Tips to Learn English for Free

Who wouldn’t like to learn English for free? Well, we know many students who would! Since we love to help others learn English, we’re going to share some valuable platforms where you can learn English for free. 

How to Select the Right English Platform

Thanks to the online world, you can now almost find anything on the Internet. But because of this huge, almost unlimited amount of information, it can be hard to find the right platforms to use when it comes to learning English. Where do you start? Here are three tips to keep in mind when looking for the right platform: 

1. Native Speakers

Find out whether or not native English speakers run the platform. By doing so, the chances are higher that the language used is correct. Native speakers use English in a literal sense and also in figurative speech. Of course, even non-native speakers can still offer great content, but you have to be more careful that they do not post texts with errors. 

Once you have a clue of who the people are behind the platform, find out which English they use. Is it Australian, British, or American English? Figure out for yourself which English you want to learn. In case you choose American English, you can still use British or Australian English platforms but be aware of the differences and variations between the three. Some words in British English, for example, are not used in American English, or they are written with a different spelling and vice versa. 

2. Content

Pay attention to the type of content the platform offers. Is it informative, innovative, and unique? Be aware that some platforms post exercises that are reposts of others. If the platform offers exercises to learn English, how are the activities? Are they interactive and brain-stimulating? If there’s only one type of exercise offered, you might get bored quickly. Find something that can make your learning experience fun! 

3. Skills

Learning English is basically done by practicing the four skills that aid in becoming fluent in a language: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Find out if you will improve all four of these skills by using the platform. Beside official platforms that offer content with a language learner in mind, you can still improve your English on platforms that are not necessarily learner-oriented. You can hear native English speakers through various ways. TED Talks, for example, offer a great variety of informative speeches that can help you improve your English. 

Now that you know what to keep in mind when looking for a platform that suits your needs best, here are some of our recommendations. 

News Websites to Learn English for Free

Learning English through the news is quite helpful. While learning, you also stay updated on current affairs. The BBC offers a platform that targets English language learners. On their website, you’ll find a variety of different activities to improve your skills. With it being the BBC, it’s no surprise that they include news articles that come with useful vocabulary lists and quizzes to see if you have understood the article. 

Beside the BBC website, there is also an app that offers similar content. It is useful when you’re on the road and still want to practice your English. Their content is subdivided according to your level of understanding. Keep in mind that the English used by the BBC is British English. If you prefer American English, check out VOA News. VOA News, just like the BBC, offers videos. Also, it provides the transcript of the videos and a quiz. Articles that do not come with a video can be read to you. There’s also a section on VOA News that focuses on US history. 

We Speak NYC

We Speak NYC was initially created for immigrants living in New York, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from the great resources they offer. Check out their English lessons. The videos cover relevant topics that you will likely encounter when living in New York and the US in general. Through storylines that could happen in real life, the actors discuss themes as career, rights, immigration matters, and many more. The videos come with study guides that provide video transcripts and exercises. The website also offers civic resources that teach you more about your rights in the US and help you transition smoothly to your new environment. We Speak NYC is especially helpful for immigrants in New York who need to familiarize themselves with state laws and their rights. 

Duolingo

You might be familiar with Duolingo, a popular app among language learners. With over 100 million downloads, it has helped many learn the basics of a variety of languages. In a playful manner, learners complete levels by doing exercises from translating sentences to transcribing spoken text to matching images with their translations. By doing it correctly, you will level up. The lessons are built on what you’ve learned during previous exercises and become harder the more you use the app. Duolingo is an easy way to practice a language whether you’re at home or on the go. It has proven to be a success for many learners. 

YouTube

Another great platform that you should try out during your language learning journey is YouTube. You might have used it before for entertainment purposes, but did you know that there are a lot of channels on here dedicated to teaching English? The good thing about YouTube is that you will learn the right pronunciation by watching the videos. You are able to interact with the content creator and other viewers in the comments section. You can find us on YouTube as well! Make sure you subscribe to our channel to learn more American English idioms, phrasal verbs, and expressions. 

Language Exchange Partners

If you want to ensure that you use your newly learned language the right way, consider getting a language exchange partner. A language exchange partner is someone who is a native speaker of your target language. That person will help you practice your new language, and you will help them practice your native language. Essentially, you’re killing two birds with one stone! Beside the common goal of improving your language skills, great friendships can grow out of these language exchanges. It can be scary sometimes for new learners to start using vocabulary and phrases in text and speech. The advantage of a language exchange is that you are both in the same boat. The more you practice with each other, the more your confidence to use the language with others will grow. You can do language exchanges through apps such as Tandem and HelloTalk. These apps have a lot in common with average communication apps, but they focus primarily on learning languages from each other. 

Takeaway

There are many platforms that can help you learn English for free. Know what type of content you’re looking for so that you won’t be overwhelmed by all the available information online. You can learn English by watching the news or reading news articles. Websites like the BBC and VOA News even have their news articles tailor-made for English learners. Try and install an app like Duolingo on your smartphone if you’re looking for a playful way to learn a language. If you’re willing to teach someone else your native language, consider getting a language exchange partner. Both of you can learn from each other for free.