About

DolphinUp

Four steps to mastering a language

DolphinUp gives you the material for steps 1 and 2, and shows you how to take steps 3 and 4.

  1. Step 1

    Learn the most common words first

    A few thousand words cover most of what people say and write.

    721 words

    Follow everyday conversation

    2,809 words

    Read general texts

    5,050 words

    Read stories and watch films with fewer lookups

    Every word is in the Dictionary — filter by list

    How many words a day?

    Milestone 10/day 20/day 30/day
    Follow everyday conversation 721 words ~2.5 months ~5.5 weeks ~3.5 weeks
    Read general texts 2,809 words ~9.5 months ~4.5 months ~3 months
    Read stories and watch films with fewer lookups 5,050 words ~17 months ~8.5 months ~5.5 months

    Figures in steps 1 and 2 are for learners of English — estimates by arithmetic, not a promise.

  2. Step 2

    Learn grammar as simple sentence patterns

    80/20: learn only the common patterns that do most of the work, and reuse each one by swapping words.

    188 structures

    Say and understand the common sentence patterns

    How many structures a day?

    1/day 2/day 3/day
    ~6.5 months ~3 months ~2 months
  3. Step 3

    Watch videos in the language

    Hear the words and patterns you know at natural speed.

    • Pick topics you already enjoy.
    • Use subtitles in the language you are learning.
    • Re-watch short clips — you catch more each time.

    Some DolphinUp collections include video lessons.

  4. Step 4

    Practise with native speakers

    Real conversation is where it all gets used — and corrected.

    • In person: language-exchange meet-ups and clubs.
    • Online: language-exchange groups on social networks.
    • Start with patterns you know — being understood beats being perfect.