The fastest way to learn New Zealand English is to spend most of your study time on New Zealand English you can mostly understand. That kind of input is called comprehensible input. The plan below names New Zealand sources for each level and splits an hour of study for you.
Pick the level that matches you. Its bar shows how to divide one study hour.
- Level 1
I'm just starting out or know only a few words.
- Read and listen 35 min
- Review 15 min
- Speak 10 min
Choose one of two ways to start. The easiest way is Bubblegum, where Poppy, your AI tutor, writes short New Zealand English lessons at your level about your interests and goals and explains the grammar as you go. The other way is a tutor who teaches from zero. A tutor can take you through basic dialogues and grammar one lesson at a time. Plan on a few weeks of hard study to learn the basic grammar before you start using apps.
- Level 2
I can read simple sentences.
- Read and listen 40 min
- Review 10 min
- Speak 10 min
If you use Bubblegum, read its Level 2 lessons with the translation hidden, and look up only the words that stop you. If you work with a tutor, ask for a new short dialogue each session and read it aloud together. If you live in New Zealand, find out whether you can join a free English Language Partners class.
- Level 3
I can read short stories and messages.
- Read and listen 40 min
- Review 5 min
- Speak 15 min
At this level you need more words, so read and listen a lot. Bubblegum reuses the words you saved in new Level 3 lessons. Read a story on ESL News New Zealand while you listen to its slow audio, and talk with a tutor from New Zealand about it.
- Level 4
I can read longer texts about everyday life.
- Listen and read 45 min
- Review 5 min
- Speak 10 min
Listen to an ESL News story first, then read the text to check what you missed. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 4 about things you're into.
- Level 5
I can follow complex topics, but miss some details.
- Read and listen 50 min
- Speak 10 min
Read RNZ news stories on topics you know, and guess new words from the sentence before you check them. Retell one story aloud each week. Poppy can write your Level 5 lessons about anything you're into.
- Level 6
I can read almost anything.
- Listen and read 50 min
- Speak 10 min
Follow RNZ podcasts and radio made for everyone, and talk about them with friends just for fun. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 6 about the things you care about too.
Take these splits as a starting point. Move up when lessons feel easy, and drop a level if you cannot follow after a few lines.
Cambridge English says a complete beginner needs about 180 to 200 guided learning hours to reach A2, a basic level, and about 350 to 400 to reach B1. Guided hours are lessons plus study with a teacher's guidance. The figures are for English in general, and Cambridge doesn't give separate hours for New Zealand 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 |
The table shows the workload. If you study on your own, it may take you more or fewer hours.
- Using Only Another Country's EnglishMany courses use American or British English, so words like dairy and jandals can surprise you later. Mix in New Zealand English lessons and news early.
- Waiting to SpeakChats with flatmates and coworkers start on your first day. Practice a few greetings and polite requests from your first weeks.
- Word Lists AloneA list gives meanings but not how a word sounds or where it fits. Learn each word in a short line with audio, and review the whole line later.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn New Zealand English. You learn from New Zealand English you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your New Zealand English lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it.
With Regenerative Review™, words you save show up again in new lessons, so that you can review words in new contexts without having to use flashcards.
- Lessons are in New Zealand English, read aloud in a New Zealand accent.
- Lessons use New Zealand spelling, like colour and organise, and local words like footpath and car park.
- Talk out loud with Poppy in live voice chat.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, and you can export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- The voices have Auckland accents, so you won't hear accents from other parts of New Zealand.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
Which New Zealand English App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning New Zealand English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Our New Zealand English comparison also covers tutors, Tandem, HelloTalk, and free classes.
Can I Learn New Zealand English in Three Months?
Three months is about 13 weeks, so at 3 to 5 hours a week you study for about 39 to 65 hours. That is about a fifth to a third of the 180 to 200 hours Cambridge gives for A2. Pick a goal you can check, such as asking for directions to the nearest car park.
How Much Should I Study New Zealand English Each Week?
Plan on three to five hours a week of New Zealand English you can follow, in sessions of at least 15 to 30 minutes. Longer sessions let you finish a whole news story or lesson, and two or three of them in a week help more than many very short ones.
Is Bubblegum Free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
