English for beginners online learning. Self-study of English

In the modern world, the importance of knowing English is undeniable, so an increasing number of people are striving to master this language. At the same time, many beginners who have never studied English before are confused by the variety of methods and textbooks. In this article we will tell you which English textbook to choose, how to maintain motivation and organize the learning process, what to pay special attention to so that your knowledge is confident and your skills are brought to automaticity.

There is no such thing as zero!

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

How to stay motivated?

Mastering a foreign language from scratch is not an easy task. After a couple of lessons, you may feel like this iceberg of rules and exceptions will never give in to you. Think about those who started out just like you and have reached an advanced level. You can do this too, believe in yourself! Passion for the subject is your key to success. Some people need English for work, others for travel, and others for self-improvement. Everyone has their own incentives, but it’s best if there are several of them at once.

Who to study with?

Nowadays, learning English from scratch is possible in many options:

• individual lessons with a teacher;
• group classes;
• training via Skype;
• independent study.

Lessons with a teacher will be the most effective. Individually or with a group (5-7 people), you will go through the necessary material at an optimal pace. It is important to find a qualified teacher with whom you can enjoy learning. Believe me, the teacher’s enthusiasm and love for English will certainly inspire you to conquer the peak called “English”.

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

Self-learning English from scratch

Those who, for one reason or another, have chosen the path of self-education will have a more difficult time. You constantly need to stimulate interest, not give up and not be lazy. And the hardest thing is to start...

Where to start preparing?

1. Selection of methodology:

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

2. Selection of teaching aids:

Level zero will not allow you to immediately take up foreign textbooks, so acquire publications by proven domestic authors. For example, Golitsinsky or Bonk will do. Later, it is worth turning to well-known British publications: Headway, Hotline, True to Life, Language in Use, Blueprint.

A good manual will boast a sufficient amount of theory and practical exercises, equally developing reading, writing and speaking skills. When buying a textbook, make sure that its structure meets your requirements: vocabulary, grammar, topics. The rules should be presented clearly and informatively, with colorful illustrations, additional tables, etc. provide an important advantage over boring black and white publications.

3. Choosing the time for classes and their duration:

It is best to study English at the same time: if you are a morning person, devote morning hours to studying; Owls learn better in the evening.

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

4. Comfortable conditions for classes:

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

5. Don't overdo it!

Once you have found the optimal pace for mastering new topics, stick to it and do not try to cover several complex sections at once. Over time, you will achieve more intensive study, but at the initial stage it is not advisable to rush.

6. Constantly review the material covered:

Regular repetition is the key to consolidating knowledge and improving skills. Even if you have learned very little so far, practice your knowledge every free minute - in transport, during morning exercises, at lunch break, before bed, etc. Try to talk to yourself, pronouncing words, constructions, sentences out loud or silently. If possible, do not hesitate to talk with someone who speaks English. Once you have mastered the basics, find a pen pal who is a native speaker.

How to learn English on your own?

The English language has a clearly consistent structure, and you should start learning this system from the basics. The first thing you need to learn is the alphabet and pronunciation. Without knowing the alphabet, you won’t be able to write or read, and distorted pronunciation can completely change the meaning of a statement. Don’t neglect your oral speech training, because to become fluent in spoken English you need to practice as often as possible.

Reading

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

Listening

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

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

Letter

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

Speaking

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

You can achieve even greater success by combining reading or listening with speaking. After you read the text or listen to the audio recording, try to retell the content out loud (or, alternatively, in writing). Such a presentation will help train memory and thinking, teach you to retell in your own words, and therefore speak English fluently.

Vocabulary

Learning foreign vocabulary begins with the simplest and most frequently used words:

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

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

When memorizing lexical units, you need to pay special attention not only to their meaning, but also to their pronunciation. That is why, at the initial stage of learning English, it is important to learn how to correctly interpret the transcription of a word and firmly grasp the rules of pronunciation of certain letter combinations, for example, “th”, “ng”. Also, dedicate a separate lesson to studying the features of open and closed syllables, and you will save a lot of time constantly looking at dictionary transcriptions.

Grammar

Knowledge of the set of grammatical rules of the English language is perhaps even a little more essential than a wealth of vocabulary. If you can easily get away with not knowing a certain word, then the inability to use tenses and constructions will instantly make you look like a layman.

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

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

Isn't it true that sometimes you feel envious of people who can communicate in English? These lucky ones can easily establish contact with people in any country, be the first to watch new movies that have not yet been translated, understand the meaning of popular songs, and much, much more. What prevents you personally from joining their ranks? After all, today it’s easier than ever to start learning English on your own from scratch on the Internet! Don't believe me? This article will dispel all your doubts that it is quite possible to learn English at home yourself.

Yes, everyone can master English. And the various myths about genius, gifts of the gods and innate abilities for languages ​​have nothing to do with it. It's all about setting the end goal. It is necessary to clearly understand why you are starting and carrying out this educational process. The first question you should have is not how to learn English on your own at home, but why do I need to learn English?

Everyone has their own answer to this main question. We can only give a little guidance and guide you to find your own goal. So, you need to learn English in order to:

1. Feel like you belong anywhere in the world .

No matter what country you visit, there will definitely be people there who speak English. This way, you will ensure confidence in your position when staying abroad.

1. Study at prestigious colleges and universities .

High-quality training in the profession is the key to a successful career. If you want to lay a solid foundation for your adult life, then an international diploma is exactly what you need.

1. Build a career in large international corporations .

A prestigious job requires many skills, including knowledge of foreign languages. With English, you will not be afraid of a business trip even to the most remote branch of the company.

1. Expand your business opportunities .

The international market is incomparably wider than the domestic one, even if you live in the largest country in the world. In turn, communication with foreign partners and clients is unthinkable without knowledge of business English.

1. Get to know the way of life in other countries .

Interest in the traditions and customs of other peoples is inherent in many of us. Using English, you can not only glean interesting information from foreign sources, but also communicate directly with local residents.

1. Make foreign acquaintances .

You can never have too many friends, and having reliable connections in different parts of the world is not only pleasant, but also useful. Communication with interesting interlocutors helps to practice spoken English and get to know the mentality of the country.

1. Join international experience and an unlimited amount of information.

The most valuable thing in the world is information. And the English language opens the door to one of the world's largest repositories of historical and modern materials. With English you can keep your finger on the pulse of the whole world!

Here are just a few obvious facts that prove that learning English is necessary. Try to deduce your practical goal from these rather streamlined formulations. The simpler it is, the better, because initially unattainable peaks kill faith in the success of the entire event.

Let the goal at first be minimal - to watch and understand the episode of your favorite film in the original. This is not difficult to achieve, but the achieved result will give you confidence in your abilities and awaken passion for further study. And it’s never too late to set a new serious goal, isn’t it?

How to start learning English on your own from scratch?

And only after your goal is defined, clear and understandable, is it time to ask the question: how to start learning English from scratch on your own? Here we will not stand aside either and will tell you the main starting points for beginners.

Getting ready to study

Where to start training sessions? First of all, you need to create an atmosphere conducive to studying and plan your study schedule.

Select the necessary study guides, stock up on office supplies and allocate free time in your routine. The issue of time must be taken very seriously. It is clear that we are not studying at school, and cannot study English at home at exactly the same time. What is important to us is not the accuracy of the beginning of the lesson, but the regularity of classes.

The lesson schedule is selected individually. If it is convenient for you to spend 2 hours studying, then studying 3 times a week is enough. If you can’t devote so much time to self-study, then you will have to study for at least 30 minutes, but every day. This time is enough to learn a few new words or remember a couple of grammar rules.

During classes, you should not allow yourself to be distracted. Limit your use of the Internet and telephone unless required by the educational process. Also, do not listen to music and entertainment programs while writing down theoretical lesson material. Otherwise, your attention will be scattered and such activities will hardly be of any use. Don't forget about your goal and try not to waste the time allocated for studying.

Learning the basics

So, the goal has been set, the atmosphere has been created, and the mood for studying is combative. What's next?

If we learn English from scratch, i.e. Since we have never encountered it before, we will turn to the very basics: the alphabet, sounds, transcription, counting and reading rules. As a rule, these simple topics do not pose difficulties for students. But here lies the catch, because... You always want to skim through easy lessons or skip them altogether.

Don't be led by laziness and momentary desires. Later it turns out that you missed it, didn’t understand it, didn’t remember it, and as a result, each lesson will turn into an endless jumping from old theories to new material. It is better to honestly and responsibly go through the initial stages of English lessons from scratch, laying a solid foundation for subsequent knowledge.

Gaining an active vocabulary

When we have already learned the first basics of a foreign language, many people inevitably have a question: how to quickly learn English? If there are no obvious prerequisites for this (for example, an urgent trip), then such a statement of the problem is nothing more than a manifestation of laziness.

Think about how many years it takes a child to master his or her native speech tolerably? Practically, more than a decade! And we want to learn a foreign language in our country in a couple of months. It just doesn't happen that way. Therefore, be patient and get used to gradually improving your English skills.

So, the next stage is active vocabulary acquisition. We recommend working either with thematic selections of words, or trying to remember small phrases and set phrases. Firstly, this way you will master a larger volume of vocabulary, and secondly, your speaking and grammar skills will simultaneously improve.

By the way, developing the skill of speaking a foreign language is the most important factor in successful learning. And the more a person remembers accompanying words, connectives, phrases and phrases, the easier it is for him to start constructing entire sentences. Without the ability to speak, knowledge of a language will become a meaningless achievement, and soon the memorized words and rules will simply be erased from memory.

As an additional point, we emphasize that additional, a source for replenishing the vocabulary, various Internet platforms and mobile applications have proven themselves well. Their advantage is that they allow you to quickly become familiar with the spelling and pronunciation of new words, and also ensure that the material is repeated on time and is not forgotten.

But as a stand-alone tool, interactive applications have too many disadvantages:

• small number of words;
• learning without context;
• too frequent repetitions;
• paid features;
• the ability to answer at random.

And if you can somehow put up with the first points, then the last line on the list causes irreparable damage to the educational process. Following the lead of laziness, we begin to mechanically poke at the button we remember, without even comparing the correct answer with the question. As a result, our learning English on your own Houses from scratch turns into an ordinary guessing game, and classes end before they even begin.

Getting to know grammar

In parallel with learning new words, it is necessary to become familiar with the grammatical component of the language. And here a new question arises: how to learn to work with grammar correctly?

1) It is necessary to choose an explanation of the theoretical material that will become easily understandable and accessible to you. It’s a good option to combine material from several manuals or articles on the topic - this way you will get the most complete picture of a given grammatical point.

2) Keep a folder with tabular material to help you learn English. At first, these tables will be a good cheat sheet, but with frequent practice, you won’t even notice how you remember most of the information presented in them.

3) Practice is the only way to learn English from scratch. It doesn’t matter whether you study at home or sign up for group courses. Each learned rule must be reinforced with practical exercises. Well-mastered material can be consolidated with online tests, and it is better to work through complex theory thoroughly by solving several exercises of various types.

The combination of all these stages is a complete answer to the question of how to learn English at home. Yes, this matter is not so simple, but this is how everyone who speaks English fluently today learned. In addition, if you choose the right teaching method, classes can easily be turned from a boring chore into a pleasant pleasure.

We try different methods and add variety to the educational process

Beginning In our search for an effective method of learning English from scratch, we come across many options. Let's list some of them.

We hope that the above arguments have dispelled skepticism about whether it is possible to pick up and learn English on your own. Everything is achievable - the main thing is to get together and start. And we have already told you how to set yourself in the right mood. Good luck in learning and improving English!

English is not very complex languages, similar to Japanese. Therefore, it can be taught at any time without outside help. Main - the right motivation. In this article we will tell you how to learn English on your own from scratch. And the best assistant in this matter is an English language self-teacher.

In contact with

Self-study algorithm

Where to start learning English? Here are some important points:

1. First you need choose goals. Why do you need knowledge of English? The fact is that during the learning process you will have to constantly motivate yourself, devoting time to the language every day. Motivation plays a decisive role. Perhaps you need knowledge of the language to travel, study abroad, or communicate with English-speaking friends.
2. Get ready to work hard. You should not trust methods that are widely advertised and promise to turn a beginner into a professional who speaks fluent English in a month. There are no miracles. Really learn a language in a few months so that you can understand what you read and communicate. According to professionals, to know English like a native speaker, it will take decades.
3. You need to learn the language from the beginning, that is, with . The letters in the transcription are pronounced differently from how they are written. After memorizing the pronunciation of letters, you can begin to memorize words.
4. Planning when learning words is extremely important. Set yourself a goal to learn, for example, five hundred words per month. Priority should be given to those words that are used in everyday life, that is in everyday speech.
5. Create your own dictionary by writing down the words you just learned. . You need to write by hand, because that’s how it works best motor memory. You can also use cards with Russian words written on one side and their translation on the other.
6. At the same time as memorizing words, study basics to build phrases. Try to repeat out loud what you learn as much as possible.
7. More often watch English videos With subtitles. Pause your viewing periodically to memorize the passage.
8. Listen to radio such as BBC to learn colloquial.
9. Use audiobooks, having a paper version at hand and on, in order to be able to compare the original and the translation.
10. Make language learning a priority by devoting it daily at least 30 minutes time for each lesson. By taking breaks and distractions, you can learn a language easily and without stress.

Independent learning of English at home.

Method for beginners

You shouldn’t count on quick results in your training, because Everyone's speed of memorization is different.. Language abilities are purely individual. It is realistic to expect some kind of breakthrough in the level of proficiency after three years from the start of study - this is what practice shows. Words in English at the level of a phrasebook can be studied in a month. These are question-and-answer structures that will come in handy if you go abroad. English for beginners is usually limited to everyday vocabulary and simple phrases.

Important! Visualization is essential in learning English. Be sure to review the topics included in the tutorials.

When studying you can use materials on DVDs, which contain both images with English words and translations to them. At the same time, the announcer pronounces the words correctly. Manuals on disks are varied: they contain everything you need for the language in a complex.

Remember that learning English is based on three areas: pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar. And it is important to combine this without compromising your psychological comfort.

A beginner must first learn the simplest grammar ( verbs, and sentence construction), learn to read in English, and only then move on to watching films. An advanced student who has mastered grammar should emphasize in speech practice. This is the only way to remove accent from speech.

Immersion in an English-speaking environment has important. To do this, you need to communicate with people who speak fluent English, listen to music with such lyrics. If, for example, you move to the country of the language you are learning, then the learning process is shortened doubled.

Don't be shy about asking those who are professionals. You can ask your foreign language teacher about which methodology to choose and which teaching materials are best.

The Internet contains a lot of information about good manuals. English teachers create their own websites they post manuals and share their experiences.

You can chat with a native speaker via Skype. There are also thematic chat rooms, which are very easy to find using the Yahoo search engine. In addition, you can correspond by e-mail, write messages on Twitter and Facebook.

Attention! The method of learning English on your own involves learning the language little by little, but every day.

Manuals and tutorials online

Using the online tutorial, you will learn in just a month read, understand content of English films on Youtube, original lyrics. But the most important thing is that you can Express your thoughts and understand your interlocutors.

To assess your level of achievement, take the test. It's not difficult as it contains about 20 questions. Tests are designed for different levels: from basic (Elementary) to high (Advanced).

Will help you understand the language better and construct phrases online lessons. Here the grammar is presented step by step, starting with the verb “to be”. This is used in constructing time structures of the past, present and future. Having additionally studied figures of speech, you can already quite speak fluently.

It should be noted that online learning is best done in interactive form, that is, through dialogue with a virtual interlocutor. This allows model communication, just like in real life.

Gadgets help turn learning English into an exciting activity. This special applications for Android and iPhone platforms. The advantage of apps is that they contain analogues of paper cards with English words. Training takes place in a couple of clicks.

English for children

Children open to everything new, and if the child has shown sincere interest, you need at learn English in a playful way. The easiest way to do this is by viewing tutorials on the Internet by typing “English for children from scratch” into a search engine.

For example, you can show your child a colorful website fairy-english.ru Such sites are created specifically for young students and taking into account their characteristics.

In addition, there are many videos posted online, filmed specifically for children by professional teachers. Lessons for beginners are presented in in a simple and clear form.

Attention! Tutorial videos help you learn a language faster and more effectively.

The basic principle in learning language in children is progression. This means we need to move forward. from simple concepts to more complex ones. The child is able to learn those words in English that he already knows in Russian. Reading the dictionary will not give you anything: it is necessary learn words from pictures. A simple example. By doing exercises in the morning, you can learn the names of body parts, and during breakfast, learn the pronunciation of the names of menus and products in English.

How to learn English with your child at home

It is important to imagine the process of learning a language as a game, but motivating that by playing it, the child will receive a prize. Knowledge will give the key to the treasure. And the child will be interested in learning and comprehending new things. Of course, you cannot deceive a child. In the form of a treasure, you can purchase a disk with cartoons in English or a book of English fairy tales in the original.

Motivation to learn a language

After a while, the child may become bored with the language and may find new entertainment. It `s naturally. To stay motivated, you need to do the following:

• regularly buy bright and colorful aids (CDs, books, games);
• give the child a chance perform at a competition with knowledge of the language, take part in the Olympiad, where certificates and awards are awarded;
• enroll in an English speaking club, introduce you to equally enthusiastic children;
• learn a language together with a child, who often follows the example of an adult.

Teaching children English in a playful way is much easier and faster.

Online tutorials for children

If the child is really interested, you can use a popular English language tutorial.

Website about a funny tiger cub who speaks English: http://lingualeo.com/ru.

Other tutorials:

• http://www.study-languages-online.com/ru/en/english-for-children.html
• http://begin-english.ru/samouchitel
• http://lim-english.com/ http://lingust.ru/english

If you still have difficulties, the site will always help eng911.ru. It is posted on it a lot of useful information and tutorials, interesting for both children and adults.

When starting such an interesting activity as quickly learning English at home, many people use an effective method: sticking stickers on household items with their English names. Constantly looking at a familiar environment, a person automatically remembers words. On the way to school or work, you can read e-books, listen to recordings, watch videos. This way the trip will not be boring and will be useful.

A method such as compiling lists of synonyms and antonyms. A very effective technique to help you learn English on your own from scratch. The dialogue technique also works effectively. Think and talk, ask questions and answer. Don't be afraid to seem funny: those around you will understand you. After all, you are learning to speak English!

The peculiarity of English is that in it, like in any language, there are sustainable structures. These are so-called figures of speech. They are needed memorize, memorize. In addition, there is colloquial slang, that is, the language of narrow groups of English-speaking people. For example, youth slang. There is slang and professional slang. Of course, this is already the level of an advanced student who wants to communicate in English as a native language.

How to learn English on your own

How to memorize words

Conclusion

The advantage of the independent approach is that you can choose methods, study for as many hours as your mood allows, choose the level of language to study. If you study English in courses, then the student will always limited in choice, because the teacher decides for him. Take advantage of this opportunity, because now you know how to learn English on your own at home.

Having decided to study English and coming to a bookstore, you will see many textbooks that are incomprehensibly different from each other. Often the difference is really small, but three main types of benefits can be distinguished:

– Traditional tutorials– an ordinary book with lessons, tasks, exercises. Something like a school textbook. For example, . Well suited for independent study.

– Glossy textbooks-courses– sets of brightly illustrated, magazine-like textbooks with a CD supplement and a high price tag. For example, the Headway series. The books are divided into levels, so you can’t get away with just one book. Often used in courses.

Is a textbook necessary at all?

Now there are excellent interactive step-by-step courses, like “talking” dictionaries, video lessons and a lot of other amazing things, but I believe that textbooks have not become any less relevant.

Imagine that somewhere there are people who have devoted their whole lives to studying English, teaching, and studying methods. One day they got together and decided to pass on their knowledge to those who needed it. They chose the most important, arranged it from simple to complex, provided explanations and exercises, structured the course so that the student did not wander from side to side, did not go in circles, but walked towards the goal in the shortest possible way. Figuratively speaking, the authors have drawn a map for you that will guide you along the path in the most optimal way.

It would be strange to abandon such a useful map and go on a journey at random, at random.

What is a textbook for?

Learning a language is not so much about acquiring knowledge as it is about developing skills. You can’t just learn a textbook and start communicating easily in English. Knowledge (words and grammar) needs to be multiplied by practice (reading, listening, writing, speaking), only then you will not only know grammar diagrams and words, but also gain skills: you can really enjoy English language.

So, the textbook is good for acquiring knowledge and consolidating it through exercises. At the initial stage this is very important. Reading and writing practice is given at the very beginning, designed to consolidate grammar and vocabulary, but in listening and speaking, a textbook, of course, is not the best assistant. Even books with audio supplements only provide basic listening skills. All these audio lessons from textbooks are child's play compared to what you hear in real life.

The textbook does the best job with grammar. Grammar is generally the fastest aspect of a language to learn. After going through the textbook, you will study it in such a volume that is enough for good command of the language.

“The best self-teacher of the English language” by A. Petrova, I. Orlova

Let's take for example one of these books - “The Best Self-Teacher for the English Language” by A. Petrova, I. Orlova. This is one of
the most authoritative self-teachers, a book with a rich history, its first edition was published back in the 1970s, since then it has been frequently republished, the contents are updated taking into account the requirements of the time and changes in language (there are no dialogues about the pioneer Vasya and the grammar of Shakespearean times in it) .

What will you learn from the textbook

First of all, any textbook is a grammar course. – it’s like the axis of the Earth. It cannot be seen or touched, but the whole world revolves around it. Rotates whether he knows of her existence or not.

The self-instruction manual for the English language is undoubtedly wonderful because, after completing it, you will master English grammar to almost the full extent necessary. Grammar, of course, does not have a “full scope”, just like language - it is constantly changing and cannot be learned until the last paragraph, such a paragraph does not exist. But there is the last paragraph in the textbook. Having gone through the grammar in the textbook, you will master it to the extent that is enough for life, unless you are preparing to become a doctor of English philology.

How is the textbook structured?

The book is divided into three parts.

1. Express English course– the main part, in which grammatical and word-forming material is given in 25 lessons. The material is presented from simple to complex. The first three lessons are mainly devoted to phonics and reading rules, then each lesson gives a little grammar, a little vocabulary and word formation. At the end of the section there is an English-Russian dictionary for the lessons.
2. Exercises and text materials– in textbooks, exercises are usually given after the lesson, but here they are presented in a separate block, and texts containing the grammar and vocabulary covered in the lesson are also given. This section includes:

• Reading exercises– as a rule, read a few words out loud.
• Text– it is matched to the topic of the lesson and includes the grammatical difficulties covered.
• New words– a list of words from the text.
• Word Analysis– some words are analyzed in detail, this helps to remember them better.
• Exercises– exercises to consolidate the material.
• Test- check of knowledge. At the end of the textbook there is a section with the correct answers (keys).

1. Section “Spoken English”– it includes various everyday topics and exercises. The phrasebook covers topics such as “Greetings”, “How to get there”, “Family”, etc.

There is also an appendix at the end with keys to tests, tables, quotes, jokes, and proverbs.

How to study using a self-instruction manual?

In the introduction, the authors recommend studying daily, at least for 15-20 minutes: “Remember, however, that you cannot make up for these fifteen-minute sessions seven times a week by studying for 2-3 hours once a week, on a day off. This will be much less effective, since from lesson to lesson you will forget some of the material covered and in total you will spend much more time.”

Express course - pros and cons

The book has a feature that will be an advantage for some and a disadvantage for others: the book is short. The 25 lessons themselves take up only 230 pages in large print.

Whether this is good or not is up to you to decide. If you want a clear, concise and short training course, this textbook will help you understand the basics of the language, and not superficially. Further success will be in your hands. Without practice in reading, listening, speaking and writing, no theory will bloom or become green.

If you want to go through the basics more thoroughly, other books are suitable for you; they are not fundamentally different, the difference is that the material in them is presented in more detail and there are more exercises. For example:

• Bonk's classic textbook “English step by step” (with audio application). The book is in two volumes. There is simply nowhere to go in more detail, but it will also take more time.
• A one-volume, but also quite detailed “Complete English Course” by M. G. Rubtsova. It’s not particularly different from Petrova’s tutorial, except that the material is given in more detail, the exercises come immediately after the lesson, and the language is a little more academic, in my opinion.

• “Tutorial in English. From elementary level to passing tests. + MP3” by N. B. Karavanova (with audio application) – in this book the grammatical part, the exercises are given in no more detail than in “The Best Self-Teacher”, however, phonetics is discussed in much more detail - it is given as many as 20 lessons.

My opinion is this. The faster you master basic grammar and vocabulary, the faster you will be able to read, listen, speak, and use words in English, so I am a proponent of mastering the basics (basic vocabulary, grammar, initial speech skills) as quickly and intensively as possible. By stretching out the study for six months, you risk killing interest in the language.

Conclusion

Self-teaching textbooks provide a good knowledge of grammar, consolidated with the help of exercises, basic vocabulary on various everyday topics, reading and writing skills. They won’t teach you how to speak, nor will they teach you how to understand by ear.

However, there would be basic knowledge, but developing skills is a matter of technology. The self-instruction manual is well suited as a guide for a thorough, not superficial study of the language, which can be supplemented with listening, writing and speaking practice - fortunately there are enough resources for this.

Today, English is a universal means of communication. With its help, excellent career prospects open up. And we shouldn’t forget about access to a wealth of information material. Thanks to your knowledge of English, you can watch your favorite TV series at the moment they are shown, and not wait until they are translated and adapted to the Russian language.

There are many advantages of knowing a second language, which is usually English, and they can be listed for a very long time. It is difficult to learn Shakespeare's language even in England itself. But everyone can master the basics of simple spoken language.

This does not require teachers and stuffy classrooms. Thanks to modern methods, self-learning English is a fun and interesting activity. And it’s not as complicated as it seems at first glance.

IMPORTANT: There are no people incapable of “languages”. Yes, learning a foreign language may be easier for some, but more difficult for others. The main thing is to learn how to properly motivate yourself and find a training course that is suitable for this.

Of course, if you need English not for watching TV series and reading your favorite blog, but for more serious tasks, then self-study is unlikely to help. You will have to attend special, highly focused courses. But you can get to them, starting with self-study.

Of course, it is much easier to learn any language from scratch, including English, by attending special courses and communicating with a “live” teacher

But such communication has a number of disadvantages:

• these types of activities cost money
• need to adapt to schedule
• If you miss one lesson you can fall far behind

Of course, many of the disadvantages of such training can be minimized by training with the help of Skype. But, if it is not possible to carve out several tens of thousands of rubles from the budget for such an activity, then the only way to learn English is to study it independently.

How to learn English from scratch?

• In order to learn JK Rowling's language from scratch, it is best to use a computer program or audio course for beginners. With their help, you can understand the pronunciation of individual letters and words. By the way, an audio course has a lot of advantages in this.
• With its help, training can be carried out without interrupting other activities. You can turn it on in the car while driving to work. If you prefer to travel by metro, then download this course to your smartphone and listen to it on the way
• Of course, an audio course cannot replace the visual perception of the English language. But there are special online trainings for this. Choose the course you need and start studying

IMPORTANT: From the first day of learning English, you should try to speak it. If this is not done, then you will not be able to speak it even when your vocabulary and knowledge of grammar improves.

Choose a training where learning new words is presented in the form of cards. A word in English should be written on it and what it means should be drawn. Scientists have long established the power of visual memory of information.

There is no need to try to remember too many words at once. At first, new information will come easily. Then, new words will be remembered easily, but old ones may be forgotten. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to pay more attention to consolidating new material. It is better to learn one new word a day, but reinforce all the old ones, than to learn 10 new words a day, but forget what you have already learned.

Where to start learning English?

• Usually people start learning English from the alphabet. There is a reason for this; you can understand how this or that letter sounds. But, it is not at all necessary to remember its correct order. You can remember the pronunciation of letters without the alphabet. Moreover, they do not always sound like in this list of letters from “Hey to Zeta”
• When you begin to understand letters, try to read as many English texts as possible. There is no need to understand what is written there. Of course, interesting pictures in the text will make you want to understand what it says
• Then you can use online translators. But don't put all the text in them. Translate one word at a time. This will allow you to learn the language even better and remember a few words.

• Write down in it (write it down with a pen) all the unfamiliar words and phrases you encounter, and their translation
• In parallel with maintaining your dictionary, you need to start paying attention to grammar. English has a very complex tense system. There are irregular verbs and other difficulties in learning this language. All of them require a lot of time. But it will pay off in spades
• Don't forget about pronunciation. Even a person who understands well what is written in English text will not always be able to understand what native speakers of this language are talking about. As a rule, they speak faster than teachers and teachers of language schools.
• To make it easier to understand English, watch films, TV series and documentaries without translation. This is a great way to learn this interesting language.

IMPORTANT: Try to devote at least 30 minutes to English every day. To do this, it is advisable to choose certain hours. So by this time our brain will be able to “tune in” and the learning process will go easier in a few days.

How to easily learn English: methods of teaching English?

There are quite a few methods for learning this foreign language. The most popular are:

• Dmitry Petrov's method. A well-known polyglot in our country invented his own methodology and way of presenting information that fits into 16 lessons. Probably, many who were interested in learning English have seen a series of television programs in which Dmitry taught famous people. Thanks to this technique, you can quickly immerse yourself in the language environment and understand grammar
• Method "16". Another technique that allows you to learn the basics of English in just 16 hours. It is based on educational dialogues, after mastering which you will be able to understand the English language
• Schechter's method. This system of learning English was developed by the famous Soviet linguist Igor Yurievich Shekhter. Unfortunately, this technique cannot be used for independent learning of a foreign language. Moreover, a linguist teacher who will be allowed to teach using this method must himself undergo special training and pass an exam
• Dragunkin method. A popular method of teaching English in our country, developed by the famous philologist Alexander Dragunkin. He built his system on the so-called Russified transcription. In addition, he derived the “51 rules” of English grammar. By learning which you can master this language

The list of methods for learning English can be continued for a long time. The above systems are well suited for independent mastery of this language.

Students learning English using this method are given two texts. First comes the adapted excerpt. This is usually a literal translation, often accompanied by lexical and grammatical comments. After reading such a passage, the text in English is presented.

The technique is very good, interesting, but has one significant drawback - it is more suitable for learning to read in English, rather than speaking in it.

How to quickly learn words in English?

• There are many methods for memorizing words in a foreign language. The simplest of them is the traditional method. In a notebook you need to write down a few words in English (on the left side of the sheet) and their translation into Russian
• It is advisable to always keep the notebook open and in a visible place. Read the words and repeat from. Try to remember and go about your business. Refer to your notebook several times a day. After some time, you can write down a few more words. It is advisable to do this on another sheet. So that you leave it in a visible place and at any moment cast your gaze on the sheet with the words
• If you don't want a notebook, you can use the flashcard method. To do this, you need to cut sheets of cardboard into small cards. On the one hand, you need to write the word in English
• And on the second, its translation into Russian. Turn the cards over with the English or Russian side facing you and try to translate the words written there. Unfold the card and check the correct answer

On the Internet you can find online services where such cards are presented in electronic form. Thanks to the popularity of this method, today it is not difficult to buy ready-made cards. But it’s still better to make them yourself. After all, when we write something down on paper, we write it into our subconscious.

Don't try to remember a lot of words at once. This is not very effective in the long run. Words learned quickly are usually quickly forgotten.

How to learn English verbs?

In principle, the above methods for memorizing English words are suitable for both nouns and verbs. But among this category of English words there are also so-called “irregular verbs”. Like the correct ones, they mean:

• Action – to speak (speak), to come (come)
• Process – to sleep (sleep)
• State – to be (to be), to know (to know), etc.

At school such verbs are taught as follows. Students are given their list, and the teacher asks them to learn as much as possible from it by the next lesson. This list does not have any structure to facilitate the study of such verbs. Therefore, few of us were able to master the English language at school.

How to quickly learn irregular verbs in English?

• As mentioned above, to learn such verbs you can use the “card method”. But, unlike “simple” words, irregular verbs have three forms. What actually makes them wrong
• To make cards with irregular verbs, you need to write down the first form on one side, and the other two on the second side. Moreover, the first form does not need to be provided with a translation. And on the reverse side you not only need to write two forms of the verb with translation, but also provide a hint. For example, “alternating irregular verbs with a vowel in the root from [e]”
• The advantage of this method is that it is easy to use. You can go through the cards with your hands, first remembering the main shape, and then turn them over and do the same with other shapes. Such training can be done both at home and at work. Students can take these cards with them to college and repeat the verbs during breaks.

Example card:

To make it easier to memorize irregular verbs, they can be grouped into:

• the method of formation of the second and third forms
• repeatability or non-repeatability of forms
• alternation of root vowels
• sound similarity
• spelling features

All other verbs should be structured not alphabetically, as in school, but according to the above principles:

How to learn tenses in English

Another pitfall for anyone who wants to learn English is tenses. Having understood their use, you can take a big step forward in learning this language.

In general, there are three tenses in English:

But the difficulty lies in the fact that each time has types. The first type of such tenses is called Simple. That is, there is:

Continuous (continued, long) is the second type of tense.

The third type is called Perfect. Thus there are:

There is also another type of tense that combines all the previous Perfect Continuous tenses. Accordingly, the times can be:

IMPORTANT: In specialized literature on the English language, Simple can be called Indefinite, and Continuous - Progressive. Don't be scared, it's the same thing.

• In order to use English tenses in sentences, you need to understand what action is happening? It is regular, happened yesterday, is happening at the moment, etc. Simple tenses denote an action that occurs regularly, but its exact moment is not known. on Sundays – on Sundays (specific time is not known)
• If the sentence specifies a specific time (at the moment, from 4 to 6 o’clock, etc.), then Continuous is used - a long time. That is, time that denotes a specific moment or a specific period of time.
• If the action is completed, Perfect is used. This time is used when the result of an action is already known or you can know exactly when it will end (but may still be going on)
• The Perfect Continuous construction is used least often in English. It is used to denote a process whose action is not completed, but needs to be said about it at the moment. For example, “In May it will be 6 months that I have been studying English.”
• To study the tenses of the English language, you can also create tables, as for irregular verbs. Just enter linguistic formulas instead. You can use special literature. Better than several authors at once

How to learn text in English?

• If you need to learn a text in English in a short period of time, you can use several techniques for this purpose.
• Before learning a text in a foreign language, you need to prepare. Namely, translate it. On the one hand, it is impossible to learn a text in English without knowing what is written there. On the other hand, while we are translating, something will already be recorded in the “subcortex”
• When translating a text, you need to re-read it several times. If you do this during the day, then repeat this procedure before going to bed. We will sleep and our brains will work
• In the morning, the text needs to be printed and hung in visible places. When preparing food, the text should be in a visible place in the kitchen. We vacuum in the living room, it should also be visible

Let's go to the store, put headphones in your ears and listen, repeating every word to yourself. In the gym, instead of hard rock, you need to listen to this text again.

If the text is large, then it is better to break it into several small passages and memorize each of them in turn. Don't be afraid, learning text in English is not as difficult as it seems.

How to learn English in your sleep?

At the end of the Soviet era, many “unique” self-education methods poured into our country. One of them was to study foreign languages ​​while sleeping. Before going to bed, a cassette with lessons was put into the player, headphones were put on, and the person fell asleep. They say this method has helped some.

I know everything that sleep is very useful. According to researchers involved in this problem, sleep can improve mental abilities.

• But for some reason he absorbs it after sleep. English words from the player can only ruin your sleep. This means worsening the perception of information the next day.
• But, sleep can really help. But, only if you set aside time immediately before studying English
• After such a lesson, you can get some sleep, and during this time your brain will “process” the information and put it into “shelves.” This method of learning foreign languages ​​has proven effective and is used by many people.
• This technique can be improved if, immediately after sleep, you consolidate what was learned before bedtime.

Learning English: reviews

Kate. To learn a foreign language you need to devote at least 30 minutes a day to it. Every day for half an hour. Even one missed day will have a very negative impact. I definitely devote 30 minutes to English a day. Plus, if you still have time, be sure to take it as a bonus.

Kirill. Now there are a lot of sites on the Internet where material is presented in a playful form. I'm learning English through TV series. I watch TV series in this language with Russian subtitles. I used to read subtitles all the time. And now I’m trying to understand myself.

Video: Polyglot in 16 hours. Lesson 1 from scratch with Petrov for beginners