Modern methods of learning English

The world has changed significantly over the past few decades, and knowledge of foreign languages has become an important necessity. English is known to be one of the most popular languages to learn. And the more people strive to master it, the more diverse modern methods of learning English appear, so everyone can choose the most suitable option for themselves.

A method is usually understood as a set of ways and means of learning. Some people prefer to study on their own, while others find it more convenient to receive support and supervision from outside.

Let's look at several popular modern methods and approaches for learning English — how they differ and why it is important to choose the one that best suits your goals, individual characteristics, as well as your time and financial capabilities. They can be used both together and separately. Let's talk about approaches first.

Group courses

This is one of the most popular ways to learn English. You can choose a convenient format: online or offline at a language school. Those who prefer live communication choose face-to-face classes. In large cities in Ukraine, there are usually several schools, so it is easy to choose the best one based on reviews and group size. If traveling to class is inconvenient, online courses offer even more options: classes are held via Zoom or on special platforms, bringing together students from different cities.

Another option is group courses abroad (Canada, USA, UK). They are more expensive but have their advantages:

• They combine learning with travel.
• The groups are international — you will learn to understand different accents.
• Complete immersion in English: lessons, excursions, and communication only in English.

Group classes have a number of advantages. They provide a lot of practice with classmates and give you the opportunity to communicate in English not only with the teacher but also with other students. This format opens up a wide range of opportunities for role-playing and interactive exercises, making the learning process more dynamic and interesting. In addition, group classes are usually cheaper than individual lessons.

However, there are also disadvantages. The class schedule is usually fixed and cannot be adjusted to suit your own schedule. Classes cannot be rescheduled or canceled, and shy students may feel uncomfortable working in a group. In addition, the teacher does not always have the opportunity to give individual attention to each student, and the program and materials are chosen by the teacher without taking into account the individual interests of the students.

Individual lessons

Unlike group courses, where lessons are limited in time, personal lessons allow you to study until you achieve your goal. A private teacher can create a program that takes into account your strengths and weaknesses, which is impossible to achieve in group lessons.

However, it is important to remember that the most difficult part of this option is finding a teacher with whom you will feel comfortable and effective. Not every tutor is ready to give their all in class, and not everyone will be able to find common ground for long-term cooperation. It is recommended to choose tutors based on reviews or to contact reputable schools that offer individual lessons.

The advantages of such lessons include the teacher's full attention to one student, the ability to customize the schedule, reschedule or cancel lessons, as well as the selection of materials and programs that correspond to the student's goals, level of knowledge, and interests.

The disadvantages are the high price compared to group lessons and the limited opportunity to practice conversational English with other people, although this can be done additionally.

Self-study

Self-study is a good option for improving your English, especially when combined with group or individual lessons, as modern English language learning technologies provide an excellent opportunity to do so. This allows you to practice the language at a convenient time, during breaks at work, on public transport, etc.

However, it is important to remember that self-study has its pitfalls. Without a clear plan, you can waste time and energy or even reinforce mistakes. Therefore, it is important to determine your level and prepare materials for each stage. There are several ways to do this:

1. Combine self-study with lessons with a teacher or enlist their support at the beginning. They will advise you on how to train independently, help you select useful materials and applications, and draw up a schedule.
2. Search for learning materials and applications yourself, based on reviews. There is a risk of spending money on something that is not suitable for you.
3. Use special online platforms for comprehensive skill development. They usually offer free trial lessons to help you decide if a particular format is right for you.

Self-study allows you to build your own schedule, study at any time, choose interesting materials and a comfortable method, and save significantly. Disadvantages: lack of conversation practice with a teacher, the need to find and purchase materials yourself, the risk of choosing the wrong program, the difficulty of assessing your level, and the lack of external control — constant self-discipline is required.

Now let's talk about learning methods that will be useful for every student.

Communicative method

The communicative approach to learning English has long proven its effectiveness. Unlike traditional methods that focus on grammar and vocabulary, this method focuses on the real use of language in everyday situations. Students don't just memorize rules, new topics, and information, they learn to communicate in English.

The method involves a lot of dialogues, role-playing games, and discussions, which helps develop practical communication skills. It enables students to feel more confident in real-life language situations. Learning a language in context promotes faster acquisition and develops skills that are really useful for communication.

Immersion method

The immersion method involves completely surrounding the student with the language. This can be either by staying in a country where the language is spoken or by creating an artificial language environment. In such a situation, the student is forced to communicate, read, and listen in a foreign language, which significantly speeds up the learning process. Thanks to this, students begin to understand the language on a subconscious level.

However, this approach requires many conditions to be met, and it can be difficult to implement in practice.

Use of technology and online platforms

Modern technology has significantly changed the approach to language learning. As we have already mentioned, there are many mobile apps and online courses that allow you to learn English anywhere and anytime. With the help of these platforms, you can practice grammar, expand your vocabulary, and even communicate with native speakers. Today, these are not just online language trainers, but full-fledged tools that can provide a structured approach to language learning. The interactive format helps you memorize material faster and makes learning interesting.

TBL (Task-Based Learning) method

The TBL method focuses on performing specific tasks that require the use of language. Students solve practical problems: they write letters, create presentations, and discuss various issues. Instead of memorizing theory, they directly use the language to solve real-life problems.

Thanks to this, students see how knowledge of the language helps to solve specific tasks and gives tangible results, developing communication skills in non-standard situations.

Cooperative learning method

This approach is based on active interaction between students. Working in groups, students not only improve their English, but also develop communication skills, share information, teach each other, and work on joint projects. This method helps to increase self-confidence, overcome fear of communication, and develop both language and social skills.

Other modern methods of teaching English

In general, there are many methods for learning foreign languages, each of which is developed by a specific author or group of authors and has its own characteristics. It is important to remember that they cannot be classified as basic approaches, and in most cases, they are not a basic learning strategy (in most, but not all cases) because they are variations of basic methods. They are usually used as auxiliary tools for faster language acquisition, development of listening and speaking skills, or increasing motivation.

• The Callan Method. Small group classes (5-10 people) focusing on listening, speaking, and repetition without memorization. Mistakes are corrected immediately, and the material is repeated until the topic is truly mastered.
• The Birkenbiel principle. Intuitive learning, like children: we listen, read, speak, and write in an easy, playful way.
• The Pimsleur method. Audio courses that immediately focus on listening and speaking. As a result of completing 30 lessons, you can master 250–300 words.
• The Stahl method. Trains both hemispheres of the brain through rhyming texts in everyday situations accompanied by music.
• Suggestopedia. Learning in a relaxed atmosphere accompanied by classical music, which helps to absorb the material easily and naturally.
• The LAMP principle. Short dialogues for quick listening and speaking practice in familiar situations.
• The Olendorf method. Communication with grammatical explanations and practice in pairs.
• Flipped classroom. Students learn theory at home through videos or texts, and in class they practice and discuss the material.
• Dogme style. Teaching is based on the real communication needs of students, without pre-prepared materials.
• Task-based learning. Learning a language through specific tasks that force you to use the language in real-life situations.
• CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). Simultaneous study of a subject and a foreign language, for example, history or science through English.

Today, there are many ways to integrate English into everyday life: through music, movies, TV series, or even imaginary conversations. This also opens up the opportunity to find like-minded people to study with or exchange ideas. This approach not only increases efficiency but also makes the learning process more interesting and enjoyable.

Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone and find yourself in potentially awkward situations. You can only achieve a truly high level of fluency if you are brave enough to interact and maintain contact with native speakers.