The fastest way to learn British English is to spend most of your study time on British English you can mostly understand. That kind of input is called comprehensible input. The plan below shows what to read and listen to at each level, and how to split an hour of study.
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 lessons with British audio and a translation, and play each one twice. Check new words in a learner's dictionary, then say a few lines out loud.
- Bubblegum custom lessons
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
- 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 a BBC episode in easy English, and use one new phrase in a short chat.
- Level 3
I follow conversations on familiar topics.
Read and listen 40 min. Review 5 min. Speak 15 min.
Learn one everyday phrase a week from a short BBC series, and listen to British Council podcasts for learners, each one twice. Talk about what you heard for a few minutes.
- Level 4
I understand most content but miss some nuance.
Listen and read 45 min. Review 5 min. Speak 10 min.
Pick a podcast episode by a British teacher on a topic you like, and listen to all of it. 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 British 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 British radio shows and podcasts made for everyone, and read novels and opinion pieces. Talk about them with friends because you enjoy them.
These splits are a starting point. Move up a level when your lessons feel easy, and move back down if you're lost after the first few lines.
How Long Does It Take to Learn British English?
Reaching B2, the level of the B2 First exam, takes about 500 to 600 guided learning hours from complete beginner, according to Cambridge English. Those hours are lessons plus study with a teacher's guidance, and C1 Advanced takes about 700 to 800. Cambridge gives these figures for English as a whole, not for British English on its own.
| Study Per Week | B2 First (500–600 hours) | C1 Advanced (700–800 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 3½ hours | About 2¾ to 3¼ years | About 3¾ to 4⅓ years |
| 7 hours | About 16 to 20 months | About 23 to 26 months |
| 14 hours | About 8 to 10 months | About 11½ to 13 months |
| 28 hours | About 4 to 5 months | About 5¾ to 6½ months |
These are hours with a teacher's guidance, so treat the table as a rough guide to the workload. It doesn't promise the same result from studying on your own.
What Slows British English Learners Down?
- American Material by DefaultMany English courses teach American words and accents. If you want British English, check what a course uses before you spend weeks on it.
- Reading Without British AudioSome words sound different in Britain, like tomato, which has an "ah" sound in the middle. Read with British audio so you hear each new word.
- Word Lists AloneA list of the 500 most common words gives meanings, but not how to use the words or hear them when people talk fast. Meet them in sentences you understand, then review those sentences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which British English App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning British English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Our British English comparison also covers courses such as Memrise, vocabulary apps such as Drops and uTalk, and tutors.
Can I Learn British English in Three Months?
You can learn enough to shop, ask for directions, and chat about yourself. At 14 hours a week, three months is about 180 hours, which is close to Cambridge's 180 to 200 hours for A2, the level of A2 Key.
How Much Should I Study British English Each Week?
Aim for three to five hours a week of British English you can follow, in sessions of at least 15 to 30 minutes. A longer session lets you follow a whole story or podcast episode, and a steady week counts for more than a long streak.
Is British English Harder Than American English?
No, they're the same language with some different words, spellings, and sounds. The best one to learn is the one you'll hear most, at work, at school, or with friends.
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)
- Cambridge English Qualifications (B2 First, C1 Advanced)
- BBC Learning English, Real Easy English (a new topic each week, in easy English)
- BBC Learning English, The English We Speak (everyday phrases in under three minutes)
- British Council LearnEnglish
- Luke's English Podcast: Learn British English with Luke Thompson
- BBC News
- BBC Sounds
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, tomato (British and American pronunciation)
