English is the most widely spoken language in the world, used by around 1.5 billion people across more than fifty countries (Ethnologue). Learning English means building the ability to understand, speak, read and write the language that connects international business, education, travel and online life. Whether you are a student preparing for university, a parent planning for your child, or a working professional advancing your career, this guide explains how English is learned, how proficiency is measured against the CEFR, and which certificates prove it. At SPRACHCAFFE we have taught languages since 1983, so our focus stays on what works in real practice.
Global Language
English is the world's most widely used international language for travel, study, business, and online communication.
Cultural & Travel
English opens the door to global culture: movies, music, books and traveling.
Career & Salary
English skills significantly improve job prospects, access to international companies, and chances for promotion
Access to Knowledge
Most top universities, academic research, professional resources are available primarily in English
Why learning English is worth it
English opens doors on several fronts at once. It is the dominant language of international business, travel and online communication, which makes it the single most useful language for working across borders and for developing the communication skills that international teams rely on. It is also a key to global culture, from films and music to books and journalism, and it remains the main language of higher education and research, since most leading universities and academic resources publish primarily in English.
The career effect is measurable. A 2024 study by Pearson, which surveyed more than 5,000 English-as-a-second-language speakers across Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Italy and Florida in the United States, found that 80% of respondents see English proficiency as directly linked to earning potential, with strong English skills valued as highly as an 80% salary increase. In the same study, 75% of advanced English speakers reported satisfaction with their income, compared with 47% of beginners (Pearson plc, 2024). English is also the most widely studied foreign language across Europe [Quelle bestätigen: Eurostat/Eurobarometer], which means that improving your English connects you to a large community of fellow learners and to employers who expect it.
English as a global language
English has approximately 380 million native speakers and around 1.5 billion speakers in total, including more than 1.1 billion who use it as a second or foreign language. By total speaker count it is the most spoken language in the world, ahead of Mandarin Chinese, although Mandarin remains the largest by native speakers alone (Ethnologue). This global reach is the practical reason so many people choose to learn English: it is the language you are most likely to share with someone from another country.
| Country | Region | Status | Native Speakers (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | North America | Primary language | 300M+ |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Primary language | 60M+ |
| Canada | North America | Official language | 20M+ |
| Australia | Oceania | Primary language | 25M+ |
| Nigeria | Africa | Official language | 5M+ |
| Ireland | Europe | Official language | 4.5M+ |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Official language | 4M+ |
| South Africa | Africa | One of 11 official languages | 5M+ |
| Jamaica | Caribbean | Official language | 3M+ |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Caribbean | Official language | 1M+ |
Demand keeps rising. More than 1 billion people are currently learning English as a foreign language, with projections of growth to 2 billion learners, driven especially by China, India and Africa (British Council; Graddol, D., English Next).
How to learn English effectively
Research on second-language acquisition consistently shows that the best way to learn English combines comprehensible input (Krashen, 1985) with comprehensible output (Swain, 1985). Input alone, through listening and reading, builds passive understanding. Output, through speaking and writing, is what turns passive knowledge into active fluency. This is why conversation practice, language exchange and real-world use accelerate progress faster than grammar drills on their own.
Input and output: the core of fluency
A balanced routine works best. You take in the language by reading graded texts, listening to podcasts and watching films, and you produce the language by speaking from the first lesson, writing short pieces, and joining a language exchange. The most successful learners treat speaking not as the reward at the end but as a daily habit from the start.
How long it takes to learn English
Cambridge English estimates that learners typically need around 180 to 200 hours of guided learning to move from one CEFR level to the next, for example from A2 to B1 or from B1 to B2. If you want to learn English fast, intensive study compresses these timelines considerably compared with one or two weekly lessons at home. At SPRACHCAFFE, with roughly 30 lessons per week combined with daily real-world use, many learners progress from beginner level to around B1 in about 8 to 12 weeks.
Pronunciation and accents
Modern teaching no longer treats a single accent as the only correct one. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is the universal standard for representing speech sounds and is used by language schools worldwide to teach pronunciation systematically, whichever accent a learner prefers. Two reference accents dominate international teaching: Received Pronunciation (RP), the traditional British "BBC English" now spoken by an estimated 2 to 3% of UK residents, and General American (GenAm), the relatively neutral accent used by national broadcasters in the United States. SPRACHCAFFE schools in Malta and the United Kingdom teach British English, while the school in Canada teaches North American English.
| Level | Name | Description | Can-Do Statements |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | Basic ability to use and understand simple everyday expressions. | Introduce yourselfIntroduce yourself and ask simple questions. and ask simple questions. |
| A2 | Elementary | Understands frequently used expressions related to everyday topics. | Handle simple conversations and routine tasks. |
| B1 | Intermediate | Deals with most situations likely to arise while travelling. | Discuss experiences, plans and opinions. |
| B2 | Upper Intermediate | Understands the main ideas of complex texts. | Communicate fluently and present arguments. |
| C1 | Advanced | Understands a wide range of demanding texts. | Express ideas clearly in complex contexts. |
| C2 | Proficiency | Understands virtually everything heard or read. | Communicate precisely and effortlessly. |
Recognised English certifications
Five families of English certifications are internationally recognised as proof of language proficiency, all aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):
| Certificate | Issuing body | CEFR levels | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (International English Language Testing System) | British Council, IDP IELTS Australia and Cambridge | A1 (Band 2) to C2 (Band 9) | University admission worldwide, immigration to the UK, Australia and Canada, professional registration |
| TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | ETS (Educational Testing Service) | A2 to C2 (0 to 120 scale) | University admission worldwide, especially the United States |
| Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency | Cambridge (University of Cambridge) | A2 (Key) to C2 (Proficiency) | University admission, employment and professional recognition. Valid for life with no expiry date |
| TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) | ETS | A1 to C1 | Workplace and corporate English, particularly in Asia and Europe |
| Pearson PTE Academic | Pearson | A1 to C2 (10 to 90 scale) | University admission worldwide, UK and Australia visa applications |
Sources: British Council (britishcouncil.org), Cambridge (cambridgeenglish.org), ETS (ets.org), Pearson (pearsonpte.com).
Most universities in English-speaking countries require CEFR B2 or C1 for academic admission, typically IELTS 6.0 to 7.5, TOEFL iBT 80 to 110, or Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced.
Exam Preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge)
How difficult English is to learn
English is often considered accessible at the beginner level. Sentence structure stays relatively simple, verbs change less than in many other Indo-European languages, and early progress feels motivating, which keeps new learners engaged. Complexity increases at higher levels, where pronunciation patterns, spelling and phrasal verbs take time and exposure to master. To reach an advanced level you need to hear real speech and understand how the language works in everyday life, and fluency develops through consistent practice over time rather than through shortcuts.
Smart learning: combining methods and resources
The most effective learners combine structured study with daily input from authentic English-language resources. A few sources stand out for their quality and their alignment with the CEFR.
- Free authoritative resources: British Council (learnenglish.britishcouncil.org) for graded reading, listening and grammar across all CEFR levels, BBC Learning English (bbc.co.uk/learningenglish) for daily audio, video and quizzes, Cambridge English (cambridgeenglish.org) for official exam-aligned practice, and VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com) for news in simplified English at three difficulty levels.
- Apps for habit-building and grammar: Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, Memrise, Rosetta Stone and Mondly.
- Speaking practice: live tutors on italki, Preply and Verbling, and language exchange on Tandem, HelloTalk and Speaky.
- Academic and business English: Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare and FutureLearn, with specialised courses for academic writing, business communication and exam preparation.
These tools work best alongside structured immersion that builds in daily speaking practice, because output is what turns knowledge into confident fluency.
Discover learning English abroad
Find out more
Cambridge English estimates around 180 to 200 hours of guided learning per CEFR level, for example from B1 to B2. Intensive immersion of 20 to 30 lessons per week, combined with daily use, shortens these timelines significantly.
You improve fastest by combining input and output in real situations: read and listen daily at a level that stretches you slightly, speak from the start even when you make mistakes, and review feedback so the same errors do not repeat. Pairing self-study with a teacher or a language exchange keeps progress steady, and consistent practice matters more than occasional intensive bursts.
They are the six CEFR levels defined by the Council of Europe. A1 and A2 cover basic use, B1 and B2 independent use, and C1 and C2 proficient use. B2 is the level most universities and employers expect.
The five internationally recognised families are IELTS, TOEFL iBT, the Cambridge English Qualifications, TOEIC and Pearson PTE Academic. All are aligned with the CEFR and are used for university admission, immigration or professional purposes.
Online learning works well for building vocabulary, grammar and listening through apps, courses and live tutors. It is most effective when paired with regular speaking practice, because output is what turns knowledge into fluency.
English is accessible at the beginner level thanks to its simple sentence structure and verbs that change little. It becomes more demanding at higher levels, mainly because of pronunciation, spelling and phrasal verbs.
SPRACHCAFFE has taught languages since 1983 and runs group and one-to-one courses in seven languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and German. English is taught at SPRACHCAFFE schools in Malta, England, Canada, South Africa and Germany, with online courses too. Every learner takes a placement test on arrival and joins a class at their level, from A1 to C2, in small groups of usually up to ten to fifteen participants depending on the school. Standard courses include 20 lessons per week of 45 minutes each, and intensive courses run to 30 lessons per week. SPRACHCAFFE offers exam preparation for Cambridge English, IELTS and TOEFL at its schools in Malta, London and Vancouver. Accreditations include FELTOM, the British Council, English UK, Languages Canada and Instituto Cervantes, depending on the school.