How to learn English fastest: choosing a textbook

You can spend endless hours learning random words and watching videos explaining random grammar topics. However, this is unlikely to give you real knowledge. It's all about the lack of a system. Information is forgotten without proper consolidation and repetition, and grammar will seem like a real thicket. To prevent this from happening, you need a textbook. It provides the necessary structure and allows you to assimilate information consistently. In addition, most manuals have specially selected exercises to practice the material just passed. Therefore, you can not do without a good textbook. And how to choose it, we will now tell you.

Proceed from your level and goals of learning

How to effectively learn English on your own? The answer depends on your goal and current level. These two parameters are so important for the right choice, that it is worth talking about each of them separately.

Language level

English textbooks are usually aligned with international language proficiency levels. This ensures that students are using materials that match their skills. These levels are standardized by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The CEFR divides language proficiency into six levels:

1. A1 (elementary): the student can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and the simplest phrases.
2. A2 (elementary): can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of greatest relevance (e.g., basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
3. B1 (intermediate): the learner understands information on most everyday matters and can maintain a conversation on a variety of topics. At this level, situations that arise during travel or everyday communication are not difficult. Communication with native speakers is fairly fluent. Knowledge and skills are sufficient to make them unburdening for both parties.
4. C1 (advanced): can understand a wide range of complex, long texts and recognize implicit meaning. Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously, without explicitly looking for expressions.
5. C2 (proficient): can readily comprehend almost anything he hears or reads. Can summarize information from a variety of oral and written sources, reconstructing arguments and stories in a coherent presentation. Can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and accurately, discerning subtle shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

Most English textbooks cater to a certain level of proficiency, ensuring that learners gain useful knowledge. For example, a beginner can start with an A1 level textbook, which will cover fundamental grammar, vocabulary and exercises to master basic communication. As he progresses, he can move on to A2 and above, each step providing more complex language structures and a wider vocabulary. There are also specially designed aids for children .

Understanding your level will ensure that you choose a textbook that matches your ability and will help you learn effectively and progress quickly.

Purpose of learning

Consider this analogy: when you cook, you don't buy random ingredients and then decide what to make with them. Instead, you think about the dish you want to make and then buy the necessary ingredients. Learning English will be more effective if you follow a similar principle. You need to start by defining your learning goals, whether it is to become fluent in the language, to prepare for an international exam, or to get interviews in English. Simply wondering how to learn English quickly is not enough, so you risk losing motivation quickly.

General English Language Learning

General English language learning involves developing four key skills: speaking and writing (productive skills), and listening and reading (receptive skills). In addition, vocabulary and grammar are important components. A good textbook will cover all six areas to ensure a balanced approach.

English exam preparation

Fortunately, there are also English textbooks that are customized for academic purposes. For example, if you need to prepare for an English language exam such as IELTS, PET or TOEFL, you can find books that offer comprehensive study, focusing on specific skills such as writing or reading.

The best thing about specialized English textbooks is that they offer practice tests that mimic the real exam experience as closely as possible, giving you valuable practice and helping you familiarize yourself with the format of the test, to try your hand in conditions as close to the real thing as possible.

Learning English for Work

This is the most difficult case in terms of textbook selection. The fact is that you will need to learn a lot of specialized vocabulary. If you are still at the very beginning of the path, you can take a general textbook. You can go deeper into the specifics when you reach level B1 or B2. Can I do this without a teacher? Yes. How do I learn English on my own? Follow the program of a good textbook and supplement it with constant practice.

Choose the right approach

You can save time by analyzing your preferences and future use of the language in advance. If you will be using the language primarily for written communication, it is important to focus on developing this skill. Grammar-oriented manuals containing practice exercises with a gradual increase in complexity will work well for you. In the process of doing them, the student gradually learns new vocabulary and even memorizes some popular phrases. However, there is no targeted development of communicative skills in such textbooks.

If you have a lot of communication with native speakers, then this approach may not be the most effective. In this case, it is worth paying attention to more manuals that focus on vocabulary. Usually they are divided into topics of everyday communication. Most often, the lesson begins with a dialog, and grammar references are given concisely after a detailed description of vocabulary. This approach is neither better nor worse than the previous one. It is just better suited for those who want to quickly learn to speak English. The best English textbook for self-study is a book that matches your goals.

Pay attention to the presentation of the material

Which textbook to choose for learning English? Of course, the one that will be interesting to you. This criterion is completely subjective, but its importance is not diminished in any way. Self-study is a time-consuming process. And it is much better if it will be a pleasure for you. In addition, if the material is interesting, you will better memorize it. Of course, a textbook is not a fiction book and there may be uninteresting moments in it.

There are an incredible number of different textbooks on English. There are textbooks with comics and fascinating stories. There are manuals with extra videos or games. Are you a fan of the academic approach? Then books with grammar tables and detailed analysis of different aspects of the language are the right choice for you.

In other words, choose according to your preferences. You don't need to storm through a textbook over and over again if you don't understand the author's explanations. It is better to look for another option.

Evaluate the practical part of the textbook

This is also a subjective parameter. Only you yourself can determine which textbooks are better to learn English for you. Exercises should be neither too easy nor too difficult. Both extremes reduce the effectiveness of learning and slow down your progress.

Therefore, first of all, assess how the author offers you to consolidate the material. It is best if the complexity increases gradually. Then you will have time to work on this aspect and will not encounter insurmountable difficulties. Of course, it is necessary that the textbook has answers and comments to the exercises. They are necessary for self-control and work on errors.

Also carefully look at the examples that illustrate the rules. They should be fully understandable to you. If these explanations are not enough, it is better to look for another manual for self-study. This is very important, because without the control of the teacher, all the responsibility for the correct understanding of the material falls on you. And without clear and vivid examples it is very difficult to learn the language on your own.

Stay motivated

If you were able to choose the right textbook using our previous recommendations, the secret of keeping your interest lies not in the textbook itself, but in its correct application. Learning English should not be a boring routine. It is much better if learning is fun and enjoys new information. However, we realize that learning a new language is not an easy task. When you constantly face obstacles, it can cause demotivation. You give up on learning and prioritize something else. That's why it's important to find something that will motivate you throughout your learning experience. To help you stay on a positive path, here are 5 effective strategies to keep your mind upbeat and positive while studying English.

Don't turn studying into an annoying chore

Whether it's learning to ride a bike or learning a new language, it becomes much easier and more fun if you enjoy the process, so add creative elements to your schedule to make learning English fun. If you enjoy watching movies, turn on English voiceovers or subtitles. Add crossword puzzles and games such as charades where you have to guess a word or action without saying a word to make learning English fun. Of course, you'll have to sit through grammar, but don't forget to dilute the learning process with fun activities to keep it interesting.

Add music to your English learning

Music is a fantastic way to improve your vocabulary and sharpen your speaking (and singing) skills. Listen to your favorite English songs and try singing along. If you don't know any English songs, just listen to the latest hits and try to imitate the singer. Find the lyrics of the songs if you don't understand every word at first. This musical way of learning English can help you add some rhythm to your learning.

Experiment with new learning techniques

Some people like the familiarity and comfort of the same routine, while for others it can become monotonous very quickly. If you fall into the latter category, learning English the same way every day can become a tedious process. Try adding new elements to your daily routine to prevent boredom from overpowering you. For example, one day you can focus on reading an entire story and the next day you can try listening to a song or podcast in English.

Of course, if an activity gives you sincere pleasure, you don't have to willfully give it up for a rest. On the contrary, you can take a break from more grueling activities with the help of your favorites.

Don't be afraid to take regular breaks

Getting adequate rest and staying motivated are two of the most important aspects of life. When you start to feel overwhelmed or words no longer make sense, take a day off to recharge. You can start with short breaks or even switch to easier, more enjoyable ways of learning English, such as watching an episode of an English-language TV show, to prevent burnout. The goal is to let your brain rest and reboot so you can return to your studies awake and focused.

Celebrate your successes, no matter how insignificant they may seem to others

The most effective way to keep yourself motivated is to celebrate your victories, no matter how insignificant they may seem to others. If you've improved your vocabulary by learning 5 new words every day for a week or by watching an entire movie without subtitles, you should celebrate. This is positive reinforcement, which is about rewarding yourself for taking another step in learning English. It will help you track your progress, boost your confidence, and stay encouraged.

You can congratulate yourself on every topic you pass. And a completed level is cause for a real celebration. Don't hesitate to please yourself, because learning a language is an important part of your life and success in it also matters. It would be great if your loved ones also support your enthusiasm and you celebrate your new achievement together.

Supplement your textbook with online practice materials

There are so many support materials available nowadays that your eyes will go wild. Finding useful English videos, audios and tests is easy. However, if you just collect such aids in your piggy bank, it will be of little use. Therefore, you need to choose wisely.

First of all, identify your weaknesses. If you have a hard time listening, it is worth working on it. In such a situation, practicing grammar that you easily understand will be more enjoyable, but less useful. The only exception that can be recommended to absolutely everyone is reading books. Educational texts are usually short and not enough to develop the skill of reading. Therefore, it is best to find adapted books appropriate to your level. An interesting book is indispensable in learning: it and enriches the vocabulary, and teaches you to formulate thoughts, build sentences. In addition, reading an interesting book is also pleasant.

Developing listening skills

Many modern textbooks offer a good stock of audio files and many exercises on listening comprehension. However, most often these are dialogs voiced by professional speakers in the studio. There is nothing wrong with this, especially in the initial stages. However, you should not listen too much to such correct speech. Find podcasts on topics that interest you, watch videos of speakers on YouTube or in social networks.

These free resources allow you to dive into real English. They also shift your focus from learning the language to getting information that interests you personally. This shift allows the brain to increase the efficiency of assimilation. In addition, it's great entertainment.

Audiobooks serve as another invaluable resource. They are also available for all levels. Immersed in an interesting story, you yourself will not notice how you learn new words and expressions. Moreover, podcasts and audiobooks solve such an acute problem of modern man, such as lack of time. You can listen to them on the way to work, while cleaning or on a walk, and during this time you can learn a few new words.

Speaking skill development

Thanks to the development of the internet, you no longer need to travel to another country to practice live communication. There are a variety of language exchange apps available. In them, you can communicate with native speakers or other people learning English. Of course, it is a bit early to start this kind of communication at A1 level. However, at higher levels it can be a great way to practice speaking.

There are also online conversation clubs. These are even more useful, as the communication is guided by a teacher who monitors communication and corrects mistakes. Usually a specific topic is taken, the teacher gives vocabulary on it and then offers different communicative games or discussions. Perhaps the only disadvantage of such clubs is that they are paid.

Exam preparation

If you are going to take an exam, then additional training will definitely not hurt. This is especially true for the written part. You can easily find various tests online to practice your grammar to the point of automaticity and reduce your stress level when it comes to the real exam. So be sure to take time for such additional assignments.

You can also find additional exercises for topics that you feel you haven't worked on enough. The textbooks are designed for the abstract average student, so it's perfectly normal that practicing some topics will be insufficient for you. If this is not a mass phenomenon, you should not urgently look for a new textbook. It will be enough to work with the materials you find online.

Track your progress and set achievable goals

Progress tracking refers to how you evaluate your English language skills and learning. It involves regularly monitoring how you speak, listen, read and write in English, as well as how your vocabulary and grammar are developing. Tracking can take the form of self-assessments, teacher feedback, language learning apps and gaming platforms.

Setting realistic benchmarks is important to improving your English. Without tracking your progress, there is no way to know how far you have come, what areas you are good at, and where you need to improve your English. You need this information to set goals that fit your individual learning style and capabilities.

Having goals that are customized to you allows you to focus on the material that will best help you achieve those goals.

At the same time, setting achievable goals gives you a good long-term perspective on learning English. Tracking your progress allows you to view language acquisition as a gradual endeavor, and you can be more patient with yourself and enjoy the language learning experience.

You can track your language learning to stay motivated and notice weak areas that need extra attention. You can keep logs of your progress and use them to assess how fast it is. If you notice that you're falling behind in something, like grammar, take more time with it, look for additional resources to practice. The data you get will help you easily assess whether the goals you set earlier are realistic and adjust them if necessary.

Regularly evaluate the presentation of the material in your chosen textbook

Of course, you have already done this when you selected your textbook. However, this evaluation should be done on a regular basis. The fact is that as your knowledge accumulates, your views may change. The textbook may seem too easy, or on the contrary, the complication in it was too abrupt.

In this case, do not hesitate to change it. You should feel confident and comfortable at every stage of language learning. If you feel the urge to give up because of another misunderstanding, the textbook is probably too difficult for your level. The choice of English learning materials is vast, so look for a different textbook. You can always look for the best books for learning English on your own or check out a selection online. You can also find them on our blog.

Choose a book with real-life examples

Once you get a feel for the specifics of mastering a foreign language, you will immediately understand how to choose an English textbook. Language is unique, because unlike math or biology, learning it is not the ultimate goal. We focus on mastering grammar and vocabulary and forget that language is just a means of communication.

Our brain is quite lazy, so it hardly wants to absorb unnecessary information. But if you offer it an effective and fast way to get important information, it will immediately change its attitude. Therefore, it is very important to choose those books in which the examples are as close to life as possible.

When we see that we can apply the skills immediately, the learning process is much faster.

Some authors take a different approach. They specifically illustrate the rules with absurd and funny examples. This makes the learning process funnier, but to apply such knowledge in real speech you will definitely be difficult.

A completely different matter - phrases from everyday communication. You can include them in mental dialogues, in the description of your day and other activities that you practice to learn the language.