The easiest way to learn English is to read and listen to short, easy English about things you already like, with the audio on and the translation there when you need it. Leave grammar tables and long word lists for later, because easy English keeps showing you the most common words and patterns. Below are the first steps in order, and some easy English to start with.
Is English Easy to Learn?
English is easy to start, and it takes a long time to learn well. Cambridge English says a complete beginner needs about 180 to 200 hours of lessons and supervised study to reach A2, a basic level, and that the languages you already know change how long it takes. The U.S. Foreign Service Institute groups languages by how long they take English speakers, so it has no group for English itself. Our guide to the fastest way shows how long it takes to reach each level.
Three things make the start easier than it looks.
- A Small AlphabetEnglish uses just 26 letters, and many other languages use the same ones.
- No Gender to LearnEnglish nouns have no gender, so “the” works for every noun, as in “the table” and “the sun”.
- Words You Already KnowMany languages borrow English words, such as “computer”, “internet” and “okay”.
What Is the Easiest Way to Start?
The easiest way to start is to spend your time on short English you enjoy, with the audio on, one small step at a time.
- Pick One Kind of EnglishChoose American, British or Australian English, so the voices and spellings in your lessons stay the same.
- Read About What You LoveRead short dialogues about food, music, or anything else you already enjoy.
- Listen While You ReadPlay the audio as you read, because English spelling doesn't always show how a word sounds.
- Hide the TranslationKeep your own language hidden, and check it only when a line stops you.
- Save a Few WordsSave only the few words you want to keep from each lesson.
- Say a Line Out LoudRead a line aloud whenever it feels fun, like a greeting you want to use.
Bubblegum is a language app for reading and listening to English at your level, with lessons that Poppy, its AI tutor, writes about the things you like, in American, British or Australian English. Words you save come back inside new lessons through Regenerative Review™, so reviewing them means reading more English.
What Makes English Feel Hard, and How Can You Make It Easier?
Four parts of English feel hard at first, and each one gets easier when you meet it again and again in easy English.
| What feels hard | The easy fix |
|---|---|
| Spelling that doesn't match the sound | Words like know and island have letters you don't say. Read with the audio on, so you learn each word's sound and spelling together. |
| A, an and the | These little words come up in almost every sentence, so easy reading shows you each one many times. Open a grammar note only when one confuses you. |
| Irregular verbs like go and went | Common irregular verbs show up in almost every story, so you see went, saw and said many times before you ever need a table of them. |
| Fast speech in shows | In fast English, words run together, so going to often sounds like gonna. Listen to slow, clear audio made for learners first, because words you already know are much easier to catch at full speed. |
What Is Easy English to Start With?
Easy English to start with is short and slow, and it is about something you enjoy.
| What | Why it's easy | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Real Easy English from the BBC | Presenters talk about an everyday topic and explain the words as they go. | bbc.co.uk/learningenglish |
| Easy Stories in English | A podcast of stories at four levels, from beginner to advanced, each with a transcript. | easystoriesinenglish.com |
| News in Levels | Each world news story comes in three levels, using the 1,000, 2,000 or 3,000 most common English words. | newsinlevels.com |
| Readable | Teachers simplify each short story to your level, and every story has audio. | readable.app |
If a new word shows up in almost every line, switch to something easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to learn English pronunciation?
Learn each word's sound when you first meet it, by reading with the audio on. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries plays each entry in British and American English, and the British Council's free Sounds Right app lets you tap an English sound to hear it, then hear three example words.
Can I learn English just by watching films and series?
Not at the start, because most of an episode goes by too fast for a beginner to learn from. Shows help more once you can follow a simple conversation, especially with English subtitles on. Easy English street interviews have English subtitles on every episode, so they make a good step before full-speed series.
Which English app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. For courses, tutors and speaking practice, see our comparison of English apps.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
