Teaching English on your own from scratch. English from scratch: how to start learning successfully. Gaining an active vocabulary
We decided to learn English language ? Of course you did right choice, after all English language - main language international communication.
Most likely, you have already encountered main problem at learning English- a huge number of textbooks and courses on the market, most of which are a waste of time and money. And if we add to this selfeducation and complete lack of initial knowledge language, then all this confuses a person, and he loses the desire to learn English. A wish- the main key to successfully learning any foreign language.
So, what does the site offer you for success? learning English from scratch?
First of all, especially for entry level as online lessons a wonderful self-instruction manual by K. B. Vasiliev was prepared " Easy English" (from the second lesson, the first completely from the site). Classes on this tutorial are perfect for children, because the texts are presented from popular English children's fairy tales, such as “Alice in Wonderland”, “Winnie the Pooh and Everything Everything”, etc. Additionally, typos and some inaccuracies were corrected, and added free audio for the entire course. And doing the exercises is not at all difficult, because there are special forms for entering text, as well as answer keys. To view the answer, hover your mouse over the key: . You can only peek back after you have completely completed the exercise! If you have any questions, you can ask them under the lesson as a comment.
Please note that there is no need to rush and jump to the next lesson immediately after completing the current one. Move on to the next lesson when you are confident that you have mastered the material in the current lesson. fully.
Further parallel With the study of the audio course above, you can also study the perhaps simpler Assimil audio course. The page with audio courses also contains higher-level courses, as well as an interesting tutorial on how to work with audio.
How have you studied so much information and are still confused about verb tenses? Dont be upset, verb tenses in English- this is the most difficult part of it. After all, there are not 3 of them, as in the Russian language, but as many as 12! Especially for easier understanding and assimilation of tenses, the following section on effective lessons by S.P. Dugin for beginners was created.
Verb tenses can also be studied in the English grammar section. Initially, grammar lessons were intended for intermediate students, but translations have been added to them, and now they can be studied by slightly less advanced students. In this section Very There are many lessons, it will help you find answers to many questions, so don't skip it. Proceed to study it only when you are ready. And in lessons for beginners there will periodically be links to specific grammar lessons from this section.
Have you studied all this already? Well, you give it! Congratulations! What to do next? And then you will have even more self-study . Unfortunately, from an intermediate level it is difficult to build any path for study; build it yourself according to your interests. It takes a lot of practice. Listen to a lot of audio and video materials. Try to talk more. No one? Talk to yourself! Read, write. The site also has video materials. Perhaps there will be more later.
Please note that on the mobile version of the site the right menu collapses to the very bottom screen, and the top menu opens by pressing a button ≡ top right.
What kind of English are we learning? British or American?
Correct answer: both.
On the one hand, British refers to pronunciation rules set many years ago. Almost no one speaks it now, but everyone who studies English or tests pronunciation strives for it, incl. American actors (for example, Will Smith). Also, all textbooks have standard grammar and spelling of words. It turns out that almost everyone is learning British English. American grammar and spelling are slightly, very slightly different from British, so look for some textbooks on American English. very, very stupid.
On the other hand, British English also includes a special intonation that almost no one teaches, and it’s difficult to get used to. These lessons also do not teach intonation. It turns out that no matter how hard we try to pronounce it, we will still end up sounding more American English than British. Besides intonation, our speech apparatus is simply more similar to the American one. The video of the 1st lesson presents pure British English. The audio of the following lessons will sound more like American English. Otherwise, English is standard, there is no need to come up with ridiculous reasons why I should or should not learn these particular lessons. Just learn! I am responsible for quality! (Site author)
Surely you found something interesting on this page. Recommend it to a friend! Better yet, place a link to this page on the Internet, VKontakte, blog, forum, etc. For example:
English language learning
IN modern world the importance of knowing English is undeniable, so everyone strives to master this language larger number of people. 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 educational process what to look for Special attention so that knowledge is confident and 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 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 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 done in writing! With all the convenience of modern computer programs that offer to insert instead of skipping the right word, 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. Passing new topic, invent a new name, profession and past for yourself - create a fictional hero. 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 orally. 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". Set expressions It’s better to remember the whole thing, 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 vault grammar rules the English language is perhaps even a little more significant than the richness of its 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 Your knowledge will include 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.
If you have never learned English or you once learned at school, but completely forgot everything, even the alphabet, and now you have decided to start learning English from scratch, then our advice on where to start and how to move may be useful to you. The first and most important thing is to understand how much you need the language, why you need it, and whether you have enough resources to learn the language.
Introductory articles
Motivation
Motivation should be your driving force; without it, you will not be able to practice the language daily for a long time. Without daily practice it is impossible to master this huge layer of knowledge. If there is no obvious motivation, but there is a burning desire to learn the language, then you should think about what knowledge of the language will give you - maybe it’s a new prestigious job or the opportunity to read specialized literature on topics that interest you, or maybe you travel a lot and want to fully communicate with people around the world or correspond with foreign friends.
Your motivation may still be in the subconscious. Try to extract it from there, it will play a decisive role in your successful progress in mastering the English language.
Choosing a teaching method
Your next step should be to choose teaching methods or teachers. Now students have access to very good language materials and a large number of teachers who are ready to study via Skype with students from all over the world. Ideal, of course, is to find a good teacher who is a native speaker. But not everyone can afford such opportunities, and some simply want to study independently and for free, at a convenient time, without any stress, according to their own schedule. Then you need to choose a system that you will follow.
Learning English from scratch takes time
Plan time for studying, you need to study every day, at least 15 - 20 minutes, but it’s better to set aside an hour for studying. In our selection of articles “English from scratch” you will find materials for beginners, audio recordings and videos, exercises, a large number of examples, explanations, as well as links to resources that will help you progress faster.
When choosing your study resources, make sure you like the materials. This is important, all polyglots talk about it. Interest plays a role in language acquisition main role. It allows you to achieve more with less effort. Just imagine that you need to learn or translate a text on some boring topic for you, but you will fall asleep after the first phrase! On the contrary, if you come across an interesting book, you will definitely find time to read it. Go ahead, friends, devote your time and attention to the language, and you will raise your English from scratch to fluency. Good luck to all!
Learning English on your own from scratch is not easy. However, in the case of an online service, the student himself chooses the levels and time for classes that are suitable for him.
Before choosing a course, be sure to take an English level test and a vocabulary test - they will help you decide where to start and what skills you need to improve.
If basic knowledge is the alphabet and a small set simple words and phrases - you already have them, we recommend starting with the second course. The program is designed for 131 hours and is suitable for those who want to better understand English grammar, learn to distinguish tenses, maintain a simple conversation and write letters.
Third year suitable for those who have basic knowledge and do not want to stop there. The purpose of the program: to broaden the student’s horizons, to introduce complicated words and expressions. The course also provides training on writing business and personal letters. After successfully completing the program, the student will be able to conduct a telephone conversation and retell simple texts.
IN fourth year Much attention is paid to the tenses of the English language. There is a thorough analysis of the past tense. The student is encouraged to master several difficult conversation topics.
Having successfully completed the fourth year of study, the student:
- understand passive structures;
- will replenish lexicon by about 3 thousand new words;
- will be able to communicate and maintain conversations on complex topics.
1. Learn with interest
Any teacher will confirm: abstract learning of a language is more difficult than mastering a language for a specific purpose. Therefore, at first, learn things that will be useful to you in your work. Another option is to read the resources at foreign language concerning yours.
2. Remember only the words you need
There are more than a million words in the English language, but at best a few thousand are used in everyday speech. Therefore, even a modest vocabulary will be enough for you to talk with a foreigner, read online publications, watch news and TV series.
3. Post stickers at home
This is an effective way to expand your vocabulary. Look around the room and see which objects you don't know the names of. Translate the name of each subject into English, French, German - whatever language you want to learn. And put these stickers around the room. New words will gradually be stored in memory, and this will not require any additional effort.
4. Repeat
The technique of spaced repetition allows you to better remember new words and concepts. To do this, review the studied material at certain intervals: first, repeat the learned words often, then return to them after a few days, and after a month, reinforce the material again.
5. Use new technologies
6. Set realistic goals
Be careful with the load and don't overwork yourself. Especially at the beginning, so as not to lose interest. Teachers advise starting small: first learn 50 new words, try to apply them in life, and only then take on the grammar rules.