It would be impossible to learn English as an adult, right?

Sure, it might feel like that. But with the right steps and an effective study plan, it’s something you can definitely achieve.

But where do you begin?

Well, I’ll give you three steps to start with as a beginner, followed by four self-study tips, including a basic study plan, to get you going.

You can even apply these tips to other languages. I’ll be drawing on my experience of learning a language as an adult.

Ready? Here we go.

Step 1: Set a goal for learning English

First, you need to figure out why you’re learning English. What is your learning goal?

A goal will help you decide what materials to use and set you up for the long run.

Perhaps you want to go on a trip to an English-speaking country for a while, but learning the language has stopped you from going. ✈️

Or maybe you just want to spend your free time studying and talking to other English speakers. That would be a great way to socialize and meet new people! 🤝

It’s possible that learning English will even open up doors for you at work!

Whatever your goal is, write it down, stick it on a wall somewhere, or make it your phone wallpaper for motivation.

But remember, even if you have a goal, the motivation can be fleeting.

My advice? Set a schedule to study English consistently even when it’s no longer fun or exciting. Consider it a hair or doctor’s appointment.

Something you wouldn’t dare miss during the week.

Step 2: Learn essential vocabulary and phrases

Secondly, start learning basic vocabulary and numbers. Refresh your knowledge of the alphabet and phonic sounds if you need to.

There are plenty of YouTube videos and articles available for beginner English vocabulary and phrases. Watching videos will help you with pronunciation, too.

You could try vocabulary flashcards with images on apps like Memrise and Anki or make your own flashcards!

When you start at a basic level, it can feel like you have a long way to go. But if you start, then you’re already setting yourself up for success.

Learning the very basics will give you a good foundation for learning other vocabulary words and phrases for things you’re interested in.

Step 3: Focus on grammar rules

Depending on your native language and knowledge of other languages, English grammar could be totally out of the ordinary for you.

Learning basic sentence structure and tense patterns will be beneficial in this case.

Examples:

Subject + verb + object

The chair is red

Subject + be verb + verb -ing (Continuous tense)

They are sewing

Subject + verb -ed Past tense

He cooked

Other key grammar includes prepositions and conjunctions.

Examples:

Prepositions of time - in, at, on

Example “on”: The party is on Friday.

Example “in”: My birthday is in January.

Example “at”: I have school at 12 PM.

Conjunctions - and, or, because

Example “and”: I like apples and oranges

Example “because”: I am happy because I have ice cream.

Example “or”: Do you want coffee or tea?

Get your hands on a grammar textbook with exercises and activities to go through by yourself. Alternatively, find a YouTube video to learn certain grammar rules and structures.

Try to write down basic sentences yourself. Even if you’re not sure it’s right, It’s okay. Keep going.

Here’s a pro study tip:

Choose a favorite English song, print out the lyrics, and start studying it with a dictionary and translator. You can learn new words and study sentence structure with it.

Tip 1: Self-Study Plan for English Beginners - Weekly Self-Study Plan

Great. Now you know the three steps! But how do you execute them?

You’ll need a study plan to stick to.

There are quite a few English skills to master, so focusing on different parts daily will give you a well-rounded knowledge of English.

Choose days and times you can study. Maybe it’s two hours on the weekend or 20 minutes every other day. Whatever works for your schedule!

Here’s a beginner English self-study plan. Modify and use it as you see fit!

Self-Study Plan

Monday - Vocabulary | ⌛ Time: 15+ minutes

Review vocabulary [5+ minutes.]

Learn new vocabulary [10+ minutes]

👂

Tuesday - Listening | ⌛ Time: 10-15 minutes.

Put on a YouTube video, podcast, or some music to listen to repeatedly. [5 minutes]

Look up and write down unfamiliar words or phrases. [5-10 minutes]

✏️

Wednesday - Grammar |⌛ Time: 15-20 minutes

Work on grammar exercises [5-10 minutes]

Practice forming sentences and questions [5 minutes]

Review previously learned grammar rules [5 minutes]

👄

Thursday - Speaking | ⌛ Time: 5-20 minutes

Engage in speaking with a tutor, get a language exchange partner, or even talk to yourself. [5-20 minutes]

Try using vocabulary and grammar from this week.

📺

Friday - Activity | ⌛ Time: 5+ minutes

Watch a new English TV show or episode with subtitles

Listen to pronunciation and intonation

Try repeating sentences

📖

Saturday - Reading | ⌛Time: 5-20 minutes

Review your vocabulary and grammar from the week. [5 minutes]

Practice reading a story or an article. It can even be a paragraph! [5-15 minutes]

📚

Sunday | ⌛ Time: 5-20 minutes

Review your vocabulary and grammar from the week.

Tip 2: Join online English conversational lessons or language exchange groups

As mentioned in the study plan, you’ll want to practice speaking with other people.

Taking online classes with a native-speaking tutor for conversation is a great option. There are many online services and websites offering one-on-one classes with a tutor.

These classes will be able to help you understand nuances and explanations, and a tutor can provide real-time feedback while you learn.

You could even find or make a language exchange group in your area! Split the time evenly between speaking your language and English for practice.

Or, if you’re too nervous to speak to someone in English, you could use a tool like ChatGPT or other AI tools to practice speaking out loud.

Try each of them out and see what works best for you!

Tip 3: Use alternative tools and methods for studying: Make studying English fun!

Perhaps sitting at a table and studying sounds like your worst nightmare.

Well, there are plenty of tools online to make learning a bit more fun if you’re self-studying. Sometimes it helps to think outside the box.

Here are some different studying ideas:

English learning applications

There are plenty of applications available for different English skills and learning goals. Try out a couple and see how it adds to your study routine. I recommend RedKiwi, an English listening app, to start with!

Engage in social media sites and online forums

Look for videos in English on apps like TikTok or Instagram, engage with conversations in threads on X (formerly Twitter), or the comment section on YouTube.

Watch TV shows and YouTube videos

There’s a lot of entertaining English content out there. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite YouTuber or a TV show to binge-watch in English.

Sing some songs

Jam to songs and have your own personal karaoke session! This can be a great way to learn English phrases while learning songs, too!

Listen to a podcast

Find a popular podcast or a topic you’re interested in and just listen to a podcast in the background while you do other tasks.

Learn English slang!

Learning basic vocabulary can get boring sometimes. Find some slang words to learn online, through memes or an online article. Slay, girl.

Study at a cafe

It can be a motivation booster when you study in a new environment like a cozy cafe or the park. So, get comfy and study!

So, if you ever feel stuck while studying and sitting at your desk feels like a bit too much, try one of these out!

Tip 4: Don’t worry about messing up

Using English can be scary. But it’s really not a big deal. Don’t worry about messing up while you learn!

It’s completely okay if a sentence isn’t correct.

Remember, the key to learning is repetition and reviewing. So the more you practice and speak English, the better you’ll be at it.

Practice, repeat, review, and do it again.

At the end of the day, who really cares what other people think?

Learning a new language is a wonderful thing to do, and being brave enough to try is an achievement in itself.

Conclusion

With these first three steps, a study plan, and some self-study tips, we’re sure you’ll be able to reach your English learning goals.

Have fun while you learn, be patient, and keep going!

How to Self-Study English as an Adult: 4 Beginner Tips