How to Learn English at Home (10 Ways)
Created: Mar 23, 2025
Last Updated: Mar 23, 2025
Wondering how to learn English at home the easy way? Traditional English classes can be expensive, time-consuming and often requires travel – three big barriers that keep many people from reaching their language goals.
The good news is that learning English at home has never been easier! With today's technology and resources, you can learn exactly how you want, whenever works best for you. Whether you prefer learning in early mornings in your pajamas or late at night after the kids are in bed - it's completely up to you.
If this excites you, let’s explore 10 simple and effective ways to improve your English faster, right from your home.
Our top 10 ways to learn English at home
1. Watch English movies and TV shows
Streaming services offer a treasure trove of English learning opportunities. But don't just passively watch – make it an active learning experience.
Do this by:
- Choosing content that matches your interests so you'll stay engaged
- Keeping a notebook nearby to write down new phrases or expressions
- Using “shadowing” (meaning that you repeat what characters say) to improve your pronunciation
Wondering if you should use subtitles to learn a language? We’d recommend starting with subtitles in your native language, then progressing to English subtitles and eventually no subtitles
While learning English with movies might sound like a dream way to learn English at home, learners still face some common issues. The big one is that you'll likely have to pause frequently to look up unfamiliar words, which disrupts the enjoyment and can lead to demotivation.
That's where Flurret comes in. We help you learn key vocabulary before you watch so you can enjoy the content uninterrupted while naturally reinforcing your new vocabulary. Smart, right?
Learn more about how it works or Try Flurret today!
2. Create an English immersion environment
The truth is that the more you surround yourself with a language, the faster you'll learn. Here are a few creative ways you can do that in your home:
- Change your phone, computer and social media settings to English
- Label household items with their English names using sticky notes
- Set aside "English-only" hours where you challenge yourself to think and speak entirely in English
- Keep English books, magazines and newspapers visible and accessible
- Name your houseplants in English and talk to them when watering them (sounds silly but it works!)
This constant exposure helps train your brain to process English naturally as well as building your confidence with it.
3. Practice active listening every day
Listening comprehension is a crucial part of conversational fluency. That’s why you should try to dedicate some time to listening activities every day. This could take the form of interesting English podcasts, listening to the news on English speaking channels (like the BBC or CNN) or even YouTube videos.
Top tip: Listening to an audiobook? Try following along with the physical book to connect written and spoken English.
The key is consistent, daily practice. Even 15 - 20 minutes of focused listening can really help to improve your comprehension over time.
4. Get reading in English
Other than movies, reading is one of the best ways to understand how English works in context. Remember to start with more basic reading materials and work your way up. Children's books are a great place to start! Progress to more complex books as your confidence grows.
Why not join thousands of others and learn English with Harry Potter? It’s fantastic to learn with, both as a book and through the movie!
5. Write something in English every day
Writing helps cement vocabulary and grammar in your memory. Make it a daily habit to write something, even if it's just a few sentences to start with. You could start a journal where you write down a page about what happened in your day.
This will also give you a natural chance to practice writing about everyday vocabulary about friends, family, transport, eating and daily activities.
6. Speak English out loud (even if you’re alone!)
The great part about learning English at home is that you’re somewhere you feel safe, away from strangers. This means it’s the perfect place to step outside of your comfort zone to improve your spoken English without being self-conscious. After all, you don’t have to be with other people to practice speaking a new language.
Repeat dialogue from our library of the top movies for learning English, record voice notes in English or even talk yourself through daily tasks. It all adds up to helping you feel more confident in your spoken English.
7. Use language learning apps
Did you know that there are some fantastic English learning apps out there? We’ve rounded up our favorites to help you find the best ones for you.
We’d suggest using a combination of different apps that address different aspects of language learning. Flurret, for example, focuses on building vocabulary through movies and TV shows, preparing you with the words you need before you watch so you don't have to constantly pause and look things up. However, other apps can help you with practicing speaking, grammar, or writing.
8. Join online language exchange communities
While we encourage you to get speaking on your own, nothing beats practicing with real people. There are loads of online spaces where you can talk with native English speakers that you might not know about.
Find conversation partners online in places like:
- Language exchange websites and apps that connect learners worldwide
- Virtual meetups for English learners
- Online forums where you can practice writing and get feedback
- Social media groups dedicated to language learning
9. Take advantage of free learning resources
There's plenty of structured learning material available online at no cost to you - you just need to find it. University courses on platforms like Coursera or edX offer professionally designed curriculum with certificates upon completion.
Even TikTok and YouTube have countless channels dedicated to English learning for various levels and learning styles. Look for comprehensive grammar guides and exercises from educational websites and don't forget to check if your public library offers language learning materials online - many do!
10. Keep home learning fun and relevant to your life
One of the most important factors in successful language learning is consistency. And you're more likely to be consistent when you enjoy the process - that’s a big part of why we set up Flurret!
Remember to keep it fun by learning vocabulary related to your hobbies and interests, connecting with English content you genuinely enjoy and putting in fun quizzes, challenges and games wherever you can.
Learning should be enjoyable, not a chore - when you're having fun, your brain is much more receptive to new information.
Here’s an example of the kind of fun pronunciation testing videos you can find online!
Ready to level up your at-home English learning? Sign up to Flurret today to start your journey.
