How to quickly learn English at home. How to learn English at home: step by step instructions. Check out this video for helpful tips on how to embed any good habit before a habit developed over the years and secured with a conditional ref.

Just imagine: today English is the main language for more than 335 million people! Over one and a half billion of the world's population speak it fluently!

Do you know why learning English online is so crazy popular?

Perhaps in the fact that before us, like hospitable doors, such exciting opportunities open up:

• ✔ travel freely on different countries, significantly saving money on the services of translators;
• ✔ claim for getting a high paying job or career growth
• ✔ make new acquaintances and connections in foreign countries;
• ✔ read books and watch movies in original soundtrack And so on.
• Surely you will also have something to add to this list!

We all want to be fluent in English.

We all dream to communicate on it and feel confident and comfortable.

We all know that English is a symbol of success.

But not everyone is able to constantly go to courses or hire a private tutor.

I ended up in the States without planning to live there… and once I got there, I had to learn English from scratch! It's not easy, especially when you're over 40! But the desire won everything and the result is already there!

— Victor, student of BistroEnglish

The real way out is to teach English for beginners online according to the author's method.

What are the real benefits of learning English online?

First of all, you can learn this language online both for a fee and for free, for adults and children. Both video and audio lessons. There are no age or location restrictions.

This training approach has a number of advantages over other methods:

- Studying at home with video lessons, you yourself create a lesson schedule that is convenient for you;

- You can watch online in your free time, without looking up from household chores or work.

– You can study in a cafe, office, driving a car, airport, etc.;

- You can learn English online both with a Russian-speaking teacher and with a native speaker - all this with the help of video lessons and audio lessons;

- The frequency of classes can also be selected individually, depending on your schedule.

– You quickly memorize new words, expressions due to bright pictures and video inserts;

- Bright and visual images in the video course provide faster memorization of previously unfamiliar concepts;

– And, of course, you can always go back and watch some lesson again!

Teaching English for beginners online on your own at BistroEnglish - what's interesting?

1. Online English courses for beginners are built according to a clear scheme.

Each next lesson reinforces the knowledge and skills already acquired.

2. The maximum lesson duration is 25 –30 minutes.

During this time, you have time to effectively learn the language and at the same time not get tired.

3. The presence of a constant repetition of the material covered, which allows you to remember all the necessary information of the lesson for a long time.

4. In addition to video lessons, there is a mini-course of audio lessons, voiced by both a Russian-speaking teacher and native speakers. Thus, you develop both the ability to speak and understanding of speech.

I visualize knowledge, it is much more convenient for me to see a teacher / person, for better assimilation of the material. Therefore, I prefer to study on video lessons and, when I have time, on Skype. I use audio as an additional material. Everything together works great - every week I'm getting closer to my goal.

— Andrey, student of the English in 4 Weeks 2in1 program

Like other methods, fast online learning of English involves 4 ways of perception:

→ Vision. Many people have a developed visual memory, so images contribute to a better perception of information.
→ Hearing. The speech of a real native English speaker provides effective memorization correct pronunciation.
→ Letter. During the performance of written tasks, the body perceives information at the visual and tactile levels.
→ Speech. Repeated pronunciation of a phrase or word contributes to the development of muscle memory of speech organs.

All of the above can turn learning English from monotonous uninteresting activities into a pleasant pastime.

At the same time, the cost of this training is several times less compared to regular courses, and the assimilation of knowledge is much faster due to individual character classes.

The teacher is not distracted by extraneous things and other students, respectively, precious time is not wasted.

Everyone has their own reasons for learning English. Some want to move to another country or go on a tour, others seek to improve their professional and business skills, build a successful career, others learn the language for self-development and broadening their horizons. If you are interested in how to learn English on your own from scratch without teachers without leaving your home, this article will be useful for you.

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Today, those who want to master a foreign language at one level or another have more and more opportunities. Linguistic studios, courses and private teachers offer their services. It is possible that it is easier to master all the subtleties and complexities of a foreign language with real professionals. But if you do not have the physical or financial ability to study with qualified teachers, do not despair: you can learn English language independently from scratch at home. Moreover, this method also has unconditional advantages:

Freedom to choose your schedule

You do not need to plan your day based on a strict course schedule. You yourself determine the time and duration of your own classes and can vary them depending on your employment.

Individual program

Despite all the advantages, the programs of courses and studios are still somewhat generalized and designed for the average potential and goals of students. Studying separately, you yourself determine which language aspects you need to pay more attention to, and select materials and methods taking into account your personal training and the peculiarities of acquiring knowledge.

Smart spending

Any language courses involve financial investments, the amount of which depends both on the prestige of the methods and on the duration of the programs. If you decide to study English at home, the cost of studying can be added to the price of the textbooks and online courses you choose - and even then you will notice the benefits.

Comfort

Going to the teacher on the other side of the city on a rainy autumn evening, going to classes after a working day, when dreams of a cozy chair and a cup of tea overshadow any ambitious plans - all this can significantly reduce motivation. But if you decide to learn English yourself, you can forget about such difficulties. You do not waste time traveling, you do not need to leave the house when there is no mood or weather. You just take a textbook or computer, connect to the Internet and study without leaving your favorite room.

All this is true if you really decide to learn English from scratch on your own, without leaving your home. Without courses, studios, tutors and teachers. Textbooks and online courses can become your mentors - and, as practice shows, self-study can be no less effective.

Note: Having decided to study English on your own, be prepared to show willpower, patience and endurance. One of the keys to successful language acquisition is consistency, so make sure you have the inner readiness to practice regularly so you can force yourself not to be lazy.

And one more small warning: there is simply no universal recipe for how to learn English on your own at home from scratch. It all depends on the right teaching materials, the frequency of classes, the ability to perceive information and your personal linguistic inclinations. But if you are determined to try and are sure that you can master the language nuances you need without intermediaries - feel free to start. By the way, you can watch an animated video in which we tried to convey the main theses of the article.

Watch this video and in 3 minutes you will learn how to learn English on your own

How to start learning English: defining skills

Proficiency in English at any level relies on 4 important language skills. Let's take a closer look at what these skills are and what each of them is responsible for.

Reading

The ability to understand what is written, analyze and draw conclusions is especially important now, when there is a huge amount of information around that deserves our attention. Full-fledged mastery of the skill suggests that you can read fiction, journalistic and scientific texts in English practically without a dictionary, you can quickly highlight the main ideas and theses in them and even explain them to someone else in your own words.

Letter

Successfully mastering the skill of writing in English will allow you not only to actively communicate on social networks, but also to conduct business correspondence, which is especially important if you are learning the language for career purposes. The key aspects in this case are impeccable spelling and grammar, the ability to build sentences, and in some cases, knowledge of the basics of business etiquette.

Listening or Listening (Listening)

It is possible to declare that you know a foreign language well only if you can freely perceive speech in it by ear. If you decide to learn English from scratch on your own, you need to pay enough attention to this skill. Listening to audio and video materials will also improve your speaking practice. A good level of listening proficiency assumes that you understand at least 65% of what you hear - and, therefore, you can freely communicate with native speakers and perceive important information that they are trying to convey to you.

Speaking

In communication, it is important not only to listen, but also to be able to interact with the interlocutor. A developed speaking skill assumes that you know how to pronounce certain words correctly, build sentences, talk on certain topics and, of course, have sufficient vocabulary. That is, your ability to maintain dialogues is implied.

As in any other language, in English all 4 skills are interdependent and one cannot develop properly without the other. In this case, the answer to the question of how easy it is to learn English is unequivocal: when compiling a lesson program for every day, be sure to include reading, speaking, listening and writing exercises in it.

Note: Not always tasks for 4 skills should be present in equal proportions. If you feel that you lack practice in one of them or you are learning English for very specific purposes (travel, business correspondence, etc.) you can pay more attention to the required skill. But you can’t forget about other aspects either: find for them at least 15 minutes of the total class time.

How to learn English on your own at home: compiling a program

So, you still decided to study English on your own in your favorite room. It remains only to decide where to start. If you really start from scratch, then you will have to start with the most basic - the rules of reading and pronunciation. However, do not stay at this stage for too long, and gradually move on to learning other language aspects.

How to learn the alphabet

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet - 20 consonants and 6 vowels. Starting to learn English from scratch at home, proceed in the following sequence:

• Start with vowels - Aa, Ee, Ii, Oo, Uu, Yy. Be sure to check their sound in transcription - today there is such an opportunity online.
• Move on to letters that are similar in spelling and sound to Russian - Bb, Cc, Dd, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Pp, Ss, Tt. This is the easiest way to learn most of the alphabet - at least you will already know what to rely on when reading.
• Lastly, memorize letters that are not in the Russian alphabet - Ff, Gg, Hh, Jj, Qq, Rr, Vv, Ww, Xx, Zz.

Write down all the letters (both large and small) along with the transcription in a separate notebook and carefully pronounce each of them when writing. This will help to quickly form a visual image of the letters - and, therefore, learn to read in a shorter time.

How to learn sounds

Most letters in the English language have several pronunciations - it all depends on the position of the syllable and the surrounding letter combinations. You can remember all the reading rules using:

• Special tables that you can find in the textbook or online.
• Notebooks where you can write down all the sounds in groups, including diphthongs (complex sounds of two vowels) and triphthongs (complex sounds of three vowels).
• Cards that you can make yourself in any convenient format.

Note: Be sure to find programs that allow you to practice pronunciation aloud - only in this case the rules of reading will be fixed in the shortest possible time, and you will be able to boast of the correct pronunciation.

How to replenish vocabulary

Experts suggest proceeding from the following values. For everyday communication, you will need 1500-2000 words, for a comfortable long stay in the language environment - about 5000 thousand, and if you are planning a professional career, then the minimum bar will be 20-25 thousand words. But the latter is for a more distant future. In the meantime, do any of the following:

• Consistent. Take one topic, select subsections in it and make cards with words and expressions for each. Set yourself a goal - for example, memorize 10 words daily. Stick to your chosen plan. Once a topic is mastered, move on to the next one. Thus, in a year you will master at least 20-25 large lexical sections, which will allow you to communicate quite freely.
• Visual. Hang cards with their names in English on all items in the apartment - the memory will work involuntarily. If you begin to notice that when you see this item, the English equivalent comes to mind by itself - remove the card.
• For audio. If you find it easier to memorize by ear, watch films and TV programs in English (you can turn on subtitles at first), listen to songs and poems, and write down your favorite words and phrases. Special audio courses will also come in handy.
• For book lovers. If you like to read more, then you should immediately start by reading and translating texts. Start with the simplest ones, where a maximum of 5-7 words are of interest to you. Over time, find more complex sources for translation - and you will be surprised how quickly new vocabulary is fixed in memory.

Tip: Try to include at least three verbs in the list of memorized words for the day - they are the basis of the lexical base in English. And do not forget to look into the dictionary at the slightest interest or doubt: for the period of learning the language, it should become your reference book.

English grammar: features and secrets of learning

It is impossible to determine how to quickly learn English if you do not have an idea about the grammatical norms and rules of the language. And it is worth saying a few words about this separately.

English belongs to the analytical type - that is, logical connections between words in a sentence are formed not with the help of endings and suffixes, as in Russian, but due to prepositions, auxiliary and phrasal verbs. Other features of grammar include:

• clear and unchanging word order in sentences;
• the presence of articles;
• the absence of a grammatical category of gender;
• special rules for the use of possessive pronouns;
• a large number of tenses of the verb with a focus on completeness, duration and regularity.

In fact, learning English grammar is easier than it looks - just follow three basic rules:

• Go from simple to complex (for example, from time to present simple to Present Continuous)
• Try to understand, not memorize.
• Practice, practice and more practice.

All the basic English grammar rules are presented in various tables, along with exceptions and examples, so memorizing them will not be difficult with frequent lessons. Those who master grammar from the very beginning will appreciate the convenience of tables in the process of learning the language. And if you find a good collection of exercises and devote at least 10-15 minutes a day to them, you will successfully bring knowledge “to automatism”.

How to Learn Spoken English Easily: Useful Techniques

If you need to speak English as soon as possible, but you do not know how to start, just start with the most important thing - what we talked about above. In addition, we offer you some very useful ideas.

• Listen more. Start watching films in English, don't miss clips of your favorite English-speaking bands, add their songs to your playlist, follow the news. So you not only expand vocabulary, but also learn the expressions characteristic of the spoken language.
• Reconfigure the mobile phone interface to English - the same goes for the tablet and computer. Choose English-language sites to search for information.
• Look up the meaning of words in an English-English dictionary - the benefits will become noticeable very quickly.
• Try to join English-language chats on social networks - and discover something new for yourself every day.

Perhaps, over time, you will also have your own secret techniques for learning English vocabulary. Be sure to use them - the more comfortable the methods, the better the result.

Reading texts: which books to choose for a particular level

At the very initial stage, short children's fairy tales are also suitable for you - to get used to literary speech and easily catch the plot. Moving to a higher level of knowledge, you can start reading adapted literature. An example list is below.

Level A-2

• The Fisherman and His Soul (Oscar Wilde);
• Dracula (Bram Stocker);
• Mr. Bean In Town (Richard Curtis).

Level B-1

• 1984 (George Orwell);
• Three Men in a Boat (Jerome K. Jerome);
• Forrest Gump (John Escott).

Level B-2

• Airport (Arthur Hailey);
• Four Weddings and a Funeral (Richard Curtis);
• The Talented Mr. Ripley (Patricia Highsmith).

Level C-1

• Brave New World (Aldous Huxley);
• Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte);
• Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen).

Of course, this list is approximate. You can choose books according to your tastes and level of knowledge. However, do not forget to read them regularly - and if you are familiar with their Russian-language versions, you will be even more interested.

Tip: Do not try to understand the meaning of each word - it is more important to understand the thought. Moreover - in the book you have chosen, you should be familiar with a maximum of 70% of the vocabulary - so that there is where to grow and what to learn.

So, the alphabet and phonetics, the grammar rule, memorizing new colloquial phrases, a little reading and listening - your lesson should consist of approximately such parts. Evenly distribute time between them - if necessary, you can always adjust your plan.

English self-study methods

To successfully learn English from scratch at home, you can use various methods, which will be discussed below. However professional educators it is advised to combine them all - so you can systematically develop all language skills at once.

Books, textbooks, tutorials

Over the past few years, the following textbooks have been most often on the lists of the most effective manuals for self-study of English:

• "English step by step" (N.A. Bonk);
• "16 English lessons" (D. Petrov";
• English Pronunciation in Use (Johnatan Marks);
• English Grammar in Use (Raymond Murphy);
• Speakout (Frances Eales, Steve Oakes).

Each of these manuals has strengths and benefits that make them key to self-study English. And yet, no matter what comprehensive course you choose, do not forget about additional materials(applications, online seminars, chats, etc.) and exercises.

Audio courses, audio lessons

Audio courses are great for those who more effectively perceive information by ear and want to be able to practice English anytime and anywhere. We present to your attention the 5 most useful and comfortable benefits:

• "English in 6 weeks" (E. Smith);
• “So they say in America” (English USA);
• BBC Grammar Challenge.

All audio materials are available for download. Before you download them, you can read detailed description course and determine how it fits your goals and level of preparation.

Online learning

Studying English at home from scratch is not an easy task, so the Internet and related online learning can be called upon to help.

Online English learning services are gaining popularity - and for good reason:

• convenience - training is possible at any time of the day or night, only a computer is required;
• cost - online courses are much cheaper than regular ones, and if you wish, you can find programs available for free;
• individual approach - the service selects a program suitable for the student based on the results of the preliminary test;
• full coverage - online courses are balanced and cover all language aspects, including vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.

One such popular service was the Lim English online tutorial. A full-fledged learning platform, a simple, intuitive learning algorithm, progress tracking and an extensive vocabulary base with “live” conversational units and expressions will allow you to achieve a high level of English knowledge in the most exciting way. The service will be useful for all beginners to learn a foreign language.

English for films, series, songs

If you have already reached basic level, feel free to include films, songs and TV shows in a foreign language in your learning process. This will not only pleasantly diversify your classes, but will also allow you to quickly master live conversational speech.

Another advantage is that the materials can be very different. Educational bbc video tutorials and documentaries, favorite soap operas, songs from childhood pop and rock bands, and even comics - all this will help you immerse yourself in the language environment even deeper.

Tip: Do not forget to write out and repeat interesting vocabulary - you will definitely need it in live communication.

Immersion in the language environment

By immersion in the language environment, linguists mean a complete environment with information sources in English and active interaction with native speakers. For you, this dive may include:

• reading the press - newspapers and magazines - in English;
• watching news, series, TV shows;
• communication with native speakers live, in social networks and chats such as skype or other instant messengers;
• living abroad in English-speaking families;
• switching all home appliances and gadgets to the English interface.

This method can be a little stressful - but its effectiveness cannot be overestimated. Be sure to try this immersion for at least a few days, and you will notice how much freer your speech has become.

Note: When communicating in English, in no case be embarrassed and do not be afraid of mistakes. The Americans and the British are extremely friendly to those who want to learn the language and will definitely support you. Even a short communication with them easily removes the language barrier.

So, we have analyzed the basic methods and rules for building programs for self-study of English. In addition, we have prepared a few more recommendations for you - perhaps they will be useful to you and help you not lose interest in the language:

• Clearly define the duration of the lesson- at least 1 hour daily. Whatever happens, try to stick to the chosen time frame - and even study a little longer.
• Sing! One song in English before the start of classes will relax and allow you to tune in to the positive - and the result.
• Type or write something in English. Even a small paragraph will set up your thinking correctly and help consolidate knowledge.
• Find a soul mate. Try to learn the language with someone else, study in pairs or in a company. This is not only more fun, but also more useful - you can test each other, and the spirit of competition will play its role.
• Make friends with native speakers. Visitors to social networks and online chats are willing to make contact and will definitely help you master the nuances of English.
• Reward yourself. For a week of stable activities, treat yourself to something delicious, going to the movies or other pleasant little things. Encouragement is never too much.

And, of course, the best incentive is a great result. Take small online tests regularly, start reading new book or watch a new movie. Realizing how much your English is improving, you will feel a surge of enthusiasm for further improvement.

A little about children: how to start learning English for a child

Is it possible to teach English to a baby or a preschooler at home? Surprising as it may sound, in some respects it is even simpler. The fact is that a child of 5-6 years old begins the so-called sensitive period - when he is especially susceptible to learning languages ​​and easily remembers not only words, but also grammatical constructions. If you start studying with him right now, further training will go like clockwork.

One of the problems in language learning for children is low motivation or its complete absence. If adults study English for a specific purpose, directing volitional efforts to achieve it, then the child most often vaguely understands why he needs it. And if you decide to do children's education at home, then the key to success for you will be an entertaining, playful form.

Various games and competitions help develop the child's interest and captivate him. The most popular methods of learning English for children:

• poems and songs;
• watching your child's favorite cartoons (and then films) in the original;
• online services with games and interesting tasks.

Note: When choosing materials for a child, be guided not only by his age, but also by the relevance of the topic - find stories that he likes. And try not to overload the baby: as soon as you feel that he is losing interest, you can finish the lesson. Usually 30 minutes a day is enough.

As you can see, everyone can learn English on their own at home from scratch. The most important thing is desire, diligence, consistency, system, and, of course, interest. If you manage to find the most suitable and comfortable ways and methods of learning a language for yourself, clearly define your goals and do not deviate from what was planned - in a few months you will be pleasantly pleased with the results. Spend just an hour a day on self-study of the language to get closer to your cherished goal. And finally: no bees - no honey, no work - no money! Your perfect English is in your hands. Good luck!

Despite the fact that at school a foreign language is included in the group of compulsory disciplines, few manage to master it within the framework of the school course. Therefore, the question of how to learn English on your own from scratch at home is acute.

You can learn a language at home without outside help. You just need to have a clear motivation and choose the right course of study. This will get you results. I have a collection of tips that I will present to your judgment.

• First of all, determine the goals for which you are learning the language: passing an international exam, employment in a foreign company, communication with residents of other countries, or confidence in foreign travel. The methodology is determined by intentions.
• I recommend starting with learning the basics. Without this, it is impossible to learn the language. Pay attention to the alphabet, reading rules and grammar. The tutorial will help you to cope with the task. Buy it at the bookstore.
• As soon as the initial knowledge becomes stable, choose the contact study option. We are talking about remote courses, a distance learning school or Skype classes. If you are highly motivated and your language learning is progressing well, having an interlocutor will not hurt, since external control is the key to successful learning.
• Mastering the chosen course, pay attention to reading fiction. At first, I recommend using adapted books. In the future, switch to full-fledged texts. As a result, master the technique of speed reading.
• Novels and detective stories are suitable for learning. Even if the chosen book is not a literary masterpiece, it will help to expand the vocabulary with new words and expressions. If unfamiliar vocabulary is encountered during reading, I recommend writing it out, translating and memorizing it. Over time, you will see that an extensive vocabulary array is often repeated in works.
• Watch movies, series and shows in English. At first, even with effective and intensive training, it is problematic to understand something. Over time, get used to foreign speech and be able to understand. Spend half an hour daily watching.

Even if you have recently started learning a language, try to talk more often and do not be afraid of mistakes. Learn to express thoughts, and master the technique of constructing phrases with practice.

Ways to Learn English in the Shortest Time

Continuing the topic of the article, I will share the technique of high-speed learning of the English language. I don’t know for what purpose you are learning the language, but if you ended up on the pages of the site, then you need it.

As practice shows, people get into awkward situations due to poor knowledge of the English language. We have to learn the language as part of the school course, but the knowledge gained at school is not enough for work and communication. Many strive to become better in this matter.

Any foreign language is easier to master in a country whose inhabitants are native speakers. But not everyone can leave the Motherland for such a big goal. How to be?

1. If you can't afford a short trip to the States or England, recreate an English-speaking environment at home.
2. Study phrases in the target language daily. Give preference to complex phrases containing phraseological turns. A proverb or speech of a creative person will do.
3. Lay out each phrase, rewrite it several times, print it out on paper and hang it on the refrigerator door or in another conspicuous place. The studied material is constantly pronounce aloud, making the correct intonation.
4. Surround yourself with English. He must accompany you everywhere. The player will help with this. Listening to music or statements in a foreign language, you will initially understand poorly. Later, learn to catch words that will eventually develop into understandable phrases.
5. Download the English-language series to your computer in the original, but with subtitles. Watch episode by episode before going to bed and discuss with your spouse or child the next day.
6. An electronic book will become an assistant in the rapid development of English speech. Download from the Internet and read English-language works. The e-book provides a dictionary that will help you master complex literature, and the voice function will voice the correct pronunciation.
7. Don't forget about learning English via Skype. Find a teacher on the Internet, agree with him the time of classes and communicate within the lessons. This technique has many advantages. You can independently choose a teacher and agree on cooperation on favorable terms. It will offer a lot of interactive lessons based on an individual approach.

Videos training

The speed of achieving the goal and getting the result depends on perseverance, the level of motivation and the course of study chosen in accordance with the possibilities. Work hard and everything will work out. As a result, you will become smarter and feel free anywhere in the world.

Benefits of learning English

Compatriots are of the opinion that a thorough study of foreign languages ​​is inappropriate. Popular films, literary works and scientific works have long been translated into Russian. For the sake of other spheres, areas and segments, it makes no sense to master a second language.

If you doubt the need to learn foreign languages, read the material and learn about the benefits of learning English. I have been teaching it for three years and I find this skill useful. I read, communicate and perceive live speech. A lot of experience has accumulated over the years.

Having mastered English, you will be able to perceive the world in a different way. This will not happen immediately, but by improving your knowledge and skills, you will gain a generally accepted perception of the world.

Let's take a look at the main benefits.

• Expanding horizons . The English-speaking audience of the World Wide Web is larger than the Russian-speaking part. Outside the information age, where it is considered the key to success not only in business, but also in life, owning a foreign language expands opportunities in terms of development.
• Watching movies in the original . As a result, it will be possible to enjoy the sound of the voice of your favorite actor, and not the translator who voices the roles. The play on English words and original humor will never escape.
• Understanding Music . Popular charts are overflowing with foreign musical compositions. Knowing the language, you can understand the meaning of the song, feel the composition and get to know the personality of the performer.
• Communication with foreigners . Fluency in the language contributes to the unification of cultures. People travel and communicate with residents of other countries. Much nicer and more convenient when you can talk to foreigners. This makes the trip more enjoyable.
• Opening the way to success and wealth . After reading a few books about success, it turns out that not everything comes down to money. At the heart of the success of Western people lies the perception of the world and inner philosophy. You can read the translation of such books, but then you can only understand the essence of the teaching. Only the original helps to absorb knowledge.

Studying a foreign language, you find around you a huge number of foreigners. I like to talk with people who came to Russia from afar. It helps to make friends and makes the world "home". If you don't already know the language, it's never too late to start learning.

Why is English an international language?

I will devote the final part of the article to the factors due to which English has gained the status of an international language. English is the fourth most spoken language in the world. But this does not prevent him from remaining international. What contributed to this, history will tell.

From 1066 until the 14th century, England was ruled by French kings. As a result, the structure of Old English changed. It's about simplifying grammar and adding new words.

Two centuries later, writing rules appeared that have survived to this day. At that time, 6 million people spoke English. Thanks to the English colonies, the number of native speakers increased and the formation of an international language began.

Britain was a maritime nation. After the discovery of America by Columbus, expeditions set off to the South American shores. Researchers were interested in values ​​and treasures, and so that each voyage ended in success, colonies were formed on new lands. The first such settlement was organized in 1607 in Virginia.

After some time, residents of many countries began to migrate to America in search of a better life. Since they spoke their native language, it was impossible to do without an international language, and English speech got its role.

The English, living in the new settlements, brought traditions along with the language. local residents forced to speak it. The British colonial policy contributed to the formation of English as an international language.

British imperialism lasted three centuries, and by the 19th century the country's influence had spread to the whole world. The colonies later gained independence, leaving English as their national language. This contributed to the strengthening of the international status.

Today, English is an integral element of the world community, economy, culture, technology and science. Whether you want to become a doctor, police officer, reporter or financier, English will help you succeed.

Knowing the language, you will be able to communicate with foreign friends and colleagues, draw information from an inexhaustible English source.

Surely you have already read hundreds of articles on the Internet about how to learn English on your own and for free. Still not able to reach the desired level of knowledge? The thing is that many offer theoretical advice without backing it up with practice. Therefore, we decided to make practical guide on self-study. In this article, we will tell you if it is possible to learn English without anyone's help, explain what materials you MUST use when studying on your own and what resources you can use in addition so that you do not get bored learning English at home. You can save yourself a free PDF that lists all 156 resources, and at the end of the article, we'll give you our Editors' Choice - a "best of the best" list.

Is it possible to learn English on your own

Let's first find out whether it is realistic to learn English on your own or if you should not waste time and effort on this activity. Let's say right away that learning English on your own and for free is quite realistic, because there are thousands of learning resources on the Internet that will help you do this. Why is it that not everyone succeeds in mastering the language at the desired level? You probably know people whose self-study has become a waste of time. Or maybe you yourself have repeatedly unsuccessfully tried to learn English?

We can say with confidence that only three factors determine whether you can learn English on your own:

1. Your desire to learn the language.
2. Willingness to work.
3. An effective way to learn a language.

If both the first and the second factors are present, then it is only the third link that matters - the ability to find for yourself the most effective way to learn English on your own. This article is just designed to solve the problem of the third factor: we will tell you how to organize an effective studying proccess what materials you will need.

At the same time, we want to immediately warn you: self-learning is an interesting process, but not easy, and it is especially difficult for beginners. We still advise those who study the language "from scratch" to use the services. Under his vigilant supervision and expert guidance, you will move faster than with self-study. Do you want to walk this path without anyone's help? We have already written an article on this topic "", however, it is aimed specifically at beginners. In the same article, we will share resources for all English learners, so for beginners it is better to start by studying the first article and then return to this material.

How to learn English on your own

We have compiled 6 simple recommendations for you on how best to learn English on your own. These tips are based on the experience of our teachers and students. To make self-learning effective for you, follow all the recommendations, then positive results will not keep you waiting.

1. Set a specific goal

It is on your learning goal that all further actions for self-study of the English language depend. Think about whether you want to learn general conversational or business English, want to reach an intermediate level, or want to reach the top. You can look and choose a similar goal for yourself. In addition, a great right goal is to reach the intermediate level, in which case you will lay down a good knowledge base. Find out 8 more reasons to get to this stage from the article "".

2. Schedule your classes

It would seem that the beauty of self-study lies precisely in the fact that your English classes are not tied to any particular moment: you learn the language when it is convenient for you. However, in reality it turns out as in a well-known anecdote. Your conscience torments you: “When will you sit down for English?” And you answered her: “Well, no, today I can’t, I’m so tired. Let's never. Will it ever suit you?" Agree, with this approach, it is impossible to learn English. Therefore, take a tight rein on yourself and make a specific schedule, for example, study for an hour daily or 3-4 times a week for 1.5 hours. Of course, having a schedule will not protect you from procrastination, but you will already know that you didn’t just “legally postpone the class, I’ll teach you later”, but missed it. Gnawing conscience is a good motivator!

3. Select the required resources

As we have already said, we have many sources of knowledge, and such an abundance of useful resources does not always have a positive effect on learning. So, many people decide to learn English and in one day they buy all available textbooks, bookmark 541 English learning sites, install 37 language learning apps. On the one hand, such zeal is commendable. On the other hand, each textbook and each site has its own principles for presenting the material, therefore, if you study on different resources every day, you risk creating a mess in your head and in a week or two you will realize that you don’t know what to take on. Below we offer you a list of good time-tested resources for learning English by English proficiency. Spend a couple of days choosing no more than 1-2 resources for each skill.

4. Look for an interlocutor

Some people think that English can be learned "offline" using only books, audio and video materials. However, it is not. You can read Agatha Christie in the original and listen to BBC news, but what's the point if you find it difficult to speak English. You can speak the language you are learning only with the help of an interlocutor. Read on to find out how to find yourself a speaking partner.

5. Track your achievements

This is an important point for those who decide to learn English on their own at home. Be sure to complete test tasks to track your progress. You can do various online tests, such as knowledge level tests. It is important to check your mistakes. This is quite difficult when self-learning, so we wrote an assistant article "" for you. From it you will learn how to control your learning process.

6. Don't Take Long Breaks From Studying

Everyone has days when it seems like there is no time at all to learn English. In this case, we recommend finding literally 5-10 minutes and doing one of the exercises from the article "". If you still had to take a break in learning, try not to drag it out, otherwise the accumulated knowledge will start to fly out of your head and you will completely abandon your studies.

How to learn English for free at home: 156 useful materials

And now we will present you with resources that you will definitely need for effective self-study of English. You will see the entire list of resources in a PDF file that you can save to your computer for free:

Those who learn English on their own often complain that they cannot learn English grammar. In this case, we recommend taking an additional textbook with grammar exercises to the main textbook. When choosing such a book, be guided by our article "". Go through the manual from the first lesson to the last without missing anything, then the material will be easier to understand.

A good vocabulary will allow you to accurately express your thoughts, so try to constantly learn new words. It is advisable to take new vocabulary not only from your main textbook, but also from specialized manuals. A reliable source of the right words will be one of. The practical exercises in these books will teach you how to use the learned words correctly in your speech.

Correct pronunciation is necessary for the interlocutor to understand you, so this skill also needs to be developed. If, when studying English with a teacher, you can do without a special manual, because the teacher will teach you how to pronounce sounds correctly, then with self-study english house you will need a textbook. You can take one of the following: English Pronunciation in Use , New Headway Pronunciation Course , Tree or Three? , Ship or Sheep? , How Now, Brown Cow? , Elements of Pronunciation . In them you will find many tasks for listening and setting the correct pronunciation.

A good dictionary is an indispensable attribute of an English learner. We recommend that you first use a Russian-English online dictionary, such as multitran.ru or lingvolive.ru. When you reach an intermediate level of knowledge, start using an English-English dictionary, such as macmillandictionary.com or dictionary.cambridge.org.

Would you like to use teaching aids? We recommend reading our article "", in which we talked about the benefits of using aids, and also indicated who can learn English without them.

Additional Resources

The listed textbooks will be enough for you to improve your English skills, but sometimes you want to take a break from books and diversify your learning with some interesting materials. We made for you large selection the best resources to help you learn English on your own.

1. We speak English

To learn to communicate in English, you need to try to speak it as often as possible. Where to find a partner for communication? On one of the language exchange sites, such as italki.com or es.coeffee.com. You will find even more ideas and resources for finding an interlocutor in the article "".

2. Learning new words

   New vocabulary can be taught not only by the manual, but also by more modern and exciting methods:

   • Install word learning apps: Anki for Android and iOS, Easy Ten for and iOS or Fun Easy Learn English for Android and iOS. Learning 10 words will take no more than 5-7 minutes, we think that even a busy person will have time to study with applications.
   • Learn words with visual dictionaries like online-languages.info or oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. An association with a picture is remembered better and faster than a single word.
   • Run tests on englishteststore.net and esl.fis.edu. You can check how well you remember the new vocabulary and see how it is used in speech.
   • Solve crosswords: .
3. Improving listening comprehension in English

   It is quite easy to improve your listening comprehension of English on your own. We recommend the following methods:

   • Listen to audio materials: .
   • Watch the news: . You can first watch the video with subtitles, and then without them.
   • Watch exciting educational videos and video lectures:.
   • Listen to interesting audiobooks: .
   • Listen to music: .
4. Improving grammar knowledge

Remember: without knowing grammar, it is impossible to speak English normally. Therefore, let's see what methods, in addition to the exercises from the textbook, can be used to deal with grammar once and for all.

• Learn grammar from understandable articles in Russian: engblog.ru.
• Run tests: . Doing at least one debriefing test every day will help you gradually eradicate your mistakes.
• Watch instructional videos: . Also visit the wonderful resource engvid.com. Pay attention to the videos with the teacher Ronnie: even those who hate grammar will like her incendiary sense of humor and exciting lessons.
• Use the grammar learning apps: Johnny Grammar for and iOS or Learn English Grammar for Android and LearnEnglish Grammar for iOS. These simple gadget programs will diversify the way to work or a trip to the country.

Reading is the easiest skill to work on your own. How to do it:

• Read adapted literature: . Such books can be read by people with a Beginner level and above.
• Read books in the original: .
• Read fascinating articles: . A small interesting article - the optimal "dose" for those who want to learn English at home on their own.
• Read the news: install the Yahoo News Digest or BBC News app on your smartphone or tablet, then you will be in the know and will be able to improve your English daily.
• Read magazines: .

Improving pronunciation with self-study is not very easy: in order to analyze your speech and find errors in it, you need to have experience in learning English and know perfectly HOW all sounds should sound. But this difficulty can be overcome by using the following tricks:

• Learn to pronounce sounds correctly: .
• Practice speaking tongue twisters: download-esl.com has tongue twisters voiced by native speakers. Say at least a couple of them every day, and your pronunciation will improve in a couple of months, and it will become much easier to pronounce difficult sounds of English.

You can learn to write in English without the help of a teacher. The catch is that if you decide to learn English on your own, there will be no one to check your written work. There are services for communicating with foreigners, these sites offer something like a language exchange: you check the text in Russian, and a native English speaker checks your written work in English. However, keep in mind that illiterate people can also sit on such sites, so no one can guarantee the reliability of the check. In addition, your reviewer will at best just correct your mistakes, but not explain them. Therefore, if it is important for you to learn how to write well in English, you should think about lessons with a teacher. In addition, the following will help you:

• Learn to spell correctly...
• Work on pronunciation - .
• Online dictations - dictationsonline.com.

We have provided you with a detailed practical guide on how to learn English on your own and for free, and pointed out the best resources to help you succeed in this field. Now it's up to you. At first, this path can be difficult, because learning something new is never easy. Remember, when you first got on a bike, you probably fell more than once before learning how to ride. Driving English will also be difficult, but gradually you will be able to pick up speed and masterfully handle it. We wish you success in your studies!

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In this material, we will try to give you the basics of the English language from the very beginning. If you are still quite a beginner, but at least know the alphabet, then after giving this article some time, you will be able to learn your first words and start making sentences.

We have prepared for you English exercises especially for beginners from scratch, as well as video lessons on grammar and many useful links to other important articles on our site that will help you learn. Despite the fact that today many methods of studying are known, independent work plays an important role in skill training. Therefore, carefully read the article and learn new topics with us.

English from scratch: where to start?

Everyone knows that every language, both native and foreign, consists of words, and words - of letters and sounds. Therefore, if we want to take the first steps in self-learning a language and learn English from scratch on our own, we will have to start with its smallest elements - letters and sounds.

English alphabet

The English alphabet consists of 26 letters. Some of them resemble Russian letters and are easy to remember (for example, Mm, Kk, Oo and others), and some (for example, Hh , Gg , Qq and others) - do not look like them at all.

Read more about the English alphabet .

Now is the time to do a simple online alphabet exercise. The upper field will show the letter, and you need to choose its correct pronunciation. it effective exercise to repeat the letters and be sure to remember them.

• [hey/ei]

• [bi/bi:]

• [si/si:]

• [di/di:]

• [i/i:]

• [ef/ef]

• [ji/dʒi:]

• [h/eitʃ]

• [ai/ai]

• [jay/dʒei]

• [kei]

• [el/el]

• [em/em]

• [en/en]

• [ou]

• [pi/pi:]

• [cue/kju:]

• [ar/a:r]

• [es/es]

• [ti/ti:]

• [yu/ju:]

• [vi/vi:]

• [double-u/`dʌbl]

• [ex/eks]

• [wai]

• [zi/zi:]

Letters and sounds

When studying English letters, we have to take into account that vowels are read differently in different environments. For example, the letter A can be read as:

• plate
• [æ] - cat
• - car
• - hare
• [ɔ] - what

In addition, some consonants can be conveyed in words different sounds. For example, the letter C can be read as:

• [s] - cinema
• [k] - cry

English letters can be combined into letter combinations, the rules for reading which at the initial stage also need to be remembered. For example,

• sh - [ʃ]
• tch-
• ea - , [e]

Usually, transcription is required at this stage, which conveys the sound. From it you can learn the correct pronunciation of letters, and in the future - words. But for learners of English for beginners, we have made the task easier, and now all letters and sounds can be perceived by ear while listening to material about English phonetics.

You can learn about reading rules, types of syllables and letter combinations .

English dictionary for beginners

An effective way to learn words for beginners from scratch is thematic. That is, nouns, adjectives, verbs need to be combined into one topic and taught in context. You can memorize words one at a time, make groups of them, combine them into phrases, make short sentences. This is one of the most effective ways learn English quickly and easily. For example, let's take five main conversational topics and select groups of suitable words for them:

1. Family - family:

• Mother [ˈmʌðə] - mother
• Father [ˈfɑːðə] - dad
• Sister [ˈsɪstə] - sister
• Brother [ˈbrʌðə] - brother
• Son - son
• Daughter [ˈdɔːtə] - daughter
• Small - small
• Big - big
• love - to love

2. Greeting

• hello
• Good - good
• Morning [ˈmɔːnɪŋ] - morning
• Evening [ˈiːvnɪŋ] - evening
• Afternoon [ɑːftəˈnuːn] - day
• Night - night
• Meet - meet, get acquainted
• See - see
• How - how
• Fine - excellent

3. Appearance

• Eye - eye
• Nose - nose
• Mouth - mouth
• Hair - hair
• Face - face
• Long - long
• Short [ʃɔːt] - short, low
• tall
• Thin [θɪn] - thin
• Round - round
• Man - man, man
• Woman [ˈwʊmən] - woman
• Boy - boy
• Girl - girl

4. About me

• Name - name
• Year - year
• Old [əʊld] - old
• live - live
• Study [ˈstʌdɪ] - to study
• Work - work
• Like - like
• Hobby [ˈhɒbɪ] - hobby

5. Seasons and weather

• Spring - spring
• Summer [ˈsʌmə] - summer
• Winter [ˈwɪntə] - winter
• Autumn [ˈɔːtəm] - autumn
• Sun - the sun
• Rain - rain
• Snow - snow
• Shine [ʃaɪn] - to shine
• sky

Task: Learn the words from the list, and then complete an online exercise in which you need to translate words from Russian into English by choosing from the proposed options.

• Mother

• Father

• Sister

• Brother

• Daughter

• Evening

• Night

• Mouth

• Short

• Spring

• Summer

• Winter

• Autumn

In each of the topics, we have mentioned the minimum number of words required for beginner learners. Gradually, you need to replenish the topics with new words. The same word can appear in several topics. In addition, you can group words by parts of speech: pronouns, numerals, verbs, prepositions. It is important to remember that it is easier to learn and remember words in context. You can learn 100 more words from the link, broken down just like that.

On our website, you can use to replenish vocabulary. The words in them are grouped by levels and by topic:

English numerals

Numerals in English are one of the very first words that are learned in class.

• 1-one
• 2-two
• 3- three [θriː]
• 4-four
• 5-five
• 6-six
• 7- seven
• 8-eight
• 9 nine
• 10 ten

The first ten, which you must know, provides the basis for any subsequent numbers - second ten numbers (for example, 16 - sixteen), tens (for example, 70 - seventy) and ordinal numbers (for example, tenth - tenth).

• 100- hundred [ˈhʌndrəd]
• 1000-thousand [ˈθaʊzənd]
• 1000000-million [ˈmɪljən]

Numerals are learned as individual words and participate in the formation of compound numbers. For example,

2341 - two thousand three hundred forty-one

You can learn more about numbers and numbers in English

Now go to the exercise on this topic:

• thousand
• three
• hundred
• forty

• thousand
• hundred
• forty

• hundred
• sixty
• seven

English times.

Even the most extensive vocabulary will not be able to provide full communication in English. English grammar is an important part of learning. In order to learn English from scratch on your own, you must definitely understand the system of tenses in the English language. Despite the seeming cumbersome and multi-layered, this system, upon closer examination, is quite logical and understandable. A set of grammar rules will help you build sentences correctly and express yourself in a foreign language. There are nine basic tenses in English - three types of present, three past and three future. These tenses are divided into three groups - the group of simple tenses, the group of long tenses and the group of completed tenses. Each group has similar characteristics that distinguish them from each other. All these nine times can be placed in the following table:

Already when looking at such a simplified tablet, common features and patterns between groups and times are visible. Simple group tenses denote regular, ordinary actions. The times of a continuous (Continuous) group are actions that occur at a certain moment. The times of the completed (Perfect) group are actions that have completed by a certain moment.

In addition to these main tenses, there are several more that combine the characteristics of different groups. But if you're good with these nine, extra times will no longer be complicated, and you can easily introduce them into your conversational speech.

The verb to be - the basis of English for beginners

But before you deal with the forms of verbs and groups of tenses, you can learn how to make short sentences with the verb to be (to be). You can refer to yourself using this verb:

I am Lima. - I'm Lima.

And tell us about your occupation:

I am a student. - I am a student.

with it you can describe the appearance and character:

He is tall. - He is tall.

We are kind. - We are kind.

items:

The boxes are green. - The boxes are green.

and weather:

It was rainy. - It was raining.

To be needed to name the age:

He is 25. - He is twenty-five (years old).

That is, with the help of a single verb, you can make up many sentences of the main conversational topics.

An important point to remember: in an English sentence there must be a full stem - subject and predicate. Even if one of them is omitted in the Russian version. If in the above examples we compare English sentence and Russian translation, it is easy to see. That is why people who are just starting to comprehend the basics of English often make sentences with the verb to be in the present tense with an error - they simply forget about it, because it is not in the Russian version.

The verb to be in the present tense has three forms - is, am and are. The choice of form depends on the pronoun or noun to which it refers.

English pronouns.

English pronouns change by person and by number. If we summarize the main pronouns in a table, we get the following picture:

This table will be useful not only to students or teachers, but also to any foreign language learner. Of course, this list of English pronouns is not complete, but at the initial stage, it is worth focusing on them in the first place.

English articles

In English, there are function words that are not in Russian. These are articles. The article defines a noun and can be of two types - definite (the) and indefinite (a / an). The names of the articles themselves contain their meaning. To be fluent in English, you need to learn how to use this grammatical category.

The indefinite article a defines a countable noun in singular which is mentioned in the speech for the first time. Nothing is known about him and this is one of a number of such items. A has a variation - before nouns that begin with a vowel, it has the form an.

If the speakers from the context understand what subject in question or in previous sentences this noun has already been mentioned, then the article the is placed before it. The use of the definite article is not limited to singular countable nouns. It can stand before an uncountable noun, and before plural nouns.

There are many nuances of the use of articles, which are studied gradually.

A few conversational phrases for beginners from scratch

Having a minimum active colloquial vocabulary, and knowing a few basic rules of English grammar, it is possible to compose colloquial phrases for some standard situations. We advise you to stock up on such commonly used expressions, such as, for example,

1. Acquaintance:

• Hello! - Hi!
• How are you? - How are you?
• I'm fine. - Wonderful.
• Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

2. About me:

• I am Lima. - I'm Lima.
• I am sixteen. - I am sixteen.
• I am from America. - I'm from America.
• I live in New York. - I live in New York.
• I am a student. - I am a student.

3. About family:

• My family is not big. - My family is not big.
• I have a mother, a father and a brother. - I have a mother, father and brother.
• My mother is a housewife. - My mother a housewife.
• My father is a manager. - My dad is a manager.
• My brother's name is Tom. - My brother's name is Tom.
• He is twelve years old. - He's twelve.
tell
• about
• family

• family

• mother
• father
• sisters

• father

• father
• sales
• promoter

• mother

• housewife

Continue with Lim English!

Having started learning English from scratch with the alphabet and reading rules, we learned to read simple words. Then we began to accumulate vocabulary - we learned words by topic, added numerals and pronouns to them. The rules for using English tenses and articles helped us compose colloquial phrases and sentences, as well as learn how to read texts. Further, we recommend learning English for beginners from scratch on your own with the help of. Each lesson you will replenish your vocabulary, grammar rules are trained by exercises, and video English lessons for beginners are attached to the rules.

Learning English from scratch on our website is an easy and affordable way to gain the necessary knowledge and learn to understand foreign speech.