Learning English can feel awkward, nerve-wracking, and a little intimidating. Many learners hesitate to speak because they’re scared of making mistakes. Others feel stuck, thinking they’re not “good enough” to hold a conversation. But here’s the thing: learning a language doesn’t have to be a stressful, textbook-heavy process. It can actually be fun, engaging, and something to look forward to.

As an ESL tutor for Japanese students at Rarejob for almost a year now, I’ve seen how the right approach makes all the difference. Some of my students start out shy, barely saying a word. But when they realize learning can be lighthearted—when they’re encouraged to speak without fear of judgment—they begin to enjoy the process. And once they start having fun, their progress speeds up naturally.

This guide will share simple, enjoyable ways to make English learning feel less intimidating—let’s get started!

Make the Learner Feel At Ease

The first step to making English fun is creating a relaxed, judgment-free environment where students feel comfortable trying—and even messing up—without pressure.

Encourage a No-Pressure Mindset

Many learners believe they need to speak perfectly from the start. That’s not how language works. Think about how toddlers learn to talk—they make plenty of mistakes, but no one criticizes them. Instead, they get encouragement. English learners need the same kind of support.

Example: If you’re guiding someone, reassure them that making mistakes is part of the process. A simple “Even native speakers make mistakes! The important thing is that you’re trying” can help ease their nerves.

Respect Their Comfort Level With Corrections

Not every learner wants to be corrected all the time, especially older students. Some feel discouraged when interrupted too often, while others want immediate feedback. The best approach? Ask them from the start how they prefer to be corrected.

Example:

• If a student says, “Just let me know if I say something wrong,” gently correct them in real time.
• If another says, “I just want to practice speaking freely,” hold back on corrections and focus on encouragement.

For those who don’t want corrections mid-conversation, try writing down their mistakes and discussing them later. This keeps the flow of conversation going without making them feel self-conscious.

Make Conversations Feel Natural

Instead of treating every lesson like a formal exam, turn conversations into everyday interactions. Structured lessons have their place, but casual chats help learners loosen up.

Example: Instead of drilling “How are you?” in a stiff, textbook-style way, try:

• “Hey, how was your weekend?”
• “What’s something fun you did today?”

These open-ended questions encourage real answers instead of one-word responses.

Adjust the Difficulty to Avoid Overwhelm

When learners feel lost in a sea of unfamiliar words, they may shut down. Meet them at their level and introduce challenges gradually.

Example: If a student struggles with long sentences, break them down:

• Instead of “What kind of hobbies do you have?” start with “Do you like music?” → “What songs do you like?” → “Oh, so you like pop music!”

Small steps help learners stay engaged without feeling frustrated.

Celebrate Progress, Even Small Wins 🌟🌟🌟

A lot of learners focus on what they can’t do yet and overlook how much they’ve improved. Celebrating small wins keeps motivation high.

Example: If a student says, “Yesterday I go to the park,” instead of pointing out the mistake right away, respond with:
✔ “That’s great! You’re telling me about your day in English! Now, let’s tweak it a little: Yesterday, I went to the park.”

This shifts the focus to improvement rather than errors.

Create a Comfortable Learning Atmosphere

A relaxed environment makes all the difference. If you’re teaching, smile, use a friendly tone, and be patient.

Example: If a learner feels too nervous to speak on camera, start with audio-only conversations or even voice messages. When they feel more confident, ease into video calls.

When learners feel at ease, they absorb more, enjoy the process, and naturally become more confident in their English.

Make Learning Interactive

English is much easier to grasp when learning is hands-on, engaging, and—most importantly—interactive. The more learners actively participate, the faster they absorb and retain what they’re learning.

At Rarejob, we’re lucky to have structured teaching materials that support this interactive style. The materials provide engaging questions, discussion prompts, and role-playing scenarios that help learners practice naturally. However, I’ve heard that in some ESL platforms, tutors can use their own methods, like online games and interactive activities. Here are some ways to make learning interactive:

Use Games to Make Learning Fun

Games turn learning into an exciting challenge rather than a chore. They keep learners engaged and help them practice English without feeling like they’re studying.

Examples:

• Word Association – One person says a word, and the next has to say a related word (e.g., “beach” → “sand” → “waves”). This boosts vocabulary naturally.
• Charades – Act out words or phrases, and the learner has to guess them. This works well for verbs and everyday expressions.
• Kahoot or Quizizz – Online quiz games that make grammar and vocabulary lessons feel like a competition.

Even a simple spelling bee or crossword puzzle can turn an ordinary lesson into an interactive experience.

Turn Conversations Into Role-Playing Scenarios

Many learners struggle with real-life conversations because they don’t get enough speaking practice in realistic situations. Role-playing helps them get used to common phrases and responses.

Examples:

• Ordering at a Restaurant – One person plays the waiter, and the other orders food.
• Job Interviews – Practice answering common interview questions.
• Shopping Scenes – Simulate a conversation between a customer and a cashier.

At Rarejob, our materials include role-play sections that encourage learners to step into different scenarios. While these are structured, they’re great for building confidence and helping students get comfortable with practical conversations.

Incorporate Interactive Learning Apps

Technology has made language learning easier than ever. Apps provide instant feedback, keep track of progress, and make lessons feel like a game.

Recommended Apps:

• Duolingo – Gamifies language learning with bite-sized lessons.
• Anki or Quizlet – Flashcards for memorizing new words.
• BBC Learning English / EnglishClub – Interactive lessons with videos, quizzes, and activities.

For students who enjoy structure, apps can be a great supplement to regular lessons.

Engage With Visual and Audio Learning

Some learners absorb information better when they can see or hear it rather than just reading it. Mixing different learning styles makes English more interactive.

Examples:

• Watch short video clips and have learners summarize what they understood.
• Listen to English podcasts and try to catch key phrases.
• Use picture prompts – Show an image and ask learners to describe it in English.

These activities boost comprehension while keeping things engaging.

Encourage Learners to Teach Someone Else

One of the best ways to reinforce knowledge is to explain it to someone else. When learners have to teach a new word or grammar rule, they process the information more deeply.

Example:

• After learning five new words, have the learner explain their meanings to a friend or family member.
• If they struggle with a grammar rule, ask them to create an example sentence and explain why it’s correct.

Teaching forces learners to think critically and gain confidence in their understanding.

Interactive learning keeps English from feeling like a dull subject and turns it into an engaging experience.

Incorporate Pop Culture and Entertainment

Pop culture—movies, music, TV shows, and social media—offers a fun, natural way to absorb the language. It helps learners pick up slang, expressions, and real-life conversations without feeling like they’re studying.

Movies and TV Shows – Watching with subtitles (first in English, then without) helps with listening skills. Shows like Friends or Modern Family are great for casual conversations, while movies with clear dialogue, like Pixar films, are ideal for beginners.

Music and Lyrics – Singing along to English songs improves pronunciation and rhythm. Apps like LyricsTraining turn songs into interactive listening exercises.

Social Media and Podcasts – Following English-speaking influencers, reading tweets, or listening to short podcasts exposes learners to everyday language in bite-sized content.

Comics and Books – Graphic novels and light fiction keep reading fun. Starting with short, simple books helps build confidence.

Mixing entertainment with learning makes the process feel effortless.

Use Humor and Creativity

Laughter makes learning memorable. When English lessons include humor and creativity, they feel less like work and more like a fun experience. Plus, learners retain information better when it’s linked to something amusing.

• Turn Mistakes Into Laughs – Instead of stressing over errors, have fun with them. Keep a “Funny English Fails” notebook or laugh about misunderstandings. Example: A student once said, “I eat my computer for breakfast.” A quick laugh and a gentle correction (“You mean cereal, not computer!”) make the lesson lighthearted and effective.
• Use Jokes and Memes – English jokes and puns teach wordplay, pronunciation, and cultural references. Memes are also great for learning casual expressions.

When learning feels like play, progress comes naturally.

Turn Mistakes Into Learning Opportunities

Mistakes are proof that learning is happening. Instead of fearing errors, learners should see them as stepping stones to improvement. The key is to handle mistakes in a way that builds confidence rather than discouraging progress.

Normalize Mistakes

Everyone, even native speakers, makes grammar slips and pronunciation errors. The difference? They don’t let those mistakes stop them from speaking.

Example: A learner says, “Yesterday I go to the store.” Instead of immediately correcting them, respond with, “Oh nice! Yesterday, you went to the store? What did you buy?” This way, they hear the correct sentence naturally without feeling criticized.

Laugh It Off

Some mistakes are just funny. A student once told me, “I have many hairs in my soup.” (They meant “There’s a hair in my soup”). Instead of making them feel bad, we had a good laugh and turned it into a memorable lesson.

Mistakes are part of the journey. The more comfortable learners become with them, the faster they improve.

Personalize the Learning Process

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to learning English. Some learners pick up words quickly through conversation, while others need visual aids or structured lessons. Customizing the process makes learning more engaging and ensures that it aligns with the student’s needs and goals.

Understand the Student’s Purpose for Learning

Before diving into a lesson, it’s important to ask: Why is the student learning English? Is it for work, travel, business meetings, or just for fun? Knowing this helps tailor lessons to be more relevant and useful.

Example:

• A student learning English for work may need business-related vocabulary and email writing practice.
• A traveler would benefit from role-playing airport or restaurant conversations.
• A casual learner might enjoy light discussions and vocabulary-building activities.

When lessons match real-life situations, students feel more motivated because they immediately see the value in what they’re learning.

Check Progress Before the Lesson

If a student is a repeat learner, it’s helpful to check what they’ve learned in previous sessions. Reviewing their progress ensures that lessons build on what they already know instead of repeating the same content or jumping ahead too quickly.

For new students, a simple question like “How long have you been studying English?” or “What’s the hardest part of English for you?” can give insight into where to start.

Example: If a student struggles with speaking fluently, prioritizing conversation practice over textbook exercises would be more beneficial.

Focus on Interests

Learning becomes much easier when it revolves around topics the student actually enjoys. If someone loves sports, use English sports news or commentary as a learning tool. If they enjoy movies, suggest watching with subtitles first, then without.

Example: A student who loves food can practice by discussing recipes, learning restaurant phrases, or watching English cooking shows. This way, learning feels less like a chore and more like a fun, everyday activity.

Adapt to Their Learning Style

People absorb information in different ways:

• Visual learners benefit from pictures, videos, and written exercises.
• Auditory learners grasp concepts better through listening to podcasts and spoken explanations.
• Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing—acting out words, using gestures, or engaging in hands-on activities.

Set Realistic, Personalized Goals

Instead of vague goals like “I want to be fluent,” break them down into smaller, achievable steps:

• Short-term goal: Learn five new useful phrases this week.
• Long-term goal: Hold a 10-minute conversation in English by next month.

Tracking progress prevents frustration and keeps motivation high.

Adjust the Learning Pace

Some students prefer fast-paced lessons with intensive practice, while others need a slower, more casual approach. Respecting their comfort level helps prevent stress and burnout.

Example: A busy professional may only have time for short daily lessons, while a student preparing for an exam might need structured, in-depth sessions.

By understanding why a student is learning English, keeping track of their progress, and adjusting lessons based on their style and pace, learning becomes much more effective. English then turns into a useful tool for their daily life, rather than just another subject to study.

Final Thoughts

Helping students learn English doesn’t have to feel like a rigid, textbook-driven process. When lessons are interactive, relaxed, and built around their interests, learners naturally gain confidence and improve faster. As tutors, our role isn’t just to teach grammar and vocabulary—it’s to create a learning experience that feels engaging, encouraging, and practical for real-life use.

Every student is different, and the best way to help them succeed is by making lessons enjoyable and tailored to their goals. If you’re passionate about guiding learners and making English fun, why not turn it into a career? Apply now at Rarejob and start making a difference, one lesson at a time!