Today I want to talk about something very important …

How to learn English in 2026.

Not how people used to learn English in the past.
Not how textbooks say you should learn English.
But how English learners can actually make progress today.

Because the truth is this:
English learning has changed – but many learners are still using old methods.

Let’s fix that.

1. Why Old Methods Don’t Work Anymore

If you learned English at school, your experience probably looked like this:

• Grammar rules on a board that you had to copy into your workbook
• Vocabulary lists you had to memorise
• Little or no speaking because there were so many other students in the class OR sometimes just because the teacher did all the talking.
• Fear of making mistakes – Trying to be perfect all time, avoiding mistakes.
• Exams instead of real communication

That system wasn’t designed to make you fluent.
It was designed to make you pass tests.

Tests are easy to measure and put a number or grade to but I have seen people do well in tests yet they can’t say very much in English.

And in 2026, that approach simply doesn’t match how language actually works.

English today is:

• Global – with a variety of native and non-native accents and ways of saying things. And we’re not just talking about American English vs. British English.
• English today is Constantly changing with new words and expressions added all the time, mostly thanks to the internet.
• English today is Informal – Most communication is informal, including in some business environments. I have never said “How do you do?” in my loooong life. It’s too formal, I’ve met presidents, prime ministers and top CEOs and I have never say “How do you do?”
• English today is Used everywhere: online, at work, while travelling, and on social media.

So if your learning style still looks like it did 20 or 30 years ago, you’re learning the hard way.

The good news?
You now have better tools – and better strategies.

2. The Biggest Change: English Is Everywhere

In 2026, English is no longer something you study.
English is something you live with.

Let me explain: Today, wherever you are in world, you can find English in:

• On YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X (or twitter) and other social media
• In comments, emails, chats and messages
• In podcasts (like this awesome podcast – totally unbiased)
• In video games

So the question is no longer:

“Where can I find English?”

The real question is:

“How do I use English content correctly to improve?”

And this is where many English learners make mistakes.

They consume English – but they don’t train with it.

Listening passively is not enough.

Scrolling passively through your feed is not enough
You must interact with the language.

3. The 2026 Learning Rule: Less Studying, More Training

Here is one of the most important ideas in modern language learning:

👉 English is a skill, not a subject.

You don’t study swimming. You have to DO it to get better.
You don’t study driving. You have to DO it to get better.
You train to get better, not just read or watch someone explaining it.

And this applies to English too. You need to TRAIN with the language, you must use and interact with the language in order to get better.

So in 2026, your English learning should include:

✅ Listening training

Not just watching (passively) – but actively repeating or copying what is being said. We have another English podcast with hundreds of expressions in English about daily routines where you can pause after each sentence and try and repeat what I say. This leads us to …

✅ Speaking training

Speak Out loud (and not just in your head). Your mouth and tongue need to get used to moving in new ways. Speak every day and hopefully more than once. Try speaking in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. It doesn’t have to be for a long time. Even five minutes each time will help (or course more is even better). And don’t use the excuse that you don’t have anyone to speak to. If there isn’t anyone you can talk to, not even online … then speak alone!

4. AI, Apps, and Technology — The Right Way to Use Them

Let’s talk about technology, because in 2026 this is impossible to ignore.

AI, apps, online tools — they are everywhere.

And for English learners, this is both amazing and dangerous.

Amazing, because learners today have more help than ever before.

Dangerous, because it’s very easy to feel productive without actually improving.

Here’s the first thing I want to say very clearly:

👉 Technology does not create fluency. Behaviour does.

You can have the best apps in the world, the smartest AI, and perfect explanations — and still not speak English confidently if you don’t use the language.

There is an Illusion of Progress

One of the biggest problems I see with modern learners is what I call the illusion of progress.

• You open an app.
• You complete a lesson.
• You get a green tick or some motivating sound
• You feel good. (Dopamine YAY!)

But then someone asks you a simple question in English … and you freeze.

That doesn’t mean you’re bad at English.

It means the tool trained the wrong skill.

If your entire English routine is:

• tapping
• matching
• choosing A, B, or C

Then you are training your thumb, not your mouth.

Understanding English and using English are not the same thing.

How Apps Should Be Used in 2026

So here’s the rule I recommend in 2026:

👉 If an activity doesn’t involve your voice, it’s incomplete.

Use apps – but always add speaking.

• Repeat sentences out loud.
• Read answers out loud.
• Say your mistakes out loud.

And then we have AI .. Artificial Intelligence.

What AI Is Actually Good At:

AI can be good when you use it correctly.

In 2026, AI is best used as:

• A private teacher who is available 24 hours a day.
• A place to ask “Why?” and “What’s the difference?”
• A tool for examples, corrections, and explanations
• A conversation partner when no one else is available

For example, AI can:

• Explain the difference between “I’ve been working” and “I worked”
• Rewrite your sentence in more natural English
• Give you 10 examples of a phrase in context
• Correct your writing and explain the mistake

That’s powerful.

But notice something important:

AI gives you feedback*, not fluency.      

* Sometimes the information that AI gives you is incorrect.

Fluency comes when you produce language.

5. The Most Important Skill in 2026: Speaking Confidence

Many learners understand English.
They can read.
They can listen.

But they don’t speak It.

Why?

Because they’re waiting to be “ready”.

They’re always waiting for that perfect, magically moment in the future when they think they will be ready.

The same thing happened to me when I was learning Spanish. I had been in Chile for 3 months and couldn’t say a thing, all because I was wouldn’t try and speak the language, always waiting for that perfect moment when I knew some more and then would be “ready”.

But here’s the truth:
👉 You will never feel 100% ready.

You will always want to be able to speak that little bit better.

Once I started using Spanish despite all the mistakes I was saying, THAT was when I really started learning so much and started to improve my Spanish and become more confident with it.

Confidence doesn’t come before speaking.
Confidence comes from speaking.

Fluency is built with your mouth, not your notebook.

Even speaking 5 minutes a day out loud can change everything.

• Say your thoughts.
• Describe your day.
• Repeat sentences you hear.
• Talk to yourself.

6. A Simple 2026 English Learning Plan

Let me give you a simple, realistic daily plan:

10 minutes – Listening

Listen to a Podcast, a video, or a short clip about topics YOU are interested in.

10 minutes – Repetition

Pause these podcasts or videos and repeat phrases out loud. Try and copy the style and proNUNciation of the speaker.

5 minutes – Speaking

Talk about your day or what you did yesterday. Maybe answer a question or two like the conversation questions we have.

5 minutes – Review

Save useful phrases and vocabulary so you can use them again tomorrow.

That’s 30 minutes a day.

Not perfect.
Not complicated.
But extremely powerful.

So, how will YOU learn English in 2026?

• Stop using old methods of learning
• Stop waiting for perfection
• Start training like it’s a skill
• Use real English every day

And remember this:

👉 You don’t need better English to start speaking.
You need to speak to get better English.

Thank you for listening.
If this lesson helped you, come back for the next episode, or even better, come and join us live – and keep learning, one small step at a time.

And until next time … Have an awesome day!

You can now listen to Woodward English on Spotify!

Our English Speaking Practice lessons are designed to fit into your day with ease!

Each episode is concise, making them perfect for quick practice sessions, whether you’re waiting in line, have a few moments to spare, or need a productive break. With Rob Woodward guiding you through common phrases in just minutes, you can boost your speaking and listening skills anytime, anywhere.

Start mastering English on Spotify today!

What makes these English lessons on Spotify different?

Convenient Learning: Access lessons anytime on Spotify, perfect for on-the-go practice.

Dual Skill Improvement: Enhance both speaking and listening skills simultaneously.

Native-Speaker Pronunciation: Practice with a real person (Rob Woodward from New Zealand), not an AI voice, to perfect your accent.

Perfect for Parents: Ideal for caregivers to teach children English using daily routines and spaced repetition.

Video Learning: Enjoy the video version on Spotify, allowing you to see each phrase and watch Rob W speak to enhance your learning experience.

Do you want to improve your English speaking skills?

Join Rob Woodward as he teaches you common phrases used in English conversations and daily life so that YOU can speak English fluently.

In each lesson, you will improve your English speaking skills and listening skills at the same time by learning these everyday English phrases for daily life.

These are common phrases in English for daily life as a part of the evening routine.

How to improve your English speaking skills

Shadowing in English teaching / learning is a technique where learners listen to a native speaker (like Rob Woodward in your lessons) and simultaneously repeat what they hear, mimicking the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm in real-time. This method improves speaking fluency, pronunciation, and listening skills by training the ear and mouth to work together, often used in language immersion and practice sessions.

How can you do shadowing with these lessons?

1. Repeat each phrase after me.

• Try to say each phrase the same way I say it.
• Copy the way I say the words together at the same speed.

2. Repeat the lesson again the next day until you naturally sound the same as me.

This is a great way to practice your English pronunciation and improve your listening skills.

Learn the words and phrases you need to improve your English speaking skills and be able to have a conversation with a native English speaker. This series is THE place to start if you want to start learning English and improve both your listening and speaking skills.

Learn English Speaking with this series of lessons:

1. Waking up
2. Bathroom routine
3. Getting dressed
4. Breakfast time
5. Getting ready for school
6. Going to school by car
7. Back from school
8. Extracurricular activities
9. Homework
10. Laundry
11. Dinner time
12. Family time
13. Bathtime / shower time
14. Bedtime

Rob Woodward (an English teacher from New Zealand) appears on the screen saying each phrase. This is to show each lesson is spoken by a REAL PERSON, a native English speaker and not an unnatural computerized robotic AI voice.

English for Parents

This series of English Speaking Lessons is ideal for parents or caregivers. If you are a parent, you can practice English conversations with your children every day using these simple sentences about common daily routines in English.

A lot of the sentences and phrases you say to your children in the morning and after school will be repeated every day.

Using the English phrases in this lesson is a great way for children to learn due to them being repeated every day. It is known as spaced repetition which is essential for them to learn English. This is important when learning English because the phrases are repeated again over a certain amount of time and are less likely to be forgotten.

Are YOU ready to speak English fluently? Listen to our English Speaking Practice on Spotify now and start your journey with Rob Woodward’s video lessons today!

This is our FIRST course on Spotify … more to come soon!

WoodwardEnglish had the incredible opportunity to be invited to NZCreatorCon 2025, held at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. This event is the largest social media creator and branded content conference in Australasia, bringing together 300 of New Zealand’s top creators from YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify, Snapchat, and providing an ideal space for learning and networking within the NZ creator community.

The event started at 9am with yummy breakfast pastries by Paneton (including a lovely lady playing the accordion) followed by a presentation by Andy Escapes (thanks to Sony) who is now a full-time content creator making more than he did at his old 6-figure job as a software engineer. Next we had the amazing energy of Brodie Kane who got everyone up dancing and pumped. (Whatever Brodie has for breakfast to give her that insane energy, I want bucketloads of that!)

Next we had a presentation by YouTube giving us SO MANY useful stats and ideas of what the next big things will be.

Then we had Kirsty Willson, Head of ANZ and Global Partnerships for Meta (Facebook/Instagram/Threads) talking about best practices, lots of stats as well as the experience of local NZ creator exploding from 100K to 750K in one year. Oh, and there was a chance to win a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Glasses.

The next section was getting all of the creators to do something good for the NZ SPCA. On the back of our NZCreatorCon ID, was an SPCA animal that needed a good home. Ours was a good boy called Reuben, a 9-month-old puppy. The best thing, he was adopted within the week.

Then we had an awesome lunch thanks to Burger King and the NZ Breakers (Professional Basketball team) with creators trying their skills on the court.

In the afternoon creators went to different workshops. The first one for me was the Spotify workshop which was SOOOO eye-opening for us. Yes, you will start seeing more of our content on Spotify too over the next weeks.

Just like last year, the food that the five-star Pullman Auckland (Hotel) put on was GOD TIER level good. The photos and videos do not do it justice. There was a lot of seafood, South American style BBQ, Paella that I have to admit I went up for thirds (not just seconds) and since I have a sweet tooth, I enjoyed the lolly well with a doughnut roof.

This was accompanied by live music including Josh Leys and even Kings coming on to perform his radio hit “Don’t Worry Bout It.” Of course, just like last year, the night with everyone singing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Rob’s random thoughts …

It was SO MUCH fun getting to meet other New Zealand creators and them just “getting” what it is all about. There was also SUCH an interesting variety of creators and again I didn’t meet a single “I’m too cool for you” person the whole 12 hours I was there. One of Rob’s personal highlights this year was meeting the amazing Ruby Tui. She is a New Zealand rugby player who has won Olympic medals and was part of the Black Ferns’ 2021 Rugby World Cup victory.

I felt I learnt so much during the event and Ange and I feel VERY inspired to continue our content creation journey and to finally start some weird projects we have had sitting on the sideline for so long.

One of main points that we took from NZCreatorCon this year is that all platforms talked about this year is that Creators must be multi-platform to succeed. Something to think about.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Last night we finally reached 1,000,000 subscribers on our Woodward English YouTube channel.

Ange and I would like to thank EVERYONE who has supported us over the years by watching our videos.

Also, thanks to the MANY English teachers who tell their students to watch our lessons… even if the students do so reluctantly ha ha ha! It helps us a lot!

There are two things that Ange and I have enjoyed the most on this journey:

1. We love reading the comments you make about how we have helped you in some way (either as a teacher OR as a student), that was why we created this YouTube channel… to help others. Yes, we do read EVERY single comment.

2. We have made many friends along the way thanks to their comments and interactions in livestreams.

Again, thank you EVERYONE for supporting us and we hope to continue seeing you in the future!

Rob and Ange

Quick Thought: This makes us one of the largest YouTube channels in New Zealand … though it is funny that nobody HERE in NZ knows who we are. Then again, in New Zealand there are only about 100 people and a few million sheep 😉 ha ha ha!

YouTube Award: Gold Play Button Unboxing

Here is the unboxing of the YouTube Gold Play Button that we received:

We (as in WoodwardEnglish) had the incredible opportunity to be invited to NZCreatorCon 2024, held at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. This event is the largest social media creator and branded content conference in Australasia, bringing together 250 of New Zealand’s leading creators alongside 250 brands and agencies, providing an ideal space for collaboration and networking within the creator economy.

The event started at 9am with breakfast followed by panels by TikTok and Meta (Facebook/Instagram). As a part of the introduction, an interesting point that was mentioned was that in the room, the creators collectively reached 50 million people with 12 of them reaching over a million. The weird thing (in my mind – you know, imposter syndrome) is that Woodward English was ONE of those twelve creators at the event (We reach well-over 1.3 million across just 3 platforms, without including the millions that visit our websites every month). Funnily, since I rarely appear in the limelight, it was soooo easy to go unnoticed. (Note: after this event, things are going to change for all of our own different brands.)

The TikTok Live Creator Panel included @paakadavis (NZ/AUS TikTok Live Creator of the Year 2023) and @Sebgowerart (who creates paintings LIVE out in nature)

The next session started with Aaron McDonald, CEO of Futureverse, and the current state of AI. Next, Jordan Watson (mostly known as the HowToDad) and Brodie Kane (an award-winning journalist who has been all over TV and Radio and social media and …) did a session about Podcasting and the realities about running your own.

After lunch (thanks to HarbourEats) there was another great session for creators by META (you know, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp).

At the META presentation, Kirsty Wilson (META Partner Manager, ANZ) and Adam Rollo (META Solution Manager) gave a fascination presentation about the ways the Instagram App uses its own algorithm to rank content (yes, including the secret sauce that everyone wants to know).

This was followed by Mike and Joelle Legg talking about their experiences becoming viral on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Oh, I almost forget, they talked about Threads being 1-year old and we got a special cookie to celebrate it. 🙂

After the META session, we all went to a variety of workshops including a TikTok “speed-dating” session, the opportunity to talk 1-on-1 with the Facebook team (as well as try out the META Oculus Quest 3 – which was SOOO much fun), we could do many activities to support Red Nose Day and general networking with other creators, brands and talent agencies.

At 5pm, we were given a Māori welcome and presentation (including Haka) before the Pullman Cocktail Party started.

The food that the five-star Pullman Auckland (Hotel) put on wasn’t just a buffet … it was an amazing work of art. The photos and videos do not do it justice. It is not often that I am impressed by luxury but this was next level.

Of course, there was an open bar, live music and many opportunities to connect with other creators and brands in a very relaxed environment. This was also MY opportunity to get on the 360° video machine (impressively without falling off – ok, it’s the camera that is supposed to move, not you).

Rob’s random thoughts …

It was SO MUCH fun getting to meet people of all walks of life. I was honestly a little hesitant at first due to my own misconception that the event would be filled with “young selfie-taking tiktok girls”. Fortunately, this was not the case and I met sooooo many fascinating people doing amazing things. I didn’t meet a single “I’m too cool for you” person the whole 12 hours I was there and there were some BIG creators. (Did I mention there was even the current Miss NZ there?)

One highlight of the cocktail party was everyone singing (or at least trying to sing) Bohemian Rhapsody at the end of the night. Yes, there is physical evidence of Rob squaking … I mean singing.

Surprisingly, YouTube was nowhere to be found at the event at all. That was a HUGE opportunity that they lost. I personally would have loved to have caught up with them.

I felt I learnt so much during the event and feel VERY inspired to continue with content creating and to finally start some weird projects we have had sitting on the sideline for so long.

For more details about the event, you can visit the official site of NZCreatorCon or just look for the #nzcreatorcon hashtag where you will find loads of videos, photos, 360-thingys and a bit of bad singing.

Thanks to CeraVe Skincare Australia & NZ for being the main sponsor of this event and for allowing me to bring Ange some goodies.

I honestly hope to get invited back again next year and fingers crossed that Ange can come as one of our other online brands.

Ver nuestra versión en español (See our version of this article in Spanish): NZCreatorCon en español

She sells seashells by the seashore.

I will say this tongue twister slowly the first time and then I will repeat it at normal speed.

Can YOU say it as quickly as me? (Without making a mistake!)

Ange and I found this large shell AFTER the sun had gone down.
We decided to record this tongue twister anyway without much light which is why the video is a little grainy

I hope you enjoy this example of Rob W. teaching English in the real world.

STARE and STEER are two different words in English, and they have distinct meanings and uses.

Stare – Meaning and Example Sentences

Definition: To stare means to look or gaze fixedly and intently at something or someone.

Usage: You might stare at an interesting painting, stare at someone in surprise, or stare into space while lost in thought.

Example sentences with STARE:

• She couldn’t help but stare at the mesmerizing fireworks lighting up the night sky.
• When the teacher caught him cheating, he avoided eye contact and continued to stare at his desk.
• The curious cat sat by the window, staring intently at the birds chirping outside.
• As the actor performed on stage, the audience was captivated, unable to do anything but stare in awe.
• Feeling uneasy, Jane noticed a stranger staring at her from across the crowded room.
• Why are you staring at me?

Steer – Meaning and Example Sentences

Definition: To steer means to guide or control the direction of a vehicle, animal, or object, typically using a steering mechanism.

Usage: This term is commonly used when talking about driving a car, navigating a boat, or controlling any vehicle or object in motion.

Example sentences with STEER:

He had to steer the boat carefully through the narrow canal.

• Sarah learned how to steer a boat during her summer vacation, navigating through the calm waters of the lake.
• The experienced truck driver had to steer the large vehicle through the winding mountain roads.
• Tim took the reins and tried to steer the horse in the right direction.
• As the car approached a sharp turn, the driver had to quickly steer to avoid colliding with the oncoming traffic.
• The pilot had to skillfully steer the airplane through turbulent weather conditions, ensuring a smooth landing.

Quick Summary

In summary, “stare” is related to looking fixedly at something, while “steer” is related to guiding or controlling the direction of a vehicle or object.

You can see the IPA pronunciation of stare and steer in the video (British English and American English pronunciation).

👆 Click the notification bell so YOU can join me when I go LIVE on YouTube.

Today we are going to see if YOU know MORE English than a native English speaker.

How I am going to do this? By doing a simple quiz.

I have a sentence with a space in it and you have to choose the correct word that goes in that space from the options you are given.

Doesn’t sound difficult, does it?

Well, I bet many native English speakers will answer some of these questions INCORRECTLY … YES WRONG!

Why? These are words that are commonly confused in English when writing, especially by native English speakers.

If you get more than 15 correct, then you probably know more than a native English speaker.

This quiz will have 20 common mistakes native English speakers make whenever they write in English.

Jokes can sometimes be difficult to understand when learning another language so don’t worry if you don’t understand THIS joke. I will try to explain it a little.

What do you call a sad strawberry?

– A blue berry

To feel BLUE is an English idiom that means to feel sad.

A blueberry is actually the name of another fruit.
Here is a picture of some strawberries and some blueberries.

There are many other types of berries such as blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and more. (You can see more types in our English lesson about fruit)

So a strawberry is a type of berry.

If the strawberry is sad … you can also say it feels blue.

So it is a type of sad berry

So we changed the first part of the name strawberry to make it sound like a blue berry … a sad berry.

This sounds similar to the name of the other fruit: the blueberry (written with one word)

10 ways YOU can learn English without leaving your house

In this lesson we have many recommendations and tips about how to improve your English from the comfort of your home.

We also answer these questions:

• How can I learn English by myself?
• What free resources can I use to help me learn English?
• What are some tips to help me learn English?
• How can I learn English online?
• Can I learn English watching TV?
• Can I learn English listening to music?

Before we begin, I’d like to give you a quick tip for learning English in general!

Important tip about learning English

Focus on the vocabulary that you are likely to use immediately.

For example, why would you learn vocabulary about FARM animals if you don’t work on a farm. How often will you use the word GOAT in daily life. You are not likely to say: “Look there are three goats walking down the street!”

You don’t need those words right now. Yes, you can learn them later, but it is important to focus on words and phrases that you can use EVERY DAY! For example:

Parents can use expressions like: get up, brush your teeth, let’s have lunch, Where are your shoes? Where does it hurt?

We have a series of 14 English Speaking Lessons (videos with pronunciation) that are ideal for parents or caregivers. You can practice English conversations with your children every day using the simple sentences about common daily routines in English that appear in these lessons.

It is good to learn words associated with your job. For example:

A real estate agent (that’s a person who sells houses) might need vocabulary such as: sales, rent, mortgage, fees, contracts, etc.

In the area of health, a doctor/nurse or even a receptionist at a clinic, you would need to know vocabulary about different health issues.

BUT the BEST THING is to learn about topics YOU are interested in!

If you are interested in a specific sport like football or soccer, then learn vocabulary about that sport.

If you like cooking, then learn vocabulary about that, for example our cooking verbs lesson that will help you follow the instructions of recipes.

Now, let’s see 10 ways you can learn English WITHOUT leaving the house.

🟢 10 ways to learn English at home

1. YouTube

One of the most popular ways is to learn English on YouTube. You can learn SO MUCH on YouTube. If you ever have a problem, someone most likely posted a video to help you solve that problem.

As I mentioned before, you should learn about topics you are interested in, for example, if you like the area of beauty, you can watch makeup tutorials in English. If you have children, you can watch Parenting videos.

Of course there are thousands of YouTube channels to learn English. I do recommend Woodward English … just saying.

You may notice that our channel is mainly for teenagers and adults who are learning English.

BUT on the topic of Youtube, have you ever participated in a LIVE YouTube lesson?

I usually go LIVE once a month for the public.

Sometimes I have a conversation lesson about a specific topic, sometimes I do a grammar game or an error analysis activity … all LIVE where you, the viewer, can interact in the chat. It’s a great way to practice using your English without leaving your house.

2. Podcasts

Podcasts will help you improve your listening skills A LOT. You can listen to them while you are cooking or doing any other activity at home. There are podcasts that specifically help you learn English or more importantly you can choose a podcast about a topic YOU are interested in. If you interesting in Gardening – there are many podcasts about that.

You can listen to podcasts on Apple devices or on Spotify. Some people even upload their podcast episodes to YouTube.

3. Online 1-on-1 lessons

If you prefer to have direct interaction with a teacher, then you can take online lessons.

In ancient times, people would travel to a language school, sit in the class with many others, sometimes of different levels, then travel back home.

Now, you can learn a language AT HOME. No, the teacher doesn’t physically go to your house.

There are many online platforms where you can have 1-on-1 lessons with a teacher … much like private lessons focused on what YOU need.

Here are two places I have used where you can have 1-on-1 lessons with language teachers:

🌿 Italki *

🌿 Languatalk.com *

* These are affiliate links which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if the affiliate links are utilised to make a purchase. This helps us to continue creating more content for you.

4. Music

Listening to your favorite songs in English is a great way to improve your listening skills.

Why? It is because of repetition. Normally you need to hear or see something multiple times before it sticks in your brain. That is why they always repeat the same commercials on TV .. they want their brand to stick in your brain. The same happens with songs… you hear it so many times that you end up learning the lyrics (including the pronunciation of words in the song) as well as certain structures and phrases.

BUT, be careful! Songs are not always grammatically correct in English. Also, that just repeat the same thing all the time, like “oh baby baby yeah, oh baby baby yeah”, won’t help you much.

Create a playlist with your favourites songs.

5. TV Series / movies

I recommend watching TV series or movies in English WITH English subtitles.

If you like horror movies … watch those. If you like rom-coms which is a short way of saying romantic comedies, watch those. You will hear what they say AND you can follow along with what they say in the subtitles. Don’t use subtitles in your own language.

Again, if there is a movie or series you have watched a million times, those are great since you already know what is going to happen and you can focus more on the language and how they say things.

Here is a lesson about different types of movies / film genres in English.

6. Read in English

Reading will help you improve all areas of English from learning new vocabulary to grammar and spelling.

You can have real books or use a reading device like a kindle. My favorite is to read in bed at night as it helps you to wind down or relax after a busy day.

You don’t only need to read novels. You could read magazines about your area of interest. I wouldn’t recommend Shakespeare. Even native speakers have problems reading his works.

I find reading children books in your target language as ideal since you are learning the vocabulary and structures are appropriate for your level. Even better are graded readers, book focused on certain levels of English.

Another alternative to reading are Audiobooks. These are books that are read to you… great for improving your listening skills.

See this lesson (with a video) about how to improve your English by reading.

7. Keep a diary

A diary is something where you write about the events in your life or sometimes just your thoughts and feelings that day.

A diary can be an old school pen and paper diary (that I like) or via an online blog like wordpress.

Why do I recommend it? It is a great way to learn vocabulary and structures you need in your daily life.

For example: Today I went to the … um … what is the name of that place where you buy food … you can look it up in a dictionary … ah… supermarket.

Today I went to the supermarket and bought some … those white things that come from a chicken… (dictionary again) … ah … eggs. I bought some eggs.

The next day or week you go to write that you went to the supermarket …. You may or may not remember … but after repeating it a number of times, the vocabulary is sure to stick in the brain.

BONUS: Another bonus tip is to write your shopping list in the language you are learning.

8. PLAY in English

When you are having fun, you tend to learn more.

There are many online games and apps to help you learn or practice English. You could also try crosswords or a word search where you need to find the hidden words. We have some on our website (SHOW).

Online video games (via Playstation, Xbox or PC) can also be great. I have met people from all of the world who are interested in the same type of games. If other members in your house are learning English, play a board game like monopoly but try to only use English.

We also have English grammar games and English vocabulary games on our websites.

There is a long list of grammar and vocabulary games in alphabetical order.

You can see we have some grammar games about: Adjectives, Adverbs, Comparatives and Superlatives, Do vs Does, Few vs. Little, Passive Voice, Past tense Irregular verbs … this list goes on. There are games for basic English and for students at an advanced level.

There are also vocabulary games about the bathroom, beauty salons, colors in English, daily routines, a game about the difference between do vs. make, a vocabulary game about Fruit, the kitchen, numbers … again, the list goes on.

There are vocabulary games for students at a lower level up to an advanced level of English.

Check them out!

9. Teachers Pay Teachers – Self Study.

There are also many websites you can use to learn English. But something that teachers and parents often use is a site called Teachers Pay Teachers. These are downloadable resources created by teachers.

This is not only for teachers, but MANY parents use the resources here to help their children learn, not only English but math and science and basically anything you want from kindergarten to university level resources.

A brilliant thing TpT has is EASEL … where you can use digital versions of resources. Great if you are a teacher!

For example: Here is our free English Error Analysis Game. You have the printable PDF version, but also the online version.

10. Woodward English website + grammar + vocabulary

I have kept the best for last … you can learn English at home with the Woodward English websites.

There are articles in English and hundreds of free lessons and videos with pronunciation.

We also have specific websites for English grammar and English vocabulary with more articles and interactive games.

Remember that some people learn much more easily with certain methods. Some prefer listening and others writing.

Use what works best for you.

I hope you found these 10 tips and recommendations useful.

Have an awesome day!

Rob Woodward

This will be the first ever Woodward English Show … yes show number 1.

What exactly happens during the Woodward English Show?

Well, during an hour YOU are going to learn English in a fun way and since it is LIVE from New Zealand, anything can happen!

AND… if you join us LIVE for this show … later you will be able to say to everyone “YES, I was there for the first ever episode.”

The Woodward English show is aimed at adults … both adults learning English OR those who are teaching English and I recommend having at least an intermediate level of English.

ENGLISH TEACHERS: If you would like to show or recommend the Woodward English Show to your students, I recommend watching it first to see if it is appropriate for them. I have a sense of humour that may not always be appropriate for the classroom.

Today’s topic is: NATURAL DISASTERS! 🌋

Today we are going to:

• learn English vocabulary about natural disasters
• learn typical words associated with natural disasters
• learn some phrasal verbs and idioms
• practice listening and reading
• hear a joke … try not to laugh … or cringe!
• have a conversation about experiences with natural disasters
• have a moment for inspiration / motivation
• do a quick quiz
• and MORE!

A LIVE English lesson about GET.

The word GET is used A LOT in English and in this live lesson we are going to learn 20 common expressions with GET including what they mean (their definitions) and example sentences.

The uses of GET in English that we will look at in this lesson include:

• Get lost
• Get on like a house on fire
• Get a pay rise Get fired
• Get out of bed on the wrong side
• Get off my back
• Get on someone’s nerves
• Get a life
• A get-together
• Got it!
• Get going
• Get your act together
• Get to grips with
• Get cold feet
• Don’t get me wrong
• Get back to someone
• Get something off your chest
• Get your foot in the door
• Get to the bottom of something
• Get the hang of something

This is your opportunity to improve your English and learn some new ways to use GET as well as practice your English in the LIVE chat.

This lesson is aimed at students who have an intermediate (or higher) level of English.

Your English teacher today is Rob Woodward from New Zealand.

Come and join us and participate in the live chat!

4 ENGLISH TEACHERS will have a Natural English Conversation about Thanksgiving Day 🔴 LIVE on YouTube.
You can see your LOCAL TIME in the countdown on the video if you want to join us LIVE.

In this LIVE English lesson, Rob will be accompanied by three awesome teachers (Anne, Beverly, and Brenda) to talk about Thanksgiving Day.

Some of the topics we will talk about include:
🦃 What is Thanksgiving Day?
🦃 What is some typical food you eat on this day?
🦃 What are some typical Thanksgiving Day traditions?
🦃 Have you had any interesting experiences during Thanksgiving?
🦃 What are you thankful for?

There will most likely be a lot of new English vocabulary and phrases said in this relaxed and natural conversation so be prepared to learn a lot!

Viewers in the chat can also ask questions about Thanksgiving and we will choose some of the best ones.
Oh, and be warned … Rob will have some terrible Thanksgiving jokes.

You can find out more about our wonderful guests here:

Anne: youtube.com/@laenglishtutorvideos & instagram.com/laenglishtutor
Beverly: youtube.com/@milesandcoffee & instagram.com/milesandcoffee1/
Brenda: instagram.com/brendalachman/

My wife and I have been planning and working on many things behind the scenes over the last months. This is one of them…
🔴 Woodward English en español 🔴
(Woodward English in Spanish)

We have created this NEW YouTube channel dedicated to teaching English to Spanish speakers.
This new channel will mostly be for students at a beginner / intermediate level with explanations in Spanish.

I have already done two live English lessons explained in Spanish on the main Woodward English channel … but from now on, I will be doing these LIVE English lessons with me explaining everything in Spanish on Woodward English en español AND from January 2023, we will start uploading normal lessons too.

Also coming in 2023 is our English course for Spanish Speakers on our website (with corresponding videos)

Aprender Inglés para Hispanohablantes

Mi esposa y yo hemos estado planificando y trabajando en muchas cosas detrás de escena durante los últimos meses. Esta es una de ellas…
🔴 Woodward English en español 🔴

Hemos creado este NUEVO canal de YouTube dedicado a enseñar inglés a las personas que hablen español.
Este nuevo canal será principalmente para estudiantes con un nivel principiante a intermedio en inglés con las explicaciones en español.

Ya he hecho algunas lecciones de inglés en vivo explicadas en español por nuestro canal principal (Woodward English) … pero de ahora en adelante, estas lecciones de inglés (conmigo explicando todo en español) en vivo estarán en Woodward English en español y a partir de enero 2023, subiremos clases de inglés normales como los de Woodward English, pero en español.

PRONTO (en 2023) tendremos nuestro Curso de inglés para hispanohablantes en nuestro sitio web (con los videos correspondientes).

On Friday morning (in New Zealand) I woke up to the news that Queen Elizabeth II had died at age 96.

This was a total shock to me and I’m sure it was for so many others.

That day, I decided to change the LIVE English lesson that I had planned for an open conversation about Queen Elizabeth II.
It was relaxed, it was respectful.

People in the chat shared their thoughts and feelings about this historic event. She had been Queen for over 70 years … that is longer than most people have been alive  on this planet.

What is the Royal Cypher?

One of the curious facts that I mentioned in this conversation was about the Royal Cypher and how it will now change in design due to King Charles III being the new sovereign.

En esta lección de inglés EN VIVO por YouTube, vamos a ver el famoso verbo TO BE.
🛑 Sí, YA SÉ que te han enseñando esta lección miles de veces en los colegios, en institutos y en línea PERO hoy va a ser diferente.
Rob Woodward (de Nueva Zelanda) te va a explicar CÓMO usar el verbo TO BE 👉 DE UNA VEZ POR TODAS.
¡Ya no tendrán que sufrir más!
⚠️ Esta clase de inglés es PARA ADULTOS. ⚠️

En esta clase de inglés para hispanohablantes, vamos a ver:
🌿 Cómo decir tu profesión en inglés
🌿 La diferencia entre A y AN en inglés
🌿 Cómo hablar de países y nacionalidades
🌿 Cómo decir tu estado civil
🌿 Cómo decir tu edad en inglés
🌿 TO BE con adjetivos (descripciones)
🌿 Cómo hacer preguntas con TO BE

Nota: Rob W. no habla español perfectamente, pero demuestra que la perfección no siempre es necesaria cuando quieres hablar inglés u otro idioma. Lo más importante es poder expresarte and comunicar tus ideas con lo que tengas. Entonces sí, es probable que él va a cometer errores mientras habla en español… pero estamos aquí para aprender inglés 🙂

Inglés para hispanohablantes – inglés para principiantes

This LIVE English lesson will explain the verb TO BE to Spanish speakers – Basic English explained in Spanish

How can you improve your English by reading?

Do you need to improve your English?
How can reading help you on your language learning journey?

This week we have a LIVE English lesson on YouTube to answer these questions with our special guest: DELA MARTIN.
Both Rob Woodward and Dela Martin will be giving a LIVE lesson on how to improve your English by reading.
(See the countdown on the video to see your local time)

Some of the topics we will be covering LIVE ON YOUTUBE include:

🌿 Why is it important to read in English?
🌿 How can reading increase your English vocabulary?
🌿 What reading strategies can you use to improve your vocabulary?
🌿 What should you do when you don’t understand a word in English?
🌿 Should you write notes while you are reading? Why?
🌿 Why should you take breaks while you are reading in English?
🌿 What type of books should I read to learn English?
🌿 What is well-rounded exposure and how can it help?
🌿 Should English learners read Shakespeare? Why not?
🌿 What is Young Adult Fiction? Is it any good?
🌿 Don’t judge a book by its cover – What does it mean?
🌿 What happens if I find a book boring? Should I finish it anyway?
🌿 Is reading a lonely way to learn English?
🌿 What is a book club?
🌿 How can a book club help?
🌿 Does reading English out loud help?
🌿 Reading books vs. Audio Books – How are they different?
🌿 Does it help doing both at the same time?

Now I would like YOU to answer these questions:

📚 When do you like to read?
📚 What’s the best place to read for you?
📚 Do you have a comfort book that you like to return to?
📚 What is one of the first books you remember reading?
📚 Do you have a favorite quote from a book?

Teaching on YouTube – Bringing YouTube into the Classroom

I was interviewed by Creator Generation about one of the areas we work in… teaching on YOUTUBE.
(Our Woodward English YouTube channel currently has 739,000 Subscribers).

The title of the interview is:
Bringing YouTube Into the Classroom – Feat. Woodward English

Some of the topics that I covered include:
🌿 Can anyone teach on YouTube?
🌿 How to be a good teacher on YouTube
🌿 Benefits and Limitations of teaching on YouTube
🌿 Keeping an audience engaged
🌿 Tips for educators wanting to teach on YouTube (not just English)
🌿 Using YouTube in the flipped classroom
and much more.

You can watch the interview on YouTube (the video above – much more fun) or listen to the podcast version on Spotify:

Oh, and I tried to behave… honest!

Rob from Woodward English during the Creator Generation Interview

Learn English Together 2022

Learn English Together 2022 Discover your path to English fluency Thursday, 23rd June 2022 Friday, 24th June 2022 Saturday, 25th June 2022

The journey to fluency is different for everyone and the presentations by 21 international teachers will help guide you on this journey.

WHERE?

This event is hosted ONLINE so you can join from anywhere in the world with access to internet. FREE tickets to this event are available here: (No longer available)

PRESENTATIONS

Over three days, 21 teachers will be giving presentations that will help you on your path to fluency. Presentations will be around 25-30 minutes in length and will be available for 72 hours. Why 72 hours? To encourage you to stop waiting for the right time to learn and take immediate action NOW.

THE All ACCESS PASS

An ALL ACCESS PASS is also available once you have registered. The ALL ACCESS PASS gives you access to all presentations for 1 YEAR. As a bonus, there are cool gifts and discounts from our speakers valued at over $500. Some of the ALL ACCESS PASS gifts and resources include:

• Woodward English PDF resource pack (Reading worksheets, flashcards and activities)
• Free one-hour speaking lesson from Dream On ELC.
• Free one-hour session in a conversation club with The Language Circle
• Three-week trial to the Sisters Speaking Transformation with Jo Moir
• Monthly pass to Communication Confidence Group Sessions
• Free access to a Learn Smarter Workshop with Lisa Wood
• Free access to a Connect with your Feelings English workshop with Bekah from English Everyday.
• Free e-book: Interview in English – Get your dream job in the English-speaking workplace by James Levin
• Phonics learning videos and interactive worksheets from Take Flight Phonics
• Downloadable songs and picture books from Yorkshire English Service
• Downloadable games and puzzles package from Giggles English
• Discount on courses and more!

FREE tickets to the event are available here: (No longer available) The ALL ACCESS PASS to the event is available here: (No longer available) (Affiliate link – I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. This help me to continue creating more awesome content.) The All Access Pass is available now for $30 until 22nd June 2022. The All Access Pass will be $50 from 23rd June until 30th June.

Speakers & Topics

There are 21 speakers covering a variety of topics:

• Christine Ishii – Kids2Kids Finding and Sharing Your Spark!
• Dela Martin – Dela Teaches Reading Know-How in English
• Anna Karwowska – Polca Languages A practical guide to boosting your English. Cognitive science put to action
• Bekah Bottone – English Everyday What is Tapping? Connect with yourself and practice English at the same time
• Lori Piper Baker – Lori’s Language Lab Are We There Yet?
• James Levin – English Arrow No one can teach you to be fluent
• Yoko Reynolds – Global Mom to Mom Building your own English-speaking community
• Marama Carmicheal Kishimoto – Giggles English Learning English is fun! – learn English through games, quizzes, songs and videos.
• Roxana Arean – Dream on ELC How do I get fluent in English? A view from neuroscience
• Clare Whitmell – English at Home How To Get Confident In English
• Maria Gabriella Aguirre – Growing Up – Creciendo Juntos – English Program Yes, you can! – Helping your children become bilingual!
• Jonathan Huggins – Huggins International Daily Speaking Practice is the Key to Fluency
• Rebecca Tomlinson – Yorkshire English Service Five ways to help your children to speak English
• Audrey Smith – English on the Run Being unstoppable in English – the 4 pillars for success
• Rob Woodward – Woodward English 10 ways to learn English without leaving the house
• Rocio Rojas M – The Language Circle From zero to fluent: How to finish what you started
• Jordana Matsuda – Heron Kids Tokyo/Take Flight Phonics What are phonics and why your child should learn them
• Lisa Wood – Your English Self The Fluency Puzzle: 4 things you need to improve your fluency
• Karina Pearl Thorne – Share Your Story with Confidence Towards Creative Fluency
• Jo Moir – Sisters Speaking Transformation Stuck for words? How to activate your vocabulary.
• Abigail Fulbrook – English with Abigail Why Making Friends is the secret to learning

FREE tickets to the event are available here: (No longer available)

LIVE English lesson on YouTube

A LIVE English lesson on YouTube with Rob Woodward from Woodward English… coming soon!
(See your local time and date on the video)

Today we will be playing a game called THE CORRECT WORD. This is an error analysis activity.
Can you get 30 out of 30 correct?

A sentence will appear on the screen which MAY or MAY NOT be correct because of one word in it.
The student/viewer needs to write/say whether the sentence is correct or not.
If the sentence is NOT correct, they also need to say WHY it is not correct and give the correct word.

Today’s lesson is ideal for English students who need more practice writing and speaking correctly.
I have used this exact activity in class many times. Students find it useful to reinforce correct English use and to help avoid common mistakes.

This is your opportunity to improve your English and learn some new vocabulary and grammar.
Come and join us and participate in the live chat!