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    Learn English with Rosetta Stone

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    English is everywhere — in airports, job applications, menus, films, and conversations across the globe. It’s often the first step towards new experiences, new opportunities, and greater independence.

    Whether you’re learning for your career, education, or everyday life, you can start building real communication skills right away. You don’t have to be perfect — you just have to begin. With the right tools, progress comes faster than you think.

    Why learn English?

    English is spoken by more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, and it provides a widely recognised standard in education, business, and media. Learning it unlocks opportunities, helps you communicate with people from across the world, and strengthens your understanding of other English varieties.

    Whether you’re applying for a job, studying abroad, or meeting new people, English gives you the tools to participate fully and confidently.

    Top reasons to learn English

    • Speak with the world: English is spoken in over 100 countries and across every continent.
    • Travel smarter: From airports to restaurants, English is often the go-to language in international settings.
    • Grow your career: Many global companies require or prefer English proficiency.
    • Access global culture: Understand literature, news, music, and TV in their original form.
    • Learn for life: Mastering English boosts memory, confidence, and communication skills.

    English language basics

    Where is English spoken?

    English is spoken by more than 1.5 billion people worldwide — either as a native, second, or foreign language. It’s the official language in countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and it’s commonly used in global business, travel, and education.

    How long does it take to learn English?

    It depends on your goals, but daily, consistent practice makes a big difference. Even short sessions (10–15 minutes a day) can lead to steady improvement. You’ll likely understand and speak basic English within a few weeks, especially with Rosetta Stone.

    A young family at a classic red double-decker bus stop in London.

    English proficiency: from beginner to advanced

    Beginner

    Focus on pronunciation and essential grammar:

    • Start with common greetings and practical phrases: Hello, Hi

    • Learn essential verbs like to be, to have, to want

    • Talk about people, places, and routines

    Intermediate

    Build on the basics:

    • Use present, past, and future tenses

    • Understand directions, menus, and everyday situations

    • Hold short conversations and write simple messages

    Advanced

    Approach fluency by refining skills:

    • Use complex grammar and varied sentence structures

    • Express emotions, opinions, and abstract ideas

    • Read books, follow the news, and watch films

    Core English skills

    Pronunciation tips

    English pronunciation varies across regions:

    • Multiple sounds for letters:

      Some letters sound different depending on context — for example, the “a” in cat vs. cake, or the “o“ in hop vs hope.

    catcake
    • Word stress matters:

      Stress can change meaning. For example, PREsent (noun) vs. preSENT (verb).

    present (noun)present (verb)
    • Silent letters:

      Many words include letters that are not pronounced, such as the “k” in knight.

    knight
    • Vowel sounds:

      Some vowel sounds differ from other varieties of English, e.g., bath → bahth, lot → closer to lawt.

    bathlot
    • Regional variation:

      Accents vary widely — even within the UK, vowel sounds, rhythm, and intonation differ. Listening to clear standard pronunciation first helps build confidence.

    • Practice listening and repeating:

      Regularly listening to native speakers — via media, podcasts, or audiobooks — helps tune your ear and improve pronunciation naturally.

    Friends relaxing at a sunny outdoor café near the beach in Sydney.

    Vocabulary and origins

    English has borrowed words from many languages, including Latin, French, and German, which means you may already recognise words like hotel, piano, or restaurant. Understanding these roots helps you spot patterns and learn faster.

    Useful phrases

    • HelloHello
    • How are you?How are you?
    • Thank youThank you
    • Nice to meet youNice to meet you
    • Can you help me?Can you help me?

    English verbs

    English verbs change for tense and subject. For example: I go, he goes, we went, they will go. Regular practice helps these patterns become second nature.

    Nouns and articles

    English uses the articles a, an, and the, and nouns can be singular or plural (dog / dogs). Some rules have exceptions, but consistent exposure helps.

    Best ways to learn English

    • Online: Study anytime with Rosetta Stone on desktop or mobile. Sign up now!
    • Classroom learning: Structured group practice for steady progress.
    • Private tutoring: Get 1-on-1 support tailored to your goals. The best source for English tutors is Wyzant.
    • Language exchange: Practice speaking with fluent or native speakers.
    • Immersion: Live, work, or travel in an English-speaking region to boost fluency.

    Media and tools to support learning

    • Dictionaries & tools: Use Vocabulary.com, Dictionary.com, or Thesaurus.com to look up definitions, hear pronunciations, and expand your word knowledge.
    • Books: Start with children’s books or adapted short stories.
    • Music & podcasts: Listen to English songs or learner-friendly podcasts.
    • TV & films: Watch with English subtitles to improve comprehension and vocabulary.
    • Quick assessments: Take short speaking or writing tests with Emmersion to measure your progress over time.

    Learn English with Rosetta Stone

    Rosetta Stone’s award-winning program is built to get you speaking naturally and confidently:

    Real-world speaking practice

    Voice recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation.

    Clear grammar support

    Learn structure without memorising endless rules.

    Smart review

    Spaced repetition reinforces what you’ve learned.

    Cultural insights

    Understand how English is used around the world.

    A lively scene in a Dublin café with friends chatting in English over tea and scones.

    Take the first step

    Rosetta Stone offers a free first lesson so you can start right away. Whether you're learning English for work, school, travel, or personal growth — Rosetta Stone will guide you every step of the way.

    Get started

    What’s included with your subscription

    Achieve fluency faster with Rosetta Stone’s expert-designed Dynamic Immersion courses.

    Perfect your accent with TruAccent speech recognition technology and sound like a native speaker.

    Access to Rosetta Stone on web or mobile—learn anytime, anywhere!

    What our customers are saying

    Customer photo for review of Rosetta Stone.

    I absolutely love the approach that Rosetta Stone utilizes. It feels like a natural and fun way to learn a new language. I also appreciate that I’m able to squeeze lessons in when I only have 10 minutes… and it’s a more productive and enjoyable activity than getting sucked into online scrolling just to distract myself. Why not learn a new language instead?

    - Turner
    Customer photo for review of Rosetta Stone.

    I have been using Rosetta Stone for over 30 years. By far, this is the best application for language learning. There are no language crutches, only immersion. You learn in a natural way and move forward quickly. Apps with games are fun, but you learn more slowly, and you are always “translating,” not immersing. Rosetta Stone makes language learning interesting and efficient.

    - Graham