How to Talk About your English Progress (One Month Later!)
It’s the end of April – a great moment to pause and reflect again.
Two months ago, you may have written about your goals. Now it’s time to ask:
- What has improved since March?
- What feels easier?
- What are you still working on?
In this post, you’ll learn how to talk about recent progress in English, using natural grammar and useful expressions.
1. Key Grammar: Present Perfect (Progress Until Now)
We use the present perfect to talk about changes and improvements over time.
Structure:
have / has + past participle
Examples:
- I’ve improved my listening skills.
- I’ve learned a lot of new vocabulary this month.
- She’s become more confident when speaking.
Use this tense when the result is important now.
2. Time Expressions for Recent Progress
These are very common at the end of April:
- this month
- recently
- lately
- over the past few weeks
- since March
Examples:
- I’ve been more consistent lately.
- Over the past few weeks, I’ve practised speaking every day.
- I’ve made good progress since March.
3. Useful Language for Describing Improvement
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| make progress | I’ve made a lot of progress this month. |
| get better at | I’m getting better at understanding fast speech. |
| become more + adjective | I’ve become more confident. |
| feel more comfortable | I feel more comfortable speaking English now. |
| improve a lot / a little | My grammar has improved a lot. |
4. Comparing Then and Now
Help learners reflect more deeply by comparing past and present.
Useful structures:
- Before, I…, but now I…
- In March, I found ___ difficult. Now, it’s easier.
- I used to…, but now I…
Examples:
- Before, I was afraid to speak. Now, I feel more confident.
- In March, I found listening difficult. Now, I understand more.
5. Model Reflection Paragraph
This month, I’ve made good progress in English. I’ve been practising a little every day, and I’ve learned a lot of new vocabulary. I feel more comfortable speaking than I did in March. Before, I was nervous, but now I’m more confident. I still find listening difficult, but I’m improving.
This model shows:
- Present perfect
- Comparison
- Honest reflection
6. Mini Writing Challenge
Complete these sentences:
- This month, I’ve…
- Recently, I’ve been…
- Since March, I’ve improved…
- Before, I…, but now I…
- I still find ______ difficult, but…
Encourage learners to write 5–8 sentences.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ I improve a lot this month.
✅ I’ve improved a lot this month.
❌ I am more confident than March.
✅ I’m more confident than I was in March.
8. Positive Closing Thought
Progress doesn’t have to be big to be real.
If you can say:
- I understand more
- I feel more confident
- I practise more regularly
That’s real progress.
Final Question
What’s one thing that feels easier now than it did in March?
Write your answer using:
“Now, I…” or “I’ve become…”
