6 easy ways to learn English

Steffanie Zazulak
Woman wearing headphones outside, smiling and looking hopeful

When you¡¯re learning English, it¡¯s important to keep your motivation up. As with any task, there may be times when it feels a bit more difficult, so switch up your methods and don¡¯t be afraid to make mistakes ¨C you¡¯ll reach the level you want to be at.

We¡¯ve already provided some unique ways to teach English that you may now have experienced with your teacher. Here, we suggest some easy ways to learn English that you can try any time ¨C at home, at work or on the move. Why not try them today? Surround yourself with English and you¡¯ll see improvements in your language confidence and skills, while having fun at the same time¡­

1. English words with friends

Scrabble is a classic board game in which players use random lettered tiles to create words in a crossword fashion. It¡¯s a fantastic way to strengthen your English vocabulary, and there¡¯s also a Scrabble Junior version for beginners. Playing Scrabble challenges you to really think in English as you try to come up with different words using your set of letters.

If you¡¯re taking an English class, buy the board game and invite your classmates to play with you. You can also play Scrabble online through websites like Facebook, where it is called Words With Friends.

2. Add some music

Not only will your favorite song wake up your mind and put you in a positive mood to learn English, but the lyrics can help you expand your skills. acquire grammar and vocabulary and improve spelling.

Songs almost always contain a lot of useful vocabulary, phrases and expressions. And since the intended audience is fluent English speakers, the latest tunes include up-to-date language and colloquialisms. The language used in songs is casual and usable, if you pick the right music. Music also has an uncanny ability to stick in our heads, which can help you remember your new English words.

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3. Try, try and try again

To commit new English words to memory, it¡¯s important to keep using them. Keep a notebook of new words you learn, and try to use them in three different sentences. Write your sentences down and say them out loud. The repetition will help you remember the word, and working out different uses of the word will help expand your vocabulary bank. Remember, taking small steps like these will still help you to reach your goal.

4. Join online English forums

The key here is to join forums for subjects you are interested in ¨C that way, your motivation will rub off on your English learning and you¡¯ll be more inclined to participate. So, whether it¡¯s photography, movies, traveling or cooking, discuss your passion with other like-minded people in English.

If you feel nervous about people identifying you, make an anonymous profile. Then read through the forum to see what people are discussing. Once you feel confident, actively participate in the forum by answering questions posed by other people ¨C or post your own questions and have a conversation with the other members who answer you.

5. Get with the language

One of the most effective and easy ways to learn English is to immerse yourself in the language fully. Find an English-speaking radio station to listen to, watch an English-speaking movie or TV show or surround yourself with people having conversations in English. Listen carefully to conversations in restaurants, on the bus or in shops and try to pick up the everyday use of the language.

Not only will this help your listening skills, but you can also try to pronounce the words yourself in context to improve your speaking skills. With modern technology and apps, this can be done practically anywhere.

6. Read to learn English

You could really give your reading skills a boost here ¨C but your speaking skills can benefit, too. The more you read English text to yourself or aloud, the more confidence you will have. If you feel nervous, start by practicing at home then move on to reading in front of an audience and asking for their feedback. Of course, it¡¯s also enjoyable to read some wonderful stories.

E-readers and tablets make learning English even easier because if you don¡¯t know a word, you can click on it to read its definition. On the Kindle, you can add new words you¡¯ve learnt to its Vocabulary Builder feature, which is stored on the device.

Others recommend listening to and reading text at the same time as an excellent way to enhance the learning process. Kindle¡¯s Whispersync for Voice is designed for just this purpose and includes audio with selected books, so you can listen and follow the text as you read.

Read our blog post How long does it take to learn English?

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    7 great technology books to help improve your English

    By Steffanie Zazulak
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Technology is one of our favorite topics at the moment. This is because the use of technology can enrich the experiences of both learning and teaching English.?

    Inspired by this, we set about putting together a list of the best technology and futuristic novels for English learners. Reading novels is one of the most fun and effective ways of improving your English language skills. It can expand your vocabulary and expose you to different sentence structures, as well as give you the chance enjoy some wonderful stories.

    E-readers and tablets make learning English even easier because if you don¡¯t know a word, you can simply click on it to read its definition. On a Kindle, you can even add new words you¡¯ve learned to its Vocabulary Builder feature. Others recommend listening to and reading text at the same time as an excellent way of enhancing the learning process. Kindle¡¯s Whispersync for Voice is designed for just this purpose and includes audio with selected books, meaning you can listen and follow the text as you read.

    Here is our selection of seven great technology books to help improve your English:

    1. Spider-Man comic books

    Marvel¡¯s superheroes are no strangers to technology and the comic book experts have recently released a set of comics concentrating on science, technology, engineering, art and maths. The combination of drawings and limited texts make these comic books the perfect place for English learners to start.?

    2. Poptropica English Space Island Adventure

    ɫèAV English Kids Readers are stories that have been specially rewritten for English language learners aged 5-12. The great thing about using a book designed for children is that they can enjoy and learn at the appropriate level. Children's books also often have exciting plots and fun dialogue ¨C and that is definitely the case with this story, from the Poptropica English universe, about Peter, Pepper and Captain Cloud meeting aliens on their tour around Space Island.

    Many of you will be familiar with the major movie starring Will Smith, but I, Robot actually started off as a collection of nine short stories by Issac Asimov. Written in the 1940s and 1950s, they tell a tale of humans, robots and morality. Each of the short stories can be read separately and they contain simple, descriptive language, making them perfect for English learners.

    Regarded as one of the greatest science-fiction/technology novels written in the English language, Brave New World anticipates advancements in technology that combine to affect society. Author Aldous Huxley¡¯s unique writing style combines narrative and descriptive language, resulting in a witty and engaging read. You¡¯ll want to keep learning and reading to find out what happens next.

    This clever novel, written by Douglas Coupland, tells its story through the use of letters and diary entries. Originally a short story, it was expanded to a full-length novel that follows the adventures of six code-crunching computer whizzes, seen through the eyes of one of the characters, Daniel. The diary entries are written in a straightforward and entertaining style, making it a fast-paced read.

    This novel explores the wonders of the universe, but the underlying theme contemplates the repercussions of powerful machines for humanity in the past, present and future. The content of the story is rich and it often feels like you are listening to a great aunt or uncle telling stories. Better still is the fact that the technology written about in the book is not described in confusing language ¨C in fact, anyone can understand it, making it perfect for those wishing to expand their English vocabulary.

    When a powerful computer virus called Snow Crash gets loose and somehow starts infecting humans, computer hacker Hiro teams up with a sassy skateboard messenger to save both the real world and cyberspace. The characters are quirky, as is the writing style. But it is well thought out and means you can really get to know the characters. You¡¯ll need to concentrate closely on the plot ¨C but the slower pace will give you time to look up any English words you¡¯re not sure of.

  • A man sat on a bench outdoors holding a phone smiling

    Translating sayings into English ¨C with some funny results

    By Steffanie Zazulak
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    We all use phrases to express our emotions and feelings. These are known as idioms ¨C an expression with a figurative meaning that differs from its literal meaning. Sometimes they don¡¯t appear to make any sense at all and this is because they have evolved to mean different things.

    We¡¯ve previously looked at some of the strangest English phrases ¨C where they came from and what they mean. But these quirks of speech exist in many different languages. Here, we take a closer look at some common phrases and you¡¯ll see that translating your favorite sayings into English can produce some amusing results.

    Not my circus, not my monkey

    This idiom, ¡°nie m¨®j cyrk, nie moje malpy¡±, is used by Polish speakers to state that something is not their responsibility or ¡°not my problem¡±.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning is: ¡°Tell it to the hand.¡±?

    Not all doughnuts come with a hole

    This English translation of the Italian phrase ¡°non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco¡±, is a reminder that things do not always turn out the way we expect. A ¡°ciambelle¡± is a round cake that is popular as a treat in Italy.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning is: ¡°You win some, you lose some.¡±

    The raisin at the end of a hot dog

    This Icelandic saying, ¡°r¨²s¨ªnan ¨ª pylsuendanum¡±, acknowledges that it¡¯s not usual to find a raisin at the end of a hot dog ¨C so sometimes you might find an unexpected surprise at the end of something.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning is: ¡°Out of the blue.¡±

    I¡¯m not hanging noodles on your ears

    This Russian saying, ¡°§Ó§Ö§ê§Ñ§ä§î §Ý§Ñ§á§ê§å §ß§Ñ §å§ê§Ú¡±, means you¡¯re not trying to fool someone, emphasising that what you¡¯re saying is true ¨C even if it appears to be a surprise.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning is: ¡°I¡¯m not pulling your leg.¡±?

    As clear as dumpling broth

    A sarcastic saying from Germany, ¡°klar wie Klo?br¨¹he¡±, means that something is not at all clear ¨C because dumpling soup is not at all clear or easy to see through.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning is: ¡°Clear as mud.¡±?

    Pay the duck

    This Portuguese phrase, ¡°pagar o pato¡±, is used when someone takes the blame for something they didn¡¯t do.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning is: ¡°Be the fall guy.¡±

    Give pumpkins to someone

    We¡¯re not sure why giving pumpkins to someone became such a bad thing in Spanish-speaking countries, but this idiom, ¡°Dar calabazas a alguien¡±, means that you reject someone.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning is: ¡°Show them the door.¡±?

    To let a frog out of your mouth

    This Finnish saying, ¡°p??st?? sammakko suusta¡±, is uttered when someone accidentally says something they shouldn¡¯t have. There¡¯s an animal-related English phrase that is similar, but it involves cats...

    An English phrase with a similar meaning: ¡°To let the cat out the bag.¡±

    Not the yellow from the egg

    The German idiom ¡°nicht das Gelbe vom Ei¡± literally translates to "not the yellow from the egg," and it is used to express that something is not particularly good. This phrase often implies that while something may be acceptable, it falls short of being excellent or ideal.

    An English phrase with a similar meaning: ¡°It's less than perfect.¡±

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    6 more strange English phrases explained

    By Steffanie Zazulak

    In a previous blog, we shared some?strange English phrases that might have left you with some questions. The English language is full of peculiar phrases that can even confuse fluent speakers. In today's post, we'll take a look at a few more such phrases to help you expand your repertoire.