a tweet, or even a fake email to yourself.
And remember, the more you write, the smoother your speaking will get.
10. Ask for Help (Even If You Hate Asking)
The first time I asked a grammar question online, I stared at the screen for way too long, debating whether I should even post it. What if people laughed? What if they said, “How do you not know this?”
But I finally hit “post,” and I got a bunch of helpful answers from people who actually wanted to help.
Here’s the thing—English speakers love explaining their language (probably because it’s so confusing, even for them). And you’ll find great answers and explanations from those who have or are learning English.
Whether it’s Reddit (r/EnglishLearning), Facebook groups, or language forums, there are tons of places where you can ask questions without feeling judged.
So, if you’re stuck on a word, phrase, or weird grammar rule? Ask. The sooner you get answers, the faster you’ll improve.
My Final Thoughts: The Real Secret to Learning English
The real secret? Keep going.
Because learning English is never really “done.”
There’s no magical day when you wake up and think, Wow, I have officially mastered every word, phrase, and grammar rule! (If that day does exist, even native speakers haven’t reached it.)
But the real goal? To communicate, to connect, and to get better every day. And if you’ve made it this far, you’re already doing that.
Some days, English will feel easy. Other days, you’ll forget a basic word like refrigerator and call it a “food cooler” (yes, this has happened, and I totally think that’s what it should be called). That’s just part of the ride
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