Learn English Online for Free | 6 Simple Ways to Learn English

By Ben Schmidt Jul 5, 2023

Globalization has made it a necessity to learn English, the world’s lingua franca. English is the means by which nations that speak different languages communicate, making international transactions more efficient.

This makes English the language of career advancement and up-to-date scientific discoveries.

Many people want to learn English, but most of them have busy schedules and heaps of responsibilities, not to mention financial considerations. Therefore, many believe that learning English is a dream out of reach.

But they’re just being a tad dramatic. Let’s look at the advantage of living in the internet age. For one thing, access to information has never been easier. Nowadays, all you need to acquire a new skill other than an internet connection is to set your mind to it.

You can learn whenever you want wherever you want. And now, let’s see how you can use technology to learn English from the comfort of your home:

Learn English through Online courses:

The internet offers too many English-teaching websites to choose from. They provide excellent courses given by experienced teachers. Many of them are even native speakers, which is invaluable because you’ll learn correct pronunciation from the very beginning.

Oh, and if you’ve been making excuses about not having the time for courses, then I’m going to stop you there and tell you that you do have the time. Online courses usually allow you to learn at your own pace, and you can choose any time of your day to learn. Anyone can spare an hour a day for such an important skill, right?

If you are at a loss and can’t choose a course, I’m going to recommend that you start with visiting course websites like Coursera and Udemy and take a look at the ratings and prices.

The right course for you will depend on your current level and budget. Always be on the lookout for good bargains. And of course, if you want free courses, there’s no place more obvious than Youtube. It’s full of competent and creative teachers that offer fun and informative lessons.

Best Free Online English Courses:

Here you can find a very useful video for English conversations with subtitles.

Learn English through Mobile Apps:

Apps are also a great way to learn with a flexible schedule. They offer lessons and interactive games that keep you engaged and guarantee that you have fun as you learn.

They also tend to give you small, reasonable daily goals that keep you motivated by giving you a sense of achievement when you’re done. The most famous ones include Duolingo and Hello English.

The best apps to learn English:

Aprende Inglés (Android)
Tandem (Android | IOS).
Babbel (Android | IOS).
Voxy (Android | IOS).
Busuu (Android | IOS).

Learn English through Websites:

Websites offer plenty of materials that help you develop your skills. From lessons to tests to games and exercises, you’ll want nothing. For example, the BBC Learning English website, which was created by the British government. This website has not only courses but also quizzes and news which are written specially for learners, and sections for each of the language skills offering valuable lessons and features. Oh, and it’s for free, just like many other websites.

Learn English through Entertainment:

A tried-and-true way of learning a language, a way that millions of learners swear by because it works, is watching movies. Too good to be true, right?

Not really. When you watch a movie in English, you’re immersing yourself in this language. This activates the language-learning region in the brain, and before you know it, you can understand what these actors are saying. Then you’ll begin to form sentences, without even having to memorize the rules.

Many people wonder how that is possible, especially since many of them may have been struggling to pass English courses in school.

Now, of course, adults do need instruction alongside immersion. Reading and expanding your vocabulary will help you develop your listening skill, and you’ll need a basic grasp of grammar as well. But still, instruction alone could never do what watching movies can.

Movies also mirror how English is spoken by native speakers in real-life situations, so you’ll sound natural if you learn from them, that is, you’ll not sound like a walking textbook.

Movies are also a great gateway into the culture and mentality of their country of origin. Understanding these things is essential for good communication. What good will speaking like a native do if you end up giving offense to one?

Another way to immerse yourself in the language is through songs. They’ll help you learn pronunciation, and since they’re not too loaded with words, they can also help you gradually expand your vocabulary as a beginner or lower-intermediate learner.

If you’re also into reading, you can find plenty of great novels and short stories written in English. However, you’ll need to be at least at the intermediate level. Books can help you develop your language skills and teach you about a nation’s culture and issues.

Interact with native speakers online:

English is the number one language used on the internet. This is not a surprise, given that it’s the lingua franca and is spoken by people from all over the world. Go to any forum or social media site and you’ll find that most posts are in English. This means that you have an opportunity to practice with English speakers from all around the globe.

Find an English-Speaking Partner:

One downside of learning English from home is that you can stop at any time and no one is there to make you accountable. But there is a way to prevent this from happening. Perhaps you know someone who’s also trying to learn English. Maybe there is more than one person who shares this goal with you. Become learning partners with them! Motivate each other, and set common goals! You can also practice with each other and give constructive criticism.