How to Learn English: What Actually Works (According to Research)

If you're reading this, you've probably already tried the usual stuff. Grammar exercises. Vocabulary flashcards. Maybe some app that makes you translate sentences about owls drinking milk. And you're still here, which means something isn't working.

Here's the thing—most English learning methods are designed around what's easy to teach, not what actually helps you acquire a language. The research on language acquisition is pretty clear about what works, but almost nobody applies it correctly.

I spent weeks digging through actual academic research—Cambridge publications, linguistics studies, language acquisition frameworks—to figure out what credible sources actually say about learning English. Not blog posts from random people. Not YouTube polyglots selling courses. Actual research from institutions that study this stuff for a living.

The Research Says Grammar Drills Are Mostly Bullshit

The biggest finding? The way most people study English is backwards.

Stephen Krashen, one of the most influential linguists in second language acquisition, spent decades researching how people actually learn languages. His work on "comprehensible input" basically says: you acquire language by understanding messages in that language, not by memorizing rules.

Think about it. When you learned your first language as a kid, you didn't study verb conjugations. You heard people talk, you understood what they meant (usually), and your brain figured out the patterns.

This doesn't mean grammar knowledge is useless. It means the traditional approach—study grammar rules first, then try to use them—doesn't match how your brain actually acquires language. The Cambridge research on Communicative Language Teaching backs this up: meaning comes before form. You need to use the language for real communication, and grammar instruction works best when it happens in context.

What the CEFR Actually Tells You (And Why It Matters)

Before we get into methods, you need to understand where you are and where you're going.

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) breaks language proficiency into six levels:

This isn't just some arbitrary system. The Council of Europe developed it specifically so people across different countries and programs could describe language ability consistently. And here's what matters: each level requires a different approach.

If you're A1 trying to study like you're B2, you're going to have a bad time. If you're B1 doing beginner exercises, you're wasting your time.

Most English learners I see are stuck doing A1-level activities (basic grammar drills, simple flashcards) when they should be consuming B1-B2 content and letting their brain figure out the patterns naturally.

The Comprehensible Input Theory (i+1)

Krashen's research introduced this concept called "i+1." Your current level is "i." The best learning happens when you consume content at "i+1"—just slightly above what you can currently handle.

Not i+0 (too easy, you're just reviewing). Not i+5 (so hard you can't understand anything). Just one step above.

In practice? If you understand about 70-90% of what you're reading or watching, you're in the sweet spot. Your brain can use context to figure out the remaining 10-30%, and that's where learning happens.

This is why comprehensible input through real content works so much better than artificial textbook dialogues. Real content is interesting, which keeps you engaged. And when you're engaged, you consume more, which means more input, which means faster progress.

Spaced Repetition Actually Works (But Not How You Think)

The research on spaced repetition is solid. Hermann Ebbinghaus figured out in the 1880s that spacing out your review sessions works better than cramming. Modern algorithms (like the SuperMemo system) optimize this by showing you information just before you're about to forget it.

But here's where most people screw it up: they use spaced repetition for isolated words.

"Apple = manzana. Dog = perro. Table = mesa."

That's not how language works in your head. You don't think "apple" and then translate it. You just know what an apple is, and you might know the word in multiple languages simultaneously.

Better use of spaced repetition? Full sentences. Phrases in context. Chunks of language you actually encountered while consuming content. We cover this more in our guide to spaced repetition for language learning, but the key is: review what you've actually seen used, not what some app developer thinks you should learn.

What to Actually Do at Different Levels

A1-A2 (Beginner): Build Your Foundation

At this level, you need:

The research on immersion-based learning (Dynamic Immersion methodology) shows that visual context helps. When you see an image of someone greeting their friend while hearing "Hey, how's it going?", your brain connects the meaning directly without translation.

B1-B2 (Intermediate): The Messy Middle

This is where most people get stuck. You can understand simple content, but native-level stuff is still too hard.

The research on Task-Based Language Teaching has something useful here: you learn best by doing actual tasks in the language, not by studying about the language.

Instead of grammar exercises, try:

And here's the thing—you're going to make mistakes. The research on Communicative Language Teaching is clear: fluency develops through meaningful communication, even when you're making errors. You fix accuracy later, in context, when it matters.

This is actually where overcoming the beginner stage gets real. You have to be okay being bad at something until you get better.

C1-C2 (Advanced): The Final Push

At this level, you're not learning English anymore. You're refining it.

The research suggests:

The ACTFL guidelines for Advanced-level speakers emphasize being able to handle unexpected complications and narrate across time frames. That only comes from real practice, not textbook exercises.

Why Most Apps and Methods Fall Short

The research is pretty damning for traditional approaches:

Grammar-translation methods? Communicative Language Teaching research from the 1970s showed these don't develop actual communication skills.

Pure immersion without support? The comprehensible input research says you need to understand what you're consuming. Being confused in Spanish for six months doesn't make you fluent.

Gamified apps? They can be motivating, but if all you're doing is translating sentences about owls, you're not developing real language competence. The Task-Based Language Teaching research emphasizes authentic tasks, not artificial exercises.

Most language learning platforms optimize for engagement and daily streaks, not for actual acquisition. They keep you coming back, but they don't give you what the research says you need: comprehensible input at the right level, spaced repetition in context, and opportunities for meaningful practice.

The Migaku Approach: Actually Applying the Research

This is exactly why we built Migaku the way we did.

The research says you need comprehensible input at i+1? Our browser extension lets you learn from actual content—Netflix shows, YouTube videos, articles you actually want to read—with instant word lookups so you can understand enough to keep learning. You're not stuck with textbook dialogues about buying train tickets. You're watching shows you care about, and your brain is acquiring English naturally.

The spaced repetition research says review in context? When you look up a word while watching a show, we save the sentence where you found it, not just the isolated word. You review the whole phrase, in context, with the timing optimized by our SRS algorithm. It's not "happy = feliz." It's "I'm so happy you came!" in the exact scene where someone said it.

The research on different proficiency levels needing different approaches? Our system adapts to what you already know. Look up lots of basic words? We'll focus there. Already understand most of a show? We'll highlight just the new stuff.

And here's what really matters: you're spending your time consuming content you actually enjoy instead of forcing yourself through boring exercises. The Cambridge research is clear that motivation and engagement matter. When you're watching a show you're legitimately interested in, you'll keep going. When you're doing grammar drills, you'll quit.

Try Migaku free for 10 days. Watch a show, read an article, learn from content that actually interests you. See if learning from real stuff works better than whatever app you've been forcing yourself to use.