What’s the Easiest Way to Learn English?

Here Are 3 Proven

Methods to Choose From
fluentu.com/blog/english/easiest-way-to-learn-english/

Yuliya Geikhman September 19,

2016

They say “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.”

Have you heard this saying before in English?

It means that the easiest and fastest way to get from one place to another is to just go
straight.

So how can you learn English “in a straight line”?

English learners are always looking for ways to become fluent faster. We read about
learning tips and tricks, and try to include learning as a part of our daily routine.

But have you ever wished there was just one method of learning that would make learning
English incredibly easy for you?

There is no one straight line from “learning” to “fluent,” but according to science, there might
be three.

Below we’ll show you these three methods for learning English, who they’re best for and
how to get started with each.

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Why Finding the Easiest Way to Learn English Might Not Be So
Simple
You’re not the only person who is looking for the easiest way to learn English. Scientists and
linguists (people who study languages) have been trying to find it for years. There have been
many studies about how our brains process different languages and language learning,
especially in children (who seem to have much less trouble learning new languages).

The problem is that many of the studies are contradictory—which means they say opposite
things. Some studies say one way is the best, while other studies say a different method
works better.

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In reality, there is no single easiest way to learn English. Why? Because of you, the English
learner! You’re not the same as all English learners, of course. Things like age, location, past
learning experience, time spent learning, creativity and so many other factors affect how
you learn.

You might learn the best when you’re listening to an audiobook, but your friend might
prefer taking a structured class. You might gain a lot from English textbooks, or you might
learn the most from watching an English movie every week. How you learn, what you enjoy
and how you think will determine which method works best.

Before we get to the methods, here’s some good news: No matter what you’ve been doing to
learn so far, research says you can always catch up. So if you didn’t begin with the
immersion method, for example, you can still gain the same benefits once you start. In
other words, it’s never too late to try something new!

So take a look below, and find the easiest way to learn English—for you.

Here are three of the most powerful English learning methods. You’ve probably already
used them, or at least seen them in use. The trick is to figure out which method works best
for you.

We’ll show you how to effectively use these methods in your studies below.

1. The Immersion Method

The immersion method is also called the “natural method.” The word “immersion” means to
become completely surrounded by something. To learn by immersion, you need to
surround yourself with English, all the time.

Science says:
This method doesn’t just help you learn English, it helps you think like a native. Using the
immersion method to learn English actually changes the way your brain works , to look more
like the brain of a native English speaker.

This method also exposes you to more English every day. This is important because
according to some studies, you might be able to get a good grasp on English by studying
one hour per day, but it won’t be easy to get to a native level of understanding.

Why does this work? Think about how babies learn. They come into the world not knowing
any words, and are immediately surrounded by a strange language. Little by little, from
listening to this language used and watching other people, they learn certain words.

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Then they learn how these words are put together. Finally, they start speaking fluently.
That’s why this method is called “natural”—the more you surround yourself with English, the
easier you’ll learn.

Try this method if you…

…are living in an English-speaking country.

…are having trouble learning by memorizing grammar rules.

…want to begin having conversations in English faster.

…learn best through speaking and listening.

How to learn by immersion:

To learn with this method, you will need to surround yourself with English. If you’re living in
an English-speaking country, you’re already halfway there! Here are some things you can do
to expose yourself to more English every day:

Change the language to English on your phone, social media and any other websites
you use regularly.

Join online and real-world groups that speak in English. Find groups that share your
interests, so you have something in common to talk about.

Speak to your fellow English students in English as often as you can.

Watch TV shows and movies in English. Even if you don’t understand the words, you’re
learning patterns without even realizing it.

Watch the news and listen to the radio in English. Subscribe to an English magazine or
newspaper. Make English the first language you see every day!

Useful links:
FluentU has many blog posts and resources for surrounding yourself with English. You can
find posts about good English movies to watch, where to find a speaking partner online, and
even more tips on how to make English a part of your everyday life.

Browse the English blog for helpful information, or watch FluentU videos to surround
yourself with even more English!

FluentU even maintains a great YouTube channel where you can learn English with a variety
of resources.

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For example, you can watch a scene from the famous film “The Pursuit of Happyness”
broken down to highlight relevant vocabulary.

Watch Video At:

https://youtu.be/YF7E1oN_cks

Or, you can learn about great films or pop songs for learning English. Check out the channel
for tons of great videos!

Watch Video At:

https://youtu.be/or1RmMMrTZE
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A great site for subscribing to English-language magazines is Magazine Line. Not only do
they have a large selection of magazines for all kinds of interests, but you can get
discounted (lowered) prices, so you don’t have to spend too much on quality reading
material.

You can use Meetup to find groups that meet in person, or search Facebook for groups to
join.

2. The Classroom Method

Don’t skip this one just because you don’t take English classes! Classroom English learning
doesn’t mean you have to take formal English classes. It just means you learn like you would
if you were in a classroom.

With the classroom method, you start with the grammar rules, spelling and vocabulary
lessons, and the foundation of the language. These are the parts that hold it together.

Science says:
Before you can start speaking a language, you need some basic knowledge. Otherwise,
where would you start? According to some studies, learning a language is a bit like building.
You start with a few basics, like “I walked to school,” then you add to them little by little.

As you learn the rules, you can start creating your own sentences with them, and even
making mistakes. For example, “I sing at school” is correct, but “I singed at school” is not (it
should be “sang”). You advance by building your knowledge, making mistakes and learning
from the whole process.

Try this method if you…

…like structure and order when you’re learning.

…don’t feel comfortable jumping into conversations unless you know enough
grammar and vocabulary.

…prefer to study for a chunk of time each day instead of surrounding yourself with
English all day.

…want to understand English deeply, not just know how to speak it.

…are a beginner to English.

…learn best in a classroom setting, or will be taking English classes.

How to learn with the classroom method:

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To learn with the classroom method, you need some structure. You can learn this way in a
classroom or at home, but it helps to have someone to help you along, like a tutor. That
person can tell you when you’re making your (very important) mistakes. To learn by the
classroom method, try these tips:

Sign up for English classes. (This one makes sense, doesn’t it?)

If you’re not taking a course, find a tutor or a native speaker willing to help you.

Get a few good textbooks. It’s a good idea to have different kinds of textbooks (one for
grammar, one for vocabulary), or just one big textbook that separates the learning by
type. This way you can focus on one thing at a time when you’re studying.

Find some good online resources for testing yourself, like interactive learning websites
or quizzes.

Set aside a block of time every day for studying.

Don’t let yourself forget the things you’ve already learned. Refresh your memory often
by reviewing old notes. One day of studying each week can even be dedicated to
review.

Useful links:
On this blog, you will find vocabulary lists for topics from spring and winter to hotel
management. You can also find grammar help like common grammar mistakes and correct
use of tenses.

If you’re looking for an online teacher or tutor, you can start by checking out Verbling.

Verbling is all about online language learning. You’ll be able to explore hundreds upon
hundreds of language teachers and find exactly the one who’s right for you. When you
search, you’ll get to search based on prices, availability and even the other languages they
speak—so if your native language is Chinese or German, you can find an English teacher to
teach you in that language. Plus, the technology here makes accessing tutoring sessions
extra smooth, because you don’t need Skype or another third-party program. It’s all here!

To meet a tutor in person, Wyzant is the right online resource for you. This site is very
professional, and it features well-educated and well-qualified tutors in your local area. There
are even separate sections of the site where you can find English grammar tutors and
English writing tutors. After you find the perfect local tutor, you guys can meet up in a
nearby coffee shop for English class! Follow this link to see who's available close to home.

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There are many textbooks to choose from, but not all of them are good for learning on your
own. When choosing a textbook, make sure you’re getting a student’s book, complete with
answers. The Cambridge “In Use” series is a good place to start, as is the Perfect Phrases
series for ESL students. The textbook you end up choosing will depend on your goal, so
choose your books based on what you want to learn.

There are many websites where you can test yourself on your grammar skills. You can find
practice English tests at Exam English or more focused grammar quizzes on Grammar-
Quizzes.com (you’ll find quizzes on the bottom of nearly every page here).

3. The Dual Method

Does it sound like the two methods above would work great together? They do! It’s called
the dual method, and it combines the immersion and classroom methods of learning.

Remember when we said you need to start from somewhere? The dual method usually
starts with classroom learning, and then adds immersion elements for half of the study
time.

Science says:
Research usually agrees that it’s a good idea to start with some basics, then move into
immersion. The research doesn’t always agree, though, about when that switch should be
made.

One study looked at how well students in bilingual classrooms (using two languages) do
compared to immersive classrooms (all English, all the time). Results show that the kids
learned faster by immersion at first, but eventually slowed down. Bilingual students learned
slower, but in the end they learned more.

If you’re wondering what these kids have to do with you, just remember: Even if you’re
learning through the classroom method, one day you will need to start speaking to actual
people in English. When do you make that switch? Dual immersion lets you start off ready to
speak, while also teaching you the rules of the English language.

Try this method if you…

…have the time to dedicate to both classroom and immersion learning. The benefit is
that more time spent studying means faster progress.

…learn well in a classroom setting, but also want to learn how to speak.

…are taking courses that are taught in English.

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 …are living in an English-speaking country.

…are at an intermediate or advanced level of English.

How to learn with the dual method:

The dual method is the best for intermediate English learners. It’s a good option if you feel
that you’re ready to start using English in your daily life, but still want to learn in a
structured way.

Since the dual method is a combination of both immersion and classroom, you can
combine the tips and links for the previous two sections. Make sure you also follow these
tips:

Don’t overwork yourself. Remember to take breaks, and to set aside times for
English study. Studying for too long can actually harm your learning!

Try to find a good balance. One way to do this is to learn something new in the
morning, then use it throughout the day. For example, if you learn about the past
tense in the morning, try telling a friend about your weekend or about the last movie
you watched.

Meet weekly with a language exchange partner. Even if you have a tutor or take
classes, a language exchange partner can help you by letting you use your own
language to learn.

Which of these methods will you be using?

Remember that there’s no one right way to do things. Use some of the tips and ideas here,
or combine a few.

Experiment until you find the one method that fits your daily life and learning style the best!

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English with real-world videos.

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