Introduction:
Learning English has been the most enriching experience of my life. It's not grammar and vocabulary; it's about opening doors to possibilities, bridging gap with people across the globe, and gaining confidence in yourself. In this blog, I wish to tell you how I began to learn English, what difficulties I encountered, the techniques that worked in my favor the most, and advice you can adopt if you're following the same route.
1. Why I Wanted to Learn English
Like most non-native speakers, I was motivated to learn English through a combination of factors. I desired:
To understand English movies and music.
To perform well in school exams.
To converse freely online and offline.
To travel and mingle with people from other cultures.
To have improved job prospects in the future.
Being able to speak a world language was tantalizing, but it was not easy at first.
2. My First Steps: Learning the Basics
At the start, I concentrated on laying a solid foundation. Here's how:
A. Learning Basic Grammar
I began by learning elementary grammar rules—tenses, sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, and frequent prepositions. I utilized beginner grammar books and websites such as:
BBC Learning English
Duolingo
Grammarly Blog
I didn't attempt to learn all at once. I learned one topic at a time and practiced it thoroughly.
B. Growing My Vocabulary
I kept a small notebook to write new words. I learned 5–10 new words every day and used them in my own sentences. Apps like Memrise and Quizlet made it fun.
I also paid attention to words I heard in movies, songs, or daily conversations. Seeing them used in real context made them easier to remember.
3. Speaking English with Confidence
This was the hardest part initially. I had some vocabulary and grammar, but speaking aloud made me nervous. I was afraid I would make errors.
Here's what worked for me:
A. Talking to Myself
Yes, I used to talk to myself in front of the mirror! I would explain my day, discuss my plans, or make up conversations. This enhanced my fluency and made me think in English.
B. Language Exchange
I met language partners online via apps such as HelloTalk and Tandem. I assisted them with my native language, and they assisted me with English. We conducted voice calls and corrected one another.
C. Joining Online English Groups
I joined WhatsApp and Facebook groups comprising English speakers. I attended group discussions, posed questions, and exchanged opinions. It provided a safe environment to practice.
4. Listening and Watching: The Fun Part!
Listening enabled me to enhance pronunciation, vocabulary, and comprehension of everyday conversations. I listened to:
English films and television shows (with and without subtitles)
YouTube vloggers and TED Talks
English podcasts such as The English We Speak, Luke's English Podcast, and BBC 6-Minute English
Initially, I did not catch everything, but I persisted. Gradually, my ears adapted to various accents and sentence patterns.
5. Reading Every Day
Reading made me develop faster. I began with easy books and articles. Then, I progressed to:
News sites (such as CNN, BBC, The Guardian)
Storybooks and books
English blogs and Medium posts
I kept a dictionary application at hand. Whenever I didn't know a word, I searched it up and noted it down in my vocabulary notebook.
6. Writing Practice: Write from the Heart
Writing enhanced my grammar and vocabulary organically. I began writing:
Daily journal entries in English
YouTube video comments and blog posts
Social media captions or short stories
Blog posts (such as this one!)
At times, I shared my work on sites like LangCorrect where natives would correct errors. I even employed resources like Grammarly and QuillBot in enhancing sentence structure.
7. Coping with Mistakes and Frustration
There were times I got stuck. I lost words while talking. I misinterpreted movie lines. I did goofy grammar errors. But I learned one thing that was significant:
Mistakes are a part of learning.
Each error taught me something new. Rather than getting embarrassed, I began to feel proud that I was attempting. If you desire to learn English, be nice to yourself. Improvement is gradual but definite.
8. Setting Goals and Staying Consistent
I made small tasks such as:
Acquire 30 new words within a week
Watch a single English video per day
Write one paragraph each day
Read a single article a day
Small steps developed a habit. One must be consistent and not necessarily perfect. I didn't study hours—I studied smart, not hard.
9. Useful Resources I Recommend
If you want to learn English seriously, here are some of my favorite resources:
Apps
Duolingo – Fun and easy for daily practice
HelloTalk / Tandem – Find speaking partners
Anki / Quizlet – Flashcards for vocabulary
Grammarly – Fix writing mistakes
Websites
BBC Learning English
VOA Learning English
Khan Academy (English grammar)
YouTube Channels
Speak English With Mr. Steve
English with Lucy
Speak English With Vanessa
BBC Learning English
10. What I’ve Achieved So Far
Today, I’m proud to say:
I can understand most English conversations and shows.
I write blogs, emails, and captions in English.
I’ve spoken with people from different countries.
I’m more confident in myself.
But I'm still learning each day. English is not a destination, but a journey of a lifetime.
Final Thoughts: You Can Do It Too!
If you're reading this and thinking, "Can I do this with English too?" — my answer is yes.
I'm not a native speaker. I never attended an English school. I made tons of errors. But I persisted. And so can you.
Begin small. Talk even if you are afraid. Read even if it is slow. Write even if it is riddled with errors. The more you practice using English, the greater you will be.
Your English does not need to be perfect—it only needs to be courageous.
