Learn the English alphabet. If you come from a country that uses Latin letters, this shouldn't be a problem. Chinese and Japanese students, however, may not find the English alphabet that easy to master.
Get yourself a good English textbook. See the Resources section for a suggestion of what kind of book to purchase or borrow. You can also buy a textbook of how to learn English through a language that you already know, which you may find easier to read, particularly if your level of English is low.
Hire a tutor. While you can sign up for an English class, a tutor can set a faster pace for you, which is crucial if time is short.
Read the textbook and do all the exercises with your tutor or alone. Work as many hours a day as you can. The more time you invest in a language, the greater your payback will be in terms of your language fluency.
Learn simple words, such as "I," "you," "he" and "she." Then learn the verb "to be" and some professions, such as "farmer," "doctor," "teacher" or "writer." Using what you have learned, make your first English sentences, such as "He is a writer." Learn other verbs. Verbs are typically more commonly used than nouns.
Read and listen to simplified English-language books. There are many such books, coming in both American and British English variants. Choose the books that are coupled with audio recordings, which will allow you to learn the pronunciation of words, phrases and whole sentences.
Watch English movies, listen to English TV and read English newspapers and magazines. Generally, the greater your exposure to a language is, the better you will be able to speak, read and write in it.