Top Tips, Tricks & Tools for Improving your English Level

Do you feel like your English level is stagnating? Are you new to learning English and you’re not sure where to start? No matter where you are on your journey, learning how to build an English learning routine will accelerate your progress and help you reach your goals faster.

Stay consistent & Set SMART Goals

In general, consistency and setting goals are key to making progress on any type of project. It can be easy to feel intimidated when we only look at the things we don't know. But like most things, it's easier to take learning English step by step. That’s why it’s important to make Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) goals. Those goals might look like challenging yourself to watch 1 video on YouTube in English a day and 1 English movie a month. Or reading 1 article in English a week and changing the language to English on your gaming consoles. Or producing the language by speaking and writing in English at least once a week as well. Or focusing on learning one grammar point a week and staying consistent to reach your goals.

And of course, you can’t achieve these goals without consistency. Consistency and making learning a part of your daily routine are key to learning any language. So let's take a look at the tools you can use to make learning English an easy and fun part of your daily routine!

Find your Level

First things first, before you can start moving forward, you have to know where you are. The best way to do that is to take a placement test to see where you fall on the A1 (beginner) to C2 (Native) scale. Cambridge English is a fantastic resource that offers free placement tests. As many of you may be planning to take this certification at some point, this is a fantastic way to track your progress toward reaching the level you want to achieve on the real thing!

Podcasts and YouTube are your Best Friends

Listening to English is one of the most important things you can do when trying to improve your level. Whether you listen passively or actively, you'll get a better feel for the rhythm and most common phrases in the language. Listen to English podcasts or YouTube videos, even if you're doing other things at the same time, then write down what you understood when it's over. Come back to that podcast or video a week, 2 weeks, or a month later to see if your understanding was correct or if you could understand more this time. You can listen to podcasts designed for people learning English, or podcasts on subjects you find interesting (sports, pop culture, history, or whatever you like). Personally, I find stand-up comedy to be a great resource. The speaker often speaks clearly and without background noise, making for easy listening. And, on the cultural side of things, it offers a great insight into humour in your target language and culture. But, overall, the goal is to find things that are interesting that will keep you motivated to keep listening. 

If you're interested in listening activities designed specifically for English speakers at your level, BBC Learning English is a fantastic resource.

Follow English Accounts on Social Media

We're all guilty of spending a bit too much time scrolling these days. Turn that scrolling time into productive English time! There are apps like Chatterbug that are essentially social media for language learning. Chatterbug offers short-form and long-form videos divided based on level so you know you’re getting content that’s right for you. You can also follow accounts by English speakers or English teachers on your favorite social media sites to expose yourself to English by chance while you’re scrolling after a long day. And don’t forget to follow Britt's English Club on Instagram for mini-lessons and to keep up to date with all of our events!

Expose yourself to new accents

English is used as a common language all around the world. That means that there are hundreds of different accents from native and non-native speakers alike. If you focus on only a standard UK or US accent, you might be limiting your ability to understand people from outside of these regions. It’s natural to stay in your comfort zone, but pushing yourself will open up a whole new world of content you can enjoy and friends you can make while speaking English! Listening to new accents can also provide an interesting new motivator and challenge if you’ve found your usual practice activities becoming too easy or stale. As always, YouTube is your friend. Find a vlogger you like, an educational channel (whether they teach English or not), or videos on any topic you like. Just make sure you find the videos interesting and that the speaker has an accent you’re not familiar with. The challenge and the subject matter will keep you coming back for more!

WordWall & Quizlet 

It's a good idea to keep track of new vocabulary on your own and test yourself often. Wordwall is a fantastic website with hundreds of existing vocabulary lists you can use to test yourself. It has 18 engaging game modes that allow you to change up your learning and progress from easier to more difficult activities as your get more familiar with the words. You can also create five of your own custom lists on its free basic plan. There is no app for this website, but it will run on your mobile browser, allowing you to learn from anywhere. Quizlet, on the other hand, allows you to make an unlimited number of lists, but has only the flash card function. Download the app onto your phone to add new words on the go and refresh your vocabulary during your commute or other downtime.

 

Make it Fun 

Word puzzle games in your native language are a great way to test your vocabulary. Imagine how useful they could be when looking to test and improve your English vocabulary! Think of games like 4 Pics 1 Word (available on Google Play and The App Store), wordle, or crossword puzzles on easy difficulty. The app Gubbins is a word puzzle game endorsed by Hank Green and can test your production ability. Games like Codenames or Connections Unlimited are great for thinking about multiple definitions of words. Even word search puzzles can be useful for exposing you to new vocabulary or reminding you of words you might have forgotten. Keep in mind that these games are useful only if you reinforce the words you learn, so don’t forget to add them to your Quizlet deck!

Join a Discussion Group 

It may be helpful to try and join an online discussion group in English. Luckily, you’re in the right place! We have a discussion group here at Britt’s English Club. Some are unguided and informal chats, offering a chance to get to know other learners. Others are guided and focused around a specific text, topic, or grammar point. And the best part? They’re all absolutely FREE! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know and sign up for the limited places.

Ask for Help 

Perhaps you find you learn best with more traditional resources. Or maybe you just need a bit of accountability to stick to your goals. Or, if you find it hard to keep track of your level or to find activities that are right for your level, then it might be time to consult an expert. Whatever the reason, you could consider hiring an English tutor to help guide your learning. I offer virtual English lessons, so don’t hesitate to reach out at britts.english.club@gmail.com or set up a FREE 15-minute consultation using Calendly. I’d be happy to meet you and work toward your English goals as a team!

Language learning doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. So be sure to experiment with lots of different language learning activities to find the right mix for you. As long as it’s something you can stick to, you’ll start to see your progress accelerate and your confidence in your English ability grow!