Newcomers to English: A1.1 English for Refugees and Migrants – Series One!

Are you new to English? Whether you have recently arrived in an English-speaking country, are a refugee or migrant, or simply want to learn English from the beginning, you are in the right place.

Learning a new language can feel difficult at first, but you do not need to learn everything at once. Start with simple A1.1 English words, phrases and sentences that you can use every day.

At EFL Academy Hub, our aim is to help newcomers learn practical English step by step, with clear examples, useful vocabulary and simple grammar.

What is A1.1 English?

A1.1 is an early beginner level of English. At this level, you are learning the basic building blocks of communication.

You can begin by learning how to:

• Introduce yourself
• Say your name and where you are from
• Ask simple questions
• Talk about family
• Understand numbers and dates
• Ask for directions
• Talk about food and shopping
• Describe everyday activities
• Understand simple instructions
• Build short English sentences

You do not need perfect English to communicate. The important thing is to start speaking and practising regularly.

Basic English Phrases for Beginners

Here are some useful A1.1 English phrases for everyday situations.

Greetings

Hello.

Example:
“Hello. My name is Ahmed.”

Good morning.

Example:
“Good morning. How are you?”

How are you?

Example:
“How are you?”
“I am fine, thank you.”

Introducing Yourself

My name is Maria.

I am from Syria.

I live in London.

I speak Arabic.

I am learning English.

You can put these sentences together:

“Hello. My name is Maria. I am from Syria. I live in London. I am learning English.”

This is a simple but useful introduction.

A1.1 English Vocabulary

Learning vocabulary is one of the best ways to begin learning English.

Start with words you see and use every day.

People

• man
• woman
• child
• family
• mother
• father
• friend
• teacher
• student

Places

• home
• school
• shop
• hospital
• bank
• station
• office
• street

Everyday Objects

• phone
• bag
• book
• pen
• chair
• table
• door
• key
• water

Try making a sentence with every new word.

For example:

phone → “This is my phone.”

book → “This is a book.”

water → “I drink water.”

The more you use a new word, the easier it becomes to remember.

Active Sentences in A1.1 English

An active sentence is a sentence where the person or thing doing the action comes first.

The basic structure is:

Subject + verb + object

For example:

I drink water.

• I = subject
• drink = verb
• water = object

More examples:

I speak English.

She reads a book.

He opens the door.

The teacher teaches English.

The student writes a sentence.

This structure is very important for beginner English because it helps you create many different sentences.

You can change the subject:

I eat breakfast.

She eats breakfast.

They eat breakfast.

You can also change the verb:

I read a book.

I write a letter.

I open the door.

Start with short sentences. As your English improves, you can make them longer.

Passive Sentences for Beginners

The passive voice can look difficult, but you can begin learning it with very simple examples.

In an active sentence, we focus on the person or thing doing the action.

The teacher opens the door.

In a passive sentence, we focus on the thing receiving the action.

The door is opened by the teacher.

The basic passive structure is:

Object + be + past participle

For example:

The door is opened.

The book is read.

The food is cooked.

English is spoken here.

At A1.1 level, you do not need to master every passive structure immediately. First, recognise simple passive sentences when you see or hear them.

Compare:

Active: The teacher opens the door.

Passive: The door is opened by the teacher.

Another example:

Active: The chef cooks the food.

Passive: The food is cooked by the chef.

Another:

Active: People speak English here.

Passive: English is spoken here.

This comparison can help you understand how English sentences work.

How to Start Learning English From Zero

If you are a complete beginner, do not try to learn hundreds of words in one day.

A simple routine can be more effective.

1. Learn 5–10 Words Every Day

Choose useful words connected to your daily life.

For example:

Monday: family words

Tuesday: food words

Wednesday: transport words

Thursday: work words

Friday: shopping words

Write each word in a notebook and create a simple sentence.

2. Learn Phrases, Not Just Individual Words

Instead of learning only the word help, learn:

“Can you help me, please?”

Instead of only learning understand, learn:

“I don’t understand.”

Instead of only learning repeat, learn:

“Can you repeat that, please?”

These phrases are immediately useful in real conversations.

3. Listen to English Every Day

Listening is an important part of learning English for refugees, migrants and other newcomers.

Listen to short, simple English conversations. Do not worry if you do not understand every word.

Listen once.

Listen again.

Then repeat the sentences aloud.

This helps you become familiar with English pronunciation, rhythm and sentence structure.

4. Speak Even When You Make Mistakes

Making mistakes is a normal part of learning a language.

Try saying:

“My name is…”

“I live in…”

“I need…”

“I would like…”

“Where is…?”

“How much is it?”

Simple phrases can help you communicate in shops, schools, workplaces, public services and everyday situations.

5. Read Simple English

Begin with short texts, signs, menus, forms and simple stories.

Look for words you already know.

For example:

Open

Closed

Exit

Entrance

Stop

Help

Toilet

These simple words are useful in everyday life.

A Simple English Learning Method

One useful method is:

Learn → Listen → Repeat → Speak → Write → Review

For example, learn the phrase:

“Where is the bus station?”

Listen to it.

Repeat it several times.

Say it without reading.

Write it in your notebook.

Review it the next day.

After a week, try using it in a real conversation.

This method helps turn new English vocabulary into language you can actually use.

English for Refugees and Migrants: Start Small

If you are learning English after moving to a new country, remember that progress takes time.

You may need English for work, education, housing, healthcare, shopping, transport or meeting new people. You do not need to know everything immediately.

Start with the English you need most.

Learn a few words.

Learn a useful phrase.

Listen carefully.

Ask questions.

Practise every day.

Most importantly, do not be afraid of making mistakes.

Every word you learn is progress.

Start Learning English With EFL Academy Hub

If you are a newcomer to English, EFL Academy Hub is here to support your learning journey.

Our goal is to provide practical A1 English lessons, beginner English vocabulary, everyday English phrases, simple grammar explanations and English practice for refugees and migrants.

Start with one lesson today. Learn a few new words, practise a few sentences and use them in your daily life.

Ready to Start?

Start your English learning journey with EFL Academy Hub today.

👉 Learn. Practise. Speak. Build your confidence.

New to English? Start with A1.1 and take your first step today. Ready to take the next step towards your goals?

We offer more than just downloadable courses. Choose from one-to-one support, small-group classes, and flexible learning options designed around your needs.

We may also be able to help you achieve your goals through funding organisations and available funding opportunities.

Interested? Get in touch today to find out how we can support you.