Cognates First
A1 texts are rich in cognates – words that look the same in many languages: restaurant, telephone, computer, popular, normal. You already know dozens of English words.
Beginner
English From Scratch – Start Learning From Zero With Readavo
You know zero English? No problem. Readavo's A1 program starts with the simplest possible texts – 50-80 word stories using cognates (taxi, hotel, music) and the 100 most common English words. 15 minutes daily, 500 words in 3 months, basic conversation in 4.
Core 100 Words
The first 100 English words (I, you, is, the, have, can, good, want, go, see...) cover 50% of all everyday speech. Readavo teaches them in the first 2-3 weeks.
Instant Translation
Don't know a word? Tap it – see translation and pronunciation instantly. No dictionary searching, no frustration. Save with one more tap.
Pronunciation From Day 1
Every saved word plays native audio. Learning correct pronunciation from the start prevents fossilized errors that take months to fix later.
Your First 3 Months
Week 1-2: The most common 50-70 words. Simple sentences: "The cat is big. I have a dog. She wants coffee." Texts are 50-80 words. Everything feels new but manageable.
Week 3-4: 100-150 words. You start recognizing patterns: verb + object, adjective + noun. FSRS reviews become smoother – you remember most words.
Month 2: 200-300 words. Texts grow to 100-150 words. Stories have plots: "Anna travels to London. She finds a hotel near the park." Reading speeds up noticeably.
Month 3: 400-500 words. You understand 70% of simple adapted texts. Can read short stories, simple news. A2 level begins.
Tips for True Beginners
Don't translate every word. Understand the general meaning first. Only save words that seem useful. Quality over quantity.
Review is more important than reading. If you only have 5 minutes, do the FSRS review. It locks previous words into memory. New words without review = wasted.
Don't worry about grammar. At A1, absorb patterns naturally through reading. "She goes" vs "He go" – you'll intuit the correct form from exposure before you learn the rule.
Celebrate small wins. Understanding your first full sentence, recognizing a word in a movie, reading a store sign in English – these are real achievements.
From Scratch to A2: The Full Picture
A1 (0-500 words): Very simple texts, cognates, basic survival vocabulary. 3 months at 15 min/day.
A2 (500-1500 words): Simple stories, everyday situations, basic news. 3-4 more months.
After A2, you're no longer "from scratch" – you're a growing English speaker with real reading ability.
You Already Know More English Than You Think
Taxi, hotel, restaurant, computer, telephone, music, stop, start, bus, sport, pizza, chocolate... Most languages share hundreds of cognates with English. At A1, Readavo uses these as stepping stones.
FAQ
Beginner Questions
Yes. A1 texts use cognates and top 100 words. Only the Latin alphabet needed.
Only the Latin alphabet. If you can read 'cat' and 'bus', you're ready.
A2 conversation: 3-4 months. B1 comfortable: 8-12 months at 15 min/day.
Start with 5 min. Even short FSRS review is valuable. Increase naturally after week 3.
Start From Zero Today
No prior knowledge needed. Free plan. 15 minutes daily.