As a child she adored playing collectible card games. You know, games like "Yu-Gi-Oh!", "Magic: The Gathering" and "Pokémon". My friends and I dueled with monsters and powerful spells. We always started with a basic deck of cards, the starting point for any tool needed to play.
But as time went by, we acquired specialized cards and enlarged the collection. This "expansion" was accompanied by spells or particular characters that we could use and the objective was simple: to become invincible!
I think learning English has a lot to do with these collectible card games . You start with some limited but essential tools for the game and then add all the necessary resources to expand your learning. They also figure out which learning styles are best for you, and you adjust the tools along the way.
Taking into account all these factors, I have created a list of tools to learn English that will be of benefit to all students of the language and I have divided it into two parts.
The first part deals with the basic equipment : the tools that teach you the basics of English. The second part has to do with the expansion part : customizable resources to polish your skills. You can choose the ones you need to get on the journey of English fluency .
Here Are 13 Tools to Learn English and "Expand" It to Levels You Did Not Know!
The Basic Kit: Essential Tools for Every English Learner
There are many tips and techniques to learn a language effectively. Below are seven vital resources that every self- taught English learner needs .
A good dictionary: "Oxford English Dictionary"
We cannot learn a language properly until we know the basic vocabulary and essential phrases. So having a good dictionary (and consulting it to look up words that we do not know) will help you acquire vocabulary quickly.
You may be wondering which English dictionary you should buy, and in those cases it is always best to use the most reliable names, such as "Oxford."
The “Oxford English Dictionary” is a great resource because it contains over 600,000 words and is constantly updated. You can also have an app version dictionary on your phone for quick searches.
Make it a daily habit to open the dictionary to a random page and learn the meaning of the first word that catches your eye. In that way, within a year, you will have added 356 words to your vocabulary .
A Grammar Reference Resource: EnglishGrammar.org
Vocabulary is one of the branches of the language learning process. You also have to understand the rules by which that language is governed and how sentences are constructed.
The basics of English grammar are very important and you can start learning them from minute zero with a good grammar reference resource. EnglishGrammar.org is a useful resource that contains a lot of free and downloadable content including grammar exercises, quizzes, and lists of ground rules.
Grammar topics are neatly organized into categories, making searching and learning easy. In addition, it offers links to other online tools so you can check if the grammar of your works is correct, if you have committed plagiarism and count the number of words written.
Classes on YouTube
Yes, memorizing grammar rules is important to master a language. But you will only know that you are really proficient in English the moment you can have conversations. Therefore, learning to speak it well and listen to native speakers use it is extremely important since this way you will know the rounds of pronunciation, diction and accent.
Podcasts: EnglishClass101
Do you want an English class straight from your headphones? Podcasts are the perfect way to take English classes anywhere. One of the most popular and effective English learning podcasts is EnglishClass101. They offer more than 1500 classes in podcast and video versions. Classes are designed to be engaging and culturally relevant with fun presenters .
What's more, the classes are accompanied by detailed PDF notes to help you retain the information. Plus, they have vocabulary tools, including flashcards that make sure you go through the words before you forget them. You can even join an EnglishClas101 community forum alongside other English speakers and learners.
Apps to learn English: FluentU
When it comes to learning English, FluentU gives you “the best of both worlds”: immersion and language-focused study. What does this mean?
It's like this: FluentU makes videos in authentic English available like movie trailers , music videos, inspirational talks, and more. In other words, the type of video that native speakers watch. But you will never miss a word! FluentU has interactive captions, vocabulary lists, flashcards, and fun quizzes included in every video.
As you watch, you can click or hover on any word in the captions for instant definition and grammar information. In addition, FluentU will show you which other videos include the word and thus you will see and understand how to use it in various contexts. Once you're done watching, FluentU makes sure you remember the words from the video with exercises that are challenging and fun at the same time.
It is a simple and entertaining way to learn the English that native speakers use. You will also explore all the culture of the English-speaking world. This will make the process enjoyable, engaging, and memorable, and you'll build incredible confidence in your studio.
The videos are organized by genre and level so finding the one that works for you is easy. Best of all, you can practice anytime, anywhere with the FluentU app for iOS devices and Android devices. I had also share 8 Best Mobile Apps to learn english. You can also check them out.
Newsletters (bulletins) by email
You can subscribe to educational newsletters and learn English straight from your inbox ! Here are some good options for your "expansion pack." VOA Learning English is a great newsletter for English learners of all levels. If you are interested in learning American English while also learning about current events and interesting facts, VOA is the place for you.
They even have a special option called “VOA Learning English Highlights” that provides the latest news and featured content written at an English learner level.
Daily Grammar: do you have to improve your grammar? Get easy-to-understand grammar lessons straight to your inbox. What's more, you will also receive a weekly grammar test.
Remember we mentioned FluentU in the basic package? FluentU also has a weekly newsletter in English that provides study tips and resources. In addition, you will read steps to take to get the most out of the FluentU learning program. You just have to subscribe in the form to the right of the FluentU blog .
Quizzes and Worksheets
As an English learner, you have to understand the value of constant review. A good way to monitor your learning process is to take periodic tests and try to solve worksheets. The more you practice and keep reviewing what you have learned, the more confident you will be .
AllESL offers a series of English activity sheets . Each one focuses on a different topic so finding the ones you need will be easy, be it a difficult grammar topic or basic vocabulary topics. The worksheets are well organized by type so you can choose listening , vocabulary, etc., depending on your specific needs.
Now you really have everything you need to master the English language! These tools for learning English will help you put together your perfect base and expansion teams to become a fluent speaker and an effective and safe communicator at the pace that best suits you.
