The best modern English language textbooks

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12 November 2024

English-learners

Oleksandra Kulish

Book expert

English has long been a global medium of communication. There are many textbooks and manuals for different age groups, from English for primary school children to English textbooks for adults. There are also manuals that are geared towards different levels of proficiency and learning objectives. Choosing the best English language learning aid becomes a key factor in successful language acquisition, so you need to know:

which textbooks are best for learning a language;
what to look for when choosing them.

It is also important to familiarise yourself with the rating of the most effective English textbooks, to know where to buy them. A popular shop of literature in English is Dinternal Education, which is the official representative of Pearson Education Ltd publishing house in Ukraine. Here you can buy English language textbooks and manuals for all levels of proficiency and age groups.

What does a really great English textbook look like?

An excellent English textbook can be considered to have a number of key features. These include:

Adaptation to the level of the student;
covering all components of language - grammar, vocabulary, phonetics;
practical orientation;
relevance and modernity of the material;
clarity and accessibility of explanations;
Cultural sensitivity.

The textbook should be clearly geared towards a particular level of language proficiency, be it beginner, intermediate or advanced. This ensures that the material is accessible and understandable to the learner.

The comprehensive approach means that a high quality textbook covers all aspects of the language:

Analysing English grammar;
vocabulary;
speaking;
listening;
reading and writing.

This is important for the full development of language skills and their practical application.

The practical orientation of the textbook is evidenced by the presence of a large number of tasks and exercises that help to consolidate theoretical knowledge.

A good textbook uses contemporary topics, examples and situations that reflect real-life contexts. This helps students understand and memorise the material better and makes learning more interesting.

Today's best English textbooks often include access to online resources, audio and video materials, and interactive assignments. This makes learning motivating and more dynamic.

An important quality of a textbook is that even complex lexical or grammatical concepts are explained simply and clearly. The textbook should use clear, structured explanations and avoid text overload.

A good textbook should motivate and inspire the student to continue learning. This can be achieved through interesting assignments, varied formats.

If the textbook is intended for an international audience, it should be sensitive to cultural differences and provide material that will help students understand and respect the cultural characteristics of English-speaking countries.

English textbook ranking

Quality English language textbooks on the market today play a key role in learning by providing a wide range of resources to develop language skills. Below you will find a detailed overview of the best modern English language textbooks that have earned high marks from students and teachers alike, as well as our advice and tips on how to choose textbooks depending on your language level and learning objectives.

Best textbooks for learning English grammar

Learning English grammar is a key aspect of language acquisition that helps to improve both written and spoken language. According to the ranking based on expert reviews and user opinions, the top English grammar study books for learning English grammar include:

"English Grammar in Use (Raymond Murphy). This English grammar book, designed for Intermediate level and above, is suitable for both teacher-led and independent study. Simple and easy-to-understand explanations, combined with a variety of exercises, will help you consolidate your learning.
"Understanding and Using English Grammar (Betty Schrampfer Azar). This textbook is an ideal choice for students at Pre-Intermediate level and above. It covers all the main aspects of English grammar and provides clear explanations and practice exercises. The textbook can be purchased complete with audio materials, making learning more effective.
"Advanced Grammar in Use" (Martin Hewings) is worth purchasing for those who want to deepen their English language skills to the Advanced level. This textbook focuses on complex grammatical structures and offers plenty of exercises for practice.
"Grammar and Vocabulary for First Certificate" (Clare West) is perfect for preparing for the FCE (First Cambridge Certificate) exam. The textbook combines the grammar and vocabulary needed to pass the exam.
"Practical English Usage" (Michael Swan) is an excellent solution for those who are looking for a grammar and vocabulary reference book. This edition is characterised by reliable information and will be an indispensable assistant for students and teachers alike.

Select textbooks can be found on our website.

Best English textbooks for beginners

For those who are just starting to learn English, it is important that the textbook you choose can help lay the foundations of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. Here's a list of the best English textbooks to help you confidently learn English from scratch:

"English File" from Oxford University Press, characterised by its user-friendly format and structured approach. The textbook combines grammar exercises, listening, reading and oral practice. The advantage of "English File" is the step-by-step explanation of grammar, as well as the presence of: interactive exercises, audio materials to improve pronunciation. The thematic lessons that make up this textbook are oriented towards everyday situations.
"Headway" by Liz and John Soars covers all the main aspects of the language, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and communication skills. The textbook has several levels of difficulty, starting with Elementary. It features progressively more difficult material and topics relevant to everyday communication.
"English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy is the perfect self-study grammar book. It is suitable for beginners and makes it easy to learn the basics of English grammar. Each rule is accompanied by examples and exercises. English Grammar in Use has answers to self-testing exercises.
"Speakout" from Pearson is a communicative textbook focused on developing speaking skills. It includes listening, reading and writing exercises and interactive exercises to develop speaking skills. It is accompanied by video and audio materials with real native speakers.
"New English File" from Oxford University Press is an updated version of a popular textbook that is suitable for both individual and group study. It provides a wide range of materials for learning all aspects of the language and focuses on the practical application of what you have learnt.

These textbooks are a great choice for anyone new to English.

Top English language textbooks for adults

The top 3 English textbooks for adults include:

"Pearson's Cutting Edge;
"Speakout" by BBC and Pearson;
"Outcomes" from National Geographic Learning.

"Cutting Edge" by Pearson is one of the best textbooks for adults, offering up-to-date content and a variety of assignments to develop all language skills.

"Speakout" from the BBC and Pearson is designed based on BBC material, making it a great option for those who want to learn English based on real-life material.

"Outcomes" from National Geographic Learning is a textbook that combines English learning with world culture studies, making it especially interesting for adult students.

Modern English textbooks for independent study

If you have decided to learn English on your own, the popular textbooks "Assimil: English Without Labour", "English for Everyone" by Dorling Kindersley and the "Teach Yourself English" series of textbooks will be your best help.

"Assimil: English Without Labour" allows you to learn the language at your own pace. This textbook offers an immersion methodology that works effectively for independent learning.

"English for Everyone" by Dorling Kindersley is an interactive textbook with plenty of exercises, audio and visuals to make self-study not only productive, but fun.

The Teach Yourself English series of textbooks can be used for both independent and group learning. They cover different levels of language proficiency and offer practical tasks.

A selection of the best English textbooks for comprehensive language learning

If you have decided to study English as a whole, the following textbooks and manuals are the best choice:

"New English File" from Oxford University (offers a wide range of assignments to develop all language skills, from grammar to conversation practice);
"American English File" from Oxford University (this guide is focused on learning the American version of English for classroom and independent study);
"Navigate" from the University of Oxford (the advantages of this modern textbook are the use of the latest teaching techniques and allowing students to interact with a variety of multimedia resources).

Business English textbooks are a separate category. They focus on specialised vocabulary and phrases used in business, detailed terminology related to finance, marketing, management and negotiations.

Summarising all of the above, we can conclude that it is impossible to say unequivocally which English textbook is better. Each of them has its own features and pros, used to achieve certain goals. In our shop you will find a wide range of English textbooks with an excellent price-quality ratio.