How learn english language

Как учить английский язык самостоятельно и бесплатно + 156 ресурсов

Наверняка вы уже перечитали сотни статей о том, как учить английский язык самостоятельно и бесплатно. До сих пор не получилось достигнуть желаемого уровня знаний? Все дело в том, что многие предлагают теоретические советы, не подкрепляя их практикой. Поэтому мы решили составить практическое руководство по самообучению. В этой статье мы расскажем, возможно ли выучить английский без чьей-либо помощи, поясним, какие материалы надо использовать при самообучении и к каким ресурсам обращаться, чтобы вам было нескучно изучать английский язык дома.

Можно ли выучить английский язык самостоятельно

Давайте для начала выясним, реально ли выучить английский самостоятельно или не стоит тратить время и силы на это занятие. Скажем сразу, учить английский язык самостоятельно и бесплатно вполне реально, ведь в интернете есть множество обучающих ресурсов, которые помогут вам. Почему же не у всех получается овладеть языком на желаемом уровне?

Отметим три фактора, которые определяют, сможете ли вы выучить английский язык самостоятельно:

Если присутствует и первый, и второй фактор, то дело только за третьим звеном — умением найти для себя самый эффективный способ самостоятельно учить английский язык. В статье мы расскажем вам, как организовать учебный процесс и какие материалы для этого понадобятся.

Однако стоит предупредить, что изучающим язык с нуля стоит воспользоваться услугами профессионального преподавателя английского: под его бдительным контролем и опытным руководством вы сдвинетесь с места быстрее, чем при самообучении. Хотите пройти этот путь без чьей-либо помощи? Прежде чем приступить, ознакомьтесь с нашей статьей «С чего начать учить английский язык самостоятельно: полное руководство» — она ориентирована именно на новичков. В этой же статье мы расскажем о ресурсах для всех изучающих английский, поэтому начинающим лучше начать с изучения первой статьи, а затем вернуться к этому материалу.

Как правильно учить английский самостоятельно

Мы составили для вас 6 простых рекомендаций о том, как лучше учить английский язык самостоятельно. Эти советы основаны на опыте наших преподавателей и студентов. Чтобы самообучение было для вас эффективным, выполняйте все рекомендации, тогда положительные результаты не заставят себя ждать.

1. Поставьте конкретную цель

Именно от вашей цели обучения зависят все дальнейшие действия по самостоятельному изучению английского языка. Подумайте, хотите ли вы освоить разговорный или бизнес-английский, желаете подготовиться к собеседованию или смотреть фильмы в оригинале. Отличная цель — достичь среднего уровня, в таком случае вы заложите хорошую базу знаний.

2. Составьте расписание занятий

Казалось бы, вся прелесть самообучения как раз и состоит в том, что ваши занятия английским не привязаны к какому-то конкретному моменту: вы учите язык тогда, когда вам удобно. Однако на деле получается как в известном анекдоте. Ваша совесть терзает вас: «Когда ты уже сядешь за английский?» А вы ей в ответ: «Ну нет, сегодня я не могу, так устал. Давай никогда. Никогда тебя устроит?» Согласитесь, при таком подходе учить английский невозможно. Поэтому берите себя в ежовые рукавицы и составляйте расписание занятий, например учитесь по часу ежедневно или 3-4 раза в неделю по 1,5 часа. Конечно, наличие графика не защитит вас от прокрастинации, но вы уже будете знать, что не просто «законно отложил занятие, поучу потом», а пропустили его. Грызущая совесть — неплохой мотиватор!

3. Выберите необходимые ресурсы

Обилие полезных ресурсов не всегда положительно сказывается на обучении. Многие люди решают учить английский и в один день скупают все доступные учебники, добавляют в закладки 541 сайт по изучению английского, устанавливают 37 приложений для изучения языка. С одной стороны, такое рвение похвально. С другой, в каждом учебнике и на каждом сайте свои принципы изложения материала, поэтому, ежедневно занимаясь на разных ресурсах, вы рискуете сотворить в своей голове кашу и уже через неделю-другую не будете знать, за что браться. Ниже мы предложим вам список хороших проверенных временем ресурсов по изучению английского. Потратьте пару дней на то, чтобы выбрать не более 2 ресурсов на отработку каждого навыка.

4. Ищите собеседника

Есть те, кто считает, что английский можно освоить автономно, используя только книги, аудио- и видеоматериалы. Однако это не так. Вы можете читать Агату Кристи в оригинале и слушать новости BBC, но какой в этом толк, если вы не можете говорить по-английски. Заговорить на изучаемом языке можно только с помощью собеседника. Читайте дальше и вы узнаете, как и где найти партнера для тренировки разговорного навыка.

5. Отслеживайте свои достижения

Это важный пункт для тех, кто решил учить английский язык самостоятельно дома. Обязательно выполняйте тестовые задания, чтобы отслеживать свой прогресс. Вы можете делать различные онлайн-тесты, например тесты на определение уровня знаний. При этом важно проверять свои ошибки. Это довольно сложно при самообучении, поэтому мы написали для вас статью-помощник «Как находить и исправлять свои ошибки в английском языке». Из нее вы узнаете, как контролировать свой процесс обучения.

6. Не делайте больших перерывов в обучении

У каждого бывают дни, когда кажется, что совсем нет времени учить английский язык. В таком случае мы рекомендуем ознакомиться со статьей «Английский за 10 минут в день: упражнения для занятых людей». Если перерыв в обучении все-таки пришлось сделать, старайтесь не затягивать его, иначе накопленные знания начнут забываться, и вы совсем забросите учебу.

Как бесплатно выучить английский: учебные материалы и дополнительные ресурсы

А теперь мы представим вам ресурсы для эффективного самостоятельного изучения английского языка.

Учебные материалы

Для начала укажем те материалы, без которых вам точно не обойтись.

Какими бы замечательными ни были сайты по изучению английского языка, но без комплексных учебных пособий выучить английский самостоятельно будет сложно. В учебниках информация изложена упорядоченно, по принципу от простого к сложному. В современных пособиях используется только актуальная, то есть действительно нужная вам лексика, а благодаря тщательно продуманным урокам вы быстрее запомните информацию. Можно сказать, что содержание учебника — это четкий и грамотный план обучения. Быстро выбрать подходящее вам пособие поможет статья «4 лучших учебника по английскому языку: подробный обзор».

Изучающие английский самостоятельно нередко жалуются, что не получается понять и выучить грамматику английского языка. В таком случае мы рекомендуем к основному учебнику взять дополнительное пособие с упражнениями по грамматике. При выборе такой книги руководствуйтесь нашей статьей «6 лучших учебников по грамматике английского языка». Проходите пособие от первого урока к последнему, ничего не пропуская, тогда вам будет проще понять материал.

Хороший словарный запас позволит вам точно выражать свои мысли, поэтому старайтесь постоянно изучать слова. Новую лексику желательно брать не только из вашего основного учебника, но и из специализированных пособий. Надежным источником нужных слов станет один из 8 учебников для изучения лексики английского языка. Выполняя практические упражнения в этих книгах, вы научитесь правильно использовать изученные слова в своей речи.

Правильное произношение нужно для того, чтобы собеседник вас понимал, поэтому этот навык тоже нужно развивать. Если при изучении английского с преподавателем можно обойтись без специального пособия, ведь учитель научит вас правильно произносить звуки, то при самостоятельном изучении английского дома вам понадобится учебник. Вы можете взять одно из следующих пособий: English Pronunciation in Use, New Headway Pronunciation Course, Tree or Three?, Ship or Sheep?, How Now, Brown Cow?. В них вы найдете много заданий на аудирование и постановку правильного произношения.

Хороший словарь — непременный атрибут изучающего английский язык. Мы рекомендуем сначала использовать русско-английский онлайн-словарь, например multitran.ru или lingvolive.ru. Когда вы достигнете среднего уровня знаний, начните пользоваться англо-английским словарем, например macmillandictionary.com или dictionary.cambridge.org.

Не хотели бы использовать пособия в обучении? Рекомендуем почитать нашу статью «Английский без учебников: за и против», в которой мы рассказали о преимуществах использования пособий, а также указали, кто сможет учить английский без них.

Если вы все же решите заниматься английским с преподавателем, так как это наиболее быстрый и эффективный способ изучения английского, ознакомьтесь со статьей «40+ лучших сайтов для изучения английского языка в 2021».

Дополнительные ресурсы

Перечисленных учебников вам хватит для совершенствования навыков владения английским, однако иногда хочется отдохнуть от книг и разнообразить свое обучение развлекательными материалами. Мы сделали для вас подборку лучших ресурсов, которые помогут вам выучить английский язык самостоятельно.

Чтобы научиться общаться на английском языке, нужно стараться говорить на нем как можно чаще. Где найти партнера для общения? На одном из сайтов по языковому обмену, например italki.com или es.coeffee.com. Также обратите внимание на групповые занятия в клубе Skills. Здесь вы будете учить новую лексику и сразу практиковать ее в речи. Хотите увеличить словарный запас на тему путешествий или на тему здоровья? Ходите только на те уроки, которые вам интересны.

Еще больше идей и ресурсов для поиска собеседника вы найдете в статье «Где можно поговорить на английском языке».

Новую лексику можно учить не только по пособию, но и более современными и увлекательными методами:

Совершенствовать понимание английского на слух самостоятельно довольно просто. Мы рекомендуем следующие методы:

Не зная грамматики, невозможно нормально заговорить на английском. Поэтому давайте посмотрим, какие методы, помимо упражнений из учебника, можно использовать, чтобы разобраться с грамматикой раз и навсегда.

Чтение — навык, с которым проще всего работать самостоятельно. Как это делать:

Улучшить произношение при самообучении не очень просто: чтобы проанализировать свою речь и найти в ней ошибки, нужно иметь опыт в изучении английского и отлично знать, как должны звучать все звуки. Но с этой трудностью можно справиться, если использовать следующие приемы:

Научиться писать по-английски можно и без помощи учителя. Однако если вы решили учить английский язык самостоятельно, проверять ваши письменные работы будет некому. Есть сервисы для общения с иностранцами, на этих сайтах предлагают что-то вроде языкового обмена: вы проверяете текст на русском языке, а носитель английского проверяет вашу письменную работу на английском. Однако учтите, что на подобных сайтах могут сидеть и неграмотные люди, поэтому достоверность проверки никто гарантировать не может. Кроме того, ваш проверяющий в лучшем случае просто исправит ваши ошибки, но не пояснит их. Если вам важно научиться хорошо писать на английском, стоит задуматься об уроках с преподавателем. Кроме того, вам поможет следующее:

Выбор редакции: ТОП-15 ресурсов

Весь список ресурсов для эффективного изучения английского языка представлен в PDF-файле.

Мы представили вам подробное практическое руководство о том, как выучить английский язык самостоятельно и бесплатно, и указали лучшие ресурсы, которые помогут вам достигнуть успеха.

How to learn English

This article is for beginner and advanced learners of English and for those who are wondering how to approach the language. We have compiled tips and resources for every level of learning from Beginner to Advanced.

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Facts about the English language

Features of the English language

Map of English-speaking countries

How to learn English on your own

In this block, we will give you some tips on how to learn English.

Vocabulary

How far you are willing to delve into learning English depends on your goal. But you still need to learn vocabulary, at least the first 100 words. Even with such a small margin, you will be able to express simple thoughts, «want, drink, shop, me, juice.» Simple and clear. If your goal is to expand your vocabulary, use different techniques.

Learn words from flash cards

Return to childhood. Memorizing foreign words with flash cards is a well-known method. Its essence lies in spaced repetition. On one side of the card is a word written in English, and on the other — its translation. Learn words by laying out cards from several piles. Did you memorize the word? Put it in a far pile. Forgot it? Return it to a closer deck and repeat it again.

Such cards are sold at bookstores, but you can also make your own. If you compile them on your own, you will already remember the word, its translation, and spelling. At a higher level, you can specify its meaning in English. Another option: write not only the word, but a small phrase to go along with it. In doing so, you will immediately remember how to use it in a sentence.

Organize words into groups

Another way to learn new vocabulary is to organize words into groups. These can be:

This method is good to use in combination with flash cards: distribute them among different topics.

Learn words in context

Learning a language in context means to immediately make sentences from new vocabulary. And be sure to say them out loud. This way you will learn how to use new words in conversation.

Resources

Grammar

Two opinions exist about the importance of grammar at an elementary level.

The choice of approach to learning grammar is up to you. If you need English for work or study, grammar is indispensable. If you are learning it for traveling, a basic grammar base is sufficient. Determine a set of constructions that you will definitely need. For example, simple tenses, singular vs. plural constructions (there is/there are), several phrasal verbs, and modal verbs (can/be). This is enough for the beginning.

Learn to understand the structure of the language

We advise beginners to first understand the structure of the language: how phrases are built, what parts of speech and simple tenses are. Don’t jump right into the Present Perfect and irregular verbs. Learn grammar gradually. At a basic level, you just need to understand what parts of speech look like and their order in a sentence. Here is an example from Alice in Wonderland: «All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe.» Those who know the language already see the structure: pronoun, adjective, verb, noun, and so on. The meanings of the words are not clear to us, but we feel the general meaning of the sentence. This is because we understand the grammatical structure of the phrase.

Practice

Knowing grammar rules and using them in real life are two different things. It makes no sense to cram them from morning to evening. It’s both boring and useless. Grammar constructions need to be practiced, both in writing and out loud.

Resources

Listening

Live English speech is different from a textbook disc recording. To understand how native speakers communicate in real life, listen to current radio shows and podcasts, and watch TV shows. That way, you will learn to recognize words by ear, understanding intonations and accents. The latter is especially important in English. If you are used to American English, you will not understand British posh in the right way: loo instead of toilet, cab instead of taxi, and the eternal word bloody. New Zealand and Australian accents are infamous even among native speakers.

Listen to the radio and podcasts

This is a great way to «feel» the language in real life. For beginners, educational podcasts are suitable. For example, the BBC regularly posts three-minute recordings on various topics — especially for those who study English. Interesting podcast series can be found on the British Council website. And the Podcast in English resource allows you to select audio files by language level. If you want to achieve an American accent, look for podcasts on American English Podcast and Voice of America.

Gradually increase the difficulty of what you are listening to. Listen not only to podcasts, but also to the radio. Try to diversify the materials with programs from different countries, such as ABC Radio Australia or Virgin Radio UK. The general rule when listening is to understand at least 80% of the words. If half of the spoken phrases are incomprehensible, try an easier podcast.

Watch TV-shows and series

Learning English by watching TV series sounds tempting. But this method is only suitable for improving skills. It will not work without a certain amount of knowledge. If you are itching to turn to this method, watch special educational series, like Extra. This is a British sitcom that teaches foreign languages. The dialogues of the characters are simple and understandable, designed specifically for basic proficiency.

When you attain a good amount of vocabulary, move on to more serious things, but with subtitles. First in your native language, then in English, and eventually turn them off for good. If you’re already at an Advanced level, be sure to turn on comedy shows. Understanding English humor is the pinnacle of language proficiency.

You can watch TV shows and movies in the original formats on streaming services: Hulu, Netflix, HBO. The main idea is to watch what you like. Love Friends? Excellent. Prefer documentaries about whales? That’s great too. The only disadvantage to this method is that after watching films in English, dubbing in your native language becomes unbearable.

Listen to lectures and audiobooks

Another option for listening — lectures in English. This is especially useful for those who plan to study abroad, given that it provides the means of listening to and memorizing academic English. There are many lectures on Coursera and university websites such as Oxford, Harvard, and MIT.

If you love fiction, try audiobooks in English. Beginners can start with children’s books, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There are even audiobooks voiced by famous actors. How do you like this combination of pleasure and practicality? The downside is that many audiobooks aren’t free. However, you can always try a free month trial on Audible or look for affordable options on Digital Book.

Resources

Reading

Reading is an essential skill for anyone who learns English, especially when it comes to studies and work. Through reading, you replenish your vocabulary and consolidate your knowledge of grammar with vocabulary. Granted, such a question arises — what should you read?

Adapted books

An adapted book is a simplified version of a known work. They are suitable for those who have just begun to understand the English language. If you don’t want to buy a book, look online — for example, on English e-Reader. If you are still learning how to read, practice with small texts, like those offered on Rong-Chang. Adapted books provide a list of new words for each chapter. They are clear and simple. An interesting option is The Cat in the Hat. This children’s book consists of only 220 words and is suitable for the Elementary level. Every book you read motivates you to further learn English.

Parallel texts

This is a method in which you read a text and its translation, literary or literal. You have two languages ​​in front of your eyes: English and your native language. As a rule, they are located on adjacent pages: on the left is the English version, and on the right is the translation. There is another option in which translations are opened by clicking. This way, you can see the translation of only the phrases you are interested in. Parallel reading is not for everyone. Firstly, you need to have already mastered the basic rules and skills of English. Secondly, it may be unusual for you to read a text on two pages. There are a number of resources on the Internet with parallel texts: the Smart Book and Parallel Books applications, etc.

Fiction

When you have moved on to the Intermediate level, proceed to the «real» literature. Start with those books that you have already read in your native language. This way, you will know in advance the essence of the work and the translation of some phrases. Raise the level slowly. It makes no sense to tackle Jane Eyre immediately after the Kipling stories. When reading a book, pay attention to grammatical constructions: how the author builds phrases and uses parts of speech.

Choose novels carefully. There are many beautiful words and correct grammar in the classics, but there is no actual vocabulary. Spice up your reading with contemporary books. They have slang and trendy themes that will be useful today, rather than the 19th century.

If you are learning English for work, focus on professional literature and the news. And future students should pay attention to academic publications: National Geographic, The Economist, Scientific American, etc.

Resources

Writing

First, determine how important this skill is for you. If you are learning English for the purpose of tourism, it is not particularly useful. But for international exams and education abroad, spelling and knowledge of different text styles are vital.

Find a proofreader

To develop your writing skills, you need to find someone who is willing to proofread your writing. You can ask native speakers for help. For example, HiNative is a convenient service built in a question and answer format between foreigners. If you are not yet ready to communicate with English speakers, use literacy testing applications: Grammarly or Sentence Checker. However, these applications only check for actual spelling, punctuation, and style errors. Thus, it is better to contact someone who speaks English.

Correspond in English

Find yourself a pen pal, preferably among native speakers. You can find one on Interpals, Conversation Exchange, Hello Talk, Ablo, and others. By communicating with a native speaker, you improve your writing skills. But remember that the «native speaker» label does not mean perfect language proficiency. Think about how often speakers of your own language make mistakes. The same occurs with the British and Americans. This method is ideal for practicing and developing an existing base, but not for learning from scratch. In the latter case, it is better to turn to similar platforms that are aimed specifically at education like Italki. There, you will find not just a pen pal, but an English teacher.

Keep a diary or blog in English

The key to developing writing skills is practice. To make this process interesting, try journaling in English. Another entertaining form of writing practice is keeping a blog. Start leaving comments on social media networks and get an English-language account on Twitter or TikTok. Doing so is good for developing language skills and overcoming shyness.

Resources

Speaking

For beginners, speaking is the most attractive part of the learning process. In fact, for many, it is the main goal. They don’t need grammar and spelling rules. The main thing is to learn to understand and be understood. How do you begin speaking English?

Speak words out loud

Newbie advice couldn’t be easier — say your first words out loud. Learned the pronoun I, the verb eat, and the noun soup? Put them into a sentence and verbalize them. Congratulations — you have just started speaking English! It’s far from perfect, but the first step has been taken. Now, repeat the same thing with all of your learned words, immediately putting them into practice. This is how you develop the habit of speaking English. You need to deal with speaking right away. Otherwise, the moment will come when you have a large vocabulary and knowledge of all 12 tenses, but you’re incapable of putting them into words. You should get used to using the language and feel comfortable.

Expand your vocabulary

It is necessary to correctly replenish vocabulary, which is both active and passive. Active vocabulary are those words that we use regularly. Passive vocabulary are less used words that are collected in our heads. We know these words, but we do not use them in colloquial speech. To understand the difference between active and passive vocabulary, compare your reading and speaking skills. Let’s say you read in English and understand the words ubiquitous, tremendous, and aberration. But when you want to use these words in speech, you just can’t seem to remember them. The only way to fix this is with practice. Make up sentences from these words, be sure to speak aloud and repeat them in variations. This is how you can incorporate them into your speech.

Communicate in English

The most effective and interesting method of communication is with a native English speaker. There are several applications where you can find a speaking buddy: Tandem, Easy Language Exchange, and others. If you are a travel lover, use the Couch Surfing service. Through it, you can find a person who is willing to give you shelter in another country. But even if there isn’t a native speaker nearby, don’t be discouraged. Go to conversation clubs and have game nights in English with friends.

Immerse yourself in the language environment

The best way to learn a language is to move to a country where it is spoken. This way, a person enters an environment where everything is in English. Most of the time he listens, reads, and lives in this language. If you don’t have the opportunity to travel to London or New York, create a language environment at home. Watch TV, listen to the radio, read, play, and think only in English. Use it in the little things. For example, translate your phone layout and all social media networks into English.

Resources

Pronunciation

We all want to speak English without an accent. But is it possible? English has so many dialects that one can forget about any single form. There is, of course, RP — Received Pronunciation — the standard of the royal family and BBC announcers. But in reality, only 2% of the British population uses it[-]. Therefore, in the case of pronunciation, our first advice is to humble yourself. You will never speak with a perfect English accent because it simply doesn’t exist. Choose the version of the language that you like and focus on it. Do you dream of speaking like a Bostonian? If you are determined to perfect your pronunciation, here are a few recommendations.

Learn phonetic transcriptions

At first glance, phonetic transcriptions seem like a relic of the past — an echo of old school methods. In fact, knowledge of transcription allows you to understand the pronunciation of words. Yes, this is not the first thing many people start with to learn English. However, for good pronunciation, you need to understand how words are written phonetically.

Work with a professional

To develop proper pronunciation, you can’t do without the help of a specialist. This is what linguists do. They explain special techniques, the position of the tongue and teeth, among other subtleties. You should contact a linguist if you are striving for RP or want to keep your native accent to a minimum so that no one suspects that you are a foreigner. The downside is that their work is expensive. The method is suitable for those who already have an excellent command of the language.

Learn pronunciation by listening

You can get rid of a strong accent on your own. The main thing is to remember that there is no way of escaping it in the beginning of the learning process. Listen to as much English speech as you can and repeat after the speaker. Do it out loud or quietly, moving your lips. It will take a lot of time and practice, but the results will soon follow. Watch a series of videos from the BBC where they show the correct pronunciation.

Be consistent

A common mistake of those who learn English on their own is to grab accents from different sources. Try to be consistent. At first, beginners don’t see the difference between dialects and remember everything they come across. The result is porridge. You can start with American, put in Australian slang, and end on a high Irish note. This will definitely expose you as a foreigner. Are you planning to live in England? Listen to and learn a British accent.

Resources

Where to learn English

You have a wide range of ways and places to learn English. They can be divided into four categories:

Read more about the pros and cons of these methods in separate articles.

Why learn English?

English for studying

Moreover, in order to study in English, you must have a proficient language level — not lower than B2-C1. For language courses and short-term programs, the requirements are lower — A1-B1 is sufficient. Universities accept IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge Exams. TOEFL is more popular in America, while IELTS is common in England. For universities in non-English speaking countries, the required exam is indicated in the requirements. As a rule, this is the same trio: IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge.

English is a monopolist in the field of science and education. It is the language of most academic journals. If you want to conduct scientific research at the international level, you need to know the language.

English for work

When learning English, focus on professional vocabulary. You can’t learn certain aspects of the language separately, but you can focus on «essential» skills. For example, pay more attention to business correspondence or communication with foreign clients.

English for immigration

Those wishing to move to an English-speaking country must speak the language at a decent level. This is necessary for the adaptation into a new society. But not all immigrants are required to know English at C1. For children, spouses, and other family members, it is sufficient to have beginner knowledge of the language. To confirm your level of English, you will need an IELTS or Cambridge Exam certificate.

English for travel

A tourist does not need to know complex grammatical constructions. Therefore, if your goal is to learn English for travel purposes, you can study it yourself. Plus, you do not need knowledge of writing: only conversation and the ability to understand your interlocutor. Who knows, maybe you will start learning English for travel, and eventually reach the Advanced level!

English for yourself

English proficiency exams

International English exams are taken for various reasons:

It is suggested to prepare for English exams in advance. The main thing in any of them is to study the structure. As a rule, they consist of four blocks: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. In fact, all of these exams are standardized tests. Therefore, the key rule in preparation is practice. Try to finish the tasks as fast as you can and practice skills for each part of the exam.

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7 Ways You Can Learn English Faster, According to Science

It seems like everyone today is running around in a rush, always trying to move faster.

However, sometimes we cannot do things fast. For example, we all know that learning a new language is supposed to take a long time. There are new rules to memorize and new words to learn. You have to learn and practice and remember tons of things, and all that takes time.

But, even so, there must be a way to learn English faster… right?

There is a lot of advice online about how to learn English fast. FluentU has its own guide on how to learn English through just 35 minutes a day. We also have lots and lots of tips and tricks to make your English learning faster and easier.

So how do you know which tips to use? You can always choose the language learning methods that work best for you—but that often means you need to try many different methods before finding your favorite one. You might waste a bunch of time trying other methods that do nothing for you before you find the perfect ones.

If you are in a hurry for faster English learning tips that really work, then you need to look at what science has to say!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The Science of Language Learning

Language learning is a very important field of research for scientists. That is because the ability to learn complex (complicated) language is something that makes humans different from other animals.

Science knows how the human brain works (mostly). Science knows how we learn and speak.

There have been many, many scientific studies that focus on how people learn languages. Some research is used to try and understand how and why we learn languages, and some is done to figure out the benefits of learning new languages. Some studies focus on babies, who are excellent natural language learners, and others just focus on adults.

That is a lot of information! So what can you do with all this research?

By understanding how and why we learn languages the way we do, we can make our language learning journeys faster and easier.

You can start learning English faster right now, thanks to some scientific studies! Here is how.

How to Learn English Faster with 7 Scientific Tips

1. Listen to a lot of English

What the science says:

Scientists who study languages have a special term for one of the ways we learn languages: unconscious or implicit language learning. This kind of learning happens when we are not even trying.

It does not happen by sitting at a desk and studying rules over and over. Instead, it happens when we listen to lots of English and when we are not paying a lot of attention. The sound of English is in the background, and your brain automatically absorbs the sounds, accents, words and grammar, even though you are not listening well, speaking or taking notes.

The crazy thing is that we learn from listening even if we do not understand what the words mean. Study after study shows that it is possible for people to learn any language by listening this way—we can even learn fake languages (ones that scientists invent for their research) just by listening to people speak them.

That is because when we listen to the language we hear the patterns. It is a more natural way to learn—kids do it all the time. Think about it! When babies are very, very young, they cannot speak. They can only listen. They spend tons of time listening before they can fully understand what is being said, and before they can use the language by themselves.

What you can do:

Listen to as much English as you can. Listen constantly! Whenever you can, make sure that you have something in English playing in your room, in your office or in your headphones.

Watch English TV, listen to English music and listen to audiobooks in English. Go to places where you can hear native English speakers talk to each other. Listen to as much spoken English as you can. You do not have to listen closely—while you are listening you can just walk around, enjoy the sights, do the dishes, read a book, work out at the gym, do your homework, write an essay or do your daily job.

No matter what, as long as the sounds of English are entering your ears and your brain, you will learn more English than you realize!

2. Learn the similarities

What the science says:

One of the hardest things about learning a new language is learning all the new sounds. The English language might even have some sounds that your native language never uses!

There is good news, though—according to this study, we are all born with an understanding of which sounds make sense and which do not. Even though languages can be very different, they all share some similarities.

For example, even though some English words begin with the letters “BL” (like “blink”), you will probably never hear a word begin with the letters “LB.” Try to make that sound. It is weird! Some sounds just do not make sense, even to babies who do not know any words at all.

What you can do:

Keep this fact in mind when you are learning English.

If you hear a word or a sound that seems impossible, there is a chance that it is impossible! If you know that some sounds are very unlikely to happen in the English language, you can learn to spell more easily.

For example, if you are trying to write the word “ghost” and you are not sure if the h comes before or after the g, try saying it out loud.

If you try to say “hgost,” the sound “HG” seems impossible to pronounce, doesn’t it? But the sound “GH” in “ghost” is possible. Use that!

3. Learn new sounds separately

What the science says:

Learning English changes the way your brain works. Amazingly, learning a new language actually makes your brain grow! One study discovered that, as we learn a language, parts of our brain grow bigger. The bigger the growth, the easier the new language will be for you to learn.

An even more interesting part of the experiment in this study, though, showed that our brains react differently to different sounds.

For example, the letters L and R can be difficult for language learners to hear, especially if their native language only has one letter for both sounds (like Japanese). The experiment showed that when English speakers heard the letters L and R, two different parts of their brains reacted to the sounds. Japanese speakers only had one area react.

What you can do:

Before you can speak and understand English like a native, learn English sounds. This is a great post full of information about different English sounds and how to pronounce them.

Find the sounds that are the hardest for you to understand or pronounce and study them extra hard.

Some experiments show that listening to slowed down sounds can help learn them in as little as an hour. Now that is fast!

You don’t need any special software to slow down sounds—YouTube can do that for you! Find some videos of native speakers using the sound (or sounds) you need help with. Here is a great one with different words that use the letters R and L.

To change the speed, click on the settings icon on the bottom right of the video player (it looks like a little gear or wheel). Then click on “speed,” and choose a speed that is less than 1.

Try listening at 0.25 of the speed for 10 minutes, then 0.5 for another 10. Then play the video at normal speed. Do this a few times with different sounds and you will notice that it is getting easier and easier to hear the difference between difficult sounds—that is your brain growing!

4. Use word associations

What the science says:

When you use word associations you are connecting words with other words, sounds, movements, ideas or pictures. When you hear the sound “woof,” you associate it—connect it—with a dog. When you see a picture of a sun, you immediately think of the words “sun,” “warm” and “hot.” You do not have to spend any time thinking of this, these words come to your mind automatically.

Learning words through associations is not only fun, it is a very useful way to speed up your English learning. Scientists used this study to look at sign language, a language that deaf people to communicate and which uses the hands and fingers instead of sounds to make words.

An experiment showed that it is much easier to remember signs that look like the word they stand for. This means that it is easier to remember the sign language word for “eat” because it looks like a person eating. It is harder to learn words when the motion of your hands is not connected to the idea as strongly.

What you can do:

When you are learning new words, try to learn them in groups. Combine a word with an image, a movement or another word. When you have this strong connection in your mind, you will have an easier time remembering it.

Try using your hands and body to show the meaning of the words you are learning, at least until you remember it on its own. You could also try to draw some pictures instead of writing the definitions.

For a fun activity, try turning the words into what they mean. You can find some ideas by using Google Images search. Doing this will not only help you remember the meaning, but also the spelling!

5. Remember patterns, not rules

What the science says:

Watch the first minute of this video.

Can you repeat the pattern? How well you can remember and repeat patterns might mean a lot for how easily you can learn a new language.

In this study, students were shown a group of shapes one after the other. The students who were the best at finding the patterns in the shapes were also the best at learning Hebrew. Languages are made up of patterns, and the easier it is for you to find these patterns, the easier it will be for you to learn the language.

What you can do:

You might have spent some time already learning the rules of grammar and spelling in English. Instead of thinking of them as rules, try to remember the patterns.

To learn the rule as a pattern instead, just look at a group of regular verbs and their past tense versions:

Rain — Rained
Want — Wanted
Learn — Learned

Do you see the pattern? Let’s take it another step. There is a difference between this next group of verbs and the previous group.

Plan — Planned
Rot — Rotted
Stop — Stopped

So the next time you have trouble memorizing rules, look at the patterns instead.

6. Learn phrases, not words

What the science says:

Some words have one meaning on their own, but a completely different meaning when they are put together with other words. As we listen to or read a sentence in English, we look for these groups.

In the sentence “I ran around,” you are saying that you ran without a goal. If you add just two words, it turns into “I ran around the park,” which has a completely different meaning. You learn more and more information about the sentence and the words in it as you listen.

This might not seem so surprising, but until recently linguists (people who study languages) thought that we listen to a whole sentence and then break it down into parts. One study explains that the order of the words might be more important than the whole sentence.

Think about it this way: “Bread and butter” and “butter and bread” have the same meaning, but only one has the right order of words (bread and butter).

What you can do:

Learning words on their own can be difficult since many words have more than one meaning. Just knowing a word does not mean you will be able to actually use it. So when you learn new words, learn how they are used in phrases, sentences and conversation.

The word “retrospect,” for example, means to look back on something. You will probably never hear it used without the word “in” before it: “In retrospect, I shouldn’t have eaten the whole cake.” Learn how words are grouped and you will sound more natural when you speak.

7. Learn with music

What the science says:

Do you remember the cute songs you learned when you were very young? I bet you can still sing the songs your mother or your teachers taught you. But you learned those songs a very long time ago! How can you still remember them so well?

When you are a child, music is very important for language learning. That is why children have songs that help them remember numbers and letters, learn how vowels work and learn new words. Songs repetition and music to help kids remember important parts of language.

Adults learn easier with music, too. Language skills are usually seen as very important and music is not as important. But according to one study, the ways we learn both music and language are very similar, and both are very important! We learn that “ba” and “da” sound different, in the same way that we learn that a trumpet and a piano sound different.

What you can do:

Language is almost a kind of music of its own. Learning language skills by using music makes learning easier and faster. There are many songs for learning English, many of which you can find on YouTube or right here on FluentU. Listen to songs and sing along to them, and you will be speaking like a native soon!

There are no real shortcuts for learning English quickly, but science has proven that some tips work better and faster than others.

According to scientific studies and experiments, the tips above will help you learn English better and faster.

And as you learn and grow, so will your brain!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

How to learn English easily – 9 effective ways

Learning a new language can be a challenge, and English, in particular, is full of complexities.

If you’re wondering how to learn English faster and more completely, look no further!

Here are 9 expert tips that will help you find the best way to learn English:

1. Look for patterns.

This is the most important tip for English learners.

Language can’t be defined neatly into rules, and rules are often bent or broken.

So the best thing to do is to look for patterns and spot things that are generally true for English.

Looking for patterns will help you pick up details like “verbs in the past usually have -ed at the end”.

Also, you’ll notice sets of words that we often use together. For example:

These patterns will save you time and effort when speaking English and will help you use language in a more natural way later.

2. Do things you enjoy, in English.

The best way to learn English is to engage with it regularly and in a way that keeps you motivated to come back for more.

Some people love studying English more than anything and learning the language is a source of fun. But most of us have other interests too.

Think of something you enjoy doing already, and try to find ways to do that activity in English.

This way, you’ll get regular exposure to English whilst doing something you enjoy.

You’ll be surprised how much you learn from your new friends!

3. Engage with English language media.

Another great way to gain regular exposure is to engage with media in English.

This makes English available to you no matter where you live, thanks to the availability of these sources online. For example:

Did you know that Busuu recently teamed up with The New York Times and The Economist to offer video and article content as part of our English course?

You can also learn English with our interactive video course – London Central.

4. Don’t just focus on memorising grammar rules.

In the world of language learning, some people believe that grammar is most important and deserves all of your attention.

Other people think grammar is helpful, but only a small piece of the overall language puzzle.

People in the second group understand that grammar rules are fuzzy, often broken, and usually come with a list of exceptions and special use cases.

Plus, widely spoken languages like English are constantly changing.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but the point here is:

Don’t just memorise grammar rules and then be able to speak flawless English.

5. Keep track of interesting words & phrases.

As you read, watch, and listen to things in English, keep track of new words, and phrases.

This is similar to tip #1 (look for patterns), but it goes a little deeper than that.

Keep a list of the words and phrases, and put these lists in places where you’re likely to see them.

Try to use them next time you’re speaking or writing in English. This helps you keep track of what you’ve learned.

Find a system that works for you (a notebook, a memo app, cards…) and use it to keep track of your words and phrases.

6. Schedule time into your day for structured study.

One thing most language learning experts can agree on is that language is best learned through regular exposure.

Even if it’s only five or ten minutes a day, finding a regular time to think about English will help keep you learning new things faster than you forget them.

Find a sustainable pace and time that works for you and your schedule.

It doesn’t need to be two-hour sessions, maybe it’s just the first ten minutes in the morning after you wake up.

Busuu offers a Study Plan feature, which helpfully allows you to schedule your language learning and set up reminders.

Turn your language learning into a habit, and make sure it’s a habit you can keep up with.

This kind of regular, structured study will be much more effective than intensive 3-hour classes in the evenings once a week.

7. Think about how you’ll use English.

Think about why you’re learning English (e.g. to study abroad, travel, or for business).

Now, think about the kinds of scenarios where you’ll use English.

If you’re studying, you’ll likely be listening to long lectures and need to be able to follow the speaker and take notes in English.

Whereas if you’re travelling, you’re more likely to need a range of phrases you’re comfortable speaking in different situations.

If you’ll be doing business over the phone, you’ll need to be able to listen to somebody on the phone (with no body language to help you) and respond appropriately.

Each of these situations is slightly different and means you should probably do more or less listening, reading, writing, and speaking practice.

If you’re a student going abroad, you could watch videos of online lectures or TEDTalks and take notes on the topics to practice that skill.

In short, try your best to replicate the situations you expect to find yourself in for more authentic skills practice.

8. Don’t try to be perfect. Nobody is perfect.

The hardest thing about learning English is getting over the fear that you will sound silly, or won’t be perfect.

Most of us are much more articulate and clever in our own languages, and it can be embarrassing to step into another language where that comfort with words and phrases is gone.

We think others will judge us or think less of us for sounding foolish.

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, and being corrected, and trying again.

This is the same with any new language, and mistakes and errors are part of the journey.

Also, remember that the point of language is communication.

If you managed to say something, and someone else understood what you meant, then you’re successfully using language!

9. Have fun!

Lastly, remember that learning English should be fun.

It unlocks so many exciting and rewarding opportunities for you too.

From the tips above, you’ll see that there are plenty of fun ways to study English, that don’t just involve memorising grammar rules.

Find a method that you enjoy the most and stick with it.

How to learn English quickly: 10 tips

English is a fun language to learn (here are 9 reasons why it rocks), and even though it’s considered an accessible and relatively easy one to learn, with 750,000 words and spelling that can throw off even the most skilled learner, learning English fast can seem impossible. But I’m here to tell you that it isn’t – as long as you have the right strategy.

Here are our top tips on how to learn English quickly:

1. Read everything you can get your hands on

Classic literature, paperbacks, newspapers, websites, emails, your social media feed, cereal boxes: if it’s in English, read it. Why? Well, this content will be full of juicy new vocabulary, as well as a fair amount you already know. This helps you improve quickly, as re-exposure to learned vocabulary gives you new examples in context, therefore reinforcing those words in your mind. On the other hand, learning new words and expressions is essential to building your vocabulary arsenal, particularly in a language like English with so many words! However, don’t just read and move on – next, you’ve got to…

2. Actively take note of new vocabulary

This tip is a classic one for good reason: it works! When learning, we often enjoy a new word of phrase so much that forgetting it seems impossible. But trust us, not everything sticks the first time. To fight this, get into the habit of carrying around a funky notebook or using a tool like Evernote. Whenever you hear or read a new word or expression, write it down in context: that is, in a sentence and with its meaning noted. This saves you time as you won’t return to that word and ask yourself: “What did that word/expression mean again?”

3. Talk with real live humans

What is a language for if not to communicate? Sure, we humans have become experts at communicating without opening our mouths – thanks Whatsapp! – but when push comes to shove, it’s true that speaking a language helps it stick in your head far better than only reading or writing it. Just think of how many times you’ve heard people say that they “understand, but can’t speak English.” A lot of would-be English speakers have turned talking into a huge insurmountable barrier that only serves to psyche them out. Don’t be like that. Seek out native speakers for an informal language exchange, enroll in a course, or take classes online.

4. Subscribe to podcasts or Youtube channels (in English)

Like humor? Politics? Blogging? Cooking? With topics covering every interest imaginable, there’s an English-speaking podcast or Youtube channel out there for you. Subscribe to a few and listen while driving or watch during the commute to school or work. At first, you might find the native accents difficult, but stick with it and you’ll soon start to understand what you hear (as well as learning lots of new vocab from a native speaker!)

5. Go abroad

If there’s a better way to learn English than being immersed in it while living and studying in an English-speaking country, we’d love to know! It’s no secret that English is the most widely-spoken language in the world, and with a long list of countries to choose between, you can select your ideal learning environment based on hemisphere, weather, or favorite city. Think Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada, and South Africa to name a few!

6. Use your friends

Have friends who post online in English? Don’t gloss over them in your newsfeed: scan the items they share and commit to exploring one or two each day. They might be news or magazine articles, videos, talks, blog posts, songs, or anything else: if it’s in English and the topic interests you, it’s going to be helpful!

7. Ask a lot of questions

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it also propelled the language learner to fluency! As you learn English, you’ll soon collect a mountain of questions. Don’t sit on your doubts – be curious and resolve them! If you’re enrolled in a course, ask your teacher (it’s what they’re there for, after all). But if you’re learning alone, don’t worry: find answers in blogs or language websites, ask other learners, or read through forums. You’ll be happy you did!

8. Take a lead from the stars

Mix up your learning by picking a native English-speaking actor or singer you like. Now, head online, find a bunch of interviews they’ve given – and watch them! Watch once for gist, then again, taking time to note down interesting expressions and words you hear. The slang, stories, humor, and anecdotes that come out of these interview are sure to give you plenty to work with!

9. Start with what you really need

Your English studies are likely to go far more quickly if you constantly remind yourself of your motives for learning. Are you going on a study exchange? Then, focus on vocabulary related to your studies. Have an overseas conference? Brush up on conversation starters to use with the other participants. Going on a gap year? Looks like travel and tourism vocabulary will be your guide. If you simply launch into learning English hoping to magically learn anything and everything at once, you’re likely to end up confused and burned out. Which brings us to…

10. Don’t kick yourself while you’re down

When you start to feel like you’re not making ground – which happens to all learners at some point – don’t say, “I don’t speak English,” or “I’ll never get this.” In fact, ban those phrases from your vocabulary! They only blur your understanding of the progress you’re making and convince you that your dreams of speaking English well are impossible. Instead, say “I’m learning English and making improvements everyday,” “It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it,” “I’m so much better that I was six months ago,” and other phrases to remind yourself of the big picture.