How to Teach Yourself to Speak English

If you want to teach yourself to speak English, you don’t need to move to London or sign up for expensive classes. You can kick things off right where you are, even if you only know a handful of words.

The trick is to start using English for real-life stuff, not just boring drills. Label things around your house, try ordering food in English, or change your phone language. It feels weird at first, but tiny steps add up fast.

Even singing along to your favorite pop songs helps more than you’d guess. You hear words used naturally, pick up on how sentences flow, and the chorus gets stuck in your brain—in a good way this time. If you mess up, nobody’s scoring you. That’s the best part about self-teaching: you get to make all the mistakes in private, then surprise people with your progress later.

• Start Small: Use What You Already Know
• Make English Part of Everyday Life
• Learn by Listening: Songs, Podcasts, and TV
• Talk to Yourself (and Others)
• Use Apps, Notebooks, and Tech
• Track Progress and Stay Motivated

Start Small: Use What You Already Know

If you think you can’t start learning English because you only know a few words, think again. You don’t need a truckload of vocabulary to kick this off. Most beginners get stuck because they feel overwhelmed. Here’s the good news: you can build on what you already know, and it actually works.

Check out this fact: about 1,000 words make up roughly 85% of everyday conversations in English. Sound surprising? It means if you know even a fraction of those, you’re already ahead of the curve.

Try these steps to get going with what’s already in your head:

• Write down every English word or phrase you already recognize. Even the basics like “hello,” “book,” or “thank you” count.
• Mix and match those words to make simple sentences, even if they’re not perfect. For example, “I want coffee,” “Book is good.” Grammar can wait.
• Notice new words around you—signs, menus, products. Add those to your list.

Here’s something from linguist Dr. Paul Nation who studies language learning:

"Knowing a small number of high-frequency words allows learners to understand a surprising amount of spoken English right from the outset."

Still worried about what you don’t know? Don’t be. The point is to start using what you have and build from there. It’s like stacking Lego blocks—nobody starts with the castle.

Remember, where you start doesn’t matter as much as making sure you actually speak English every single day, even if it’s just a few words.

Make English Part of Everyday Life

Want to know a secret? People who get good at speaking English almost always use it outside of study time. The trick is to squeeze English into your daily routine until it feels as normal as brushing your teeth.

Don’t wait for a proper “lesson”—you can make speak English part of everything you do. Here are some easy ways to bring it into your world, starting now:

• Change your social media settings to English. Scrolling Instagram or YouTube? Now you’ll catch new words and phrases without thinking about it.
• Make grocery lists, reminders, and notes in English. Even writing out your to-do list helps you think in the language instead of always translating.
• Talk to your pets, your plants, or even your bathroom mirror in English. Seriously. If you say, “let’s go for a walk” to your dog in English every day, you’ll remember that phrase for good.
• If you use voice assistants like Siri or Alexa, set them to English. Now you’re practicing both speaking and listening every time you ask about the weather or play your favorite song.
• Join online groups or forums about your hobbies—but pick ones where the main language is English. You get to talk about stuff you like, and learn slang and casual words that aren’t in textbooks.

This table shows how often people around the world try to use English daily, and how it boosts their confidence according to a 2023 survey:

It’s pretty clear—the more you use English for regular stuff, the faster you start thinking, not just translating. It won’t happen overnight, but if you stick with it, English turns into just another tool in your pocket, not some big scary subject.

Learn by Listening: Songs, Podcasts, and TV

Forget heavy textbooks for a minute—your ears are your best ally when you want to speak English naturally. You don’t need perfect grammar knowledge to get started. Anyone with headphones, a phone, or a TV can use real-world English to train their brain.

Consider this: a study from Cambridge found that regular exposure to English through TV and music increased speaking confidence in language learners by 36%. That’s a pretty decent boost, and it’s way more fun than rote memorization.

Here’s how you can make listening work for you:

• Pick the right level: Start with kids’ shows like "Peppa Pig" or "Bluey" if you’re just beginning. The sentences are short and the words are clear. As you get better, try out sitcoms like "Friends" or "How I Met Your Mother," where everyday, casual language pops up.
• Use subtitles—at first: Don’t feel bad about reading along. Switch on English subtitles to help connect spoken and written words. As your ear gets sharper, turn them off for a challenge.
• Pick short podcasts: Podcasts like "6 Minute English" from BBC Learning English let you hear authentic accents and topics. Even just six minutes a day will do wonders for your understanding and fluency.
• Repeat and shadow: When you hear phrases or expressions, pause and repeat them out loud. Copy actors or podcast hosts just like a singer mimics a catchy tune. That’s called "shadowing" and it’s a proven method to improve pronunciation fast.
• Break down songs: Play a song you love, look up the lyrics, and sing along. Some learners swear by using Beatles songs or Ed Sheeran because the words are simple. Don’t stress if you can’t catch every single word—just pick out keywords first.

You can even log the time you spend listening and your daily mood. Here’s a simple table to help you track your progress and stay motivated:

Soon, you’ll start picking up phrases and slang without even trying, and your English speaking will sound a whole lot more natural.

Talk to Yourself (and Others)

This may sound odd, but the fastest way to get speaking is to start chatting—yep, even if your only conversation partner is you. Using spoken English every day, out loud, builds muscle memory and boosts your confidence way quicker than silent studying. Native English speakers pick up language fast because they speak and hear it all day. You can hack this process by making English part of your own routine, wherever you are.

Simple activities to try:

• Describe what you’re doing: "I’m making coffee now."
• Talk about stuff you see: "The bus is late again."
• Replay a conversation from your day in English, even if you only know part of it.

Doing this for just 10 minutes a day helps your brain get used to finding the right words—no teacher required.

When you’re feeling brave, move past your mirror and find a real person to practice with. There are dozens of online communities (like language exchange apps and Discord servers) where people all over the world are finding language buddies. Many English learners use apps like Tandem or HelloTalk, where you can text, call, or even send voice messages. You’re both learning, so nobody expects perfection. Some learners report feeling improvements in confidence after just a week or two of regular chats.

If you want proof that speaking works, just check the numbers. Here’s a quick look at how often successful self-taught English learners said they practiced speaking:

Looks like the more you speak, even just to yourself, the faster you build skills. If you want to speak English smoothly, treat every moment as a chance to practice. No audience needed—just your own voice and some curiosity.

Use Apps, Notebooks, and Tech

You don’t need a classroom to step up your English. Just your phone, maybe a notebook, and you’re good. Language learning apps have exploded in the last few years—Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise are everywhere for a reason. They make it easy to squeeze practice into five minutes between things, and you get instant feedback. In fact, Duolingo alone reports over 500 million users as of 2024. Not everyone finishes every course, but daily streaks can keep you way more honest than a dusty old textbook ever did.

Don’t just stick to the flashy stuff, though. A simple notebook works wonders. Jot down new words, weird grammar rules, or mistakes you notice while speaking or texting. Reviewing by hand helps you remember things better. Every week, glance back at your notes—it’s a little ego boost to see how much vocab you’ve picked up.

Listening to podcasts, using YouTube subtitles, or talking to AI chatbots (yep, like this one) all help with pronunciation and understanding. You can slow the playback speed on almost every app. If you’re watching a show and can’t catch a phrase, hit pause, rewind, and see how the words come together.

• Download at least one language app. Use it daily, even if just for 10 minutes.
• Set your phone and socials to English. Tiny shifts add up—suddenly you know how to say "settings" and "notifications" without thinking.
• Start a vocab tracker in your notebook. Write every new expression you hear or read and spell it out loud.
• Practice speaking by sending voice messages (WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber) to yourself or a study buddy.

Check out this quick table for some recommended tools and their main perks:

If you want to speak English confidently, these tools keep you engaged, track your progress, and fit your life—no excuses. Mixing old-school notes and new tech gives your brain more chances to lock stuff in. The more ways you use English, the faster it feels natural.

Track Progress and Stay Motivated

There’s nothing worse than feeling stuck when you’re learning a language, especially if you’re doing it on your own. So, keeping tabs on your improvement makes a huge difference. If you stick with regular practice, you’ll notice small wins—like understanding a movie joke or ordering coffee confidently—in just a few weeks.

It helps to set super clear goals, like saying ten new sentences every morning or watching two English YouTube videos a day. Write your progress down, even if it’s just in your phone’s notes app. Studies from language learning platforms show that recording yourself once a week and listening back helps you spot mistakes and track your voice getting smoother over time. Snap a few voice memos on your phone and you’ll have your own progress journal.

Don’t forget to reward yourself. Treat every milestone—big or small—as an excuse for a mini celebration. Finished a series in English? Grab your favorite snack. Held a conversation for five minutes? Share it with a friend. These rewards trigger a little brain boost, making it more likely you’ll actually stick with practice.

• Set calendar reminders to check your goals weekly.
• Join online groups or forums where learners share their challenges and wins.
• Every month, repeat a task you tried at the start (like describing your day) and see how much more natural it feels now.

It’s easy to forget how far you’ve come. When you can speak English a bit better than yesterday, celebrate it—because that’s real progress. Keep the journey fun and personal, and you’ll stay motivated without needing anyone to push you.

About Author

Rohan Prabhu

I am an education specialist based in Mumbai, focusing on innovative teaching methods and curriculum development across India. I am passionate about improving access to quality education and write extensively on how policy changes can positively impact educational outcomes for students. My articles often appear in leading educational journals and blogs, and I am committed to advocating for needed reforms in the sector.

View more post

Similar News

How to Train Yourself to Speak English Fluently 14.02.25

Boost Your English Skills: Easy Tips to Get Started 10.04.25