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English from zero: a 30-day starter plan

Fifteen to twenty minutes a day for thirty days: survival phrases, numbers and time, ordering and asking, small talk, then your first language exchange. Honest about what that gets you.

Your ticks stay in this browser only. If your browser blocks storage, the plan still works; it just will not remember.

What is realistic in 30 days

About 8 to 10 hours in total. That is enough for the basics, not fluency.
You can greet people, introduce yourself, handle a café or a shop, ask for directions and the time, and say a few things about yourself.
You will mostly not follow a fast conversation. Native speakers talking at normal speed will still be a blur. Partners at an exchange who slow down are the point.
Fluency takes months to years. This plan gets you to the first real conversation, which is the part most people never reach.

Phrases are neutral English. Spelling and some words differ between British and American English (the bill / the check).

0 of 30 days done

Days 1-7: survival basics

Day 1Hello and thank you
Say the five phrases aloud three times each. Say hello to someone in the language today, even a shop assistant or a video.
- Hello · Hello
- Goodbye · Goodbye
- Please · Please
- Thank you · Thank you
- Sorry / excuse me · Sorry / excuse me
Day 2When you are lost
Learn the four rescue phrases. They are your safety net for every later day. Practise saying them calmly, as if you meant them.
- I don't understand · I don't understand
- Could you repeat that, please? · Could you repeat that, please?
- Slower, please · Slower, please
- I'm learning English · I'm learning the language
Day 3Introduce yourself
Write your own four sentences: name, where you are from, nice to meet you. Say them to a mirror or record 20 seconds.
- My name is… · My name is…
- What's your name? · What's your name?
- Nice to meet you · Nice to meet you
- I'm from… · I'm from…
Day 4Yes, no, how do you say
Learn to ask for a word. Today, name five objects around you and find or ask for their words.
- Yes / No · Yes / No
- How do you say …? · How do you say …?
- What does … mean? · What does … mean?
- Do you speak English? · Do you speak English?
First phrases (firstphrases.app)
Day 5Numbers 0 to 10
Say them aloud, then read your phone number or house number in the language. Count the steps on the stairs.
- 0 to 10: zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Day 6Numbers to 100 and prices
Learn 11 to 20, then the tens. Read three prices from a shop flyer or website aloud.
- 11 to 20: eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty
- 30 to 100: thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred
- How much is it? · How much is it?
Day 7Review and voice memo
Say all phrases from days 1 to 6 without looking, and record a 60-second voice memo. Re-learn the three you forgot.
- Hello · Hello
- Thank you · Thank you
- I don't understand · I don't understand
- My name is… · My name is…
- How much is it? · How much is it?

Days 8-14: numbers, time, ordering, asking

Day 8Days and "today / tomorrow"
Say the days of the week. Describe your week in single words: Monday work, Friday dinner.
- Days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- today / tomorrow · today / tomorrow
Day 9What time?
Practise asking for the time and the time of an event. Say three times of day from your own schedule.
- What time is it? · What time is it?
- What time? · At what time?
Day 10Order a coffee
Rehearse a full order: coffee, water, the bill. If you can, order for real in the language, or play the scene with a friend.
- A coffee, please · A coffee, please
- Water, please · Water, please
- The bill, please · The bill, please
Day 11Say what you want
Learn "I would like", "with" and "without". Build five orders from a menu you can see online.
- I'd like… · I'd like…
- with / without · with / without
- Please · Please
Day 12Where is the toilet?
Practise asking where things are: toilet, station, exit. Ask out loud, then listen for the answer pattern.
- Where is…? · Where is…?
- the toilet (US: the restroom) · the toilet
Day 13Left, right, straight
Learn the directions and walk your route at home, saying the directions out loud.
- left · right · straight on · left · right · straight on
- Where is…? · Where is…?
Day 14Review and voice memo
Play a café scene: order, ask the price, ask for repeats, ask where the toilet is. Record 90 seconds and listen back.
- A coffee, please · A coffee, please
- Where is…? · Where is…?
- What time is it? · What time is it?
- Could you repeat that, please? · Could you repeat that, please?

Days 15-21: small talk

Day 15How are you?
Learn the greeting exchange and answer with your own mood. Practise the full loop: hello, how are you, fine and you.
- How are you? · How are you?
- Fine, thanks. And you? · Fine, thanks. And you?
Day 16Where are you from?
Say where you are from and where you live. Add one extra detail you can say (city, country).
- I'm from… · I'm from…
- I live in… · I live in…
Day 17Work or study
Learn how to say what you do. Prepare two sentences you will say at a language exchange.
- I work in… / I study… · I work in… / I study…
- I live in… · I live in…
Day 18Likes and dislikes
Say five things you like and two you do not. These are the easiest topics to start a chat on.
- I like… / I don't like… · I like… / I don't like…
Day 19Weather and small talk
Small talk starts with the weather. Learn two lines and one follow-up question.
- It's cold / It's hot · It's cold / It's hot
- How are you? · How are you?
Day 20Making a plan
Learn to suggest a meeting and say goodbye until tomorrow. Practise the question "what time?" again.
- Shall we meet tomorrow? · Shall we meet tomorrow?
- See you tomorrow · See you tomorrow
- What time? · At what time?
10 hellos challenge
Day 21Rehearse the first 3 minutes
Write a three-minute script: hello, name, origin, work, one like, a question back. Say it once from memory. This is your meetup opening.
- How are you? · How are you?
- My name is… · My name is…
- I'm from… · I'm from…
- I work in… / I study… · I work in… / I study…
- I like… / I don't like… · I like… / I don't like…
- Shall we meet tomorrow? · Shall we meet tomorrow?
Tandem programmes

Days 22-30: your first language exchange

Day 22Find your language exchange
Open our listing for your language and city (links below), pick one event, and check the organiser's official page for date, level and entry. Save the date.
English
Day 23Prepare five questions
Write five simple questions you can ask a stranger (name, origin, work, hobby, how long here). Practise saying them.
- What's your name? · What's your name?
- I'm from… · I'm from…
- I live in… · I live in…
- How are you? · How are you?
Day 24Ask for corrections
Learn to ask people to correct you and to explain words. At an exchange these three phrases keep the chat going.
- Could you correct me? · Could you correct me?
- What does … mean? · What does … mean?
- How do you say …? · How do you say …?
Day 25Your first language exchange
Go to the event you picked (or an online one). Goal: introduce yourself, ask three questions, understand one answer. Ten minutes in the language is a win.
- Hello · Hello
- My name is… · My name is…
- Nice to meet you · Nice to meet you
- I'm from… · I'm from…
- I'm learning English · I'm learning the language
- Slower, please · Slower, please
Tandem programmes English
Day 26Reflect
Write down three words you missed and one thing that went well. Add those words to your list.
Day 27Follow up
Learn to suggest meeting again. Message someone you met, or choose your next exchange.
- Shall we meet tomorrow? · Shall we meet tomorrow?
- See you tomorrow · See you tomorrow
- Thank you · Thank you
Day 28Go again
Attend a second exchange or a different group. Repeat your opening from memory and add one new sentence.
First-week plans
Day 29Review your mistakes
Review your three most common errors and the words you needed. Spend today fixing only these.
Day 30Plan your next 30 days
Look at what you can do now and choose your next target. See the sprint and first-week plans linked below.
30-day speaking sprint First-week plans

Free resources

Only free resources we checked on the date shown below. We have no relationship with them. (2026-10-27)

How to use this plan

Spend 15 to 20 minutes a day. Say every phrase aloud; reading silently does not count.
Tick the day when done. Missed a day? Do it next, do not restart.
Days 7, 14 and 21 are review days with a voice memo. Listen to yourself.
From day 22 you book a real language exchange. Going alone is normal there.

Frequently asked questions

Can I learn English in 30 days?

You can learn the English basics. At 15 to 20 minutes a day (about 8 to 10 hours) most beginners can greet, introduce themselves, order and ask simple questions. Fluency takes months to years.

How do I practise speaking English with real people?

Pick a English language exchange from our listings, check the organiser's official page for date and level, and go. From day 22 this plan walks you through it.

Do I need to pay or sign up?

No. The plan, the printable checklist and our listings are free, and your ticks stay in your browser.

What if I miss a day?

Do the missed day next and carry on. Do not restart; consistency over weeks matters more than a perfect streak.

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