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Picture yourself on your way to work, standing on a busy train, and using your phone to review English vocabulary with apps like Duolingo. Maybe you’re waiting for your coffee at a busy café and use that time to check out an English forum on Reddit. You don’t have to live abroad to get better at English, but you do need to make time for it in your daily life.
At EC, at our English schools abroad, we’ve helped more than a million people from around the world become more confident in English by focusing on real communication.
Here are 10 things every English learner should do in 2026. How many will you check off?
Plan to take an English exam, such as IELTS or Cambridge, this year. Start by picking the exam that matches your goals. Look into the options to find the best fit for your needs and level. Once you’ve chosen, gather study materials like prep books and online courses. Make a simple study plan that covers all parts of English. Include daily practice and set reminders to help you stay on track. Preparing for an English exam helps you build real-life skills like clear writing, confident speaking, and good listening. Break your study plan into small steps, like weekly quizzes or earning progress badges. Celebrate your progress along the way because every small win brings you closer to your goal.
Using your phone in English might feel odd at first, but treat it like a fun experiment. Try a one-day challenge: use only English settings on your phone for 24 hours. It’s a simple way to immerse yourself, and you can always switch back if it feels too much. Seeing real English every day helps you learn naturally. You’ll pick up new words faster when English is part of your daily routine.
Watch YouTubers who speak English. Subscribe to channels who talk about topics you enjoy. This is the kind of English you’ll hear in EC classrooms and during social activities: modern, real, and used in everyday life.
Podcasts, like YouTube, are great for learning. They let you hear natural English and different accents, and help you get better at listening for longer periods. Pick podcasts that are just a bit harder than your current level so you’re challenged but can still follow along. If some parts are too tough, try slowing down the playback or using transcripts. Listening to English while you’re busy with other things is a smart way to keep learning.
Write a few short sentences in English every day, just for yourself. Writing helps you organise your thoughts and try out new words, just like speaking does. It’s motivating to look back at your old entries and see how much your grammar and vocabulary have improved.
Try joining forums, Reddit, or comment sections. Sharing your thoughts and asking questions helps you build communication skills. Look for an online community about something you care about and get involved. Good places to start are r/EnglishLearning on Reddit or language exchange sites like Tandem. These groups are friendly and have lots of resources to help you learn.
Feeling brave? Pick your favourite English song and sing along! It’s a great way to boost your confidence, and you’ll learn that it’s okay to make mistakes. Just keep going!
You might not catch every word, and that’s fine! Put on your favourite English movie or start a series and watch without subtitles.
For many English learners, finding chances to speak is the hardest part. It’s easy to listen, read, and write, but speaking can be tough if you don’t have people to talk to. Try talking to yourself and recording it, then listen to check your pronunciation and speed. If you can, join local meetups or language clubs to practice speaking in person.
You can build a solid foundation by learning at home, but nothing compares to the growth and excitement of studying English abroad.
When you study with EC English, you’re joining a global community. Our immersive language programmes place you in real-life situations where you practice English every day, both inside and outside the classroom. You’ll make lifelong friends from around the world, experience new cultures, and gain the confidence to use English anywhere. Plus, our teachers and support team are there to help you every step of the way. If you’re ready for an unforgettable adventure and want to reach your English goals faster, studying abroad with EC is the ultimate step.
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