The fastest way to learn Australian English is to spend most of your study time on Australian English you can mostly understand. That kind of input is called comprehensible input. The plan below names free Australian sources for each level and splits an hour of study for you.
What Should You Do at Each Level?
Find the level that sounds like you. Its bar shows how to spend an hour of study.
- Level 1
I'm just starting out or know only a few words.
Read and listen 35 min. Review 15 min. Speak 10 min.
Read very short scenes with Australian audio and a translation, and play each one twice. Add a lesson from the government's free online program, and say a few lines out loud.
- Bubblegum custom lessons
- AMEPOnline
- Level 2
I can handle simple exchanges.
Read and listen 40 min. Review 10 min. Speak 10 min.
Hide the translation and look up only the word that stops you. Listen to an easy SBS podcast episode, then use one phrase from it in a short chat.
- Level 3
I follow conversations on familiar topics.
Read and listen 40 min. Review 5 min. Speak 15 min.
Read about Australian slang and the accent, then listen for those words in your lessons. Talk with a tutor from Australia about what you read.
- Level 4
I understand most content but miss some nuance.
Listen and read 45 min. Review 5 min. Speak 10 min.
Listen to a podcast with real Australian conversations made for advanced learners. Read a lesson on the same topic first, so the new words feel familiar.
- Level 5
I read complex topics but rare words slow me down.
Read and listen 50 min. Speak 10 min.
Read Australian news on stories you already know, and guess new words from the paragraph before you check them. Retell one story aloud each week.
- Level 6
I read at near-native level.
Listen and read 50 min. Speak 10 min.
Listen to Australian radio and podcasts made for everyone, and read novels and opinion columns. Talk about them with friends just for fun.
Treat these splits as a first guess. Go up a level when the lessons feel easy, and go down one if you're lost after a few lines.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Australian English?
Reaching A2, a basic level, takes about 180 to 200 guided learning hours from complete beginner, according to Cambridge English, and B1 takes about 350 to 400. Guided hours mean lessons plus study with a teacher's guidance. These figures cover English in general. Cambridge doesn't give separate hours for Australian English.
| Study Per Week | A2 (180–200 hours) | B1 (350–400 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 3½ hours | About 12 to 13 months | About 23 to 26 months |
| 7 hours | About 6 to 6½ months | About 11½ to 13 months |
| 14 hours | About 3 to 3¼ months | About 5¾ to 6½ months |
| 28 hours | About 6½ to 7 weeks | About 3 to 3¼ months |
Treat the table as a rough picture of the workload. Studying on your own may take more or fewer hours.
What Slows Australian English Learners Down?
- Learning From Another Country's English OnlyMany courses use American or British English, so Australian words and sounds can surprise you later. Mix in Australian lessons and podcasts early.
- Saving Speaking for LaterShort, friendly chats are a big part of Australian life. Start with a few greetings from your first weeks, and add more as you go.
- Word Lists AloneA list of the 500 most common words gives meanings, but not how people use them or how they sound in a quick chat. Learn them from short Australian lines with audio, and review the whole line later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Australian English App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning Australian English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Our Australian English comparison also covers uTalk, tutors on italki and Preply, and free government programs.
Can I Learn Australian English in Three Months?
That's enough time to reach a basic level, where you can handle simple everyday chats. At 14 hours a week, three months is about 180 hours, which matches the low end of Cambridge's 180 to 200 hours for A2.
How Much Should I Study Australian English Each Week?
Plan on three to five hours a week of Australian English you can follow, split into sessions of at least 15 to 30 minutes. Longer sessions let you finish a whole podcast episode or story, and two or three of them in a week help more than many very short ones.
Is the Australian Accent Hard to Understand?
It can be at first, mostly because of its vowels and how fast people talk. Listening to the same clear audio a few times helps, and it gets easier the more you listen.
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.
Sources
- Cambridge English, Guided learning hours (hours to reach each CEFR level)
- SBS Learn English (English on Repeat, Words We Use, and a level quiz)
- AMEPOnline (lessons at five levels of English)
- ABC Education: Learn English, Understanding the Aussie accent and slang
- Aussie English
- ABC News
- ABC listen
- Preply: Australian English classes
