Top 4 Ways to Improve Your English Level: A Real-World Experiment & Results

If you ask anyone for the best way to learn a specific skill, you’ll get a different answer based on their own experience. It’s like learning to drive: one person tells you to hire a private instructor, while another tells you to just drive on empty streets at dawn. Because opinions on learning English are so conflicting, I decided to conduct a practical experiment to test the Top 4 most famous ways to learn English.

I dedicated 4 hours to each method, taking placement tests before and after the experiment (starting at an A2 level) to see which methods produced real results and which were just a waste of time.

1. Duolingo (The Green Bird)

I started with the most famous app in the world. I took the placement test and jumped into the lessons.

• The Experience: The app relies heavily on translating sentences and typing. It was easy at first, but the biggest challenge was spelling. In English, pronunciation often differs from writing, and this is where the app focuses.

• Pros: It teaches you new vocabulary (like "Foggy") and is excellent for fixing your spelling mistakes.

• The Verdict: It serves as a good side tool or a game to kill time, but it is poor as a primary method and you cannot rely on it alone to learn the language.

2. Educational YouTube Channels (ZAmericanEnglish)

The second method was following an intensive course on YouTube, specifically the "ZAmericanEnglish" channel by Mr. Ibrahim Adel.

• The Experience: The golden rule I applied here was: "Don't memorize isolated words, build sentences." I also used the "Picture Description" technique, where you try to describe an image in English regardless of mistakes to improve fluency.

• Pros: Grammar is explained in a very logical and smart way, focusing on understanding rather than memorizing.

• The Result: It was a shock! My test score jumped significantly (from 13 to 17), and my level moved up from A2 to B1.

• The Verdict: The best method for establishing a foundation and learning grammar. It was the most effective for raising my level in a short time.

3. Discord (Social Practice)

The third method involved joining dedicated language learning servers (like "The English Hub") to talk with strangers.

• The Experience: I entered voice rooms and spoke with people from all over the world. It was fun, but it requires social courage.

• Pros: Free, entertaining, and it drastically improves Listening and Speaking skills because you hear different accents.

• Cons: You might encounter some "weird" people. Also, if your level is very low, people might leave the chat because they want to practice with someone who can hold a conversation.

• The Verdict: An excellent way to break the fear barrier and practice for free, but it requires a high level of social confidence.

4. Cambly (Private Tutors)

The final and most advertised method: speaking with native tutors.

• The Experience: I faced some technical and scheduling issues initially, but once the lesson started, the tutor was very professional. My tutor advised me to "Slow down" while speaking.

• Pros: You get advice customized to your specific level, and the tutor corrects your mistakes patiently and professionally, unlike random people on Discord.

• Cons: It is expensive. The cheaper plans offer very limited time (e.g., 30 minutes a week), which isn't enough for rapid improvement.

• The Verdict: Excellent quality, but high cost. (30 minutes on Cambly is roughly equal to an hour on Discord in terms of focus and value).

The Summary & Final Ranking

After finishing the experiment, here is the ranking of the methods from best to worst based on value versus time:

1. First Place (For Grammar & Foundation): YouTube (ZAmericanEnglish). This yielded the biggest jump in test scores and actual understanding.

2. Second Place (For Conversation): Discord & Cambly. Both are great for speaking. Discord wins on being free with unlimited time; Cambly wins on professionalism and guidance.

3. Last Place: Duolingo. Not recommended as a primary learning method; keep it only for filling spare time.

Final Tip: To truly master English, combine the foundation from YouTube with the practice from Discord or Cambly, and don't rely on games alone.