Practical Tips to Get You Started in Your English Journey

Freya Black
Oct 15
4 min read

Learning a new language can feel a bit like climbing a mountain. At times, you can’t see the peak and progress feels slow. But once you reach the top, you realise that it was worth every step. Learning English definitely takes patience and resilience. It’s absolutely vital when starting out in a new country, it opens doors to jobs, education, healthcare and friendship.

Reaching the top of the mountain will look different for everyone, for some people it might be successfully navigating a phone call in English or it could even be telling a joke in English. In this post, get inspired by Joseline’s story and find helpful tips to boost your English.

🎉 Five years supporting the community

Info Latinos is proud to support Latin Americans in their English learning journey. This November we are celebrating our fifth anniversary and there is lots to celebrate!

69% of people supported by Info Latinos gained more confidence in communication.
43% overcame fear and improved fluency through mentoring.

That’s five years of helping people find their voice and confidence in a new country.

💬 The inspiring story of Joseline

One person who truly knows the English learning journey is Joseline, a refugee and qualified lawyer from Nicaragua.

Five years ago, when Joseline arrived in the UK with her family, she spoke absolutely no English. Understandably, she felt frustrated when people spoke to her and she didn’t understand. So she enrolled at a college and started learning English three times a week.

With the support of Info Latinos and her mentor, Rachel, she has gone from strength to strength. Once Joseline was granted refugee status she progressed from working in an Amazon warehouse to doing charity work, and is now studying for a degree in Health and Social Care.

“This experience has given me not only practical guidance, but also the confidence to believe more in myself and my abilities.” — Joseline

Today, Joseline is in her second semester of her degree whilst also working as a hotel receptionist. Her story is a powerful reminder that with resilience and determination anything is possible. So, who better to ask for advice than Joseline?

💡 Joseline’s advice for learning English

Joseline knows all about feeling nervous when it comes to speaking in English. She says:

🗣️ “Try to calm down, think before you speak and try to think in English - I can explain myself better when I’m thinking in English. Maybe I make a lot of mistakes but if I don’t practice speaking I will never lose the nerves.”

🤝 “Be a part of any kind of community, try and practice with friends or volunteer because it’s the best way to practice English.”

🎓 “Find something to study so you can keep improving your life in the UK.”

Thank you, Joseline, for your invaluable advice and for sharing your story.

🧭 Practical tips for your everyday life

Learn with others:

Info Latinos runs a bilingual monthly meetup and it’s a great way to meet new people as well as practice English.
Sign up to free ESOL lessons or conversation clubs, these are often run by charities, libraries and colleges in your local area.
Join the Info Latinos mentoring program to get advice about jobs, education and English!

Little but often:

Spend 10-20 minutes a day listening to a podcast, reading news articles, watching television with subtitles or listening to English music. Some good podcasts to listen to include:
- Simple Stories in English (Camilla Given)
- Learning Easy English (BBC)
- Thinking in English (Thomas Wilkinson) — for intermediate and advanced learners
Keep a notebook with you, when you learn a new phrase or word, write it down and translate it into your own language. You could even write an example of the word in a sentence so it makes even more sense to you.

Overcome your fear:

Being afraid to speak in English can be the biggest barrier to your learning. If you can communicate what you need to say, it doesn’t matter if your grammar isn’t perfect.
Join the Info Latinos Mentoring Program where you can practice your English in a safe, judgement free environment with your buddy.
Celebrate the small wins! Each time you achieve something that once felt scary, like ordering food in a restaurant in English, be proud of yourself and use it as motivation to continue in your learning journey.

Learn English through the things you love:

Connect your passions to learning English! If you love cooking, why not try following a recipe in English.
If you’re an avid dancer, swimmer or gardener try joining a club! It’s a great way to meet new people. Continuing your hobbies in a new country might start to make it feel a little bit more like home.

✨ A final message

So why not try one of the tips from this blog and see if it helps you improve?

Remember to:✨ Be kind to yourself✨ Celebrate your achievements no matter how small✨ Your English learning journey will look different, and that is perfectly okay!