Get Started
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Keep calm and learn languages

A Stress-Free and Effortless Way to Learn

Tried Everything? But Still Haven’t Learned the Language?

That’s because you’re overloading your brain with 80% unknown information, causing it to regularly shut down, just like circuit breakers trip during power surges.

You need to learn a foreign language in reverse proportion — using material that you already understand 80–90% of (for absolute beginners, this means images with captions or videos with subtitles). Without overloads, your brain works best: absorbing information like a sponge. 

PlayPhrase.me desktop UI

Learn a Language with playphrase.me

Use playphrase.me for daily language learning through immersive distance learning: in the morning, study new phrases, during the day, listen passively, and in the evening, reinforce and expand your knowledge. Weekly, review learned phrases and add them to your vocabulary by watching clips from movies and series.

One hour a day will quickly improve your language comprehension and help you master useful expressions. 

PlayPhrase.me mobile UI

Additional Tips

  1. Don’t study grammar; instead, look for patterns by listening to speech. The traditional method of studying grammar scares most people — endless rules and exceptions discourage the main goal — communicating in the new language. Therefore, download a cheat sheet for the grammar of the chosen language and refer to it only when you don’t understand why a character in a movie or series said something a certain way.
  2. Try to notice the phrases you’re learning in other sources, such as movies, series, or music. This will help reinforce the knowledge and give it more context.

Stress-Free and Effortless Way to Learn

The areas of the brain’s cortex responsible for cognitive processes  — neocortex  — function best in a state of calm, without stress or overload.

  1. Don’t set rigid deadlines or unrealistic goals for yourself, like learning a new language in three months or speaking it fluently within a year. Remove negative emotional pressure: anxiety, self-doubt, disappointment.

    Set language learning as a long-term goal. Let it become a part of your daily routine — like hygiene practices. Don’t force yourself — study just enough to avoid the urge to quit.

  2. In reality, good results come to those who study at least three hours a day. But most people can’t handle that load. Study for at least half an hour to an hour, but regularly — 5 — 6 days a week. Take one day off for rest.

  3. You don't need to memorize or cram. Learn like children do — in infancy, we don't speak, we listen first. Linguists call this intensive passive listening. Dedicate at least six months to listening to and reading words and phrases in the new language: the best way to do this is with videos with subtitles in the original language (without translation).

    Choose material that you understand at least 80% or more. Constantly repeat the same words and phrases — practice makes perfect. Gradually make the program more challenging: cartoons for little kids—cartoons and movies for teens—popular series and movies—educational programs.

  4. After six months, when most learners develop language intuition, you can move on to speaking and writing practice.

Get Started

May the Force be with you

* Sp. — Que la Fuerza te acompañe. Fr. — Que la Force soit avec toi. Ger. — Möge die Macht mit dir sein.

Choose a list of words and phrases according to your language level — from A1 (beginner) to C1 (advanced academic level): Spanish, French, German. And start your daily practice.

1. Morning. Start the day by choosing phrases to study

  • Time: 20–25 minutes
  • Actions:
    • Log in to playphrase.me. Select the language on the top panel. Choose the Common Phrases list — these are the core phrases of the target language, the ones most frequently used by native speakers.
      • On a PC, the list appears on the right side of the screen when the player is paused and the cursor hovers over the frame.
      • On a phone, to open the list, tap the three dots button in the bottom right corner and select Common phrases from the menu.
        Favorites on desktop
        Favorites on mobile
        Favorites on mobile
  • Choose a phrase you want to learn: for example, ¿Cómo está usted? (How are you?) or Je ne sais pas (I don’t know).
    • Press the play button and watch a few short clips with the phrase. Focus on pronunciation and intonation, and pay attention to the context.
    • Save the phrase to your favorites to revisit it later for reinforcement. reinforcement.
      • On a PC, click the star button in the bottom right corner of the screen.
      • On a phone, tap the three dots button in the bottom right corner and select Favourite the Phrase from the menu.
      Favorites on desktop
      Favorites on mobile
    • For the first six months, just listen; then start repeating the phrase aloud several times, trying to mimic the intonation and accent.
    • If the phrase is too long or complex, break it down into parts and practice each separately.
  • Tip: Start with simple and frequently used phrases to get accustomed to language structures faster.

2. Daytime. Passive Listening

  • Time: from 25 minutes
  • Actions. Throughout the day, when you’re not mentally engaged, play clips on playphrase.me with phrases from Common Phrases in the background. You don’t need to try to understand them. The main idea is to create an environment rich in the target language and get used to its sound and speech patterns.

3. Evening. Reinforcement

  • Time: 20–25 minutes
  • Actions:
    • In the evening, return to playphrase.me and rewatch clips with phrases from «Favorites.»
    • Analyze the context in which each phrase is used. Note how the characters express emotions using intonation and body language.
    • Add another new phrase related to one of the new favorites to your practice to create a small «network» of words and expressions. Mentally compose a few sentences with this phrase.
    • After six months of «silent» learning, start creating dialogues somewhere on your computer or tablet using the learned phrases and try acting them out by yourself, in front of a mirror, or at least in your mind.
  • Tips:
    • Use notes or recording apps to jot down new phrases and revisit them later.
    • Gradually move on to more complex phrases and expressions that require a deeper understanding of the context.

4. Weekly Review

  • Actions:
    • At the end of each week, dedicate one session to reviewing all the phrases you learned that week.
    • Rewatch the clips. Just listen and try to understand the phrase by ear.
    • Test yourself by trying to reproduce the phrases independently, without prompts.

By using playphrase.me for about an hour a day, you can significantly improve your language comprehension and learn to use popular phrases and expressions correctly. Regular practice with real-life examples from movies and series will help you adapt to the language faster and start using it in everyday life.

Get Started

Listen, Take Your Time, and Get Comfortable

  1. Don’t study grammar; instead, look for patterns by listening to speech. The traditional method of studying grammar scares most people — endless rules and exceptions discourage the main goal — communicating in the new language. Therefore, download a cheat sheet for the grammar of the chosen language and refer to it only when you don’t understand why a character in a movie or series said something a certain way.

  2. Try to notice the phrases you’re learning in other sources, such as movies, series, or music. This will help reinforce the knowledge and give it more context.

  3. When watching movies or series in the language you’re learning, pay attention to the phrases you already know and try to repeat them after the actors.

  4. Use daily reminders to study the language. Daily reminders on your smartphone are a simple way to get yourself into the habit of studying English. Even if you don’t start right away, such reminders will help you subconsciously prepare for the task. Gradually, your brain will get used to the new activity, and it won’t seem so difficult anymore.

    iOS Reminders
    iOS Reminders
    iOS Reminders
    iOS Reminders

    Create three recurring events in your calendar or Notifications on iOS at convenient times in the morning, afternoon, and evening: for example, Learn Español for 25 minutes. Set it to repeat daily (preferably 6 days a week).

    Even if you miss sessions at first, over time, the likelihood of starting to study will increase. If the reminders start to irritate you, change their frequency to weekly or set them for times when you’re more free. The main thing is not to delete the reminder until the goal is reached.

  5. Remembering words is not the fastest process. Don’t have illusions that you can learn 500-800 words in a couple of months. Give your brain time to absorb their meaning, and it will repay you by not wasting time recalling each word in the future when you really need it.
Get Started