Methods for quickly learning English. Methods of teaching English

In addition to the system of repetition and reinforcement with which we learn the language in most educational institutions, there are also interesting and unusual ways to learn English, compiled by teachers from all over the world.

Strictly speaking, as many people as there are so many ways to learn English language(and new ones appear every year), so even your own routine work can be considered a learning system. But that’s not what we’re talking about – we’re talking about popular systems that are used by thousands or even millions of people.

Picking one and sticking to it can be difficult. And if it also turns out to be ineffective, time will be wasted. Therefore, you should not approach the choice of which method is better lightly, just as in principle when learning English.

Here are the most effective methods and strategies for learning English that can be found online. But it is up to the student to decide which one is most suitable for an individual student.

Learning English using Dr. Pimsleur's method

This is a very popular method for learning English, which is based on regular repetition of already learned material at the same time as learning new ones.

The main feature of the training program using the Pimsleur method (sometimes mistakenly called the “Pilsner method”) is the presence of a constantly speaking speaker with whom the student can start a dialogue or simply scroll through.

Courses using this system still involve active contact with the speaker's pre-recorded remarks. In addition, each lesson lasts half an hour, and after one lesson it is recommended not to start a new one immediately.

Among the advantages of this teaching method:

• sequence of material;
• care that the student fully understands the material before moving on to the next topic;
• length of individual lessons;
• the ability to download a playlist, call it “English according to Dr. Pimsleur’s method” and listen to it while traveling by metro or bus.

But there are also disadvantages:

• the length of the entire Pimsleur course is on average 45 hours (90 lessons of 30 minutes each);
• at the recommended pace of listening to the course, it is very easy to forget the material between classes;
• How quickly a student can learn English depends not only on himself, but also on the speaker, which can seriously slow down the systemic learning process.

Training using the Ilona Davydova method

This system is based on learning by memorizing key learning points through influencing the subconscious levers of human psychology. The author is listed as psychologist Ilona Davydova.

This means that every step in the course is not accidental and has some reason behind it (on paper, of course). First of all, human memory is activated by emotional perception, topic and tempo.

It is difficult to say how effective this technique is. And it is difficult to understand whether it is suitable for a particular student without purchasing it. An English language course costs 5,900 rubles, which is its main drawback (you can find equally effective methods for free).

In addition, the method first appeared in the nineties, when it received tons of positive reviews. Now it’s difficult to see the real appearance of the product behind them. From all this it follows that it is far from being one of the best methods for learning English.

Oxford and Cambridge methods

These English teaching systems were developed by British professors (it’s easy to guess: both Cambridge and Oxford are located in Britain), and because of this, students’ trust ratings are much higher. In addition, these systems have existed for over 60 years and have proven themselves to people all over the world.

The differences between them are fundamentally minimal. In both cases, the teacher is a person who knows English perfectly, in most cases a native speaker. Teachers don’t just tell children the rules, they immerse them in an oral environment and encourage them to speak and write independently in English. Therefore, it is one of the best methods to learn English.

The only significant difference is that the Oxford system encourages speaking and hearing exclusively. Of course, the child will know how words are written.

But, first of all, he will learn to use them in conversation, logically structure sentences and independently construct verbal expressions. The Cambridge system does not ignore writing so much.

Reading according to Ilya Frank's method

This method of learning English is based on dividing the whole text into separate segments and interspersing between them the same fragments, but already translated.

Since many people decide to learn English, starting with reading books in this language (this is how you can learn the language at home and on the street), the method can already be regarded as good. Usually, to understand the plot, you have to look up from the book and look at a dictionary or translator, losing focus.

Books rewritten using this method allow you not only not to stop reading (which causes great relief), but also to see how a whole thought is translated, and not individual words in it. Thanks to this, many verbal expressions, idioms, as well as vocabulary in general are easily remembered.

The method is very useful in that it deprives the very common method of learning English on your own of most of its shortcomings.

However, even with Ilya Frank’s system there are disadvantages: for example, the lack of transcription, the ability to experience direct speech. But these deprivations can be compensated for by other methods.

ESL

It is more of a learning theory than a program or course. The abbreviation “ESL” stands for “English as a Second Language” and is used by many online courses and schools. This is a communicative principle of learning English, which is very similar to Cambridge and Oxford.

A beginning student undergoing training in this theory will receive not just dry theory, he himself will participate in communication in a foreign language and apply the rules in practice.

The difference between ESL and its more well-known counterparts is that, first of all, the student learns how English-speaking society works. Specifically, American, because most ESL courses teach the American version of English.

Intelligence methods

Under this phrase lies many different systems for quickly learning foreign languages, each of which somehow takes its roots in the programs that were once taught to intelligence officers and spies. The phenomenon is far from new; similar programs have been known since the 60s.

It is not possible to know for sure whether any intelligence agency used one of these learning methods, but now express courses for learning English using associative methods are called “special services methods” in the same way.

The training program varies, for example:

• individual words are built together into a sentence, henceforth associated with each other;
• foreign words are remembered in conjunction with native ones by sound or spelling;
• Entire sentences are memorized for the sake of a few words.

Many people believe that this is the best method available, but it is not. It is difficult to judge how effective this method is, since the average student already remembers most of his vocabulary thanks to associations.

And such an “accelerated” course also deprives the student of writing and spelling. Perhaps such methods are suitable for service agents, but they are unlikely to be suitable for the average person.

Matrix method

The matrix method is very easy: the student is offered phrases for a variety of life situations, he listens to them, pronounces them and writes them down. Complete discipline is required from the student, which is supported by the teacher.

With the matrix method, vocabulary, syntax, speech, and the entire language as a whole are hammered into a person. The method is difficult, it requires discipline, independent control of the process and a carefully arranged schedule. Therefore, the training program is drawn up in advance so that it can be planned before the start, and not during the lesson.

This is by no means the fastest method, but very effective.

Associative way of learning English and mnemonics method

The associative technique has already been mentioned in this article. Usually the student is asked to memorize foreign words by sound associations in our language. This is perhaps the simplest method presented.

For example, a student sees the word talk and learns that it is read as current. Add a little imagination to this, and from now on the verb to talk will always be associated with an electrician. However, this is where the problem lies: you need imagination and at least some memory so that the images do not get confused in your head. This is the main problem of the associative method of learning English.

Mnemonics is the same associative method, but there is a serious difference: cards with words are taken strictly in random order and follow each other, usually in the amount of 100.

Thus, words are passively remembered by the images with which they were shown on the cards, and these images are usually not something related to the verb, but simply a similar-sounding thing and phenomenon.

This is perhaps the most effective way, because in this case, not only memory plays to the benefit of the student, but also imagination, a sense of humor and our desire to better remember ridiculous things. Learning English using mnemonics is great for children.

Say method

Parents who care about their child’s ability to speak English from scratch even before school are mostly left disappointed. The child does not remember anything except the most basic words, because even in Russian he knows absolutely nothing about grammar. Because of this, it is difficult to create a good and modern English course for preschoolers.

The creators of the Say method are confident that the child needs to be talked into so that he learns English on his own at home even before he understands how it works.

The training is focused on the active use of English during any ordinary actions: games, cleaning, drawing. According to the authors of the method, an intense pastime will teach the child to use various words.

However, it is difficult to know exactly whether there are any advantages or disadvantages. Yes, the teachers came to the right idea: practice should dominate theory, but the very essence of the course is not at all clear.

Translation-free method of learning English

Such approaches to learning arose relatively recently among a fairly large community of people who learned the rules at school and, as a result, never spoke English. And they came to the conclusion that practice alone would be enough. An interesting conclusion, but far from the truth.

This unusual method is simply the second edge of a not particularly sharpened sword, because now the child at first will not understand what he is saying in principle.

Of course, if you first memorize speech patterns without any meaning (just as a constructor), and then read the meaning of these words, you may even end up with quite harmonious speech. In this case, the child has good pronunciation, but he does not know at all what he is doing.

As with everything, the best is the golden mean and it’s not worth experimenting on a child with a technique for which there are not many textbooks. If a parent is so bothered by a child’s lack of practice, he can sometimes speak to him in English.

Immersion method

The immersion method is a unique way to learn English, where a person with little more than zero knowledge is placed in an environment where everyone speaks the language (an English-speaking class, for example) and in the process understands who is saying what.

Of course, they usually take a whole class with the same level of English, and the teacher gives a lot of different information that can be understood subconsciously. Too many explanations are not given, but after a while a person still understands what’s what.

This training mode has several disadvantages:

• a student may well be exposed to stress in class if he does not keep up with everyone or, in principle, is not so predisposed to foreign languages;
• the method is not suitable for beginners or schoolchildren, because the average child will not understand even a word of the teacher’s dialogue;
• it takes a lot of time and coordination of the student, since it is quite difficult to learn English without explanations;
• The method is far from free; courses specially organized for this purpose cost a lot of money.

In schools in some multilingual countries (Canada, for example), this method is the standard method of learning English, and, as far as one can judge, it is quite effective.

Friends, many of you probably had a desire to start learn English for free without outside help or any paid educational courses.

And that's great! After all, studying foreign language expands human consciousness, opens up opportunities for travel and communication with people from other parts of the world. Believe me Having mastered another language, you will begin to think and perceive the world around you differently!

However, judging by the experience of most students, some people give up trying to learn English due to a lack of self-discipline and simple laziness! Indeed, the abundance of all kinds of rules and bad memories from the school curriculum discourage all desire to learn!

We decided to help everyone learn English on your own and prepared the 7 best ways to master it. These methods significantly save time and simplify understanding of grammar, and most importantly, they are free!

Using these methods and devoting at least 1 hour a day to studying, in a few months you will master the basic principles, expand your vocabulary and be able to speak freely on general/simple topics with native speakers.

1. Dmitry Petrov's method

Dmitry Petrov is a famous linguist, translator and public figure who speaks more than 15 languages. He developed a course of 16 video lessons that can be found on the Internet in the public domain (episodes of the “Polyglot” program on the Russia TV channel). You can watch video tutorials.

In addition to the course of video lessons, there is a free mobile app for learning English using the method of Dmitry Petrov.

The effectiveness of Dmitry Petrov's method: the material is presented in a very simple and understandable form, thanks to which the fear of tenses, verb forms, etc. is quickly dispelled. In a short time you will gain communication skills, plus you will practice basic language algorithms until they become automatic.

2. Duolingo.com platform

A free international language learning platform without premium packages, advertising or webinars, which was launched in 2011. The training system is built in the form of interesting lessons based on gamification, during which students help translate websites, articles, etc.

The basis of training is Dualingo skill tree, through which users advance by completing tasks and earning experience points. The platform has many functions, such as completing tasks against time, etc. In addition to the web project, Duolingo has a mobile application. On Dualingo you can learn not only English, but also German and French, and soon Spanish and Swedish will also be available.

Duolingo efficiency: According to research, 34 hours of Duolingo training provides the same amount of reading and writing skills as a semester of study (130 hours) in higher education. Currently, many teachers in schools use the Dualingo program. The project provides excellent skills for speech recognition and translations.

3. Movie mania with subtitles

The method is based on watching your favorite films and TV series with double subtitles, but in English dubbing. It turns out that you simultaneously hear English speech and see the writing and translation.

The main nuance is the right choice of TV series and films. Beginners need to watch films that have simple dialogues and do not use specific words. Many people call the famous TV series “Friends” ideal for watching with double subtitles.

Efficiency of the method: quickly remember new words and phrases, master pronunciation. However, to feel the effect, you need to watch quite a lot of episodes or films.

4. Ilya Frank method

This method involves learning a language by reading books in English without a dictionary. You read and remember due to the repetition of words in the text of books.

In addition, for interesting reading, it offers explanations with translations of each sentence. Just download Ilya Frank’s books and read them at any time convenient for you. You can see what the text in the book looks like in the picture below.

The effectiveness of Ilya Frank's method: Frank's learning is ideal for memorizing words. You read a book and as you learn, you begin to skip the explanatory inserts. According to reviews it is said that if you read 1-2 hours a day, then in a year you will be able to read English books in the original without any problems.

5. Alexander Dragunkin method

Alexander Dragunkin developed his own method of teaching English, in which he abandoned the traditional classical study of the rules of reading words, replacing it with Russified transcription.

In his method he also developed 53 “golden” grammar formulas, which differ from the classic ones. Dragunkin offers his vision of language learning and an understanding of grammar that will be simple and understandable for beginners.

To get started, we recommend watching the 3-hour video tutorial, under which you will find a link to many teaching materials and Dragunkin tables that help with learning.

The effectiveness of the Dragunkin Method: the main advantage of Dragunkin’s method is that the material is presented in a very accessible form for “dummies.” All the material (tables, rules) by Dragunkin is systematized, making it easy to remember.

6. Dr. Pimsleur Method

Dr. Pimsleur's method is based on listening, when the student listens to dialogues, constructs phrases and reproduces them from memory. Course of Study consists of 3 parts, each of which contains 30 lessons(audio material + text).

The important point is that learning using the Pimsleur method requires great concentration. In particular, it is impossible, for example, to combine training with being in public places, because Often, as part of training, it is necessary to repeat after the speaker.

The effectiveness of Dr. Pimsleur's method: training using this method is perfect for those who have poor pronunciation. The course using Dr. Pimsleur's method perfectly develops memory and promotes good recognition of English speech (especially dialects).

7. YouTube training

In addition to the above methods, we will leave for you several excellent YouTube channels for learning English. Each of them has its own training program that will help you master English.

Puzzle English- an excellent channel with a wide variety of grammar lessons, language learning tips, lessons on correct pronunciation, etc.

English like clockwork is an entertaining channel where language learning is carried out through jokes, games, music, films, etc.

OXANA DOLINKA— a channel of the user of the same name, on which a girl teaches English and emphasizes the living modern language, as well as the nuances of spoken English when traveling.

English at Steve Jobs School- a channel where short lessons touch on certain topics of the English language, as well as dialogues in films, talk about metaphors in English, etc.

Albert Kakhnovskiy- a channel where English is taught by the famous Raymond Murphy.

Efficiency of the method: Learning English on YouTube channels is easy and fun. Studying does not oblige you to anything and you can devote as much time to studying as you wish.

Learn English on your own not easy! Most people note that it is often difficult to overcome their laziness, remember this! Do not succumb to the provocations of your consciousness to abandon your studies!

No foreign language can do without cramming, but if you are unable to cram and it seems that your talent is not at all connected with English, I advise you to read this article thoroughly. Perhaps she will change her attitude towards the difficulty (ease) of the language and the time it takes to properly take air into your lungs and confidently speak English.

Foreign speech is a tool on the path to success. However, speech cannot be mastered while sitting at a computer, staring at “25th frame” (this method does not work). You will need a considerable desire to prove to yourself and your friends that you can do what you could not do at school. Believe me, it is better to say at least something than to remain silent in the middle of the desert at the sight of a passing caravan. If you still do not lose hope of learning English, the teaching methods proposed in the article will benefit each of you. So, let's begin?

In order to understand what kind of beast the English language is, it needs to be skillfully tamed, and this can be done using English learning methods, of which there are so many. But first things first.

To begin with, let's focus on a fairly simple course, which is patented and has been tested more than once among foreign language learners, namely English using the Pimsleur method. Look for the official version in stores, and the unofficial version on torrents or YouTube. Dr. Paul Pimsleur was and remains the brightest example of a linguist-psychologist in the field of language learning, who, after numerous works, came to the conclusion that language learning is based on the characteristics of the learner, namely:

Language learning abilities;
hearing;
motivation.

What are the classes?
This is, first of all, an audio course that you need to listen to, repeat and answer the speaker’s questions. Each individual course consists of 30 lessons lasting 30 minutes. Please note that you can work an unlimited number of classes per day, but the author of the course strongly recommends achieving 100% results from each lesson. After completing the initial course, you will have a vocabulary of 500 words, confidently use speech structures and feel your progress on the path to success.

If you are suddenly looking for an audio course from domestic authors, then look away Ilona Davydova.

Crushing Callan, or quickly, efficiently and effectively

Despite all the ways to learn English, you can only master it by knowing what to do and how to do it. That is why in second place on our hit parade is the fascinating Callan method, the author of which became famous for quickly teaching students a foreign language. The basis of this technique is numerous repetitions, as a result of which speaking skills are formed. The speed of the lesson does not allow a person to be distracted and even think in his native language.

Such classes are quite effective if you study with a teacher who knows the Callan technique from the inside. The advantages of this method of learning a language include small groups, the speed of speech of the teacher, constant repetition of material, a minimum of grammar, and the absence of homework. You can overcome 12 levels from beginner to upper-intermediate in 160 academic hours, i.e. If you take into account classes for 2 hours 3 times a week, it turns out that you will need only 5 months to not only tweet tirelessly, but also pass the international exam. How do you like this prospect?

Dmitry Petrov and English in 16 hours

In third place sits majestically the method of Dmitry Petrov, thanks to which you can learn English through hard work. Don't think that this is impossible. The author himself talks about understanding the structure of a language thanks to which language evokes, because, as you know, there is no better motivation than to learn a language through culture and love for the country. Remember the emotions that your loved ones evoked in you. Isn’t this the main motive for learning a language, when you are eager to find out what, why and how is happening somewhere without your participation?

A few words about the author: Dmitry Petrov is a psycholinguist, teacher of simultaneous interpretation, translator from more than 30 languages. The author claims that it may take 1 week to understand the structure of the language and memorize the basic structures, then everything depends on you. The pros and cons at the same time include the speed of language acquisition. If you urgently need English, this is the real chance to speak it; if you are not ready for such a high-speed approach, you should choose other English lessons, the methods of which are presented in the article. However, I strongly recommend paying attention to this much-advertised method of learning a language, which is based on verbs.

Ilya Frank and the reading method

At the fourth stage is the well-known Frank method, thanks to which the English language is studied by reading the original text, into which a translation and small comments are inserted. After reading such a text, you will be offered the original passage without any hints. In stores you can find many inexpensive books in a convenient format for reading on the go and at home.

Alexander Dragunkin, or a simplified language learning system

Fifth place is rightfully occupied by the most ambiguous and controversial method of Alexander Dragunkin. As part of this method, the author proposes to discard the traditional one, noticing it is Russian-language, to minimize tenses and overcome it. The form of the classes resembles a monologue by the author, as a result of which you can choose something you need for yourself. The advantages include the relative clarity of the material being explained, but do not forget that practice in learning a language should always come first. It is also worth pointing out the disadvantages. For example, mastering grammar in three hours. On the one hand it is compressed, on the other hand it is long. Learning the basics of grammar can take much less time if you approach it correctly. You can download Dragunkin's books for free.

Schechter, or English without rules

Much has already been said about methods of learning a foreign language, but you shouldn’t stop there; perhaps your unique way of learning a language is still ahead. The Schechter method involves creating conditions under which a person can easily speak English. Let us immediately determine that there will actually be no grammar, and speech should arise in the process of emotional coloring of classes, while each student uses only the vocabulary that is in his everyday life. The duration of each cycle is 100 hours, between which a break is required. Initially, this method was designed for politicians, astronauts and famous people who needed to express their thoughts when meeting foreigners.

Self-paced English with Rosetta Stone

All methods of learning English are actively used by teachers around the world, but only a few become widely known. This method is based on translationless knowledge of the language, which excludes rules and translation into Russian, however, memorization of vocabulary occurs as part of a sentence, understanding of the word comes along with a picture that displays the content, preference is given to numerous repetitions.

This technique is perfect for those who want to learn English on their own without leaving their own apartment. See what and how you can. Each level consists of 4 parts, and each part of 4 lessons. If you study the lesson in detail, it will take you at least 2 hours to master the material, i.e. The technique assumes that you have free time to slowly learn the language. The material is divided into topics, each of which contains standard phrases for memorization. The disadvantages of this method include the price, as well as a small number of tasks that are aimed at independently formulating phrases.

Immersion method "Sugesto pedia"

Basic methods of learning English allow you to choose among their diversity the best and most suitable way to master a foreign language in a short time. But this method is based on a complete change in a person, his name, habits and even behavior. Coming to class, all students need to come up with nicknames and areas of activity. Although this approach originated in the 70s of the last century, it is widely used by many schools and is now combined with other methods. Moving away from your natural “I” helps to overcome barriers and complexes that are so difficult to get rid of as part of a regular activity. Therefore, if you don’t know how to change your life, you can safely go to English courses that adhere to this method, and you will certainly feel like a different person.

Gromyko's sports technique

A review of methods for learning foreign languages ​​requires complete mastery of information that will help you choose the ideal option. But, as you know, there are different options. A rather ambiguous approach to language guarantees, in the author’s opinion, an excellent result. This type of learning treats English as a sport, where students train in pairs following a clear script. While repeating phrases in the target language, it is necessary to perform a number of exercises that stimulate the human brain to remember the muscle load and at the same time words and expressions. The advantages of this method include exciting activities that definitely cannot be found in any other method. The only downside is that not everyone will like physical activity, and it’s also impossible to do it on your own.

Nikolai Zamyatkin's matrix method

This method of learning English is quite categorical, because... All students need to listen to audio lessons and read the text of the same audio lessons. This must be done many times until the material is fully absorbed. According to the author, after such work the material will be literally “embedded” in memory and recorded in the deepest layers. This is understandable, because repeated, and even loud, repetitions of the same text will ultimately be remembered. But is there enough strength and desire to learn a foreign language this way?

Simplicity and honesty of Vitaly Levental's method

This approach is aimed at emigrants in the USA, because the course is rich in numerous “live” information, which is not noted in other methods. However, the connection with the Russian language is not interrupted in the process of learning English. The main advantage of the course remains the development and maintenance of linguistic thinking through articles and listening to lectures. The feeling of a foreign language is developed in the process of searching for original, genuine emotions, which arise in the process of reading. The basis of this method is daily painstaking work, thanks to which you can learn a foreign language. You will need to go through studying the material, finding the correct answer and checking the result obtained. The method is also called “speech induction”. You can meet the author on the page at

Every seven-year-old American child knows English. He didn't put any extra effort into it. His intelligence is no higher than yours. This is a fact that proves that anyone can speak English. But in order to move towards the goal along the shortest path, you need to choose the right methods. This article is about super techniques that will help you learn English in the shortest possible time.

The first thing you encounter when you start learning a foreign language is unfamiliar words. A huge number of foreign words that need to be remembered. The most common method of memorization is cramming, which is also the most tedious and ineffective. There are a couple of techniques for quickly memorizing words. Let's start with them.

Memorizing words. Mnemonics.

Popular wisdom says: “It is better to see once than to hear a hundred times.” A person quickly and effortlessly remembers vivid pictures. Mnemonics teaches us to use this feature of our memory to remember various information: historical dates, numbers, shopping lists, etc. Mnemonics methods are excellent for memorizing foreign words. They are many times more effective than cramming, because cramming ignores the principles by which human memory works, and mnemonics, on the contrary, uses these principles to ensure the most effective memorization of words.

How does mnemonics work? Young children remember the order of the colors of the rainbow using the mnemonic phrase:

"Every hunter wants to know where the pheasant is sitting."

the phrase is easy to remember, especially if you imagine what it will look like - a hunter with a gun at an advantage looks at a bright iridescent pheasant sitting on a branch.

In one of the novels by Sergei Lukyanenko main character uses a killer mnemonic phrase as the password to a top-secret computer system:

"Forty-nine monkeys stuck a banana in their ass."

It is impossible to forget such a password. Especially if you imagine a picture of how it happened, it will be remembered the first time for the rest of your life.

We are interested in memorizing English words. Here is an example of how this is done using mnemonics. Word

eagle [eagle] - eagle

remember using a phrase "EAGLE Claws are 10 Hellish NEEDLES". Imagine an eagle - what a huge powerful bird it is, imagine its feathers, imagine that it is above you and that its claws are piercing your shoulder, but instead of claws the eagle has 10 needles from a syringe, and there is a red cross on its side, imagine the pain you are experiencing. Introduced? Now you remember this word for a long time, you can check it.

Memorizing words. Card method.

The card method is very simple. You will need to buy small sheets of paper at a stationery store, approximately 5 by 5 centimeters in size. Let's say you have prepared 20 words that you need to remember. You do the following:

1. Write the word and transcription on one side of the piece of paper, and the translation on the other. One word - one leaf. In total you will get a stack of 20 cards.
2. You memorize all 20 words using mnemonics.
3. A week after memorizing, the words need to be repeated. Take a stack and for each card do the following:
   1. look at the word written on the card, try to remember the translation.
   2. Turn the card over and check that it has been translated correctly.
   3. If you forgot a word, put the card aside.
4. Similarly, check the translation of a word from Russian into English.
5. After a while, you will have a whole stack of cards that you have put aside. You need to work with them more carefully, repeat them until you remember them.

Besides the effectiveness of this method, I like that you can carry a stack of flashcards with you at all times and repeat the words anywhere. There is always something to do while in line or on the way to work. A minimum of free time is spent - only on preparing cards.

You may ask: “Why is the flashcard method more effective than traditional cramming?” There is a strict scientific explanation for this.

The fact is that a person has two types of memory: short-term and long-term. The characteristic of short-term memory is fast and easy memorization and equally quick forgetting. With long-term memory, the opposite is true - both remembering and forgetting take a long time.

If we repeatedly retrieve information from short-term memory, then this information gradually begins to move into long-term memory. Cramming is based on this principle. Mnemonics immediately transfers information into long-term memory, which is more effective.

If we repeatedly retrieve information from long-term memory, then that information becomes less susceptible to forgetting. The card method is based on this principle. Cramming, on the other hand, does not use long-term memory, so it is ineffective for repeating information.

So, the flashcard method will allow you not to forget the words you have already learned and at the same time spend very little time on repetition. Read detailed description method .

Grammar. Milashevich method.

Grammar. Dragunkin method.

Unlike Milashevich's method, which is applicable only to reading English texts, Dragunkin's method is comprehensive; it allows you to understand English grammar in all its diversity. At the same time, the form of material delivery differs sharply from traditional methods. The author of the method abandoned outdated, often simply artificial “rules”, and gave his own description of English grammar - simple, logical and understandable.

Dragunkin uses his own terminology - functional, clear, absolutely transparent and understandable. It uses many original parallels with Russian grammar and its own transcription, with the help of which any beginner can easily read and learn English words! In addition, the author of the method systematized exception words and solved the “problem” of articles and “irregular” verbs. And what is especially important is that the most difficult “times” are mastered using Dragunkin’s method in a couple of days.

If your goal is to master English grammar in full in order to write and speak rich English, then Dragunkin’s method will allow you to achieve results in the shortest possible time and without extra effort. Read a detailed description of the technique .

Ilya Frank's method.

The most expensive English language courses are conducted in English-speaking countries - the USA, Great Britain, Australia. People pay thousands of dollars to be immersed in a language environment because words and grammar are memorized automatically, without effort. There is another, accessible way to immerse yourself in the language environment - read books in English. The method is good, if not for the tiring need to constantly refer to the dictionary.

In addition to traditional methods of learning English, there are many proprietary methods. They are interesting because they often offer non-standard, unexpected and at the same time effective approaches. Some methods help you learn a language faster, others are excellent, and others make classes more fun. We have selected 8 proprietary methods that will help in learning English.

1. Rosetta Stone Method

Principles of the technique

• Gradual immersion into the language environment
• Gradual complication
• Without using native language
• “Childish”, intuitive perception of the English language
• The principle of induction: the student independently draws conclusions about general rules based on particular cases
• Scientifically based frequency of repetition of material

Description of the technique

Rosetta Stone is a computer program for learning foreign languages. Just as the Rosetta Stone helped linguists decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs, the program helps you “decipher” the English language yourself.

This technique relies on intuitive perception of language, as small children do when learning their native language. You don't have to translate with a dictionary, memorize the rules and understand the theory of grammar. Learning occurs at an unconscious level: you immerse yourself in the environment and involuntarily remember the structures of the language.

The program simulates situations from Everyday life. You study what surrounds you, what you often deal with, what interests you.

The program is interactive: it tests and evaluates knowledge. In the settings, you can select the type of ratings and sound notifications about correct and incorrect answers.

More details

You can buy “Rosetta Stone” on the program’s official website.

Advantages of the technique

• Interesting to go through
• Suitable for children
• Trains pronunciation
• There are options for British and American English

Disadvantages of the technique

• Suitable only for beginners - no serious knowledge of grammar or complex vocabulary
• Quite expensive: a year of study with discounts costs about 12 thousand rubles.

Conclusion

A good option for additional practice at the initial stages of language learning.

1. Ilya Frank's method

Principles of the technique

• Learning a language with books

Description of the technique

The Ilya Frank method is primarily a method of reading books in a foreign language. Learning occurs mainly only through reading, speaking and writing are not trained, and little attention is paid to listening - only some books are accompanied by audio recordings.

Books using the Ilya Frank method are adapted in a special way: the text is divided into semantic passages, which are accompanied by a literal translation and sometimes lexical or grammatical comments. Then the paragraphs are repeated without prompts so that the reader can consolidate the acquired knowledge.

This technique helps to read books in a foreign language with interest, without being distracted by searching for the meanings of words, complex expressions and idioms and without wasting time on translation into Russian. At the same time, grammatical nuances are remembered in context.

More details

Books on the Ilya Frank method can be found in electronic form on the official website of the methodology.

Paper books, adapted for reading in a foreign language using the method of Ilya Frank, are sold in bookstores. For example, there are several dozen books in English on the Labyrinth.

Advantages of the technique

• Unobtrusive learning without cramming
• Good reading workout
• Quick and easy memorization of words and speech patterns due to constant repetition

Disadvantages of the technique

• No speaking, writing and little listening training
• Book language is studied, not modern spoken language

Conclusion

The method is suitable for those who already know at least the basics of the English language, love to read, and want to improve their English reading skills and expand their vocabulary.

1. Pimsleur method

Principles of the technique

• Speaking training
• Learning through listening
• Active student participation in learning
• Interval repetition of material
• Building a vocabulary core

Description of the technique

The Pimsleur system of teaching foreign languages ​​is based on a memory training technique, which helps to master the language at a level sufficient for simple communication in the shortest possible time.

The Pimsleur method consists of three audio courses, each consisting of 30 lessons lasting 30 minutes. According to the author of the methodology, half an hour is the optimal period of time for intensive and effective training.

The lessons are voiced by two speakers: a Russian speaker who explains the tasks, and a native speaker with excellent pronunciation who pronounces all phrases in English.

Audio lessons require concentration. You need to not just listen and repeat after the speaker, but actively think - build new phrases based on the provided speech structures and new information. This method is as close as possible to natural communication in a language environment. But you need to practice only in a calm environment, preferably at home.

More details

Advantages of the technique

• You can study for free
• Teaches you to speak and think immediately in English, without relying on your native language

Disadvantages of the technique

• It takes a lot of work and a lot of time

Conclusion

This option is suitable for disciplined and purposeful people.

1. Berlitz method

Principles of the technique

• At the initial stage - only learning to speak
• Complete rejection of the native language in the learning process, refusal to translate
• Grammar and vocabulary are learned naturally during conversations in a foreign language
• A native speaker teacher is required

Description of the technique

The Berlitz method is one of the oldest methods of teaching foreign languages. American professor Maximilian Berlitz formulated the basic principles of his method back in the 1880s. He noticed that natural learning of a language with the help of a native speaker, without using the native language and memorizing words and vocabulary, gives excellent results.

Over time, the Berlitz method became more and more popular, and Berlitz schools began to appear in the United States. In 1900 there were about 70 Berlitz schools in the world. Today there are about 550 such schools in 70 countries. You don't have to attend school to learn English using the Berlitz method. A private teacher can also introduce the principles of the methodology into their classes.

According to the Berlitz method, students must begin learning with oral speech. From the very beginning, only a foreign language is used in classes. The teacher initiates interesting conversations, encouraging students to interact. Students must take an active part in classes, since only in the process of communication can they develop speaking skills.

The Berlitz method helps students fully immerse themselves in the language environment. This method mimics the conditions under which young children learn a first language.

More details

Advantages of the technique

• High efficiency in teaching speaking
• Interesting and easy activities

Disadvantages of the technique

• The teacher must be a native speaker, which is not suitable for everyone
• Not suitable for independent language learning

Conclusion

1. Petrov's method

Principles of the technique

• High speed of learning – 16 hours for basic knowledge
• Focuses on speaking, but trains other aspects of the language at the same time
• The most comfortable atmosphere to get rid of the language barrier
• Individual approach to choosing topics in classes

Description of the technique

Russian psycholinguist Dmitry Petrov is the creator of the popular and effective Polyglot technique. He hosts a show of the same name on the Culture channel, which presents lessons in different languages ​​for beginners.

Dmitry Petrov's method is designed for 16 hours of intensive training. From the first day of classes, the teacher requires students to start speaking, using the proposed constructions and vocabulary.

Dmitry Petrov offers wonderful material for learning at the elementary level: useful words, well-chosen structures, simple and understandable explanations. This basic material can be compared to Gunnemark's Minilex and Miniphrases, but its difference is that it includes exercises, grammar rules, other useful information. In addition, the material can be changed to suit the individual characteristics of a person.

You can learn English using Dmitry Petrov’s method either at special courses and trainings, or independently with the help of “Polyglot” programs and Dmitry Petrov’s textbooks.

More details

Advantages of the technique

• Well-honed material
• Quick first results
• Eliminates the language barrier

Disadvantages of the technique

• Suitable for beginners only
• Small vocabulary, not enough grammatical information

Conclusion

Petrov's method is a good start for beginners who are not suitable for classes without using their native speech.

1. Schechter method

Principles of the technique

• Learning through etudes - role-playing games
• Intuitive language learning

Description of the technique

The method of teaching English by Russian teacher Igor Shekhter is reminiscent of many other modern methods based on the intuitive perception of a foreign language, but it also has important differences.

The main feature of the method is that classes are conducted using so-called etudes. These are role-playing games that students perform among themselves. The purpose of role-playing games is not to learn a language, but to use it to solve various problems: for example, take a taxi, buy a ticket, order a dish in a restaurant, make a purchase in a store.

Etudes are carried out only between students with approximately the same level, and the teacher corrects errors only if they affect the meaning. This minimizes the language barrier; most participants do not have one.

You can study according to Schechter’s method in special courses or on your own, but for the second option you need to find at least one partner to perform sketches.

Schechter advises getting rid of rules, homework, tests and exams - this only creates an additional barrier for the language learner.

More details

Advantages of the technique

• Creative and interesting activities
• Getting rid of the language barrier
• Train your speaking skills quickly

Disadvantages of the technique

• Must study in a group or with at least one other student

Conclusion

The Schechter Method is one of the most fun and enjoyable ways to learn English. Suitable for almost any level.

It is not necessary to choose one technique for yourself and follow only it. This option is only suitable for those for whom a particular method is ideal. But this rarely happens: each technique has limitations and disadvantages. We advise you to choose from different methods the principles and recommendations that seem close and useful to you.