The range of literature for studying various foreign languages is quite large. Over time, you can pick up textbooks and books that are right for you.
Tutorials
Many people who are looking for books to learn English (on their own), first of all pay attention to tutorials. Such training courses help you take the first steps and gain basic knowledge.
English step by step. Bonk N.A., Bonk I.A., Levina I.I. The textbook is a course for beginners. Material is given on a "from simple to complex" basis. Texts and dialogues are built on the speech formulas of modern English. It contains many translation exercises, as well as tasks in which it is proposed to answer questions, rephrase, insert a missing word. A detailed study of this training course will help to create a good knowledge base.
Optimized universal textbook. Dragunkin A. The author uses an original approach that differs from the usual, traditional training courses. Learning turns into an exciting pastime. The textbook will be useful both for those who are just starting to learn English, and for those who want to renew their knowledge after a long break.
Grammar
Grammar is a very important component. Therefore, if you want to find the right books for learning English (alone or with a teacher), be sure to choose a good grammar course.
Practical grammar. HER. Izrailevich, K.N. Kachalova. Edition in two volumes. Detailed grammar with exercises and keys. The textbook covers almost all sections of morphology, punctuation and syntax. The material is presented in Russian.
English grammar in use, by Raymond Murphy. This is one of the best grammar books. There are three levels: Elementary (easy), Intermediate (medium) and Advanced (advanced), by M. Hewings. The study of the topics presented in the books will systematize knowledge and understand all the subtleties of the grammar system of the English language.
Each book is structured as follows: on the even page on the left, structured material is given with a brief understandable explanation of a certain rule and examples illustrating this topic. On the odd page attached are small logical exercises for practicing. At the end of the book, answers are given for self-testing.
It is important to note that the narration is conducted in English and understanding will require knowledge of vocabulary at least at a basic level. Nevertheless, the material is presented quite simply and clearly.
Round up. Authors: V. Evans, J. Dooley, M. Osipova. A series of six books, material in English. Each lesson gives tables and explanations of certain rules. Then tasks for working out the material. Exercises are quite diverse, interesting and entertaining. These colorful tutorials are suitable for adults who are beginning to learn a language, as well as for children. The main textbook is accompanied by the teacher’s book with answers and methodological recommendations, as well as a disc on which some exercises and dialogs are voiced.
Pronunciation Tutorials
Anyone looking for suitable books to learn English (on their own or for classes with a teacher) should pay attention to such an important section as phonetics. The basics of the correct pronunciation should be laid already at the beginning of training, so it is very important to choose a good phonetic course and devote enough time to it.
English pronunciation in use (J. Marks, M. Hancock, M, Hewings) - a book for independent work on pronunciation. The material is presented in great detail, exercises and audio recordings on disks are attached. There are several levels. It is best for a beginner to choose Elementary.
Tree or Three by A. Baker. The training course will help to understand the intricacies of English phonetics. Almost every sound, as well as stress, intonation and pace of speech, are examined in detail. The disk is attached to the book. To succeed, you need to not only learn the rules, but also perform the proposed exercises, listen and repeat behind the media.
Vocabulary Tutorials
Vocabulary in use, by McCarthy. A series of several textbooks for different levels. It is advisable for beginners to choose the simplest - Elementary. In this book, vocabulary is divided into topics: "Family", "Health", "Clothing", "Sports", "Work", etc. Each section contains the most common words. Also given are interesting exercises for practicing the material covered.
In addition, you should pay attention to the Collocations in use tutorials and Phrasal verbs in use by the same author. Various spoken phrases, stable phrases, and phrasal verbs require careful consideration.
Books for learning spoken English (independently, in courses or with a tutor)
In addition to special textbooks, there are many effective general courses that help to consolidate knowledge and develop speech skills.
English file (C. Oxenden, C. Latham-Koenig) - one of the best series, includes levels from Beginner to Advanced. The material is clearly and structured. Each lesson presents a specific grammatical topic with subsequent exercises for fixing, as well as a small thematic dictionary. There are many lively dialogues illustrating everyday life situations, for example, “At a restaurant,” “At an airport,” etc.
Books to read
Also, anyone who selects the best books for learning English (on their own, for tutoring or in courses) should not neglect fiction. You can start reading works in a foreign language already at the beginning of training. However, it is very important to choose the right material. According to the pan-European system, the level of proficiency in any foreign language can be divided into six levels:
- A1 - Beginner (beginner);
- A2 - Elementary (basic);
- B1 - Intermediate (medium);
- B2 - Upper-Intermediate (above average);
- C1 - Advanced (advanced);
- C2 - Proficiency (professional).
There is an adapted literature in which complex grammatical constructions, speech turns, and less common lexical units are replaced by simpler ones. The Beginner entry level (A1) requires knowledge of basic grammar rules and a small vocabulary. Some of these books provide exercises for practicing various aspects of grammar or vocabulary.
Business English
If you need foreign language skills to work in the office or communicate with colleagues from other countries, you should pay attention to business English training courses. There are special books for learning English on their own, with an emphasis on business vocabulary.
One of the best series in this direction can be called Market Leader (S. Kent, D. Falway, D. Cotton). Issues such as "Business Correspondence", "Negotiating", "Presentations", "Reports" and much more are considered.
Of course, in addition to the above training courses, there are many more good benefits. It is almost impossible to describe all existing materials in detail. However, you can supplement and cite additional books for learning English (on your own). List of textbooks:
- Enterprise - W. Evans, J. Dudley;
- Upstream - W. Evans, J. Dudley;
- Cutting Edge - J. Carravtor;
- Survival English - E. Watson;
- Total English - A. Crace, R. Eclam;
- New Headway - J. Sorz, L. Sorz.
For everyone who has set their goal of learning English on their own from scratch, books are the most important part of the learning process, on which future success depends. Therefore, from the very beginning, you should seriously take the choice of a training course that will help you master the necessary writing, reading, and listening skills and speaking skills.