At the start of 2021, my English skills were almost nonexistent. I couldn’t understand spoken English, forming a sentence felt impossible, and I had no clue where to begin.
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But I had a strong motivation—I wanted to study in Canada. I knew that if I wanted to achieve this dream, I had to get serious about learning English.
What happened next? I went from barely knowing the basics to reaching a B2 level in just 10 months—without spending a single dollar.
Here’s exactly how I did it.
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2. Why Traditional Methods Didn’t Work for Me
Like many beginners, I started with Duolingo. But after a month of using it, I realized something…
❌ I wasn’t making any real progress.
❌ I still couldn’t understand spoken English.
❌ I had no idea how to structure my learning.
I then tried another app called Cake, which helped me learn a few words, but I still had no strategy for improving my English.
I knew I had to find a different approach—one that actually worked.
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3. The Breakthrough – Finding the Right Learning Approach
After spending hours searching through forums, I stumbled upon a YouTube channel that focused on English grammar. The method was simple:
✔️ 20% theory – Learning grammar rules in a simple way.
✔️ 80% practice – Translating from Russian to English over and over again.
This method changed everything. Instead of passively consuming content, I was actively engaging with the language.
One test consisted of 7,000 sentences spread across 200 videos. I decided to complete it all.
4. Step 1: Immersive Learning – Surrounding Myself With English
I quickly realized that immersion was the key to rapid improvement. I started surrounding myself with English as much as possible:
📱 Changed my phone and laptop language to English.
📺 Watched YouTube videos, news, and movies in English.
🎧 Listened to podcasts and music in English daily.
📖 Read Reddit posts, articles, and books in English.
At first, I understood almost nothing. But after just a few weeks, my brain started to adjust to the language.
5. Step 2: Structured Practice – The 80/20 Rule for Language Mastery
While immersion helped me get used to English, I also needed structured practice to improve faster.
Here’s what I did:
✅ Daily Grammar Drills – I followed the YouTube course and completed thousands of translation exercises.
✅ Vocabulary Building – Instead of Anki or Quizlet, I used an app called Reword to memorize words.
✅ Consistent Study Time – I spent 2-3 hours per day on active learning.
By April 2021 (4 months in), my level had improved to strong A2. I could understand 30-40% of videos without subtitles.
6. Step 3: Speaking and Writing – The Key to Fast Progress
By May 2021, I realized that if I wanted to reach fluency, I needed to start speaking with real people.
How I Practiced Speaking & Writing:
🗣️ Used HelloTalk to chat with native speakers.
📝 Started commenting on Reddit & YouTube in English.
🎙️ Practiced pronunciation using the American Phonetic Alphabet (Sounds American channel).
At first, my messages had grammatical mistakes, but native speakers understood me—and that was all that mattered.
By June 2021, I took an IELTS mock test and scored B1 (Intermediate).
That’s when I knew—this method was working.
7. Overcoming Challenges – The Intermediate Plateau
By month 7-8, I hit the Intermediate Plateau—a stage where progress feels slow.
Even though I could communicate, I still struggled with:
🔹 Fast speech (especially native speakers talking casually).
🔹 Complex sentences and idioms.
🔹 Confidence when speaking in real-time.
How I Pushed Past This Stage:
✅ Watched full TV shows in English (with subtitles at first, then without).
✅ Practiced speaking in real-time with native speakers on Discord.
✅ Focused on learning more advanced vocabulary and idioms.
By October 2021, I took another IELTS mock test and scored 6.5 (B2 level).
8. Final Results – Was It Really Possible in 10 Months?
Did I become 100% fluent? No.
But did I reach a solid B2 level in under a year? YES.
By the end of 10 months, I could:
✅ Understand 80-90% of spoken English.
✅ Have full conversations with native speakers.
✅ Watch movies and news without subtitles.
✅ Express my thoughts in writing without a translator.
And the best part? I did it all for FREE.
9. Advice for Other Language Learners
If you want to reach a B2 level in a new language quickly, here’s what I recommend:
1️⃣ Immerse Yourself Completely
🔹 Change your phone, apps, and social media to your target language.
🔹 Listen to music, podcasts, and watch videos in the language daily.
🔹 Read articles, Reddit posts, and books in the target language.
2️⃣ Use a Practical Learning Method (80% Practice, 20% Theory)
🔹 Don’t just study—apply what you learn immediately.
🔹 Do grammar drills and practice translating sentences.
🔹 Learn vocabulary in context, not just isolated words.
3️⃣ Start Speaking as Soon as Possible
🔹 Use apps like HelloTalk or Tandem to chat with native speakers.
🔹 Join Discord servers or online communities.
🔹 Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—just keep talking.
4️⃣ Stay Consistent – Even When Progress Feels Slow
🔹 Study every single day (even if it’s just 30 minutes).
🔹 Track your progress so you stay motivated.
🔹 Accept that the intermediate plateau is normal—push through it.
Final Thoughts – Is Learning a Language in 10 Months Realistic?
If you’re wondering whether you can do this too, my answer is YES.
It’s not about having a special talent—it’s about dedication, consistency, and smart strategies.
💬 Have you tried learning a language? What’s your experience? Drop a comment and let’s discuss!