English course self-study. The best methods for learning English

This article will help everyone who wants or has long been trying to learn English and not only. I have compiled a selection of various applications, courses and programs to study in English which he used himself. They can be used both on the road and at home. mobile phone or netbook. If you can not decide on the course you need, then leave comments with questions below, I will definitely answer and help with the choice. So let's get started.

Duolingo: Learn Languages ​​for Free

"Undoubtedly the best free app for learning languages." -The Wall Street Journal

Description

Rosetta Stone Course and Totale Copanion (mobile versions from Rosetta Stone on Android OS)

Now you can practice language learning with Rosetta Stone on Android devices. If you need an analogue of the PC version, which is described above, then your choice is Rosetta Stone Course. It is enough to register and you will be able to access free lessons. Do not confuse with Totale Companion as it is a dedicated application that will also help you learn new language when you are on the road or away from your computer. The application is free, but use it, which is a huge minus of the application, only subscribers of the Totale course can use it for the entire period of their subscription. Full version Rosetta Stone Course is paid, but there are also places free lessons for multiple languages. If you are interested in this program, then look for it in the Play Market.

English according to the method of Dr. Pimsler for Russian speakers (90 lessons, full course). Audio-lingual course by Paul Pimsleur

Year of issue: 2005
Dr. Paul Pimsleur
Course type: audiolingual
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: mp3

Course Description:
You don't need any textbooks! No need to cram anything! The basis of the course is the perception of English speech and pronunciation of phrases aloud. Dr. Pimsleur's language programs are the only form of language learning that includes an original, patented memory training technique that ensures you remember what you're learning. The course was created specifically for Russian speakers learning English. It consists of 90 lessons recorded in mp3 format. Explanations and comments of the student in the course you hear in Russian, and speech in American English.

Download Paul Pimsleur course

ABBYY Lingvo Dictionaries

  • Year of issue: 2012
  • Genre: Dictionaries
  • Developer: ABBYY® Lingvo®
  • Interface language: Multilingual
  • Platform: Android 2.2+
  • Interface: Russian
  • Additionally: The program supports installation on SD (OS 2.2 and higher)
  • Installer type: apk

Description. Perhaps the most popular dictionary for mobile devices on the base operating system Android and beyond. The application provides fast and accurate translation of words and phrases without an internet connection. It is worth noting the ability of the application to search for translations of words and phrases in several dictionaries at once, as well as high-quality content from the world's leading publishers. Via this dictionary you will open access to more than 250 translation, explanatory and thematic dictionaries for 30 languages, from which the user can easily form a dictionary set to solve their problems. The most necessary for us is a translation from Russian and vice versa: Russian - English, plus Spanish, Italian, Latin, German and French. Thanks to the functionality ABBYY Lingvo for Android will become an indispensable assistant when traveling, studying or at a business meeting. Thematic dictionaries are available for purchase from the application. These dictionaries will allow you to find a more accurate translation of words and phrases, as well as get Additional information: other translations, transcriptions, synonyms, usage examples and correct pronunciation from native speakers.

Key features:

  • Detailed vocabulary material with many meanings, examples of word usage and tables with word forms
  • Pronunciation of words voiced by native speakers (in terms of dictionaries)
  • A single dictionary card with entries from several dictionaries
  • Suggestions when searching for a word or phrase
  • Search for words in any grammatical form
  • Quick translation of words from the clipboard

Installation:

Move the "Lingvo" folder from the archive to the ABBYY folder on internal memory phone (sdcard0) and install the *apk file through your device's file managers.

AT recent times to enhance your career or to continue your studies abroad has become popular study English on your own. Of course, for many the question arises - where to find good tutorial English, audio lessons and other materials that will effectively help you master a foreign language in a certain period of time. It is worth saying that self-study of English is a long process, but everything is in your hands and you can make this process exciting and enjoyable.
So, you decided not to hire a tutor, not to pay money for courses or self-help books, but to choose free study English on your own with the help of online lessons. It is worth saying that at first, most people fail to achieve any positive result and, naturally, they simply give up.

Stereotypes - that's what hinders the study of English

These are the components that most people face when they decide to go through self-study English course at home and at least a little advance in their knowledge:

  • the majority are confident that learning a foreign language on their own is a very difficult task;
  • many people learn the language, but do not achieve the expected results;
  • most people reach a certain level of knowledge, say advanced, but it takes them years to learn;
  • many people think that they are simply unable to learn a second language;

All of the above can be converted into one single whole and conclude that learning English from scratch is a long and thorny path. However, there are also quick courses, that is, English, you can master in just two months. Just give up the traditional methods of studying, which are based on textbooks, vocabulary cramming, grammar basics, as well as boring and monotonous dialogues.
This approach to learning foreign language we are all familiar from school - if you are not going to read Shakespeare in the original, why "gnaw" the grammar stone. User reviews indicate that the methodology of paid services has remained school, only the learning process takes place in an accelerated mode, that is, you study English not two hours a week, but seven hours a day.

The right methods are the key to success

Do you want to start learning English online? Books, lessons leave for later. To begin with, you need to decide on important aspects your teaching methodology. That is, you yourself must become a teacher. The main thing is to move grammar to Kamchatka, you won’t need it if you just want to communicate with native speakers, listen to radio and TV shows, of course, if you are not going to take an international exam to get a certificate. But this is not the main thing - no matter what method you use when mastering a language learning course at home, your positive mood during classes is important, and then a positive result will not be long in coming.
So, 3 main principles self-learning English from scratch:

  • motivation - you yourself must strongly want to learn a foreign language;
  • the right methodology - try several teaching methods and choose the best one for yourself;
  • learning process - decide why you need knowledge of English - for everyday communication or for subsequent education at prestigious foreign universities.

And most importantly - do not "stand" in one place - constantly develop and improve your knowledge. Use the lessons posted on our website for this, because they are offered to you completely free of charge!

Decided to learn English language? Of course, you made the right choice, because English language- the main language of international communication.

Chances are you've already encountered main problem at learning English- a huge number of textbooks, courses on the market, most of which are a waste of time and money. And if we add to this selfeducation and complete lack of basic knowledge language, then all this confuses a person, and he loses his desire to learn English. BUT wish- the main key to the successful study of any foreign language.

So what does the site offer you for a successful learning English from scratch?

First of all, especially for entry level as online lessons a wonderful self-instruction manual by K. B. Vasilyev was designed " Easy English". Classes on this tutorial are also perfect for children, because the texts are presented from popular English children's fairy tales, such as "Alice in Wonderland", "Winnie the Pooh and all all all", etc. Additionally, typos, some inaccuracies, and added audio for the whole course for free. And doing the exercises is not at all difficult, because for this there are special forms for entering text, as well as keys with answers. To view the answer, hover your mouse over the key: . You can peep back only after you complete the exercise! If you have any questions, you can ask them under the lesson in the form of a comment.

Please note that you do not need to rush and jump to the next lesson immediately after completing the current one. Proceed to the next lesson when you are sure that you have mastered the material of the current lesson. fully.

Further parallel with the study of the audio course above, you can also study the possibly simpler Assimil audio course. The Audio Courses page also has higher level courses, as well as an interesting tutorial on how to work with audio.

How do you learn so much and still get confused with verb tenses? Dont be upset, verb tenses in english- this is the most difficult part of it. After all, there are not 3 of them, as in Russian, but as many as 12! Especially for a simpler understanding and assimilation of times, the following section was created on the effective lessons of S. P. Dugin for beginners.

Verb tenses can also be studied in the English grammar section. Grammar lessons were originally intended for intermediate students, but translations have been added to them, and now they can be studied by slightly less advanced students. In this section very many lessons, it will help you find answers to many questions, so don't skip it. Proceed to study it only when you are ready. And in the lessons for beginners, there will periodically be links to specific grammar lessons from this section.

Have you already studied all this? Well you give! Congratulations! What to do next? And then you will have even more independent study. Unfortunately, from an intermediate level it is difficult to build any path for learning, build it yourself according to your interests. A lot of practice is needed. Listen to a lot of audio, video materials. Try to talk more. Not with whom? Talk to yourself! Read, write. The site also has videos. Perhaps there will be more later.

Please note that on mobile version Site right menu crashes to the very bottom screen, and the top menu opens at the touch of a button top right.

What kind of English do we study? British or American?

Correct answer: both.

On the one hand, British refers to the rules of pronunciation set many years ago. Almost no one speaks it now, but everyone who studies English, or sets the pronunciation, strives for it, incl. American actors (for example, Will Smith). Also in all textbooks standard grammar and spelling of words. It turns out that almost everyone learns British English. In American, grammar and spelling are a little, quite a bit different from British, so look for any textbooks on American English. very, very stupid.

On the other hand, British English also includes a special intonation that almost no one teaches, and it’s hard to get used to it. These intonation lessons also do not teach. It turns out that no matter how hard we try to pronounce, we will still get more American English than British. Intonation aside, our vocal apparatus is simply more like an American one. The video of the 1st lesson presents pure British English. The audio of the next lessons will be more like American English. Otherwise, English is standard, no need to come up with ridiculous reasons why I should or should not learn these lessons. Just teach! Responsible for quality! (Website author)

You must have found something interesting on this page. Recommend her to a friend! Better yet, place a link to this page on the Internet, VKontakte, blog, forum, etc. For example:
Learning English language

Time to learn about the pitfalls of English grammar. Based on our experience, we have compiled a list of sites where it is cool to practice it.

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For newbies

  • EnglishDom.Grammar

    +

    Pros: detailed and accessible grammar rules, several types of tasks for consolidation, interesting and popular videos with exercises. Convenient dictionary with ready-made sets and the ability to create your own collections. Absolutely all exercises are supported by English voice acting, and the selection of material is based on the interests of the student. The site is also suitable for more advanced users, because it is possible to choose the level of difficulty, and the list of grammar topics is quite large.
    Minuses: Not all grammar topics have video explanations.

    Pros: Russian-language site, which presents more than 75 grammar lessons with examples, explanations and tests. The site has great videos created by native speakers.
    Minuses: not the most convenient and outdated interface.

    Pros: This site is great for beginners. The theoretical part is written clearly and plain language, you will not need to rack your brains, disassembling complex structures. All topics are well structured - from easy to more complex.
    Minuses: students with higher levels can be simply and bored.

For those who know

  • britishcouncil

    learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar

    Pros: the same site from the British Council, where you can read the rules in English and practice grammar by selecting the desired category. There are many more on the site. useful information as well as games in English and preparation for exams.
    Minuses: the site is positioned as intended for all levels, but at the same time completely in English.

    Pros: An interesting and detailed grammar blog from the popular Grammarly service. You can find a lot of useful information on grammar, writing and modern slang.
    Minuses: there are no assignments to reinforce the rules.

    Pros: cool site from a whole team of teachers with video explanations and a fun way of presenting grammar rules. There are exercises for consolidation and breakdown by topic.
    Minuses: the site is completely in English, so some details will have to be clarified with the help of dictionaries.

    Pros: the site is conveniently divided into categories: tenses, nouns, verbs, prepositions and other grammar topics. You can also find video tutorials on the site and, if you do not have constant access to the Internet, tasks and rules can be downloaded to a computer or phone.
    Minuses: the site may seem difficult for beginners to learn English.

    Pros: here are the rules, examples and exercises, as well as the division into levels of difficulty. Distinctive feature of this resource - after each topic there is an example of using the rule not just in a sentence, but in a literary text.
    Minuses: quite complicated even for users with high level knowledge of the language.

For experts

  • reddit

    www.reddit.com/r/grammar

    Pros: a very famous site with a separate section dedicated to grammar. It will be useful to everyone who already speaks English well and wants to understand its individual aspects and nuances, because on the site you can get an answer from the most qualified specialists.
    Minuses: there are no tasks for fixing the rules, the site is completely in English.

    Pros: The site also needs no introduction. Here you can learn about the grammar of English and about individual cases of using certain vocabulary.
    Minuses: The site only provides background information, without strengthening exercises.

    Pros: a site that is often used by many teachers. The nuances of grammar, the frequency of use of certain words, modern slang or the history of origin and pronunciation - this and even more can be found here.
    Minuses: there are also no tasks for reinforcing the rules, and it is worth looking through all the comments to make sure that the answer is correct.

We hope that the above resources will help you master the difficult English grammar.

Continue to study English comprehensively: words, grammar, writing and speaking practice, live communication. It is this approach that will help you master the language much faster than learning its individual aspects.

We wish you good luck with your studies and look forward to your comments!

Bonuses for Habr readers

Online courses

We give you access to the English course for self-study "Online Course" for a year.
To gain access, simply go to before September 1, 2017.

Individually via Skype

AT modern world the importance of knowing English is undeniable, so everyone strives to master this language more of people. At the same time, many beginners who have never studied English before are lost from the variety of methods and textbooks. In this article, we will tell you which English textbook to choose, how to maintain motivation and organize the learning process, what to pay special attention to so that knowledge is confident and skills are brought to automatism.

Zero doesn't exist!

Talking about zero knowledge of English is not entirely legitimate, because in the Russian language there are countless borrowings and related words that everyone understands. For example, the words "information", "radio", "music", "sister", "bank" and others will be intuitively familiar to you. This means that a certain amount of foreign vocabulary will be given to you without the slightest effort. Not so scary anymore, right?

How to keep motivated?

Learning a foreign language from scratch is not an easy task. After a couple of sessions, it may seem to you that this iceberg of rules and exceptions will never succumb to you. Think of those who started out just like you and progressed to an advanced level. You can do it too, believe in yourself! Passion for the subject is your key to success. One needs English for work, another for travel, and a third for self-improvement. Everyone has their own incentives, but it is best if there are several of them at once.

With whom to study?

Today, learning English from scratch is possible in many ways:

  • individual lessons with a teacher;
  • group lessons;
  • skype training;
  • independent study.

The most effective will be classes with a teacher. Individually or with a group (5-7 people) you will pass necessary material at the optimum pace. It is important to find a qualified teacher with whom you will be interested. Believe me, the enthusiasm and love of the teacher for English will certainly inspire you to conquer the peak called "English".

If you choose group training, make sure that the group is not too large. Otherwise, the teacher simply will not be able to pay enough attention to each "student". Classes in English in groups have one important plus - a person is, as they say, among his own, the same beginners as he is. Making progress in a friendly atmosphere is much easier, especially since an experienced teacher will support a slightly playful direction of the lessons.

Independent study of English from scratch

For those who, for one reason or another, have chosen the path of self-learning, it will be more difficult. You constantly need to spur interest, not give up and not be lazy. And the hardest thing to start...

Where to start preparing?

1. Choice of technique:

Nowadays, there are many methods of learning English from scratch. Choose for yourself the one that suits you, and with which you will be pleased to work.

2. Selection teaching aids:

Level zero will not allow you to immediately take on foreign textbooks, so get publications from trusted domestic authors. Suitable, for example, Golitsinsky or Bonk. Later, you should turn to well-known British publications: Headway, Hotline, True to Life, Language in Use, Blueprint.

A good manual boasts a fair amount of theory and practical exercises, developing reading, writing and speaking skills in equal measure. When buying a textbook, make sure that its structure meets your requirements: vocabulary, grammar, topics. The rules should be stated clearly and informatively, and colorful illustrations, additional tables, etc. give an important advantage over boring black and white editions.

3. The choice of time for classes and their duration:

It is best to study English at the same time: if you are a morning person, devote the morning hours to your studies; owls absorb material better in the evening.

To effectively learn a foreign language, you must study every day - you can afford no more than one day off a week! The optimal duration of one "lesson" is 60-90 minutes, while you can rest 5-10 minutes in the middle of the lesson.

4. Comfortable conditions for classes:

Provide yourself with maximum comfort during classes: a cozy atmosphere, a pleasant background, the absence of external stimuli. All this will help you abstract from reality and completely immerse yourself in the world of language.

5. Don't overdo it!

Once you've chosen the best pace for learning new topics, stick to it and don't try to cover several difficult sections at once. Over time, you will achieve more intensive study, but on initial stage hurry is undesirable.

6. Constantly repeat the material covered:

Regular repetition is the key to consolidating knowledge and improving skills. Even if you have studied quite a bit so far, practice your knowledge every free minute - in transport, during morning exercises, at lunchtime, before going to bed, etc. Try to talk to yourself, saying out loud or to yourself words, constructions, sentences. If possible, feel free to talk to someone who speaks English. Having mastered the base, find a pen pal who is a native speaker.

How to study English on your own?

The English language has a well-coordinated structure, and you should start learning this system from the basics. The first thing you need to learn is the alphabet and pronunciation. Without knowledge of the alphabet, it will not be possible to write or read, and a distorted pronunciation can completely change the meaning of the statement. Do not neglect the practice of oral speech, because in order to become fluent in spoken English, you need to practice as often as possible.

Reading

Undoubtedly, at first you will have to read a lot: rules, examples and simple texts. Reading grammatically correct sentences gives an excellent result - vocabulary and grammatical structures are memorized. Visual perception is the main source new information, and regular reading of English-language texts is necessary at any stage of language learning.

listening

When learning English from scratch, understanding a text through listening may seem impossible. It's actually a great reading aid. Sound accompaniment to tasks will help you learn how to pronounce a particular sound or word. By following the text with your eyes and listening to it at the same time, you can kill two birds with one stone. Gradually expanding the boundaries of your knowledge, try to close the textbook and listen to the text again. At first, only some words will be clear to you, and then sentences. This is the only way to learn listening comprehension, which will still play a significant role in learning.

Listening to English-language songs and watching films, including those with subtitles, keep the beginner in good shape and increase motivation, subtly dipping a person into an authentic atmosphere. It will be very useful to watch your favorite movie in the original, which you know almost by heart in Russian. A familiar plot will make it easier for you to understand the characters' lines in English, and you will also be able to see a lively and modern, rather than a purely bookish language.

Letter

Any new material must be done in writing! With all the convenience of modern computer programs, offering to insert a suitable word instead of a gap, they are not suitable for those who have just started learning English from scratch. The method of writing down in a regular notebook is more effective: performing written exercises allows you to hone your knowledge, bringing it to automatism. First, you will learn how to correctly express thoughts on paper, and only after that you will be able to confidently use them in speech.

speaking

Oral practice is an integral part of learning a foreign language. The ability to read and translate does not mean being able to speak English fluently. Beautiful and fluent speech is the dream of any beginner, but in order to fulfill it, you need to constantly practice it. If you do not have an "experimental" interlocutor, train on yourself! For example, talk to yourself in front of a mirror, try to tell in as much detail as possible how your day went. passing new theme, invent a new name, profession and past for yourself - create a fictional character. Such a playful moment will provide you with the necessary variety for oral topics.

You can do even better by combining reading or listening with speaking. After you read the text or listen to the audio recording, try to retell the content aloud (or in writing as an option). Such a presentation will help train memory and thinking, teach you to retell in your own words, and therefore speak English fluently.

Vocabulary

The study of foreign vocabulary begins with the simplest and most frequently used words:

  • nouns (eg, a house, a man, an apple);
  • adjectives (eg big, great, good);
  • verbs (eg, to do, to be, to get);
  • pronouns (eg, I, he, her);
  • numerals (e.g. one, ten, the fifth).

Mindless cramming is not suitable for those who really want to know English. Undoubtedly, international words are most quickly remembered, and the rest are best combined with already familiar lexical units. For example, "a big dog", "an interesting film". It is better to memorize set expressions in their entirety, for example, "to make a mistake", "to do one" s best ".

When memorizing lexical units, special attention should be paid not only to their meaning, but also to pronunciation. That is why it is at the initial stage of learning English that it is important to learn how to correctly interpret the transcription of a word and firmly master the rules for pronouncing certain letter combinations, for example, "th", "ng". Also, set aside a separate lesson to study the features of an open and closed syllable, and you will save a lot of time on constantly looking at dictionary transcription.

Grammar

Knowledge of the grammatical rules of the English language is perhaps even a little more essential than wealth vocabulary. If ignorance of a certain word can easily get away with you, then the inability to use tenses and constructions will instantly betray you as a layman.

You need to start studying English grammar with the order of words in a sentence, because the correctness and meaning of the statement depends on it. Then you can move on to mastering the tenses of the Simple / Indefinite group (Present, Past, Future). The next sections will be Continous/Progressive and Perfect tenses. Important elements of your knowledge will be the constructions "to be going to" and numerous modal verbs(e.g. "must", "have to", "can").

English from scratch some come faster and easier, others a little slower and with more effort. Nevertheless, with motivation and quality teaching aids, anyone can master the English language. At the initial stage, it is especially important to pay attention to all aspects of the language as a whole. An integrated approach is a guarantee successful study and the acquisition of sound knowledge and skills.