If you want to learn English, there are a few steps that you can take to help you achieve your goals. These steps include setting a goal, creating a study schedule and using the right tools.
Having a clear goal will keep you motivated and ensure that you are progressing towards your language goal. Having a set study schedule will also make it easier for you to stick with your plan and reach your goals.
1. Quizlet
Quizlet is a web and mobile application that boosts learning through a variety of study tools. These include flashcards, quizzes, and games. You can create your own study sets or search for pre-made sets.
It can be useful for both students and teachers in many ways. Students can use it for self-assessment and to prepare for upcoming tests. They can also use it for group learning, in which they can practice with others while discussing concepts and answering questions.
Another way teachers can use it is to create sets of vocabulary terms and definitions for their classes. They can use these as flash cards or to build word lists.
They can also add pictures and voice recordings to their sets, which could be really helpful in a language class. They can even use a tool like Quizlet Live to review their vocabulary.
Finally, teachers can use it to test their students on new concepts. They can make a set of terms or definitions, and then give their students the URL to the quiz and have them take it.
If they do this, it will be much easier for students to practice and review the material on their own. It will also save them time.
The best part is that it is completely free! It is one of the most popular study tools for students and teachers around the world.
The platform is a global learning platform that combines cognitive science and machine learning to guide people through adaptive study activities to confidently reach their learning goals. Every month, over 50 million students and teachers use Quizlet to study any subject they want for school, work or as a personal hobby.
2. YouTube
YouTube is an online video platform that offers a wide range of content, from TV shows and movies to news events and music videos. It is also a powerful teaching tool for English language learners.
One of the most popular websites in the world, YouTube was created by former PayPal employees Steven Chen and Chad Hurley. Their idea was to create a site that would allow users to share and view video clips. It quickly became a wildly popular resource for sharing videos.
It is an important learning resource for both students and teachers, as it can help them improve their vocabulary, idioms, phrasal verbs and grammar skills. Additionally, YouTube can be used to promote cultural exchange and increase students’ interest in the language.
Another great channel for learning English is Learn American English, which teaches real English slang and idioms through whiteboard lessons and cute animations. The videos are fun and easy to follow, and they’ll improve your pronunciation and listening skills along the way.
This fun channel was created by a self-proclaimed “English addict,” Mr. Duncan, who teaches English to the world for free three days a week from his home in England. The lessons are funny and entertaining, and he often speaks slowly and clearly, making it easy to understand what he says.
The videos are also very short, which is a huge advantage for learning! You can watch them at your own pace, and the lessons are also well-organized and categorized.
In fact, a study by Nasution (2019) found that YouTube videos are a useful instructional tool for foreign language teachers, as they provide them with a practical medium for introducing language points, finding topics for discussion, and providing authentic language examples. Furthermore, students are motivated to discuss the contents of the videos with their classmates and teachers.
3. Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to keep yourself engaged while learning English. They are easy to use and allow you to listen to something while doing something else, such as travelling, walking the dog or doing housework.
You can find a range of English language podcasts online, and some are even free to download. However, it’s important to choose a podcast that is suitable for you. Some podcasts are designed for students, and many of them have transcripts so you can read along if necessary.
Another benefit of podcasts is that they can be consumed on a mobile device or PC. This means that they are a perfect choice for students who have busy schedules and can’t attend class regularly.
A good idea is to start by listening to a podcast on a topic that you know a lot about in your own language. This will help you to gain a good understanding of the content and it will also help to improve your overall language skills.
Alternatively, you could choose to listen to a podcast about a subject that you are not familiar with, but which is a topic you have an interest in. This will also help you to broaden your general knowledge, which will make learning English that much easier.
One of the best ESL podcasts is BBC 6-Minute English, which covers a variety of topics in just six minutes. Each episode is short and easy to follow, so it can be an ideal option for students who don’t have a lot of time. It can also be useful for students who are struggling with a specific grammar point or phrase.
4. Spotify
Spotify is one of the world’s most popular music streaming services. It offers millions of songs and allows users to stream music from various record labels. This is a great way to discover new music, especially if you’re a music lover who likes to listen to different genres.
You can sign up for a free account on the Spotify website or via your mobile browser. You will need to provide your email address and a password. This lets Spotify identify you as a unique user.
If you want to get the most out of Spotify, you can subscribe to a Premium plan. This offers all the same features as the free version but with a few extra perks.
Another big advantage of Premium is the ability to connect your Spotify library to a wide range of audio devices. This includes your Apple or Windows desktop computer, iPad/iPhone, Android-powered smart phone, BlackBerry, Xbox, PlayStation and more.
The Connect feature makes it easy to play a song or playlist on your computer or iPhone/iPad when you’re at home, in the office or on a long train journey. It also allows you to add any new music that you find by chance.
Aside from Connect, Premium users can download up to 10,000 songs so that they can listen even if there’s no internet connection. This is a great feature for long trips or for when you want to cut down on your data usage.
Every year, Spotify compiles a curated list of the best tracks of the year. It’s a great way to share your listening habits with others and see which songs are popular in different countries.
5. Lingoda
Lingoda is an online language learning service with native-level teachers at all times of the day. This makes it great for people who struggle with finding time to study. You can book classes whenever you have free time, so if your work schedule suddenly means you have a spare afternoon on Sunday, you can easily fit a Lingoda class in!
The company offers a range of different courses and plans, including group lessons, 1-on-1 lessons, and marathons. They also offer a special promotion called the Sprint challenge, where you can get 50% cashback if you complete all of your classes within 3 months.
All of the Lingoda teachers are qualified and have at least two years of teaching experience. They can teach you everything from basic conversation skills to more advanced grammar and specialized vocabulary.
Each Lingoda class is based on a theme, with a specific focus on reading, writing, speaking, and grammar. It’s important to read the description before booking a class so you know what to expect from the lesson and can prepare accordingly.
The small-group classes are incredibly effective and a great way to practice speaking. Each class begins with everyone introducing themselves and saying what they want to learn. This is a great way to break the ice and make you feel more comfortable with the situation.
The teachers are friendly and professional and the lessons are well structured. They use a combination of teaching methods, including videos and interactive exercises. The lessons also allow for plenty of practice outside of the classroom, so you can continue to improve your skills even after the course is over.