Self-studying English for busy people

A self-study method for English.

Reading

Do this first — it builds patience and creates its own motivation.

How: pick 3 to 5 topics you love, start with your favorite one, then expand outward. For the first month, read at least one article every day. Read each piece all the way through — never abandon one midway, no matter what. Gradually add more articles over time.

Reading sources — by topic (default)

• BBC , The New York Times , The New Yorker , The Atlantic , The Guardian , Bloomberg , Wall Street Journal : politics, science, society, technology, finance.
• The Athletic , ESPN , Sky Sports , Daily Mail : sports.
• Hacker News , TechCrunch : enterprise tech.
• MacRumors , 9to5Mac , 9to5Google : consumer tech.
• Polygon : gaming.
• The Direct , The Hollywood Reporter : film.
• Google mobile app: every kind of news, tuned to your interests.
• Sequoia blog , a16z blog , NFX blog : tech-investing philosophy.

Listening

Listening follows reading.

How: binge on topics you love, whether or not you understand everything yet. Focus on YouTube (shorts, normal, long form) and Netflix/HBO for films. Use English subtitles — read and listen at the same time, then try listening without reading, then check the subtitles to correct your ear.

Listening channels — by topic (default)

• MKBHD , Waveform Podcast , Dave2D , JerryRigEverything : tech reviews.
• Kurzgesagt , Big Think : philosophy and popular science.
• Tifo Football (The Athletic) , Sky Sports , The Overlap : sports.
• Auto Focus : car reviews.
• ZackDFilms : everything (shorts only).
• JRE , Lex Fridman , Hot Ones : podcasts.
• Physics Girl , vt.physics, Veritasium , StarTalk : physics.
• Hannah Fry , Eddie Woo : math.
• Fireship , Theo — t3.gg : tech.
• Startup Archive : startups.
• Casey Neistat : vlogging.
• Every Frame a Painting , Outstanding Screenplays : film.
• Funny or Die , Key & Peele : comedy.
• Green Aqua , ADA , The King of DIY , MJ Aquascaping : aquascaping, fishkeeping.
• Vsauce , Tom Scott , TED Talks , TED-Ed : everything.
• CNBC , CNN : news.
• The B1M : megastructures.
• Adam Savage's Tested , Mark Rober : engineering.
• Primitive Technology , Outdoor Boys : wilderness living.
• SmarterEveryDay , Steve Mould : science.
• NileRed , NileBlue : chemistry.
• BBC Earth : nature.
• GeoGlobeTale : geography, history.

No single channel (any format):

• Jordan B Peterson : philosophy.
• Jimmy Carr , Ricky Gervais : British stand-up.

Writing

Write everything in English — at work, chatting with friends, posting on Facebook/Zalo/TikTok. Find friends who will switch the conversation into English with you.

Speaking

It will come on its own.