If you are unsure what level you're at, I recommend contacting a local Imam or Quran instructor to request a quick assessment & advice. You can message me if you'd like a consult.

Pre-literacy - Learn & memorize short chapters of the Quran by ear, with basic pronunciation
1: Arabic Literacy - Learn the Alphabet, vowels, and how to connect letters and words correctly

- To learn how to read & write one should study a "Qaidah" book, such as the Nooraniyah or the Baghdadiyah, with a Quran teacher, either in-person or online, though learning in person is more ideal. The teacher does not necessarily need to be an expert in Tajwid, just know how to read & write well.

2: Gain Fluency - Practice reading from the short chapters of the Quran until one reaches a level of elementary fluency (with little stopping or stammering)

3: Tajwid Part 1 - Makharij & Basic rules of Ibtida/Waqf (beginning and stopping in recitation)

4: Tajwid Part 2 - Main rules of Tajwid & Intermediate rules of Waqf

**My advice is for adult learners that one should not proceed with memorizing a lot of the Quran until one has gone through these levels of learning, and has become very strong & consistent in applying the rules of Tajwid, otherwise one will end up memorizing the Quran with a lot of mistakes - often major mistakes that affect the meanings & grammar. This is the opinion of my teacher, Shaykh Abdullah Deeb.

5: Tajwid Part 3 - Advanced concepts and methods of Tajwid

6: Qira'at - Learn about the different modes of recitation according to the 10 Qira'at revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

And Allah knows best.

1. LISTEN to the Quran -- A LOT. And generally speaking, the most recommended recordings for students of the Quran is the "Husary Muallim" series. It's amazing & full of benefit. You have to train your ear to learn how the Quran is supposed to sound. Listen until the voice of the Qari becomes engraved in your mind.

2. Read the Quran daily, for at least 30 min a day. If you don't put in the time, don't expect to get much results. It doesn't need to be perfect, but you do need to have a system of checking & accountability (See #7).

3. I recommend using HouseofQuran.com during your home practice sessions - Use the "Reciter/Teacher Program". This program allows you to click on individual words to hear how each is pronounced, including how to connect words that have Hamza al-Wasl (this is a great online feature I haven't seen anywhere else).

4. Focus on the shorter surahs from the back of the Quran. Take your time reciting each verse, or part of a verse, as needed. The priority is "Quality > Quantity".

5. Make it smooth: Don't proceed to the next Ayah until you can read it smoothly and with no major mistakes, stopping or stammering.

6. Procedure: Read it first on my own, then listen the recording, then try reciting it again WITH the recording playing. Then recite it on my own to see if I can do it well without the recording. If you need to stop and listen to a word multiple times, then do so. Don't rush. And remember, it's ok if it's not perfect. Just try to improve, every day.

7. Try to read to someone at least once a week. Find a friend, imam or Quran teacher who can listen and correct any errors - either in-person or online, but in-person is preferable.

In order to get the most out of a Tajwid course, you really need to be able to read the Quran fluently. So if you plan on enrolling in a Quran or seminary course, prepare yourself ahead of time by doing everything you can to become good at reading and writing Arabic. If you struggle to connect letters and words, and you find yourself stopping & stammering often, you will struggle with Tajwid. So take your time and focus on mastering the basic skills of literacy before doing a Tajwid class. You'll be glad you did.

Once you are at an elementary level of fluency, then go ahead and do a basic Tajwid course in English. And there are MANY books out there available, it's up to your instructor.
Next, intermediate level Tajwid, is to go through some more advanced concepts and rules. Usually, the go-to manual for intermediate learners is to study Tuhfa al-Atfal, the famous didactic poem by Imam al-Jamzuri.

Step three is to study the Mandhuma of Ibn al-Jazari, a more advanced poem that covers topics in detail such as Makharij, Sifat, details in Tajwid, and rules of Waqf & Ibtida.

Or if you prefer to learn it all from English, you can go through a textbook like the [English translation of] Illustrated Tajweed by Dr. Ayman Rushdi Swaid. This is an excellent book that goes through just about everything a reciter needs to know, but needs to be covered with an expert teacher.

There are different options! There's no single answer for every person; it depends on a lot of factors. You have to see what works best for you. The ultimate goal in Ramadan is to immerse ourselves in the Quran as much as possible, both in & out of prayer, thereby purifying our hearts of everything "other than Allah", and increasing in Taqwa - mindfulness & conscientiousness. Ramadan, ultimately, is a celebration of the Quran.

So don't beat yourself up if you can't recite or understand at the same speed or capacity as another person; just do the best with the abilities you have now, and if you want to do better, make a plan to begin learning & studying, particularly after Ramadan is over & your motivation is still strong.

- If you struggle to pronounce things correctly when reading quickly then you should definitely slow down to a pace that allows for correct Tajwid, as that is Farḍ. Completing the entire Quran in the month is not, it's simply recommended. (If you're not sure that your pronunciation is good, ask a Quran teacher to assess your reading. It's good to know.)

- If you are unable to read Arabic well, then I suggest focusing on listening to the Quran (either live, at the masjid during Taraweeh, or the recordings of a professional reciter), and read the translation as well. The Clear Quran is a great translation, and it has section headings to guide the reader through the themes of the Quran.

- Reading the Quran in its original Arabic is considered superior to reading a translation or tafsir, if one is able to do so. You can do a "hybrid" method of reciting in Arabic, and then taking some time to listen or read a translation after. Then you'll gain understanding and also ponder over its meanings, which adds to the experience & reward!

- Read translations & tafsir; it's very important, but bear in mind that Tafsirs & translations always involve filtering, interpreting and rendering of the meanings of the Quran by human beings.

- Reciting for worship, in Arabic, simply for the sake of Allah is a very different experience from that; it's almost on another stratosphere. Don't ever underestimate the power of immersing yourself in the words and sounds of the Quran, even if we don't understand it all! The entire Quran is Shifa (healing) and Rahma (love/mercy) from Allah - every verse, word, letter & haraka. Because of this, many scholars I've heard from advise to focus on reciting the Quran in Arabic, purely for purpose worship, if one is able to do so.

And Allah knows best.

I think that most people just need to get a basic understanding of the Arabic, and to do that you don't really need to take an Arabic language course. All you need is to learn the commonly used vocabulary in the Quran, and some basic awareness of Arabic parts of speech & grammar. For this, you do not need to take a long-term language course. You can find books (in print or in eBook format), and many teachers can show you the basics. (I do not teach Arabic, so don't ask me!)

If you are a serious student, and want to be able read/write/speak/comprehend in order to dive deeper in the Quran and other Arabic textbooks of Islamic heritage, then I think you should definitely look into taking a course in classical Arabic. Bear in mind that it requires years of dedicated study to gain strong proficiency.