You don’t need money to start English. You need a simple plan, a few free tools, and steady practice. If you’re a beginner and tired of confusing advice, this guide gives you a clear path: what to learn first, which free resources work, how much time to spend, and how to actually speak. I’ll show you a 30‑day routine, easy checklists, and fixes for common problems like “I forget words” or “I can’t find a speaking partner.”
TL;DR and Quick Start Plan
Short on time? Here’s the core idea: choose 2-3 free sources, follow a daily routine (25-45 minutes), and focus on high-frequency words, simple grammar, and real speaking. You can learn basic English without paying a cent if you stay consistent.
- What you’ll achieve: everyday conversation basics, 400-600 common words, simple grammar (be/do, present/past), and the confidence to speak.
- Time needed: 25-45 minutes a day for 30 days. If you can do more, great. If not, protect those minutes.
- Your free core toolkit: a beginner app (Duolingo or Memrise), a slow-news channel (VOA Learning English or BBC Learning English), a spaced-repetition app (Anki), a dictionary with audio (Cambridge or Merriam-Webster learners), and one social speaking app (HelloTalk or Tandem).
- Jobs to be done after clicking this guide: pick proven free resources, follow a step-by-step routine, practice speaking without a teacher, remember words longer, check progress, and fix common issues fast.
Quick start (Today):
- Install: Duolingo or Memrise, Anki, a learner’s dictionary app. Optional: HelloTalk/Tandem for language exchange.
- Set a daily alarm for one study block (25-45 minutes). Non-negotiable.
- Start with 20 minutes of a beginner app + 5 minutes of Anki + 5-10 minutes of slow listening (VOA/BBC). Read each sentence out loud.
- Record yourself saying: “Hello, my name is ____. I live in ____. I am learning English.” Save it. You’ll compare in 30 days.
Evidence that this works: spaced repetition boosts memory (Cepeda et al., Psychological Science, 2006). Short daily speaking “output” helps internalize grammar (Swain, The Output Hypothesis). Listening to comprehensible input improves natural acquisition (Krashen’s input hypothesis). You don’t need to read the papers-just use the methods.
Step-by-Step Free Learning Path (30 Days)
This plan is realistic for beginners with busy lives. Adjust minutes up or down, but keep the order. Aim for six days a week; one rest day protects motivation.
Daily structure (25-45 minutes):
- Warm-up (3 minutes): say yesterday’s sentences out loud. No screen yet.
- Vocabulary (7-10 minutes): Anki flashcards with audio, only high-frequency words (I, you, do, want, go, time, day, good, need, today).
- Core lesson (10-20 minutes): beginner app course or BBC/VOA short lessons.
- Listening + shadowing (5-10 minutes): play a short clip, pause after each sentence, copy the rhythm and stress.
- Output (3-5 minutes): write or voice-note 3-5 sentences about your day.
Week 1: Sounds, Survival Phrases, and Word Order
- Goal: pronounce key sounds, build 50-80 core words, master basic sentence order (Subject-Verb-Object), and handle greetings, numbers, time, and simple requests.
- Tools: Duolingo/Memrise (beginner track), VOA/BBC beginner videos, Cambridge Dictionary audio.
- Focus phrases: Hello/Hi, My name is…, I am from…, I live in…, I need…, I want…, I like…, Can you help me?, Where is…?, How much is…?, What time is it?
- Pronunciation targets:
- Th: place tongue between teeth: “think” (no voice), “this” (with voice).
- Vowels: ship vs. sheep, full vs. fool. Use minimal pair practice on YouGlish/YouTube by searching the words and copying audio.
- Sentence stress: content words get stress: “I WANT this one.”
- Grammar mini: “be” (I am/you are), “a/an,” plurals (s/es), and basic word order: “I want tea,” not “I tea want.”
- Output challenge: every day, introduce yourself and ask one simple question out loud. Record one 15-second clip.
Week 2: Daily Life and Present Simple
- Goal: reach 150-250 words, talk about routines, family, work/study, food, places. Understand slow audio with common topics.
- Grammar mini: Present simple for habits (I work, She works), “do/does” for questions (Do you work on Monday?), “don’t/doesn’t” for negatives. Prepositions in/on/at for time and place: “in July,” “on Monday,” “at 6 pm,” “at home.”
- Listening: 6 Minute English (BBC) or VOA Everyday Grammar short clips. Keep it slow and repeatable. Shadow two sentences.
- Vocabulary: use the 80/20 rule-focus on the words you’ll say every day: want, need, like, go, come, make, take, get, give, work, study, live, buy, call, know, think, time, day, week, today, tomorrow, name, number, email.
- Output challenge: write 5 sentences about your routine. Then ask 3 questions: “What time do you…?” “Where do you…?” Say them out loud.
Week 3: Past Simple, Useful Chunks, and Reading
- Goal: tell short stories about yesterday, read short texts, and expand to 300-450 words.
- Grammar mini: Past simple common verbs: was/were, had, did, went, saw, made, said, took, gave, came, put. Regular past with -ed (wanted, needed). Questions with “did”: “Did you go?” “What did you do?”
- Chunks: learned phrases that save time: “I’ll have…,” “I’m looking for…,” “Can I try…?” “That’s okay,” “Sounds good,” “I don’t understand,” “Could you say that again?”
- Reading: pick short graded texts or simple news stories for learners. Read out loud once. Then read silently and underline unknown words (max 5 per text). Put only 10-15 new words a day into Anki.
- Output challenge: 5-6 sentences about yesterday. Example: “Yesterday I woke up at 7. I made coffee. I took the bus to work. I had a meeting. It was busy. I cooked pasta.”
Week 4: Real Speaking, Fixes, and Confidence
- Goal: handle simple conversations: introduce yourself, ask/answer common questions, order food, give basic directions, talk about plans (going to).
- Grammar mini: “going to” for plans (“I’m going to visit my friend”), present continuous for now (“I’m studying”), and can/can’t for ability (“I can swim”).
- Speaking practice: join a language exchange app (HelloTalk/Tandem). Write a short intro: “Beginner. Be patient please. I prefer voice messages.” Start with voice notes so you can re-record.
- Listening upgrade: try a normal-speed clip but keep it short (30-60 seconds). Use subtitles first, then remove them. Repeat twice.
- Output challenge: two 2‑minute role-plays this week: ordering at a café; small talk (weather, weekend plans). Record and compare with Week 1.
Weekly review routine (10-20 minutes):
- Delete any flashcards you never remember. Keep decks small and useful.
- Rerecord your intro. Notice clearer sounds, smoother rhythm, fewer pauses.
- Score yourself: Listening (out of 5), Speaking (out of 5), Words known (estimate). If a score drops, add 5 minutes to that skill next week.
Time-saving rules of thumb:
- Small but daily beats big but rare. Fifteen minutes every day wins against one long Sunday session.
- One deck, one app, one channel. Too many tools kill consistency.
- Make English practical: connect new words to your life right away. “Bank” → “I go to the bank on Friday.”
Common pitfalls to avoid:
- Starting with advanced podcasts. You’ll feel lost and quit. Stay with learner content until you reach A2.
- Only studying grammar. You need listening and speaking every single day.
- Adding 50 new words a day. You’ll forget. Add 10-15, review old ones more.
- Silent study. Your mouth needs practice; reading out loud matters.
Cheat Sheets, Tools, and Comparisons
Resource stack (free tiers):
- Core app: Duolingo (fun, gamified) or Memrise (real videos, phrases). Best for daily habit and quick wins.
- Spaced repetition: Anki (desktop/mobile) to remember words forever.
- Listening for beginners: VOA Learning English (slow), BBC Learning English (short, useful, well-produced).
- Pronunciation/search in real videos: YouGlish. Type a word, hear many examples.
- Reading helper: Readlang browser extension to translate in one click and save to flashcards (freemium).
- Dictionary: Cambridge Learner’s, Merriam-Webster Learner’s, or Longman. Use audio every time.
- Speaking partners: HelloTalk or Tandem (free messages and voice notes). Set boundaries and simple topics.
- Writing checker: Grammarly free (basic grammar and spelling). For A1/A2 writing, it’s enough.
Best-for, not-for (quick guide):
- Duolingo: Best for habit. Not for deep speaking practice.
- Memrise: Best for real-life phrases. Not for full grammar explanations.
- VOA Learning English: Best for slow, clear listening. Not for natural fast speech.
- BBC Learning English: Best for short lessons with examples. Not for very long practice sessions.
- Anki: Best for long-term memory. Not for people who hate flashcards.
- HelloTalk/Tandem: Best for real people and voice notes. Not for shy learners who never press record (start with self-recordings first).
Pronunciation cheat sheet (beginner):
- Th (think): tongue between teeth, no voice. Th (this): tongue between teeth, with voice.
- R: pull tongue back a bit, don’t roll. “Car,” “red.”
- V vs. B: bottom lip touches top teeth for V (“very”).
- Word stress: PHOtograph vs. phoTOGRAphy. Stress changes meaning and sound.
- Linking: say phrases together: “want to” → “wanna,” “going to” → “gonna.” You don’t have to use them, but you should recognize them.
Grammar mini cheat sheet (A1-A2):
- Be: I am, you are, he/she/it is, we/they are. Negatives: I’m not, you aren’t, he isn’t…
- Do/does: Do you like coffee? Does she work here? Negatives: I don’t, she doesn’t…
- Word order: Subject-Verb-Object. “I like coffee.” Questions: Question word + do/does + subject + base verb. “What do you do?”
- Articles: a/an = one non-specific. the = specific or known. “I saw a dog. The dog was brown.”
- Prepositions of time: in (months/years), on (days/dates), at (times).
- Past simple: regular -ed, irregular list (go-went, see-saw, have-had). Questions use “did + base verb.”
Vocabulary method (stick with this):
- 10×3 rule: Learn 10 new words a day, review them 3 times: morning, afternoon, night. Takes under 10 minutes each time.
- 3C technique: Comprehend (definition + audio), Collect (add to Anki with a simple sentence), Connect (use it in your life today).
- Phrase-first: learn “make a decision,” not only “decision.” Phrases are easier to recall in conversation.
Free practice scripts (use and reuse):
- Introduce yourself: “Hi, I’m ____. I’m from ____. I’m learning English. I like ____. Nice to meet you.”
- At a café: “Hi, can I have a small latte, please? For here or to go? To go, please. That’s all. Thank you.”
- Small talk: “How’s your day going?” “Not bad. Busy, but good.” “Any plans for the weekend?”
- Asking for help: “Excuse me, could you help me with this form?” “How do I say this in English?”
Self-check checklist (weekly):
- Can I say my name, country, job/study, and one hobby without notes?
- Can I ask 5 questions with do/does correctly?
- Can I understand a 1‑minute slow audio after two listens?
- Do I know the meaning of 300-500 common words?
- Did I record my voice at least twice this week?
Credible sources to trust for beginner content:
- British Council LearnEnglish (clear grammar and practice)
- BBC Learning English (short lessons, transcripts)
- VOA Learning English (slow news, learner level)
- Cambridge Dictionary (learner-friendly definitions and audio)
FAQ and Troubleshooting
FAQ
- How many hours do I need? For basic conversation, plan 50-80 hours. At 30 minutes a day, that’s 3-6 months. You’ll feel small wins in weeks.
- Can I learn without a teacher? Yes. Use learner content, shadowing, and language exchange voice notes. A teacher helps, but it’s not required at A1-A2.
- I forget words. What now? Lower new words to 8-10 a day. Use them three times in real sentences that day. Spaced repetition keeps them alive.
- What about accent? Clear beats native-like. Focus on sounds that change meaning (vowel length, th, v/b). Copy short clips daily.
- Grammar first or speaking first? Both, but short. Learn one rule, then speak three examples right away.
- How fast can I reach A1/A2? With steady daily practice, A1 can be 6-10 weeks, A2 in 4-8 months. Pace depends on daily minutes and speaking output.
- Is watching movies useful? Use learners’ clips or short scenes with clear speech. Pause and mimic. Full movies are hard for beginners.
- Can children use this plan? Yes, but keep it play-based: songs, simple stories, and shorter sessions (10-15 minutes).
- What if my internet is weak? Download lessons on Wi‑Fi, use offline Anki decks, record your own sentences, and read simple PDFs.
Troubleshooting by problem
- No time: Cut to 15 minutes: 5 min Anki + 5 min shadowing + 5 min output. Protect it like an appointment.
- Shy to speak: Start with self-recordings only. Then send voice notes to a partner. Last step: live calls. Small steps still count.
- Stuck at the same level: Add harder listening once a week, and one new topic (health, travel, work). Remove any app that you open but don’t use.
- Mixing languages: It’s normal. Repeat the chunk 5 times and use it immediately in a new sentence.
- Can’t understand native speed: Train with 10-20 second clips. Loop, shadow, and focus on rhythm. Speed becomes easier after you learn common patterns.
- Boredom: Change the context, not the skill. Same skill, new content: cooking videos, sports, or music you like.
- Plateau after 2 months: Increase output. Join a weekly online conversation club or schedule two 10‑minute voice exchanges.
Next steps after 30 days
- Double your Anki deck to 700-800 words, but keep daily new cards low (10-15).
- Add one graded reader (A1-A2). Read 5-10 pages a day out loud.
- Do one weekly “speaking sprint”: 10 minutes of non-stop talking about your week. Record, listen, rewrite mistakes into Anki.
- Try a free online placement test from a trusted ESL site. Use results to pick the next grammar targets.
- Set a simple goal with a date: “In 8 weeks, I will order food and ask 5 follow-up questions without notes.”
Mini progress map (what “better” looks like):
- Week 1: You can greet, spell your name, say where you’re from, and ask for help slowly but clearly.
- Week 2: You can talk about daily routines and understand slow audio without subtitles on the second listen.
- Week 3: You can tell a short story about yesterday and write a simple paragraph.
- Week 4: You can order food, do small talk, and handle common questions with fewer pauses.
Motivation hacks that actually work:
- Visible tracker: put a calendar on your wall or phone. Mark every study day. Don’t break the chain.
- Public promise: tell one friend your goal and send them a weekly 30‑second voice update.
- Celebrate tiny wins: learned 100 words? Make a fun 30‑second video in English. Keep it private if you want, but keep it.
Safety and sanity tips for online exchanges:
- Set expectations in your bio: beginner level, short voice messages, polite correction only.
- Use structured topics: “Introduce yourself,” “Weekend plan,” “Favorite food.” Familiar topics reduce stress.
- If a chat feels bad, end it. Your time is valuable; you owe no one a reply.
If you remember only four rules from this guide, make them these: study small but daily, speak out loud every session, repeat smart with spaced repetition, and keep content simple and useful. Free works-when you work it.