How to learn English faster: 6 universal tips

1. "Eat the elephant bit by bit"

The big goal of learning English can seem intimidating and overwhelming. Try to break it down into specific manageable tasks. Each of them should be feasible - not too easy and not too difficult. If you have recently studied English, then you are unlikely to immediately be able to master Jane Austen in the original.

But you can come up with other interesting tasks, for example:

• go through a chapter from the textbook every week;
• learn five new phrases a day;
• watch one episode of the series and write out 10 new words;
• write a 200-character text every week;
• do 10 exercises on a new grammar topic;
• read one article a day;
• visit a conversation club once a week.

If you have not yet read works in English, look for books adapted for your level of language. They retain the plot, but the vocabulary and grammar are simplified. Gradually, you can move on to regular books. For example, to "Harry Potter" by JK Rowling or "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Even if you are already familiar with the plot, it will be great to know how your favorite characters talk in the original.

2. Learn vocabulary that you will actively use

To make learning easier, focus on the words that are most common in English. The authors of the Longman Dictionary singled outLongman Communication 3000 3,000 most common words - knowing them, you can understand 86% of any text in English.

Oxford Dictionary too made upThe Oxford 3000 and the Oxford 5000 a list of 3,000 keywords you need to know at level A1-B2. For students who want to reach the advanced level, there is an advanced option Oxford 5000The Oxford 3000 and the Oxford 5000. It included 2,000 additional words.

To better remember vocabulary, use flash cards. On one side, write down the word or phrase you want to learn, and on the other side, a translation or a short explanation. Divide the cards into three groups:

• Words you don't know well.
• Words that you know satisfactorily.
• Words that you know well.

Cards from the first group should be repeated every day, from the second - twice a week. Well-known words are enough to look through once a week. You can move cards between groups. If you learned a word - put it in the third group, if you forgot it - in the second.

Words are usually easier to remember in context. Try to make sentences and stories with them. This will allow you to better understand the meaning and in what situations the word is used.

If you don’t feel like making paper cards, try programs that work on the same principle. For example, Quizlet, Anki or The Mnemosyne Project.

3. Translate all content around into English

Select English in the settings on your phone, in social networks and on any other sites that you regularly use.

Watch series and movies in English. Even if you don't understand all the words, you can unconsciously absorb the patterns that native speakers use and learn to listen to English. To build your vocabulary, set a goal to write down 10-15 new phrases each time you watch an episode. Then they can be entered on flash cards and learned.

Listen to foreign podcasts and read the media. App can be installed BBC Learning English: in it, the news is adapted for people with different levels of the language. And there are also short videos that will allow you to improve vocabulary in grammar.

4. Speak more English (yes, oral practice is essential!)

Find a place where you will practice speaking. These can be tutoring, English courses or conversation clubs. If you are learning a language on your own, use the "shadow repetition" method - listen to audio with a foreign speech and repeat it aloud. Try to copy intonations as accurately as possible.

If your level of English allows you to keep up a conversation, find a language partner. With it, you can practice speaking the language you are learning. You can do this online on special sites - Italki, HelloTalk, Tandem. It will be useful to communicate with native speakers: you can improve pronunciation and learn slang expressions.

5. Find what motivates you

Motivation can be internal and external. Internal helps you do something regardless of your environment. For example, if you are interested in the culture and traditions of Great Britain, then you don’t have to persuade yourself to open an English textbook.

Try to look for content that makes you curious. Look for bloggers who share your hobby, whether it's cars, makeup, or plant care. Write essays on topics that make you feel emotional. Even grammar can be pumped in a playful way - for example, on gramaro.io, Lingualeo or Duolingo.

Of course, internal motivation is not always enough. And then you can look outside. Agree with a friend that you will go to a conversation club together. In this case, it will be more difficult for you to miss the meeting at the last moment. Monetary motivation also works: if you pay for English courses or hire a tutor, you may be sorry to waste money. Try different options to find the one that suits you.

6. Set aside time to study English

In language classes, regularity is important. Set aside a specific time for learning English: for example, 2-3 times a week for 45 minutes. Put your class schedule on your calendar and don't schedule anything else for the same time.

When scheduling, consider what part of the day you are most productive. There's no point in scheduling class at 7:00 if you're nodding off. Clinical psychologist Michael Breus, in his book Always on Time, suggests considering biological rhythms. He believes that some people remember information better from 10:00 to 14:00, while others from 16:00 to 22:00. And at night it is better to sleep - from 4:00 to 7:00 new material is remembered the worst.