17 Fun Ways To Learn English

The key to learning English well is to not give up.

But how can you stay motivated when you’re frustrated or bored?

Try something new. 

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

1. Add Some Music

Listening to music while you study English can wake up your mind and put you in a better mood to learn. Happy songs can help you feel re-energized and motivated if you’re getting bored, while calming music can help you feel more relaxed if you’re feeling nervous about an upcoming test.

Keep in mind, however, that listening to music with lyrics can actually distract you from what you’re studying. The words of the song can take your attention away from the English words you’re trying to learn. If this bothers you, then you can study with music that doesn’t have lyrics, like jazz or classical.

2. Play Scrabble

Scrabble is a classic board game in which players use random lettered tiles to create words in a crossword fashion. It’s a fantastic way to strengthen your English vocabulary. Playing Scrabble challenges you to really think in English as you try to come up with different words with your set of letters.

If you’re taking an English class, buy the board game and invite your classmates to play with you. You can also play Scrabble online through websites like Facebook, where the game is called Words With Friends.

3. Learn English with Fun YouTube Channels

Not only does YouTube have funny entertainment videos, but there are also some excellent resources for learning English! Here are 25 awesome YouTube channels that you can use to study English!

4. Learn English with TV

No matter your preference, you’ll find something to watch with these lists of the greatest TV shows for learning English. If you’re looking for a laugh, here are the 33 best modern American sitcoms to learn English.

If you’re not so much into modern humor, check out the 10 best ’90s sitcoms for learning English. And finally, for those sci-fi fans out there, here are the 11 best sci-fi shows to learn English.

5. Study in a New Location

Sitting in the same place, in the same room, every time you study can start to get boring very quickly. If you always study at home, try going to a library or a coffee shop. The change of scenery will improve your enthusiasm, plus changing locations has been shown to improve memory.

Your brain makes connections between what you’re studying and where you are. When you study somewhere different, you force your brain to make new connections to what you’re studying. The more connections your brain makes, the more likely you are to remember what you learned!

6. Find a Conversation Partner

Get more English conversation practice by searching for English friends online. You might be able to connect with another language learner in your area, or even just exchange emails, instant messages or have Skype conversations in English. Try Conversation Exchange, a free website that helps language learners connect for language exchange.

In a language exchange, you have conversations with an English speaker who is studying your native language. This way, your partner practices speaking your native language with you, and then you get to practice speaking English with him or her.

7. Learn English with Movies

Who doesn’t enjoy a great movie? And if you can watch a movie while learning English, even better! To get started, use this complete guide to learning English through movies and films. In addition to the movies recommended in the guide, you could also watch one of these modern American classics or a classic American movie.

8. Learn English with Authentic Videos

Authentic videos are made by and for native speakers. They can be challenging to understand at first, so start small. I’d recommend looking for 5-minute-long YouTube videos about topics you’re interested in. For example, if you love to cook you might try a recipe channel like Food Network (this one has goodies like Alton Brown’s popcorn and Ina Garten’s chocolate cake).

Five minutes is the average length of FluentU’s video clips too—there’s a wide range of topics for any interest on this language learning platform, and each clip is paired with interactive subtitles, flashcards and quizzes to facilitate understanding and learning. 

9. Use English Resources for Children

Pick up some English children’s books from your local library to use for reading practice. The simple language will be easy to follow, and the stories are usually more entertaining than the typical dialogues you find in English grammar books. You could also play some interactive games that are geared towards young English readers, like educational video games or even free online ESL games.

10. Get a Book of English Jokes

While at the library, you could also look for joke books, which are surprisingly useful learning tools. In order to have English conversations, not only do you need to speak the language, but you also have to understand English culture.

Humor is very culture-specific; something that’s funny in one country might not make sense in another. Reading a joke book is also a good way to practice tricky concepts like puns and idioms. You might find the jokes entertaining, and they will teach you how English speakers laugh and have fun.

11. Learn English Slang

One of the most fun parts of learning English is the slang. Slang is more informal and interesting, plus you’ll sound less robotic and have more of your own personality when using it.

Here are some essential American English slang words and phrases to get you started. To better describe your exercise activities and health habits, check out these health and fitness English slang words, too.

12. Sing Karaoke

Learn a few English songs and sing along with them. It might be interesting to finally learn the meaning of the lyrics to some of your favorite English songs. Both FluentU and Lyrics Training are great online platforms to learn the lyrics to your favorite English song.

You can sing at home while you’re cooking or taking a shower, or gather some friends and go sing at a karaoke bar. Singing English songs is a great way to practice speaking and intonation, plus you can have fun singing songs that you already know and enjoy.

13. Read Blogs About Learning English

Following a blog is an excellent way to add some fun to your English learning. And lucky for you, there are lots of fantastic blogs out there about learning English! With a selection that spans from “ABA English” to “Rolls off the Tongue,” you’re sure to find a blog that interests you.

14. Start Your Own Blog in English

Once you’re familiar with the idea of a blog, why not start your own in English? Spend a little time writing in English every day. It doesn’t have to be exciting; you could write about what you did that day or how your English studies are going.

While you certainly could publish the blog for all to see, keep in mind that you can always keep it private too—or you could even just write in a journal. This exercise is a perfect way to become more comfortable describing your interests and hobbies in English.

15. Get an English App for your Phone

You’re probably constantly on your phone, right? So why not use it as an opportunity to practice English? There are so many great apps for you to choose from! Here are the current 23 best smartphone apps for learning English.

16. Make a Mnemonic Device

A mnemonic device helps you remember information by associating it with words, images or sounds you already know.  For example, to remember how to spell “because,” you could think of the phrase “Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants.”

You can find many examples of mnemonic devices online, but mnemonics are most useful when you make up your own. You can connect the mnemonic device to your native language, and you’re more likely to remember something that has personal meaning for you.

17. Track Your Progress With an App

A great way to have fun learning English and maintain your motivation is by tracking your progress using apps.

There are plenty of personal goal-tracking apps that are useful for tracking your language learning, including habits, goals and even individual tasks.

For example, on Habitica, you can win points for your character by completing the tasks you set yourself, such as studying an English grammar topic or practicing writing in English. This can help you stay motivated when learning English and complete your tasks.

Alternatively, there are also tons of other apps you could try that focus more on the visual tracking of habits on a calendar or graphs that show your progress over time.

Here’s a list of some popular habit-tracking apps:

• Habitica (iOS | Android)
• Habitify (iOS | Android)
• Avocation (iOS | Android)
• Habit Tracker (iOS)
• Done (iOS)
• HabitNow (Android)

 

Remember that adding fun to your study sessions will keep you motivated to learn English.

Try some of these methods and see which one works best for you!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)