The Best Books for Learning English for Adults

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12 November 2024

English-learners

Oleksandra Kulish

Book expert

Learning English today has become an important step necessary for career growth and self-development. Books and English textbooks for adults will help not only master grammar, but also develop skills:

reading and writing;
listening and speaking.

A wide range of various textbooks at a bargain price, designed specifically for adults, is offered by the Dinternal Education online store. The following will help you make the best choice of educational materials for independent study of English, taking into account your level of knowledge and the goals you set for yourself:

review of these textbooks;
detailed analysis of each of them;
comparison with other manuals;
our recommendations and advice.

For many, the price-quality ratio of a particular textbook or manual is also important.

Learning English on your own - where to start?

Before you start learning the language, it is important to correctly determine your level of knowledge and choose the best English learning books for adults that will meet your needs. One of the key factors is the balance between theoretical information (grammar) and practical tasks. Books with an emphasis on grammar rules are suitable for those who want to understand the structure of the language, while textbooks focused on vocabulary will be useful for developing vocabulary.

An important piece of advice from experts is to start with books that offer practical application of knowledge. These can be textbooks where after each rule there is a series of exercises that help consolidate the material. It is also important to practice listening and speaking regularly.

The best English textbooks for adults

There are a huge number of manuals on the market, including business English textbooks suitable for self-study. To make the choice easier, we suggest considering several popular options that, according to users not only in Ukraine but also around the world, are the most effective and are included in the TOP-3 ratings of English textbooks for adults:

«Speakout 3rd edition» by Pearson is one of the best textbooks for those who want to actively develop their speaking skills. The textbook is based on real situations and dialogues, which allows you to quickly adapt to communication in English.
«Roadmap» by Pearson Education Ltd is a modern course focused on an individual approach to learning and thereby ensuring rapid student progress. It includes many exercises to develop reading, writing and listening skills.
«English File» by Oxford University Press offers a balanced study of all aspects of the language from grammar to speaking practice. The textbook includes audio and video materials, which helps develop listening skills.

Each of these textbooks, according to experts and user reviews, has its own advantages and features, but is not without disadvantages. For example, the advantages of «English File» are the presence of a large number of exercises, audio recordings of native speakers. «Roadmap» - a large number of areas for personalizing the training program. "Speakout" — interactive exercises, audio and video materials, focus on speaking practice. The disadvantages of each of these manuals are:

"English File" — may seem difficult for beginners;
"Roadmap" — less emphasis on grammar and not the best choice when preparing for exams;
"Speakout" — little theoretical basis and grammar.

Experts also recommend paying attention to a number of other textbooks on English grammar, including the series "Roadmap", "English For Everyone", "Cutting Edge 3rd edition", "New Total English", "Language Leader 2nd Edition". Those who are preparing to work in international companies or want to develop professional skills for communicating in English in a business environment should take a closer look at the textbook "English for Everyone Business".

Top books for learning English. Grammar

To better understand the structure of the English language, you should pay attention to textbooks specifically focused on grammar. They will help you systematize your knowledge and use the rules more confidently. A classic among grammar textbooks is "English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy. For those who already have a basic command of English but want to deepen their knowledge, Martin Hewings' Advanced Grammar in Use is a great choice.

Michael Swan's Practical English Usage can be especially useful for solving specific issues. The MyGrammarLab, Grammar Time, and New Round Up series of textbooks can also be useful for studying grammar. The Grammar Practice series is a general concept that can apply to various teaching materials and resources aimed at practicing and consolidating grammar skills in English. It can include:

textbooks and workbooks;
online resources and applications;
tests and quizzes;
video and audio materials;
interactive tasks.

All these resources help to study the language in a comprehensive manner.

Top textbooks for learning English. Vocabulary

Vocabulary, along with grammar, plays a key role in ensuring communication between people. There are special textbooks for this purpose that help to expand vocabulary and effectively use new words in speech. The TOP textbooks for vocabulary development include the series "English Vocabulary in Use" by McCarthy & O'Dell and "4000 Essential English Words" by Paul Nation, as well as the book "Word Power Made Easy" by Norman Lewis.

The Best Books for Developing Reading Skills in English

To develop reading skills in English, you can use adapted books or choose classic works. In the catalog of the online store Dinternal Education you will find adapted works by such authors as Jonathan Swift, Jack London, Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson and many others. Here are some expert-recommended series of adapted books for different levels of language proficiency, offered in high quality:

«Penguin Readers»;
«Oxford Bookworms Library»;
«Graded Readers».

To summarize all the above information, it should be noted that the choice of textbooks and books for learning English depends on your goals and level of preparation.To successfully learn a language, it is important to combine different materials: grammar books, books for developing vocabulary and reading, as well as those that help improve speaking skills. In the Dinternal Education online store, you can:

read detailed descriptions of each book, presented in a binding that ensures its reliability and durability;

ask for recommendations from our experts, who will explain how to choose the right manual for you, help you find a decent self-study grammar or a collection of rules for the English language.