Learning English is like building a house, and each stage of learning requires a different focus. But don’t worry—I’ve got your back! Whether you're just getting started or perfecting your fluency, this level by level guide (more posts coming soon!) will help you figure out what to prioritise.
A1 & A2 Level: Build Your Brick Wall and Start Communicating
Learning English for beginners, at A1 level, is all about vocabulary. I like to think of vocabulary as the bricks of a language and grammar as the cement. A pile of cement alone won’t get you very far—it’s just a messy blob. But a pile of bricks? Even if it’s wobbly and full of holes, is still recognisably a wall! In short, there’s no point worrying about grammar until you actually have words to use first.
For example, if I say, "I go supermarket tomorrow," is it grammatically perfect? Absolutely not. But did you understand what I meant? Yes! And that’s the key—communication comes first.
Did you know that just 1,000 words cover about 80% of all written and spoken English? That means you don’t need to learn every single word in the dictionary—just the most useful ones. A frequency dictionary can show you the words that matter most so you know where to focus your energy.
Here’s how to get started:
· Use flashcards to drill key words into your brain.
· Try Memrise—it’s gamified, fun, and full of ready-made vocabulary lists.
· Go for Anki if you want something more customisable. It’s great for creating your own word lists based on your life and interests.
Once you reach A2, it’s time to start putting your vocabulary to work! This level is all about basic communication. You’ll start building simple sentences, asking and answering common questions, and holding short conversations.
Key skills to focus on at A2:
· Expanding your vocabulary beyond just individual words: learn phrases and expressions.
· Listening to native speakers and getting comfortable with the rhythm of English. One of my favourite YouTube channels for this is Easy British English - real natural conversations with native speakers, subtitled and explained.
· Practicing small talk about everyday topics like food, travel, and work.
· Writing simple messages and emails to get used to structuring thoughts in English.
Final Note: The good news? These first two levels are pretty fast to attain!
If you learn just 10 new words per day, you’ll hit 1,000 words in 3 months.
Want to go even faster? 20 words per day will get you there in just 6 weeks.
With daily practice, you can lay a strong foundation quickly and start using English in real-life situations before you know it!
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