1. Start with the Simplest Things
Of course, to achieve the best results, you should begin with the simplest concepts. Don't overwhelm yourself by cramming too much knowledge, as this may lead to a fear of the subject without any real progress. Struggling with verb conjugation exercises and sweating over it? Start by mastering the basic tenses first. Having difficulty with word categories? Begin by understanding how words are formed in English. Can't decide between using the base form of a verb or the -ing form? Focus on learning the different ways verbs can be combined. It's really not that difficult! Spend time mastering the basics, then gradually build up your knowledge, and you'll find that nothing feels overwhelming anymore.


2. Little by Little, Big Things Will Come
Little by little? This phrase is timeless. By steadily accumulating knowledge, you’ll notice that those small efforts eventually add up. Over time, what seemed small will grow, and you won’t regret the effort you’ve invested in learning bit by bit. It’s not the size of the task that matters—small steps count. Learn a few new words each day. Memorize some new sentence patterns every evening. Practice your listening skills by listening to music while jogging. At home, watch short videos without subtitles and see how much you can understand! Gradually, you'll become proficient in English, speaking fluently before you even realize it.


3. Learning Through Practice
Learning through practice is essential! Knowledge alone is just a jumbled mess if it’s not applied in real life. For example, today you learn about fruits in class? When your mom buys a bag of grapes, oranges, apples, etc., try saying their names in English and practicing their pronunciation. Or in your home, challenge yourself to learn how things are written and pronounced in English. For instance, you could write the word 'refrigerator' on a sticky note and attach it to your fridge. Every time you open it for a snack or a cold drink, you'll reinforce the word 'refrigerator.' Try playing a game of guessing the English names of objects while walking outside. And when you’re at school, greet your friends and start conversations in English, encouraging them to practice speaking with you. This method is not only fun and engaging, but it will also help you a lot. You now have another tip to conquer your fear of English!


4. Progress Together as a Team
Team up with a friend who is also skilled in English, preferably someone better than you, to help guide your learning. Being around that person will motivate you to study harder. After all, you won't want to fall behind your friend. Together, you’ll improve! This method may sound old-fashioned, but it’s highly effective. As long as you stay persistent, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.


5. Time to Accelerate
Once you’ve fallen in love with the subject, become familiar with the one-minute-a-day rule, mastered the basics, and sparked your motivation, you’ll find that your fear of the subject is gradually fading. At this point, it’s time to step up your game, set goals, and push beyond your limits. As your skills improve, you’ll reach a point where learning feels effortless, like a kite soaring in the wind! Once you take control, your fear will vanish. After all, when you conquer your own fears, there’s nothing left to fear! Keep going strong!


6. Turn Your Fears Into Fun
Fear means that we are still controlled by it! We fear something because we can't seem to grasp its essence or pinpoint its weaknesses. So why not do the opposite? Turn your fear into a fun challenge. If you fear something, make it a point to face it head-on. No need to run away from it. Just keep pushing to conquer your fears. With the 8 tips mentioned earlier, nothing will stand in your way. Before you know it, the fear of a foreign language will disappear. Then, you’ll realize how far you’ve come and how much you’ve progressed. There’s nothing to fear when your fear becomes your joy.


7. No more fear
This is the ultimate stage of your efforts. "No more fear!" This is the result you’ve been striving for, isn’t it? You will definitely achieve it. When there’s no more fear, it means you have mastered the English language. Now, you will control it, not the other way around as it used to be! Keep going, you will see tremendous improvement. Try these 9 methods, and you’ll see the results soon. Over time, it will also help you build perseverance, and you won’t feel discouraged anymore.


8. Build a strong motivation to learn English
If you are studying, learning English is essential to unlock the world of knowledge that you cannot access with just your native language. All the top-quality schools around the world use English as the medium of instruction. Furthermore, much of the valuable information you seek for your studies is written in English on the internet. So why wait? Find the motivation and effective strategies to learn English now.
If you are working or seeking a better job, learning English becomes even more urgent. Without English, you’re closing off many doors to great job opportunities. Especially in industries that follow international regulations, like aviation, medicine, IT, and tourism, being proficient in English is a must. In most other industries, large multinational companies require senior management positions to have intermediate or advanced English proficiency to meet job requirements. So, to seize these opportunities, quickly equip yourself with the motivation and effective strategies to learn English.
In addition to learning English for academic and career purposes, it is also highly practical for your everyday life. Knowing English will improve your quality of life, make traveling abroad easier, and provide you with the tools to explore and understand the world, which would be difficult without it. Knowing English also opens up opportunities to connect with friends from around the world and easily share information about studies, work, and life.


9. Set reasonable step-by-step goals for learning English
Your ultimate goal is, of course, to achieve a high level of English, which can be measured through scores from international English exams such as TOEIC, IELTS, or TOEFL. Alternatively, you might consider yourself proficient when you can comfortably communicate with foreigners and speak fluently in English. To reach this level, the key to learning English is setting small, manageable goals that gradually increase over time. Avoid setting unrealistic targets within a short period, as they may lead to frustration. When you first start learning, it may take several months to reach a basic level. Likewise, progressing from a basic to an intermediate level requires a significant amount of time.
Your goal-setting path for learning English is like a staircase leading up to a tall building, where each small goal is a step to move you closer to the top. Don’t set goals that are too high, like steps that are too steep, as it will be hard to reach the next step. Likewise, don’t make goals that are too easy, like steps that are too small, which will waste your time. The key is to find a balance that suits your ability. If you can comfortably learn 10 words a day, set a reasonable goal by adding 20% more, making it 12 words a day. Setting goals at 120% of your usual capacity is a smart approach.
The key to mastering English is understanding that it’s a process that requires persistence—getting good at it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, and the pace may vary depending on each person’s abilities.


10. Develop an action plan to achieve your goals and stay persistent in executing it
Once you know your current level, what your target is, and by when you aim to achieve it, the next step in learning English is to set an action plan. This includes defining what tasks to complete, what to study, how to approach it, and where to carry it out. For example, if you find your speaking and listening skills lag behind your reading skills, incorporate additional methods in your plan to improve communication skills. You could join weekly English conversation clubs or set a goal for each class to speak in English at least once. Online English communication courses are also available, such as those held via Skype.
If your vocabulary is limited, focus on expanding it by using dictionaries. You can estimate your vocabulary level simply. For instance, to check if you know 500 words, pick 10 random words from a 500-word English dictionary, and if you can pronounce, write, and understand their meanings, you can roughly say you've mastered 500 words. Similarly, to reach 1,000 words, aim to memorize a 1,000-word dictionary.
When creating an action plan, the more detailed and realistic it is, the higher your chances of successfully achieving the desired outcome.
Once you have a solid action plan, the next step is to put it into action. To effectively learn English, you need to be persistent and continuously follow through on your plan, making sure to track your progress regularly.


11. Periodically assess your progress, compare your goals with the steps taken, and continuously explore new methods
It's important to periodically evaluate your progress and compare it with the goals you have set. Be sure to set measurable, real-world targets, such as scores from international exams. For example, if your goal for the month is to score 250 points on the TOEIC listening test and your previous score was 200, achieving 250 or more on your retake means you are on track and your strategies are working. If the result is much lower than your goal, it's time to adjust your approach, increase your effort, or try a new method.
By evaluating your progress against your goals, you'll identify areas where improvement is needed, allowing you to continuously refine and enhance your approach. If your reading comprehension scores haven't improved, it means that your vocabulary and grammar knowledge still need work, and you should increase your efforts or seek more effective study techniques. Through ongoing improvement, you’ll gradually perfect your English learning “machine” and become more effective over time.


12. Find yourself a good teacher
Learning English is a long-term process that requires a lot of effort and perseverance. However, relying solely on self-study without the guidance of a teacher makes it difficult to progress quickly. Seek a knowledgeable and experienced teacher who can provide clear direction and help you develop a learning method that aligns with your goals. Additionally, you can consider joining reputable language centers that offer structured courses to support your learning journey.


13. The One-Minute Rule: One Minute Every Day
The One-Minute Rule is a creative and fascinating method from Japan. Why not apply this concept to learning English? I bet it would be both fun and highly effective. This approach not only tackles laziness but can also improve your English skills. What are you afraid of? There are many reasons, but once you grasp the essential point, fear will no longer hold you back.
Each day, set aside just one minute to study vocabulary. Just 60 seconds—surely, anyone can manage that! With this brief time, you could memorize two new words, commit an English formula to memory, or even practice pronunciation for one minute. Even in just 60 seconds, you can make progress. The question is, does it really make a difference? Well, it does!
You need to practice this one-minute task every single day—no skipping! By alternating between vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking practice, all in just 60 seconds per day, you’ll build a consistent learning habit. Learning won't feel so overwhelming anymore, and the pressure to cram everything in will fade away. Over time, this method will make English learning feel easier, and while the knowledge may be small, you'll grasp it firmly. When you no longer find English knowledge difficult, and you’re no longer afraid of it, try increasing your study time. But remember, increase it gradually. Slow and steady wins the race—don’t rush. Try the One-Minute Rule every day, and you’ll see how much it can benefit you.


14. Learn to Love It
Anything you do is easier if you enjoy it, right? If you despise it, how can you find the motivation to study? One reason you might fear English is because you dislike or feel overwhelmed by this complex subject. So why not try creating a passion for it?
There are many ways to fall in love with learning English, and I’ll show you one of them. First, change your learning approach. Use flashcards to study vocabulary, bit by bit, each day, or even try learning English vocabulary through images to boost your retention.
Make a habit of spotting anything related to English in daily life and take the time to explore it. Slowly, you’ll start to see the fun side of this subject, and learning will feel easier. The fear of not being able to overcome it will fade away. Learn to love it. Once you love it, you won’t be afraid anymore, and you’ll be motivated to push through the challenges.


15. Tự tạo hứng khởi trong học tập
Đây cũng là một cách để bạn có thể giảm bớt nỗi sợ hãi môn tiếng Anh. Gắn từ vựng lên bàn học, đầu giường...nhưng với số lượng nhỏ thôi nhé, nhiều quá là sợ hãi chuyển thành kinh hồn khiếp vía luôn đó. Nghe nhạc bằng tiếng Anh, luyện nói trước gương, hay là xem những bộ phim thú vị bằng tiếng Anh, với những loại phim nước ngoài, bạn nên xem bản Vietsub - phụ đề tiếng Việt. Nó vừa giúp bạn học cấu trúc ngữ pháp nhanh, ngữ nghĩa nhanh và cả cách phát âm nữa. Bạn sẽ tiến bộ nhiều so với cách học khô khan trước đây. Xem phim nghe nhạc, thú vị mà đúng không nào, vậy là tạo được hứng khởi trong học tập rồi. Nhớ đừng đi quá giới hạn chỉ suốt ngày xem phim nghe nhạc mà không học hành gì là được. Thử ngay đi nhé!


