A four-week English practice plan

The most reliable way to progress in English is not long, rare study sessions but short, regular practice every day. This four-week plan focuses on one skill each week, with 15–20 minutes a day.

Week 1: vocabulary

Choose a topic (for example home or food) and learn five new words each day. Test yourself with flashcards and make one sentence with each word.

Week 2: listening

Each day, listen to a one- or two-minute recording at your level and repeat it sentence by sentence. Try to notice last week's words in the recordings.

Week 3: speaking

Each day, answer one question for a minute and record yourself: “What did you do yesterday?”, “Describe your home.” At the end of the week, compare your first and last recordings.

Week 4: writing and review

Each day, write a short three- or four-sentence journal entry. Try to use the words and phrases from the first three weeks. On the last day, look back over the four weeks and choose a new topic for next month.

To stick with the plan

Tie practice to the same time each day, for example after breakfast. If you miss a day, carry on the next day from where you stopped; there's no need to restart the plan.

To keep going, see How do I know my English level? A simple A1–C2 guide and Preparing for an English exam: the basic steps.

Frequently asked questions

Are 15–20 minutes a day enough? Done regularly, it is a good amount to start with. If you have more time you can add more, but regularity matters more than length.

What should I do when the four weeks end? Choose a new topic and run the plan again, or give one more week to the skill you found hardest.