The options for learning English are now endless. The main thing is to choose the right tools for your type of learning and not be lazy.
The choice of language learning resources also depends on your level and problem areas. So, first of all, we advise you to find out your level, or if you already speak the language, but have forgotten it or your level urgently needs to be raised, take a test to understand in which area you have gaps.
Free testing is provided by the Streamline course website (after passing the test, a discount on training is given). Or using EF SET.
Video resources and portals on the topic are suitable for studying grammar.
- For example, Elena records video lessons on Youtube called OK English. Here you can find videos for various purposes – preparation for IELTS/TOEFL, conversation course, English for beginners.
- LearnEnglish from the reputable charitable public organization “British Council” offers everyone who wants to improve their English skills with the help of hundreds of video and audio materials with interactive exercises on grammar and memorizing new words.
During training, it is important to use authoritative dictionaries – Cambridge Dictionary, Linguee, LongMan Dictionary.
If you need to develop your vocabulary and learn to perceive English by ear, now this is easy to do – watch films and TV series with subtitles, listen to podcasts (English with Jennifer, Grammar Girl, The English We Speak), subscribe to a Youtube channel that is interesting to you a blogger, for example, who reviews books, cars or talks about his travels in vlogs – listen to what interests you, looking at the subtitles, get used to the manner of speech, pronunciation and presentation. We assure you that you will see progress.
- There is a site where you can type a word or phrase and hear it pronounced in a movie. To watch a movie or TV series in the original with subtitles, just enter this query in Google.
If you speak English confidently, get into the good habit of reading news in English. For example, the BBC or popular newsletters – Glamor UK, New York Times, The Guardian and others.
We cannot leave aside the most popular and easiest way to introduce learning English into your life – mobile applications. Its versatility lies in the fact that learning is interesting for both adults and children.
- The most popular language learning app today is Duolingo. Thanks to gamification and creative marketing, the green owl is now a household name, with the distinctive feature being the cast of characters you learn with.
- Lingua Leo is an application with paid content that gives access to a detailed learning system. Lots of workouts of different levels – there is an approach for adults and children, useful materials – TED Talks, excerpts from TV series and movies, popular songs. It is possible to highlight unclear words and create your own dictionary. There’s even a LinguaLeo browser plugin that lets you add unfamiliar words to the dictionary from every page you visit.
Using apps is best if your goal is to form a habit or as an enjoyable learning experience for your child. Using only mobile apps, the learning process will be slow and choppy, so you need to combine this method with others. For example, read more foreign literature to understand the context of words and phrases.
Learning English is always a profitable investment in yourself. Today, in the vast majority of countries you can see logos, slogans, banners, books, TV series using English words and expressions. English is already needed not only for work, but also for communication, understanding world trends and news. Don’t be lazy and create your English lesson schedule.