Welcome to my English learning blog!

Today I would like to talk about his self-study. Perhaps, anyone will agree that mastering a foreign language is not an easy thing, even with a teacher who literally controls your every step. Is there a program for learning English on your own, and is it really possible to compose it yourself? What are the pros and cons of such training? What you should pay attention to? More details in this article.

The first step to language acquisition

So, you have decided that you definitely need to learn English. Not sometime later, tomorrow, next year, but right now. Perfectly! After all, goal setting is one of the most important things in learning a foreign language.

This is a time-consuming and time-consuming process, so you will need a clear plan on how to go towards your goal. It must necessarily be limited by time frames and divided into steps. You must be clearly aware of what result you want to get in 2 months, in six months, etc. And then think about how each activity you do for yourself will help you achieve it.

Learning a foreign language, unless you are a linguist who takes on new languages ​​just for fun, cannot be an end in itself. You are probably learning English in order to pass, get a promotion at work or allow yourself to travel in. In fact, this is great, because a specific goal will motivate and push you to action even when you would rather sit back. Motivation is a guarantee of success, so you should think about what exactly will inspire you even on days when you are tired or not in the mood, open a book or website and study no matter what.

Make an action plan

Thus, based on the time frame and learning objectives, you need to make a plan for yourself. In addition, you need to consider your financial capabilities. You can buy yourself a quality one from numerous English language gurus or even allow yourself to live a month or two in the country of the language you are learning in order to feel the language environment for yourself. Or you may prefer free sources and watching tutorial videos on YouTube. It's up to you, an expensive method does not mean an effective one.

Remember that in learning any foreign language we focus on four aspects: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Depending on your needs, you can spend more or less time and effort on some of these goals. For example, if you need language for travel, focus on communication: you need fluent and fluent language, as well as strong listening comprehension skills. If you are studying a language for study abroad, you will need to pay more attention to grammar, since in most foreign universities students regularly do a lot of written work, as well as enrich their vocabulary. When preparing for an international exam, such as or , use specialized manuals containing practice test options, the vocabulary and grammatical material needed for the exam.

For English classes, you need to allocate time in your schedule, because in this case self-discipline is important. Learning languages ​​is a lot like playing sports. For beginners, it is very important to train regularly so as not to lose shape. But at the same time, too much workload only demotivates and can give rise to a desire to quit everything. Find the strength and time to fully engage as often as possible, especially if the result is needed urgently. No one can force you to study 6-7 days a week, but this would, of course, be ideal.

pay attention to lesson duration. Sitting on a textbook for two or three hours is not only tiring and boring, but also inefficient. The human brain is able to fully perceive information continuously for 30-45 minutes. And then he needs rest and a change of activity.

Changing activities is generally a great technique in learning English. Don't cram every day. No doubt it will come in handy, but language is much more than endless rules and verb conjugations. On one of the days, focus on listening, watching or listening to something that interests you. On the other hand, pay attention to the vocabulary. Depending on your curriculum, you can write essays or talk. Online, it's easier than ever to find native speakers who, for example, learn your language and, in return for help, are ready to communicate with you in their native language and check essays.

Educational materials

Bonk N.A. English step by step

I would like to start with the classics. And this tutorial is precisely a time-tested classic: they studied from scratch also our parents. Many note the serious presentation of the material and the good grammar and lexical base that this textbook provides. English words are given gradually in dialogues and exercises and are organized in a clear system. The authors of the textbook promise that by going through all the lessons in order, in the end you will get everything you need to understand speech and communicate in English. In addition, this textbook pays great attention to pronunciation, each sound is accompanied by a detailed explanation. There are audio files to control pronunciation and practice the material.

Matveev S.A. English for children. Big tutorial

This large colorful edition is designed for younger students. With it, the child will learn to read their first English words and memorize them with the help of pictures. Such a textbook is suitable as an addition to the school English course to interest the child and show him that learning a foreign language is fun and interesting. However, in my opinion, in most cases, children still need the help of adults in learning English, not only in terms of knowledge, but also discipline.

Macmillan, Longman, Cambridge University Press etc.

I have combined all these publications according to the principle of their "foreignness" or authenticity. The textbooks of these publications differ little from each other, since they are built on the same principle and are aimed at preparing for passing exams for certificates confirming English proficiency at a certain level.

All these textbooks are more suitable for when you already understand most of the information, but would like to clarify some points in grammar, get rid of annoying mistakes and replenish your vocabulary with frequently used modern vocabulary.

So, Macmillan publishing house offers textbooks for preparing not only for foreign exams, but for OGE and USE . They work out all the necessary skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking, and the organization of tasks “like on the exam” helps to get used to the format. It is quite possible to study them on your own and check yourself according to the answers at the end of the book.

By the way, these international publishing houses also produce excellent reference literature. A good dictionary is always worth keeping on hand when you are learning a foreign language. Fortunately, they are online, for example, the Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/. Here you can see not only the translation of the word into Russian, but also its explanation in English, the so-called English-English dictionary. Looking up the meanings of words in English and then trying to find their equivalent in Russian on your own is a much more effective method of memorizing new words.

Murphy R. English Grammar in Use

This fairly thick textbook is extremely good, so don't let the size fool you. Each lesson consists of two pages, on one side of the rule, on the other - exercises for it. With regular training, you yourself will not notice how much you will enrich your knowledge. This tutorial allows you to bring your knowledge of grammar to full automatism. The main thing is to periodically return to the material covered in order to refresh it in memory. The advantage of this book is that much of what is presented here is simply not found in Russian-language textbooks. It is constantly reprinted, so the examples and exercises in it are really relevant and as close as possible to colloquial speech.

English in 16 hours

This video course is designed for beginners polyglot Dmitry Petrov. After completing the course, you will be able to talk about yourself, communicate on simple topics and learn the 500-1000 most common words and basic grammar. Of course, only 16 lessons are too few to fully master the language. However, they provide a good basis for communication and inspire new achievements.

Lingualeo

Today, apps and websites for learning English are very popular. The most famous of them is Lingvaleo. Originally launched as a website, it is now available as an app for Android and iOS. It can be used completely free of charge, receiving a daily dose of English based on modern videos and texts. Unfamiliar words can be added to a personal dictionary and translated with one click of the mouse. In addition, for a fee, you can get unlimited access to platform features and special courses, for example, conversational English course or for learning irregular verbs . This kind of interactive learning has a lot of fans all over the world, but in my opinion it is more of an addition to the main course to reinforce the material in a fun and entertaining way than a standalone program.

Card method

To quickly increase your vocabulary, it is extremely effective to use cards . Once upon a time they were made from an ordinary sheet of paper. The English word is written on one side, and its translation on the other. This method of repeated repetition allows you to reliably memorize words or translate them from a passive vocabulary into an active one. The difference between them is the same as between understanding a foreign text and the ability to formulate one's thoughts in another language.

Today you can use cards that are sold in bookstores. They look nice and provide the necessary lexical minimum, but they are quite expensive. A good substitute for them are online cards. Ready-made kits can be found, for example, here: http://englishvoyage.com/english-cards or do it yourself here: https://quizlet.com/. Both services are free.

PC programs

Learning English with the help of computer programs is very convenient, especially if you are not ready to devote a lot of time to this and spend hours digging into dictionaries. Download this utility to your computer - and you are ready to practice! Here best programs which are also free.

+DP+

This product was developed by a Russian teacher. It has everything you need: a vocabulary and grammar simulator, communication skills. All unfamiliar words can be translated by hovering the cursor. It is great for beginners. An additional plus is the availability of audio files for the development of listening comprehension skills.

Busuu

This foreign platform allows you to communicate with native speakers and train your skills, devoting very little time to this. Suitable even for children. The service provides free access to some of the materials and has a nice design and friendly interface. However, even the paid option is not at all expensive.

That's all for today! As you can see, dear readers, there are a lot of options for learning English on your own. And every day new tutorials and apps keep appearing! I hope I helped you understand a little about how to organize this process and what materials to choose.

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 for learning English which he used himself. They can be used both on the road and at home, on a 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. Don't confuse with Totale Companion as it is a dedicated application that will also help you learn a 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. The full version of Rosetta Stone Course is paid, but there are also free lessons for several 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 based on the Android operating system and not only. 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. With 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 its 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 the phone's internal memory (sdcard0) and install the *apk file through your device's file managers.

In learning English, it is necessary to apply all methods, including the use of programs for learning English, which are mostly free and any programs you like can be downloaded. Programs can be downloaded to a computer (PC) for Windows, or used on a tablet or phone with the appropriate operating system.

There are many computer applications (programs) in the field of learning foreign languages, aimed at memorizing grammar, words, phrases, sentences, to determine your level of English proficiency.

In any case, the above applications will only make learning easier and allow you to master the language with confidence, day by day, week by week improving your level.

Below are programs for learning English that will help you learn new words and phrases.

Each program contains a description - what you will get useful using it. If you liked the description, download the archive to your computer, install it and read the help, if any.

From the article you will learn:

Anki - a program for memorizing English words

Anki is a popular free program for memorizing foreign words (especially English). Learning takes place as follows - various cards with words that need to be translated are shown. You can also assess the level of memorization of the word - I remember - I know - very easily. The frequency of the card's appearance depends on the rating that you give to a particular word. You can download both ready-made decks, and add your own.

The program supports add-ons, keeps statistics of your progress and has other useful features.

In order to get cards in English, you need to execute the command - File - Download - Shared decks, then in the search box, enter, for example, English-Russian. So, you can use "English-Russian frequence dictionary".

Below is a screenshot of this program:

ETrainer 4800 - English proficiency program

It is a simulator where various tasks are given - the translation of a phrase, sentences and an assessment is made. You can enter various restrictions on the time to complete tasks, the number of exercises in the exam, keep detailed statistics of your success and monitor your progress.

English coach- study with dictionaries.

A program for English learners of all levels. To memorize different terms and expressions in different areas using different dictionaries.

The program runs in the background - you work as usual at the computer, and at this time you are shown words in English with a translation into Russian in a small window.

So, along with the program, the archive contains various dictionaries that can be easily and easily connected (13 dictionaries in total), including those for engineers, technical English, a dictionary of irregular verbs, and many others.

Grammar is a program for knowledge of English grammar

The program gives examples from - this will allow you to replenish your vocabulary. Many examples and illustrations are given, which allows you to quickly memorize grammatical constructions.

Irregular verbs IV - memorization of English verbs

The program is a simulator where 5 (five) verbs are taken and 4 (four) of their forms are shown, then after a while some forms of the verbs disappear and you are asked to fill in the gaps from memory.

BX Language Acquisition - a program for memorizing words

Uses both active and passive teaching methods:

1. Option
2. Mosaic
3. Writing
4. Cards

So, in the active learning mode, translation from Russian into English is possible.

In passive mode, a window appears on your screen with an English word, transcription, and its translation into Russian is also given.

Words Teacher - a program for memorizing words

Designed for memorizing individual words or phrases right at the computer in the background, without looking up from other things.

Clever English - listening software

Designed to help those who have problems with listening to English text. You can watch phrases or any topic of your choice in video and audio modes. You can slow down the playback mode. You can download various cartoons, dialogues and songs from the program website for free.

Many of us studied English at school, at the university, some attended courses, but did not master the fluency due to lack of practice. We offer a selection of useful applications to fix gaps in education.

A review of interesting, useful and non-standard applications for Android and iOS for learning and maintaining English at a high level.

How to speak English

The app was created in 2014 by Kaplan. With it, you can get rid of the accent. This is possible thanks to three types of exercise: the Challenge section, the Your Sounds section and the All Sounds section. The first section is built on the principle of "question-answer", which allows you to determine the level of proficiency in phonetics. Your sounds will allow you to compare your pronunciation with academic. The third section contains not only the international phonetic alphabet, but also teaches you to recognize speech errors and their occurrence.

Download application for , for

ED Words

ED Words is an application from the online English school Englishdom. Helps memorize new words and expand English vocabulary. Suitable for beginners and users with above-intermediate English. The application is simple and clear, there are 350 ready-made thematic sets, as well as the ability to create your own sets and track progress. 4 types of exercises for memorizing words and the method of interval repetitions are used. There is gamification - compete with friends, learn words, get points and bonuses in the form of premium access to the application. Advertising.

british council

The British Council is a global organization with training centers in over 100 countries. Many textbooks are published under the editorship of this organization. Not surprisingly, the application of the same name is popular.

Applications allow you to learn English through games, videos, podcasts. The student will be offered exercises of different difficulty levels. With the help of the British Council, you will learn new words, study grammar, master the correct pronunciation.

Download apps for

FluentU

The app is ideal for people with an audiovisual memory. The whole principle of language learning is based on video: advertising, music videos, dialogues, news. Absolutely everything is built on the fact that you hear natural English. Each video comes with interactive captions. This greatly facilitates the study of incomprehensible words - you can click on any unfamiliar word, see its image, meaning and examples of use.

FluentU remembers the words you've learned, so the app loves to recommend sample videos that include the words you've learned. It turns out a kind of personalized program.

Download app for ,

Quill

There are no problems with oral speech, but there are gaps in writing, then the Quill application will help you cope with them. The program includes tasks of different complexity for individual and group work. It is very useful for consolidating knowledge of grammar.

Download application for , for

LinguaLeo

One of the oldest English learning apps. The application is an addition to the website, which stores a huge amount of useful information: trainings, video tutorials, training courses. There are paid and free.

As for the application, it is interesting, first of all, for its competitive nature. Going from simple to complex, moving from one level to another, you compete with yourself, constantly discovering new types of training. The main goal of the program is to teach you new words, grammar. The interface is very simple and looks cartoony.

Download app for

English Idioms and Phrases

If you already have a basic level of knowledge and the only thing that constantly puts you in difficulty is incomprehensible phraseological units and turns, then this application will help correct the situation. Set expressions, idioms require special knowledge, which you will gain by doing exercises and reading a detailed description of each similar phrase in the application.

Download application for , for

Duolingo

Duolingo lessons are designed for users who are new to learning English. Words are proposed to be studied by topic. Each lesson is approximately 7 words on the topic of education, science, school. They will offer to consolidate knowledge with exercises: for example, you need to match a word with a picture, translate a phrase from your native language into English and vice versa. Once a week they will offer exercises to repeat the words learned.

Download application for , for

Memrise

Cramming new words is not the most pleasant experience. Plus, it's very tiring. Memrise is an app that uses creative and fun activities to help overcome boredom and learn vocabulary with a fun element. It is noteworthy that the tasks are invented by the users themselves, so they are precisely verified and effective.

Download application for , for

Rosetta Stone

The app offers a unique way to learn English without using your native language. Those. all words are explained either with pictures or using already learned words. The main goal of the program is to learn words to form phrases and long sentences.

Download application for , for

Carton Tongue Twister

The developers of the application from the Online Science Classroom are sure that the most effective way to learn the correct pronunciation is to memorize tongue twisters.

The application interface is made in the form of interactive cartoons, which were drawn by hand. The result is a funny animation with useful content in the form of tongue twisters.

Download app for

+ Bonus for advanced connoisseurs. Google Play Press

With the application you will always be up to date with all the news. The program allows you to read the English-language press. In turn, this enriches your vocabulary and grammar. Of course, it should be borne in mind that reading the press implies a certain amount of knowledge that you should already master.

Download for

Everyone knows folk wisdom - in his life a man must build a house, plant a tree and raise a son. For some reason, I had other goals all my life - to learn to play the guitar and learn English.

As a result, I built several houses, raised three sons, and the trees were not saved from me - I planted a lot of them, but I still don’t play the guitar, I don’t speak English.

Why am I? I'll tell you today how to learn english with computer, I will list a whole list of small and lightweight computer programs for this purpose.

The following free computer programs for learning English are mostly very small ( mini-programs) are simple and lightweight. I will not describe each one - just briefly characterize ...

List of programs for learning English

1. Association (544 kb) — we remember foreign words using the phonetic association method.
2. Business Letters (508.5 kb) - thanks to this program you will learn the structure of a business letter and the rules for writing such letters.
3. BX Language acquisition (47.2 Mb) is a learning tool for learning English words.
4. English Test (5.1 Mb) - will show you the real level of English proficiency.
5. EnglishCheck (340 kb) - displays a sentence in English and offers several answers from which you need to choose the correct one.
6. EnglishWord (420 kb) - we compose lessons for ourselves and courageously teach them.
7. ETrainer 4800 (27.2 Mb) is an English language proficiency exam with grading.
8. ETrainer 5000 (1.4 Mb) is a mini version of the previous program.
9. EZ Memo Booster (1 Mb) is a free computer program that will help you quickly and effectively improve your vocabulary while learning English.
10. Exerciser (177 kb) - a set of exercises to strengthen your knowledge of the English language.
11. English Grammar In Use (735 kb) - English grammar course, consisting of 130 lessons.
12. FVords (505 kb) - has 10 main modes, 30 different topics, 15 training texts, about 30,000 words, expressions and articles in the databases, about 70,000 words in the English-Russian and 40,000 words in the Russian-English dictionary.
13. Hangman (31 kb) is a game program based on the principle of guessing words or expressions in English.
14. Irregular Verbs (23.9 kb) is a program for learning English irregular verbs.
15. Language Memory Bomber (2.3 Mb) - we use visual images and distractions, there is a built-in speech synthesizer that allows you to hear the pronunciation of words.
16. Language Study (509 kb) - displays English words with their translation on top of all windows.
17. Lex! (540 kb) - lexical trainer.
18. Repeng is an English language tutor program.
19. Selfln (1.1 Mb) - we remember English words by the method of repeated repetition.
20. WordsTeacher (760 kb) - we study foreign words, phrases, short expressions, without looking up from the process of working on a computer.
21. Word Translation Simulator (230 kb) — we learn how to write English words.

Just in case of a fire (suddenly some official website of the program dies), I collected these training utilities (except for the two fattest ones) into one archive and uploaded it to Yandex.Disk ...

Download archive with programs

The size turned out to be 43.2 MB. (20 programs)

Of course, these are not all existing programs for learning English, but only those that I found on the Internet this morning. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to check absolutely everything - write if something is wrong, but don’t kick without being rude and kicking.