How changeable this world is! What once seemed almost a luxury is now available to everyone. When I started learning English (more than 13 years ago), special choice there were no materials. We could rely on material from Russian-language publications, and foreign books (for example, publications Oxford University Press) received only to order for a lot of money. Of course, we are not talking about any Internet, because then it was just beginning to enter our lives. We also used paper dictionaries and audio tapes. This has its own advantage; we did not rack our brains over choosing which course to take for classes.
Now the situation is completely opposite. You can find and purchase educational materials from almost any English-language publishing house, as well as use electronic versions of printed publications. You can listen to audio materials and watch videos in unlimited quantities on various sites. Internet resources devoted to the study have any theoretical material. in English. I'm not even talking about online dictionaries and electronic translators.
Such availability of material, as well as a rich assortment, help make the process of learning English interesting and exciting. But the question arises: how not to get lost in all this variety of resources? After all, there are tens of thousands of them... And you may like it a large number of sites, but we must understand that it is impossible to embrace the immensity. How to choose exactly those sites that will be most useful in mastering the English language? This is what we will look into.
We bookmark resources that help us:
Learn and practice grammar
If your visual memory works well, use picture dictionaries ( picture dictionaries) to expand your . Here are some interesting resources:
- – a thematic picture dictionary with voiceovers for each word.
- – there are a lot of topics, the words are voiced. Moreover, you are asked to perform several exercises different types after studying one or another group of words.
- – a thematic dictionary with definitions of words in the form of animated pictures.
Are you interested in business vocabulary? Become a frequent visitor to the site and learn words by watching videos on various topics in the field of business relations.
Practice correct pronunciation
Excellent exercises for practicing correct English sounds are located on the website. If you are in doubt about the pronunciation of any English word, you can listen to its sound on the resource already mentioned above or on the website. And, of course, don’t ignore the “ Pronunciation tips» site.
Train your listening comprehension skills in English
Having studied English for a long time, many people notice that it is almost as difficult to perceive English speech by ear as it was at the very beginning, when you became acquainted with this language. It is this skill, like speaking, that is the last to develop, since it depends on many factors, including a rich vocabulary and knowledge of grammar, knowledge of the features of the language and coherent speech in particular, familiarity with the idiomatic side of the language, etc. Therefore, I recommend both You can listen to English-language speech more often and more in order to gradually get used to it. But you can not only listen to it, but also work with audio material. How? Choosing podcasts! You can work with them both on websites and off the computer by downloading and uploading them to any of the media devices you use.
- – I really love this resource, which is updated every two days. Authors upload a new podcast, which may belong to one of the existing sections ( entertainment, health&medicine, business, daily life, relationships etc.). The podcast consists of the following parts: voiced dialogue at a slow pace, explanation of all difficult moments and unfamiliar words in English, voiced dialogue at the pace of normal speech. The text of each podcast is attached. However, you can practice each podcast even better by receiving a 12-page material with exercises and additional information. But only those who have paid for their membership in the listeners’ club have this opportunity eslpod.
- – excellent podcasts with exercises divided by level of English language knowledge.
- – podcasts on all sorts of topics.
- – podcasts of different levels of complexity with a detailed analysis of all the nuances of the language.
In this article you will learn about interesting and useful services, simulators, schools and sites for finding a tutor on Skype for learning English. With their help, you can learn English or any foreign language quickly, easily and inexpensively!
Lingualeo
The LinguaLeo educational platform allows you to learn and practice English using game mechanics. Throughout the entire training process, you will be accompanied by the lion cub Leo, who aims to motivate you to continue studying and come back every day to complete new tasks.
Service on initial stage conducts a brief survey to determine language skills and learning goals. Based on the test results, you will receive an individual training program. All tasks for the current day are located on the first tab of the site.
Chapter "Materials" offers more than 250 thousand audio, video and text materials with which you can train reading and listening techniques, as well as build your vocabulary. Every movie, cartoon or lecture contains clickable subtitles. An unfamiliar word can be immediately translated and added to your dictionary.
Studying and repeating words occurs in the section "Workout". The service offers more than 10 various types trainings: translation word, sprint, crossword, brainstorm and others.
Next section "Grammar". All the basic English grammar rules are provided here, each of which is practiced with thousands of examples.
Chapter "Courses" will help you prepare for the Unified State Exam and other exams, improve your English for travel or for business communication. Each online intensive is aimed at a comprehensive study of a specific topic.
LinguaLeo allows you to use all materials for free, take basic training and grammar courses on your computer and on your phone using a mobile application.
To open access to all training and courses and speed up the learning process, a paid subscription is provided. You can register with LinguaLeo using the link below; the service gives new users a discount of up to 20%.
Puzzle English
The service has three sections. The first one is called Puzzle English, second - Puzzle Movies and the third - Teacher method.
In the first section you will be able to familiarize yourself with the grammar of the language, learn and repeat new words with the help of game tasks and training. The main tasks are “Video” and “Audio puzzles” (which is how the service got its name).
After playing a short fragment, you will have to assemble the phrase you heard using the words given to you.
In addition to these training sessions, the service has educational games that are aimed at improving language skills. For example, you can compete with other users in general erudition by answering questions in English.
Puzzle English will help you learn grammar with videos and exercises. The catalog contains more than 600 lessons, which are sorted by category and difficulty.
As you complete various exercises and tasks, you will be able to save words to your personal dictionary. The peculiarity of the functionality is that each word is provided with voice acting, translation and a short video example of use.
Next section "Puzzle Movies" contains films, TV series and television shows with English and Russian subtitles. Some of the presented content is accompanied by video comments from teachers on interesting phrases, a separate set of words for the series, and exercises and tests right during viewing.
Third section "Teacher Method" designed for beginners. It contains programs with detailed video lessons with a teacher and a set of reinforcing exercises.
Puzzle English will help you develop linguistic flexibility and begin to understand the language more deeply. A variety of exercises and games helps keep you interested and continue your daily activities.
The free functionality is limited; to access all the features of the service you need to purchase a subscription. Puzzle English regularly runs promotions, so we recommend taking advantage of one of them for significant savings.
Skyeng
The service offers remote learning of English with a teacher via Skype. It is convenient and affordable especially for residents of small towns.
SkyEng provides free trial lesson, where you will learn how online learning works, get acquainted with the learning platform and understand whether this format is right for you.
After a trial lesson, the methodologist will select one of 2,000 certified teachers, taking into account your current language knowledge and learning requirements.
You choose an English course according to your goals and interests. Training takes place with a personal teacher at a time convenient for you on our own VimBox platform.
The platform automates the process of self-training. The service provides a function for automatically checking completed tasks, personal selection of exercises and interactive materials. Free conversation clubs are also regularly held and pronunciation consultations from native speakers are available.
For each student, grammar analysis, learning new words using a mobile application and browser extension, and watching films and TV series in the original with subtitles are available.
You can sign up for a free introductory lesson using the link below.
EnglishDom
The service combines English via Skype, an online trainer and a conversation club.
The basic conditions are similar to SkyEng. Training takes place remotely with a personal teacher, you choose a convenient time for classes, and the first introductory lesson is absolutely free.
The learning process is based on a digital textbook and modern methods. You prepare for theory in advance and go through interactive exercises, and in class you reinforce the material you have covered.
In addition, EnglishDom offers online courses. IN personal account you can choose the appropriate program, study grammar rules and sets of words, and also watch popular videos with English and Russian subtitles.
The third component of the service is conversation club. Here you can openly communicate with different people on topics that interest you. Maximum amount Participants are limited to 7 people. Each videoconference is moderated by a teacher.
Here you learn to speak confidently and easily with strangers and express your opinions openly.
You can sign up for a trial lesson or register for online courses using the link to the website.
Englex
The site provides the opportunity to learn English with a personal teacher via Skype. During the free introductory lesson, you can get acquainted with the service and the tutor, and create a personal schedule.
Inglex has basic and specialized areas of training. The service will help you improve your level of English for work or travel, as well as prepare for exams and interviews. It is possible to compile individual program and communication with a native speaker.
The functionality of the service is weaker than SkyEng and EnglishDom, but it has lower prices and a different set of teachers and educational courses. Using the link below, you can take a free introductory lesson and get your own impression of the site.
If the capabilities of the proposed sites are not enough for you, then I suggest you pay attention to the following Western projects.
- is an online service for learning English and 11 more foreign languages. Learning occurs through sequential completion of interactive lessons. Each lesson consists of a detailed analysis of dialogues and is aimed at studying typical conversational situations.
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This article will list the best, and, most importantly, free websites for learning English.
If you decide to learn English on your own and are able to organize your learning process without outside help, then various online resources will be excellent helpers for you in this difficult task. Knowing where to look for the specific information you need right now can save you a lot of time and speed up your learning process.
Websites for self-learning English - indispensable assistant also for those who take courses or are trained in schools and institutes. They help fill in missing parts that the teacher may have missed, and are also necessary for completing numerous homework assignments.
The best Russian-language resources for learning English
Perhaps the most popular interactive service on the RuNet for learning English. Here you can practice English in a playful way without cramming and improve your level day after day. There is also a mobile application that will allow you to improve your skills anywhere and anytime.
A bunch of articles on a variety of topics related to the English language. Among other things, you can ask a question in the comments, and one of the qualified teachers will answer you.
Of course, this list is not limited to Russian-language resources, but I tried to list the best ones. The rest you can easily find on the Internet.
By the way, I would also like to mention another wonderful site that allows you to learn English from TV series.
Here you will find many TV series in English with Russian subtitles. Perhaps no site has as many TV series available for viewing as here.
English-language sites for learning English
I’ll say right away that such sites are not suitable for beginners. To understand material presented in English, you need to have a certain vocabulary.
English-language resources are endlessly diverse and are my favorite, since it was with their help that I was finally able to go beyond school English and move to a completely different level. So, let's go.
Just a wonderful, incredible blog that will open up for you a hitherto incomprehensible number of different words and expressions. If you want to improve your vocabulary, do not bypass this site.
A blog by an American teacher, in which each article is accompanied by a video. A blog is also extremely useful for improving your vocabulary. First of all, if your goal is to master American English. In addition, a lot of materials are aimed at studying grammar and other language aspects.
An excellent guide to American slang and more. A lot of articles on a variety of topics written in simple language. In addition, you can listen to podcasts in English.
A site with video lessons about professional English teachers. The main advantage is that each lesson is accompanied by subtitles in English, since not everyone is able to perceive English speech by ear. It is also especially gratifying that teachers strive to use the most simple and understandable words for explanations in their lessons.
Page for learning English on the official BBC website. There are a lot of materials, the most valuable of which are podcasts in English (British accent), a question and answer section, and lexical explanations.
Another good interactive site for learning British English with lots of podcasts for different levels, video lessons like “How to...”, articles, tips, etc.
As you can see, there are currently a huge number of sites for learning English. The list is by no means complete, but here are the best resources for both beginners and advanced users.
Especially for Habr readers, we have compiled a list of resources and applications that will effectively complement classes with a teacher or self-study.
Vocabulary practice
To speak freely on everyday topics and read newspapers and magazines, a large and rich vocabulary is required. Let's take a look required amount words for different levels. The experience of EnglishDom teachers suggests that this volume for various levels is:
- Elementary - 300-500 words,
- Pre-intermediate - 700-1000,
- Intermediate - 1500-2000,
- Upper-intermediate - 3000-4000,
- Advanced - 8000,
- Proficient - 10,000 or more.
Even if you know grammar perfectly, if you encounter unknown words in a sentence, the overall meaning may be misunderstood or even unclear. In such situations, dictionaries are useful; they contain not only translations, but also detailed examples with different meanings words and explanations.
Multitran and Lingvo
pros: very similar to each other and contain separate topics, a large number of examples and links to sources of translations.
Minuses: Sometimes there are not the most adequate translations of words added by users.
Merriam Webster
pros: Dictionary in English only. It also contains meanings by topic and area of use of words, examples and links to sources of translations and explanations.
Minuses: lack of Russian, which can be a problem for an entry-level user.
Memorizing words
If a new word is encountered once and you no longer use it, it is quickly forgotten. To transfer words from short-term memory to long-term memory, you will need apps and web services for practicing vocabulary.
Upmind
pros: an application in which words are learned in a game format and reinforced with pictures, tests and examples from Twitter, short word learning sessions, user-friendly design and tracking results.
Minuses: no web version or Android app.
pros: the service offers thematic selections of words in the form of sets on the most popular topics. You can create your own sets of words and reinforce words you have already covered. Each word is supported by an associative picture and audio. Words are practiced using correct choice, spelling and puzzle exercises. For completing vocabulary tasks, as well as other training sessions on the site, users can receive nice perks in the form of a subscription to a conversation club or lessons via Skype, as well as a subscription to an online self-study course.
Minuses: The mobile application will be available in the fall, but for now there is a mobile version of the site.
Memrise
pros: The design of the service was invented by the users themselves, as were the examples that help you remember individual words. Everything is supported by student cases, and most importantly, by memes. There are also tasks for choosing the correct answer and tracking your progress in studying. There are applications on Android and iOS.
Minuses: the quality of the examples themselves is not always adequate.
Easy Ten
pros: there are applications on Android and iOS, short sessions of 10 words per day, words are reinforced using cards, transcriptions, examples, pronunciation exercises, tests and the ability to repeat previously learned ones. It’s convenient to track your progress and has a nice system of achievements, as well as a system of gestures for control.
Minuses: The learning system does not guarantee memorization of words, since the user marks them as learned himself.
Live communication
Learning words is not enough. They remain passive vocabulary, and to bring them into active use you need to practice live speech.
Social network How do you do
pros: filtering to find friends, it is possible not only to correspond, but also to make calls and video calls.
Minuses: you often come across non-native speakers, and native speakers may ask for payment for communicating with them.
Social network Coeffee
pros: this is a similar service, but here you can still play various games to consolidate English vocabulary and grammar together with other members of the community.
Minuses: There are fewer native speakers.
Youtube
Learn English with Ronnie
pros: Ronnie is a very qualified English teacher, he explains everything in a very accessible, simple, and most importantly fun way.
Minuses: May be difficult for beginner level.
Business English Pod
pros: Business topics (management, finance, economics, law), playlists by category, clear pronunciation.
Minuses: Can also be difficult for beginners.
VOA Learning English
pros: News with clear pronunciation and accessible subtitles, videos for different levels.
Minuses: American English only.
How It Should Have Ended
pros: This is a channel for all fans of famous cinema. There is a lot of humor and fun animation. They speak simple language with an American accent, there are subtitles.
Minuses: May be a little challenging for beginners.
Classic =3 Compilations
pros: All +100500 fans will love it. This is where the idea of reviewing popular videos and commenting on them came from.
Minuses: already outdated content and specific humor may seem difficult for beginners.
Especially for Habra readers, bonuses for learning English in EnglishDom
Online courses
We give you access for a year to the English course for self-study"Online course".
To gain access, simply go to .
Individually via Skype
Specialized course "".
Classes take place at any time convenient for you.
Promo code for 15% discount: 3habra15
To apply a promotional code, simply enter it when paying or go to.
Join us!
Time to learn about the pitfalls of English grammar. Based on our experience, we have compiled a list of sites where it is great to practice it.
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For newbies
EnglishDom.Grammar
+Pros: detailed and accessible grammar rules, several types of tasks for consolidation, interesting and popular videos with exercises. A convenient dictionary with ready-made sets and the ability to create your own collections. Absolutely all exercises are supported by English voice acting, and the selection of material is based on the student’s interests. The site is also suitable for more advanced users, because it is possible to choose the difficulty level, and the list of grammatical topics is quite large.
Minuses: Not all grammar topics have video explanations.Pros: Russian-language site that presents more than 75 grammar lessons with examples, explanations and tests. The site has excellent videos created by native speakers.
Minuses: not the most convenient and outdated interface.Pros: This site is perfect for beginners. The theoretical part is written in clear and simple language, you won’t have to rack your brains to understand complex designs. All topics are perfectly structured - from easy to more complex.
Minuses: Students at higher levels may find it simple and boring.
For those in the know
BritishCouncil
learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammarPros: the same site from the British Council where you can read the rules in English and practice your grammar by selecting the desired category. There is a lot more on the site useful information, as well as games in English and preparation for exams.
Minuses: the site is positioned as intended for all levels, but is entirely in English.Pros: An interesting and detailed blog on the topic of grammar from the popular service Grammarly. You can find a lot of useful information on grammar, writing and modern slang.
Minuses: There are no tasks to reinforce the rules.Pros: a cool site from a whole team of teachers with video explanations and a fun way of presenting grammar rules. There are exercises for consolidation and breakdown by topic.
Minuses: The site is entirely in English, so some details will have to be clarified using dictionaries.Pros: the site is conveniently divided into categories: tenses, nouns, verbs, prepositions and other grammar topics. You can also find video lessons on the site and, if you do not have constant access to the Internet, tasks and rules can be downloaded to your computer or phone.
Minuses: The site may seem difficult for beginners learning English.Pros: here are rules, examples and exercises, as well as a division into difficulty levels. A distinctive feature of this resource is that after each topic there is an example of using a rule not just in a sentence, but in a literary text.
Minuses: quite complicated even for users with high level knowledge of the language.
For experts
reddit
www.reddit.com/r/grammarPros: a very famous site with a separate section dedicated to grammar. It will be useful to everyone who already speaks English well and wants to understand its individual aspects and nuances, because on the site you can get answers from the most qualified specialists.
Minuses: there are no tasks for fixing the rules, the site is completely in English.Pros: The site also needs no introduction. Here you can learn about English grammar and individual cases of using certain vocabulary.
Minuses: the site only provides background information, without strengthening exercises.Pros: a site that is often used by many teachers. The nuances of grammar, the frequency of use of certain words, modern slang or the history of origin and pronunciation - this and even more can be found out here.
Minuses: there are also no tasks to reinforce the rules, and it’s worth looking through all the comments to make sure correct version response.
Continue to study English comprehensively: words, grammar, written and speaking practice, live communication. It is this approach that will help you master the language much faster than studying its individual aspects.
We wish you good luck in your studies and look forward to your comments!
Bonuses for Habr readers
Online coursesWe are giving you access for a year to the English course for self-study “Online Course”.
To gain access, simply go to before September 1, 2017.
Individually via Skype
