Learning: English
A study routine to improve your English by next year
Published
① Listen to English for 20 minutes a day
Choose something you can follow: a clear video, a podcast for learners, a slow story or a short scene with English subtitles.
Find a topic you’d still want to hear about in your own language. Listen for the main idea first. If you replay a section, pay attention to a phrase you recognised or a sentence you’d like to use yourself.
② Learn 10 useful sentences a day
Save sentences you could actually use, instead of collecting random words. For example: “What did you do today?” “I want to relax on the weekend.” “What does this mean?”
Learning a sentence lets you see how the words and grammar work together. Say it aloud, then change it to fit your life: “I want to see my friends on the weekend.” Come back later and see whether you can remember it without looking.
③ Spend five minutes shadowing
Listen to a short piece of English, pause and repeat it aloud. Pay attention to the speaker’s rhythm, pronunciation and pauses.
A few sentences are enough for one session. Repeat them until you can follow the rhythm more comfortably. If the clip is too fast, choose a shorter or slower one so you can hear what you’re trying to copy.
④ Speak for three minutes every day
Choose one topic: what you ate, what you did today, tomorrow’s plans, something you like or a simple opinion.
Try to keep talking about that one thing. If you get stuck, use a simpler sentence. Afterwards, look up one expression you needed and say that part again. Tomorrow, you can return to the same topic with a little more to say.
⑤ Review yesterday’s learning before adding something new
Go back to yesterday’s words, sentences, grammar and mistakes.
Try remembering them before opening your notes. Can you still answer yesterday’s question? Can you use the expression you practised? Spend a little more time on the parts you’ve already forgotten before filling another page with new material.
⑥ Make time for actual conversations
Use the English you’ve been practising with another person. A language exchange app such as HelloTalk can help you find someone to talk to. You can also rehearse a topic with YokoTalk AI Tutor before trying it in a conversation.
Prepare a few questions you’re interested in asking. Think about how you’d answer them too. That gives you something to return to if you feel nervous or run out of words.
Keep the week simple
Monday to Friday: listening, shadowing and a little speaking. Saturday: conversation practice. Sunday: review what you learned and choose what to practise next.
Use this as a starting routine. On a busy day, shorten the session and keep working with the sentences you already have.