Learning English

Learn English online for free! Our wide range of online language reference, exercises, tests, quizzes and articles are used by millions of English students from around the world to learn English effectively.

Latest Articles on Learning English

English Language Help Forums

Our online discussion forum is the perfect place to quickly get help learning English. Our panel of professional volunteer English teachers and experts are available round-the-clock to answer your questions.

Is English Hard to Learn?

English is often thought of as a hard language to learn. Many regard it as difficult because it has lots of spelling and grammar rules that can be difficult to learn. Our online poll, asking 'Is English is a hard language to learn?' currently agrees that English is difficult to learn, but only just. At the time of writing, 53% of responses say it is difficult to learn, while 47% say it isn't. We think it depends a lot on your what your native language is, and how much practice you have had.

How Long Does it Take to Learn English?

How quickly one can become fluent in English is a matter of debate, as it depends on what source you look at, what you classify as having 'learned English', and what your background in languages is. The BBC suggests that it can take 360 hours to achieve a good level of English - enough for citizenship exams. For an upper-intermediate level (B2 on the CEFR scale), it may require up to 720 hours of instruction. Most respondents in our survey, 'How long do you think it takes to become fluent in English?' believed that achieving fluency takes over five years.

How to Learn English

There are many ways to learn a language. UsingEnglish.com has lots of content to help you out. Here are some great places to start:

Use English Every Day:

Try to use English in your daily life. Watch movies or TV shows in English, listen to English songs, read books or articles in English, and try to speak in English as much as you can.

Practice Often:

Make it a habit to practice English every day. You can write something, speak, listen to something in English, or read. Doing a little bit every day helps you get better.

Learn Words with Their Stories:

Don’t just remember words alone. Learn them with the sentences or stories they come in. This helps you understand how to use these words when you speak or write.

Don’t Be Afraid to Speak:

Speak in English even if you make mistakes. Talking with people who are good at English or other learners like you is very helpful. It's okay to make mistakes; that's how you learn.

Listen to Advice and Think About It:

Listen to what teachers or friends say about your English. Think about your mistakes and learn from them. Knowing what you need to improve is important.

Further reading and English learning techniques