5 Free Strategies to Learn English: Strategies and Practical Tips

People learn English for personal, professional, or academic reasons, and countless apps and institutes promise "Learn English in just 10 minutes a day!" But real fluency takes passion, work, and persistence — it doesn't happen overnight.

After teaching over 10,000 students, both in person and online, I can tell you this: anyone can learn to speak English — especially readers, people who love memorizing song lyrics or their favorite series' dialogue, gamers replaying a game in English just to see the true ending, and anyone who keeps showing up despite setbacks. The passionate ones win.

You need to get a little obsessed. Find the thing — or person — that keeps you coming back to practice every day.

1. TV Series and Movies in English

Watching shows and movies in English builds familiarity with different accents and expands vocabulary almost without effort, thanks to visual context from your favorite childhood movie. Don't worry about catching every word — just enjoy it.

Pro: Familiarity with the Plot

Rewatching something you already know in Spanish lets you focus on the language instead of the story.

Pro: Vocabulary

English audio with Spanish subtitles, the reverse, or English-only — any combination teaches you something new.

Cons: No Feedback

The catch is passivity — there's no production (speaking, writing, using your own words), so pair this with active practice.

2. Books and Audiobooks

As with movies, pick a book you've already read in Spanish (or find a good one first). Knowing the plot frees you from stressing over every word. Looking up key terms is fine — just highlight them and move on.

Pro: Progress at Your Own Pace

Listen on your commute or at the gym, and reread chapters in layers: once highlighting new words, again after translating tricky parts, again while listening to the audiobook. Pick a book you actually love.

Pro: There's Probably a Movie

Reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I pictured Gary Oldman's face — that mental image boosted my retention. It can work for you too.

Con: Less Common

Sitting down with a full book feels like a bigger ask than scrolling social media — but TikTok and YouTube also have great English-teaching accounts. Find content that's fun for you, whatever the format. Don't be afraid to start with Fifty Shades of Grey.

3. Apps and Online Resources

If you're on Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, you already have free apps like Duolingo or Inner English App a tap away. I once met someone who learned French from the toilet!

Pros: Always at Hand

People forget their keys or wallet, but never their phone. Use those five minutes in line or on the bus to practice.

Pros: Free Video Content

YouTube and TikTok are full of free, bite-sized English lessons — check out our YouTube channel and our TikTok for weekly tips.

Cons: Distractions

The real obstacles are opening Instagram instead of Duolingo, and notifications. Turn on do-not-disturb, and follow English accounts so even your feed works in your favor.

4. Music

Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Music let you follow along with lyrics anytime. The more you enjoy the song, the better — don't let anyone force "Imagine" by John Lennon on you again.

Pros: Auditory Acuity

Music teaches words and phrases by ear. Don't worry about spelling — focus on echoing what you hear, prioritizing sound over text when possible.

Cons: It's Easy to Fall into Bad Habits

Mishearing lyrics as Spanish-sounding nonsense is a common trap, since the brain defaults to what's comfortable. Don't let your mind be lazy — push it toward English. Try writing out lyrics by ear before checking the real version, then sing along reading them.

5. English on All Your Devices

Set your phone, console, and computer interfaces to English — Netflix, Word, everything. You've already mastered Spanish; now build a new mental pathway for English by using it daily to navigate the world around you.

Pros: Thinking in English

Using English as a tool rather than a goal helps your brain coordinate and switch fluidly between both languages.

Conclusion

You don't need to spend thousands on an institute — no teacher can do the work for you. It always comes down to dedicating time and mental space to learning. As the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."

Whether you learn in 6 months or 20 years is your choice.