In this article:

• Why English students learn at different speeds.
• The real answer to the question ‘How long will it take to become fluent?‘
• 12 Tips to learn English faster, outside of your English course.
• Several tools, resources & programs you can use to help improve your English.

I’ve been teaching Business English to adults for over 10 years now and one question that almost always comes up when I first meet a new student is:

How long will it take for me to become fluent?

It’s a fair question, albeit a tough one to answer. In fact, it’s one I would probably ask, too, if I were starting a new language course. The answer, however, isn’t to everyone’s taste. Some people will feel empowered and inspired by it, others may feel a little deflated.

So I encourage you to keep an open mind and focus on the opportunity here, not the challenge. Brace yourself for an honest answer.

Despite what some schools or teachers may promise you, the honest answer is that there is no standard answer because every student is different in their ability to learn, their starting point, their commitment, goal, interest, motivation, and their effort, to name just a few.

Here’s the truth: 

The ‘Bad’ News: How quickly you learn English is mostly down to you.
The Good News: How quickly you learn English is mostly down to YOU.

Of course, certain teaching methods, techniques, English Courses and skilled teachers will definitely influence how quickly you learn English and become fluent, but that only accounts for time in-class.

What about the time outside your classes?

Imagine for a moment that most students spend 1-2 hours per week learning English and then immediately revert to their native language for the other 110 hours of the week that we’re awake and active, on average.

We don’t need a calculator to see that there is a huge imbalance (it accounts for less than 2% of your time if you’re wondering).

That’s a bit like eating fast food for 98% of your meals and healthy food for just 2%…
…and still expecting to improve your health quickly.

It’s probably why many people say it’s easier to learn English when you live in an English speaking country because you quite literally flip this percentage around, thinking and speaking in English for 98% of the time. It’s also why English Immersion Courses are so successful.

Of course, I know this isn’t possible for everyone to do, or for most people in fact, but we want to strive to achieve something as close to that as possible, without having to move country… or stop working!

With this in mind, a useful question to ask yourself is:

What can I do, in addition to my English classes, to learn more & reach English fluency faster?

That’s a question we can do something with, isn’t it?

There are many differences between students who learn quickly and students who learn slowly, and often it isn’t about learning ability but learning commitment.

One thing quick learners tend to do is to immerse themselves in English as much as possible. For this reason, many of the tips in this article will help you to immerse yourself in English, with little or no effort.

Tips to Learn English Faster Outside of your English Course:

1. Listen to English Radio or Podcasts online

While you work, relax, cook, read, shop, drive, exercise, wherever and whenever you can. Here are some good starting points: BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 1, BBC Podcasts, BBC Documentary Podcasts, BBC Business Daily Podcast, NY Times The Daily.

2. Watch English TV

Choose to watch documentaries, movies, and series in English. It may be annoying at the start or detract a little bit from the emotion of the programme, but you’ll improve your English comprehension faster, and that’s the goal.

3. Watch TED Talks

Watch or Listen to TED Talks on subjects that you’re interested in or that are useful to you and your career. Make notes and discuss these topics with your friends or colleagues, in English.

4. Read Books in English

Read aloud to also practice your pronunciation and speaking pace. You can find a huge selection of great books in English, on Amazon.

5. Listen to Audiobooks

Another great resource we can all easily use. I suggest using Amazon Audible. Find and listen to your favourite books. Follow along with the speaker and pause occasionally to take in the vocabulary and emulate their pronunciation. Think about using that vocabulary in another conversation so you practice actually using it.

6. Learn What You NEED to Learn

When learning a new language, you’re on a need to know basis. If you need English for work or interviews, learn Business English. If you need English for a holiday, learn vacation English. If you struggle with perfect tenses or conditionals, focus on these. English is a vast subject, so instead of learning everything, start with what you actually NEED.

7. Record Yourself Speaking English

I know it can feel a little uncomfortable to record yourself and listen or watch it back, especially in another language, but it will benefit you, I promise. If you’re not sure what to talk about, try answering topical questions such as on politics, the news, or from your professional area, and record your answer. Listen back to it and notice what you do well (see tip #9) and what you need to improve.

8. Find a Practice Buddy

In addition to your English course, it’s a great idea to have a friend of a similar level that you can catch up with occasional and converse with in English. After your English class, teach each other what you learnt! Not only does this help them to learn something extra, but it also helps you to reinforce your learning when you teach someone else.

9. Acknowledge the Positives

Recognise your strengths and what you’re GOOD at. This is absolutely crucial to building confidence and developing a fluent mindset. Most students are too self-critical, only focusing on the mistakes and things they cannot yet do, however, putting yourself down or only focusing on your mistakes won’t help you reach fluency.

10. Define What Fluent Means to YOU

This is, perhaps, one of the most important tips in this list! You can’t reach your idea of fluency if you don’t know what it looks, sounds, and feels like. Think about it, you wouldn’t turn on your car GPS and forget to put the address in, would you? The same applies here. Set your coordinates for English fluency. What are you trying to achieve, specifically? Is your goal to expand your vocabulary (by how much?), is it perfect pronunciation or grammar, is it confidence, is it speaking quickly or slowly with poise, is it holding a professional conversation with a colleague, or mastering English interviews and getting the job of your dreams? How will you know when you’ve achieved fluency/your goal? Hint – it won’t be a certificate that tells you.

11. Do Your Homework

Most teachers set around 1-2 hours of English homework per week, at most. That’s not a lot. That’s the same as 1-2 episodes of G.O.T.  There really is no excuse, we all have this time available, we just choose to fill it with something else. Hold yourself accountable, the homework isn’t for your teacher, it’s for you. This is also how you extract the maximum value for your investment.

12. Writing & Vocabulary

Download Grammarly for free to instantly improve your writing and expand your English vocabulary at the same time! This is just a good idea for anyone who writes in English, both natives and non-natives.

If you want to learn Business English, check out our range of professional Business English Courses & Business Skills Courses. Plus, join us on our YouTube Channel and Instagram for free videos, tips, insights and lessons.

Comment below and let me know which of these tips you will try and if they have helped. 

Best,

Adam 

*Please note: some links in this article are affiliate links, such as Grammarly and Amazon. By purchasing a product or service via one of the links in this article, I will earn a small commission, so thank you in advance for using these links.