How to learn English so that you can finally speak it? The expert answers!
Miscellaneous / / May 31, 2021
Is it possible to raise the level of the language just by watching TV shows? Does it make sense to take up English after 50? What to do to understand movies without subtitles? We learned the answers to these and other questions from the teacher and methodologist of the English language courses.
What's happening?
Knowing English is useful for career growth or to watch foreign films and TV shows in the original. But deciding to learn a language, especially as an adult, is difficult. In addition, it is not clear how to choose materials and exercises, where to practice, how to get rid of an accent. So many questions and so few answers! We decided to fix this and invited readers to ask everything that interests them. The expert commented on the questions Yandex. Workshop.
Valentina Serbinova
Methodologist and English teacher at Yandex. Workshop
How to choose the right one from all the ways and methods of learning English?
How to choose the right one from all the ways and methods of learning English?
To begin with, you can familiarize yourself with several methods, try them on yourself. It's like going to the store for shoes: find several pairs, put on, see how comfortable and comfortable you are. The format of training is selected in a similar way - there are many of them, each person has something different.
Nowadays, the communicative method prevails among teachers of foreign languages. The emphasis in it is on speaking practice, because it is the ability to conduct a conversation that is a clear indicator that the language has been mastered. Some people like it, while others will miss a more solid approach to grammar or, for example, translations. For some people, listening and imitating speech is just a gift, an opportunity to play, try on accents and different roles, while for others it can be a challenge.
So it's worth trying different options. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to dwell on one thing - eclecticism exists not only in architecture. The main thing is not to stop, study, inquire, and then everything will work out for you.
Is it possible to master the language completely on your own?
Is it possible to master the language completely on your own?
Probably not. Of course, there are exceptions, but my practice shows that most people find it difficult to learn a language without a partner, sensei, teacher. We need a person who would say what is right and what is not. Studying alone, you can memorize wording with errors, which will be difficult to get rid of later. In addition, you always need an interlocutor to practice speaking.
Is it possible to learn the language from TV series, films and songs?
Is it possible to learn the language from TV series, films and songs?
So only listening is trained, and speaking and writing are ignored. The beholder perceives information, but does not process it in any way. And he still does not receive feedback, so he cannot be sure that he understood everything correctly.
TV shows, films, songs, podcasts are an important part of language learning, but not the foundation. You need to parse content: choose useful phrases, note the subtleties of colloquial speech, parse grammatical turns. Usually a teacher helps to do this.
How to watch TV shows in English so that you still have to learn something?
How to watch TV shows in English so that you still have to learn something?
There are some useful exercises.
- Repeat intonation. Listen to a fragment, pause, say what you heard, rewind and repeat again. Often, even students with a good level of language speak it with Russian intonation without the hesitation up and down, typical for English speech. This practice will help you speak like a native speaker.
- Write out repetitive phrases. It is important not to rush at every unfamiliar word: if the meaning is captured, look further. But if you come across a word for the second or third time, it is worth fixing it. I recommend writing out not individual words, but expressions - often the meaning depends on the context. It is better to mark verbs with prepositions - from them the meaning can completely change. For example, you heard the sentence My car is getting on. Individually, all the words are familiar to you, they are simple. But they don't work together. You twist them, try to dock them - in the end you look into Google Translate, and it translates get on as "Get along". It does not become clearer: with whom does the car get along? Then a real dictionary, Cambridge or Oxford, can come to the rescue, which will tell you what is in informal speech get on used in the meaning "Grow old" and they usually say this about a person. And here we understand not only that the car is dilapidated, but also that the speaker treats it as a friend.
How to stop subtitling in English TV shows if everything the actors say merges into white noise?
How to stop subtitling in English TV shows if everything the actors say merges into white noise?
If everything merges into white noise, then it is too early to refuse. Try to think about what exactly is preventing you from understanding speech.
First, some films are objectively difficult to understand without subtitles. Let's say, as in the series "Elementary" about the modern Sherlock Holmes. There, the main character constantly mumbles indistinctly - this is a feature of the character's speech. The problem is solved by changing the series.
Secondly, some accents are more difficult to perceive than others. Experiment with TV shows from different countries.
Thirdly, it is impossible to catch speech by ear if it consists almost entirely of words you do not know. First you need to build vocabulary, and then return to the series.
If your goal is to give up subtitles and get used to colloquial speech, you can revisit the already familiar films and series in the original. I usually recommend Forrest Gump, which is the perfect first film in English. The hero speaks clearly, the story is familiar to many.
The courses will help you learn to understand a foreign speech by ear and speak fluently English from Yandex. Workshop. Classes consist of exercises on an interactive platform and conversation practice - with professional teachers from all over the world. There will be no discussion of boring topics from the textbooks. Instead, there are fascinating conversations about real life stories, current events, favorite films and TV shows.
I want to try!
What books, applications, Internet resources do you think are the most effective in learning English?
What books, applications, Internet resources do you think are the most effective in learning English?
The most effective resource is the one you like. Benefits can be found on any platform as long as you practice regularly.
With books, the approach is the same: choose a story that interests you. Some people like adapted books with abbreviated text and exercises, others like to read the originals. If you are not completely sure of your knowledge of English, try the tales of Alexander Milne or Roald Dahl - they read well from the A2 + level.
You can develop English progressively by reading the Harry Potter books. The first is written for elementary school children: there are simple sentences, no terms and intricate metaphors. But in the subsequent ones, the language is transformed and becomes closer to the adult audience.
What to do to get as close to or as a native speaker as possible?
What to do to get as close to or as a native speaker as possible?
First of all, you need to understand what is meant by the media level. Speak without restrictions on any topic, avoid mistakes and quickly formulate thoughts? This image is rather unrealistic. We are not perfect in our native language, and to demand this from ourselves in a foreign language is perfectionism. It is worth raising your level, but do not ask the impossible from yourself, so as not to get upset.
Here are some resources to help you get closer to native speakers, better understand the logic of the language, and generally grow in it.
- Howjsay. The service tells you how to pronounce words. Google Translate is not an assistant in this matter: it is a program, not a real person. Howjsay is written by linguists.
- Forvo. Also a site with pronunciation, but here the words are written simply by native speakers. You can hear people speak from different parts of the English-speaking world - Australia, USA, UK.
- Collocations. Oxford Dictionary of Set Expressions. In it, you can check the compatibility of verbs with prepositions, nouns with adjectives.
- English Corpus. Online corpus of phrases. Shows the use cases of words in different sources. Helps to cope with the urge to build phrases as in the native language.
How long does it take to improve your English from A2 to B2?
How long does it take to improve your English from A2 to B2?
This is a fairly large leap, which in an emergency mode can be made, in my opinion, in six months. For example, to prepare for an exam or a move. But you have to sweat and abandon other aspects of life. If you study without haste, combine study with work and hobbies, it will take about two years.
But there is no formula here. Many factors affect speed: a person's ability, desire, free time and environment. In the English-speaking environment, the development will go faster than in the Russian-speaking one.
Lack of time is no longer a reason to give up learning a language! Study English with Yandex. Workshop at any time of the day or night and sign up for a lesson at least 15 minutes before the start. If you are a beginner, short spiking classes of 15 minutes will help you to get into a conversation - you will have time to practice your speech and not get tired. For those who continue, there is a 25-minute spiking course - there you can fully discuss a big topic. A free consultation with a curator will help you to find out your level.
Sign up to the curator
How to bring a passive vocabulary into an active one and start using words in speech that you know, but they do not pop up in your head?
How to bring a passive vocabulary into an active one and start using words in speech that you know, but they do not pop up in your head?
You can do an exercise: write down the "problem" expressions in a column and every morning make a sentence with one of them. Personalized context helps you better understand and remember vocabulary. It is always more pleasant to talk about yourself and your environment than to take examples that you don't care about. In addition, we speak in phrases, and not in separate words, so it will be easier to embed them in speech this way.
How to train grammar so as to build sentences out loud according to all the rules?
How to train grammar so as to build sentences out loud according to all the rules?
The right word is to train! Grammar is like muscle memory, when you just perform an action without thinking how. You can train it with exercises: take several textbooks and in each of them work on the same topic in turn. Gradually, it will turn out to bring the choice of the correct grammatical rule to automatism. I recommend tutorials for training. Destination Grammar and Vocabulary Series and Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency.
How to learn to use verb tenses correctly? They seem to be the same, but there are only a dozen of the past tenses.
How to learn to use verb tenses correctly? They seem to be the same, but there are only a dozen of the past tenses.
There are only three times in English: future, present, past. And then - varieties that answer the question "how". It's like the types of a verb in Russian: there is a perfect and an imperfect action. In English, there are more such nuances, namely four:
- Simple - do it from start to finish or do it regularly;
- Progressive (Continuous) - do at the moment;
- Perfect - do before another action;
- Perfect Progressive - do before another action for some time.
You need to understand for yourself the differences between them. It doesn't take years or months - just devote a few lessons to working out the time difference.
How to start talking without thinking about grammar and not being afraid to make mistakes? Where can I find an interlocutor?
How to start talking without thinking about grammar and not being afraid to make mistakes? Where can I find an interlocutor?
You have to accept that it's okay to make mistakes. They can only be avoided by being silent all the time. Most of the flaws we make in English do not lead to miscommunication. The interlocutor most likely will not even notice them.
Therefore, it is important not to be afraid to say something wrong, but simply to speak using familiar words and phrases. Trying to jump over your head is also not worth it - for example, filling speech with complex constructions or words that you are not sure of. So you can only get confused.
How to practice pronunciation?
How to practice pronunciation?
I do these exercises with my students. The first is listenhow to pronounce words in Forvo and Howjsay apps. Second - dictate via speech to text. You need to take any text (book, article, your own essay) and read it out, and the program must reproduce everything as in the original. It may take several tries for the application to recognize the words, but when everything works out, you will be very pleased.
Is it too late to start learning English after 50?
Is it too late to start learning English after 50?
All frameworks and limitations are only in our heads. There are many inspiring examples of people who, after age 50, start running marathons, doing yoga, or learning English. Perhaps it will be more difficult than in his youth, but if a person wants and finds the time, everything will work out.
You need to find your own rhythm and understand the goal: are you planning to travel or want to watch TV series without waiting for the translation? The technique will be chosen for the purpose, not age. There are no special differences in language learning for thirty-year-olds and fifty-year-olds.
How to teach English to a teenager?
How to teach English to a teenager?
I would divide teenagers into two categories.
The first ones understand that they need English because they want, for example, to go to university. They already have extrinsic motivation. There is no problem here: you need to choose any suitable method and start learning.
The latter believe that they will live fine without English. They need to be motivated first. You can operate with the fact that English is international: celebrities, scientists, athletes speak it, most of the films, TV series, computer games are released. First, the original version appears, then the translation into Russian comes: you need to know English in order to get access to everything first.
Learning a language is more interesting if classes are not a repetition of a theory that is divorced from reality. In conversational classes English from Yandex. Workshop you can discuss trends, music, games and other interesting topics, learn how popular slang expressions are translated, and learn how to apply them in life. And the exercises on the interactive platform are based on useful life situations. You learn and at the same time remember how to find out the way or ask a restaurant for a vegan menu.
Learn more
Who should take international language exams? Will it help you find a job abroad or in a foreign company?
Who should take international language exams? Will it help you find a job abroad or in a foreign company?
It is worth taking such exams if the results are required at the university, at work, or if you want to test yourself. In other cases, you need to clearly understand whether it is worth it. IELTS and TOEFL results are valid for only two years, then they need to be redone. Taking the exams the second time is, of course, easier, because during the first test, anxiety can prevent you from getting a good result.
In theory, a language certificate can be an advantage when hiring, helping to stand out from other job seekers. It is likely that if knowledge of English is required in the profession, the employer will choose an employee with a confirmed level, and not the one who simply indicated in the B2 resume.