How do I start learning English from zero?
The most effective sequence for absolute beginners: (1) Learn the English alphabet and basic phonics — understand how English letters correspond to sounds; (2) Learn numbers 1 to 100, colours, days of the week, and months — foundational reference vocabulary; (3) Start Flash Cards with high-frequency A1 vocabulary (greetings, family, food, body, school, home); (4) Add basic sentence patterns (My name is…, I am…, This is…, I have a…) alongside vocabulary; (5) Listen to simple English audio (BBC Learning English, YouTube beginner lessons) for 15 minutes daily; (6) Use Matching Pairs and Balloon Pop to reinforce vocabulary in a game context. Avoid grammar study for the first two to three weeks — build vocabulary first.
How many words do I need to know for basic English communication?
Research by Paul Nation on English vocabulary frequency shows: the 1,000 most frequent word families cover approximately 80% of everyday English; the 2,000 most frequent cover approximately 90%; the 3,000 most frequent cover approximately 95%. For a usable working vocabulary in simple conversations, 1,000 to 1,500 words is a practical initial target. The good news is that English has substantial overlap between its most frequent words, and many are short, easy to learn words (a, the, be, have, do, go, can, this, that, good, want, need). Flash Cards specifically targeting the most frequent English words are the fastest route to this threshold.
What is the CEFR A1 level and what can I do at this level?
A1 is the lowest CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) level. A learner at A1 can: understand and use very familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases; introduce themselves and others and ask and answer questions about personal details (name, age, address, possessions); interact simply if the other person speaks slowly and clearly. A1 vocabulary typically covers numbers, colours, family, basic food, common objects, and simple greetings. Most adult beginners reach A1 to A2 after approximately 60 to 150 hours of study, though this varies by native language background and intensity of study.
What is Match Up and how does it help beginners?
Match Up presents two columns — typically a list of words on the left and definitions or translations on the right — and requires connecting matching pairs by drawing lines or clicking. Unlike Matching Pairs (which requires memory to find hidden cards), Match Up shows all items simultaneously, reducing memory load. This makes it more accessible for beginners who are still in the initial acquisition phase, before words are consolidated in memory. It is effective for: learning word-definition pairs, connecting English words with native language equivalents, and matching collocations (adjective-noun pairs, verb-noun pairs). For beginners, starting with A1 topic sets (animals, fruit, colours) is recommended.
How long does it take to reach A2 from zero?
According to Cambridge English research, reaching A2 (elementary) from zero requires approximately 100 to 200 hours of study for most learners. This translates to: studying 1 hour per day = 3 to 7 months; studying 30 minutes per day = 7 to 14 months. However, these figures vary significantly based on: native language background (speakers of Germanic or Romance languages progress faster), intensity of immersion (living in an English-speaking environment accelerates progress substantially), quality of practice (deliberate retrieval practice is more effective than passive reading), and time outside class spent practising. The exercises on this page are designed to maximise progress per hour by combining vocabulary acquisition with active recall.
Should beginners focus on vocabulary or grammar first?
Vocabulary first is the evidence-based recommendation for beginners. You cannot use grammar rules without knowing the words to put into those rules. A learner who knows 2,000 words but limited grammar can communicate — poorly, but recognisably. A learner who knows extensive grammar rules but fewer than 500 words cannot communicate at all. The recommendation from applied linguists (Nation, Lewis, Krashen) is: spend the first 2 to 3 months building core vocabulary to 1,000 words, then introduce basic grammar patterns (present simple, present continuous, simple past) with those known words. This ordering dramatically reduces the abstract, disconnected feeling of grammar study.
What topics should A1–A2 beginners study?
The standard A1–A2 topic syllabus covers: personal information (name, age, nationality, address, family); daily routine and time expressions; colours, numbers, and basic quantities; food and drink; the home (rooms, furniture, household items); school and work vocabulary; health and body; weather and seasons; transport; shopping and money; feelings and emotions; and describing people's appearance. Flash Cards and Matching Pairs sets on LexFizz cover all of these A1–A2 topic areas. Prioritise the areas most relevant to your daily life and communication goals.
How do I know when I'm ready to move from A1 to A2?
Signs you are ready to move from A1 to A2: you can comfortably understand and respond to simple questions about personal information; you can name most common objects in A1 topic areas (home, food, family) without hesitation; you can follow simple instructions in English; Balloon Pop and Matching Pairs at A1 difficulty feel easy; you can read very simple English sentences (3 to 8 words) at a comfortable pace. At this point, try the
A2 elementary exercises and see how they feel — slight difficulty is appropriate (i+1 principle), but complete incomprehension means A1 practice is still needed.
What are the most common beginner English mistakes?
Common beginner mistakes include: forgetting to add -s for third person singular present (he go → he goes); using present simple for actions happening now (I eat lunch now → I am eating lunch now); omitting articles (I have dog → I have a dog); using the wrong word order (I like not this → I do not like this; What you want? → What do you want?); overusing 'very' (very very good) instead of using stronger adjectives (excellent, fantastic); and translating word-for-word from their native language, which produces unnatural collocations. These errors are all normal parts of A1–A2 learning and correct themselves through exposure and practice over time.
Do these games work on mobile phones?
Yes. All LexFizz exercises are fully responsive and work on any mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Flash Cards and Matching Pairs are particularly well-suited to phone use — Flash Cards can be studied on a commute or during short breaks, and Matching Pairs uses simple tap gestures. Balloon Pop and Hangman also work well on touchscreens. The site is lightweight (no heavy frameworks) so it loads quickly even on slower mobile connections. No app download is required — simply open lexfizz.com in any mobile browser.