3 year old learning websites


20 Educational Websites for Kids That are Free and Fun

Source: https://www.thespruce.com/best-free-educational-websites-for-kids-3129084

  1. PBS Kids

    Each of the educational shows your children watch on PBS has its own learning section through PBSKids.org. Try sing-a-long songs, sorting and counting games, watch videos, and more.

  2. Sesame Street

    Younger children will love everything about Sesame Street’s online home. They can choose from hundreds of the show’s video clips and play games that help them learn letters, animal sounds, rhymes, colors, and more.

  3. Starfall

    When a mom mentions she’s looking for some great educational websites for her kids, it’s not long before Starfall.com is mentioned. The site has been online since 2002 and works with your children through letter recognition all the way through to reading plays, nonfiction, and comics.

  4. CoolMath

    CoolMath calls itself “an amusement park of math and more.” Children can play online math games that help them with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, money and more. CoolMath is geared toward ages 13 and up, but sister site CoolMath5Kids.com is appropriate for ages 3 through 12. CoolMath-Games.com includes math games for preschoolers.

  5. Make Me Genius

    A site that guarantees to make your child a genius has a lot of promises to live up to. MakeMeGenius.com is filled with videos that cover a variety of subjects, such as physics for kids, photosynthesis, the nervous system, solar system, and electricity. All of the videos are kid-friendly and will keep even your youngest children interested from start to finish.

  6. TIME for Kids

    From the publishers of TIME magazine, TIME for Kids is loaded with interesting articles, photos, and videos. Politics, the environment, entertainment, sports, and health are just some of the topics covered. TIME for Kids isn’t as interactive as most of the other website on this list of educational websites for kids, but the site does tackle subjects that are in the news now while being written for an audience of children.

  7. National Geographic Kids

    Watch animal cameras, learn interesting tidbits about animals, see and share photos of nature, learn about different countries and try science experiments. These activities don’t even begin to scratch the surface of the National Geographic Kids website. There’s even a “Little Kids” section for the younger explorers in your house.

  8. The KIDZ Page

    The Kidz Page has more than 5,000 pages of learning games and activities. Online coloring pages, jigsaw puzzles and word games are just a few sections of this massive site. Each holiday also has its own section of activities and games to enjoy with your children.

  9. How Stuff Works

    When your child wants to know why the sky is blue, how a tornado forms, or any number of other questions she can come up with on a daily basis, head on over to How Stuff Works. The articles break down subjects like autos, culture, entertainment, science, money, technology and more. Games, quizzes, and videos also round out your children’s learning experience.

  10. Fun Brain

    One visit to Fun Brain and you’ll want to bookmark it for your kids. Math, reading, online books and learning games are just some of the site’s many treats. Fun Brain caters to preschoolers through 8th graders.

  11. Nick Jr.

    If you can look past the ads, you’ll find printables, games and other activities your kids will enjoy at NickJr.com. The games allow your children to explore their creativity, play dress-up, learn new music, put together puzzles and work on numbers and shape recognition.

  12. Scholastic

    Scholastic is one of the more unique educational websites for kids. This site, from the publishers of the educational books you find in schools, contains activities broken up by grades. Pre-K learners all the way up to seniors in high school can find learning activities geared toward them.

  13. Disney Jr.

    Fans of Mickey and friends will love visiting Disney Jr. Educational. Games, coloring pages, and videos are a few of the highlights. The games focus on memory, hand-eye coordination, color matching and other important skills for developing minds.

  14. Exploratorium

    It’s hard to narrow the list of science websites because there are so many great resources. But San Francisco’s Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts showcases a website that teaches kids about science and art in new ways. The departments let kids tinker with gadgets, go below the sea, rocket into the galaxy and also learn about the science of gardening, animals, and cells, to name a few.

  15. BBC History for Kids

    Games, quizzes and fact sheets take kids on a journey through time. Kids can set off on a learning adventure when they walk through ancient history, world history and histories of specific countries on the BBC History for Kids website.

  16. Highlights for Kids

    The magazine for kids that’s been around for more than 60 years now offers online ways to play, read and craft with your children. Matching games, art activities, animated stories and science experiments are just a few ways kids can learn while having fun on the Highlights for Kids website.

  17. Discovery Kids

    Why do we need trees? Are jellyfish fish? Who travels with the president? These are just a few of the facts your kids can learn on the ​Discovery Channel’s site for children. Games, puzzles, activities, and quizzes get kids involved in learning something new without it feeling like work.

  18. Kids Know It

    Learn about animals, chemistry, spelling, geography, astronomy, and plenty of other subjects on KidsKnowIt.com. Watch free educational movies, listen to educational music and read fun facts about everything from bats to bones.

  19. Learning Games for Kids

    The name of the site says it all. Learning Games for Kids is all about games that teach kids almost every subject you can think of. Word, spelling, social studies, brain, science, art, vocabulary, literature and keyboarding games will get your kids started on a learning adventure.

  20. Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids

    It’s learning with a twist. The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids features riddles, puzzles, a question of the day, a timeline of interesting history facts, sky events and weather conditions to track at home with your children.

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Top 10 websites for your toddler

Take a look at our top 10 favourite websites. ..

Great for learning French

1. Cartoonito

Barney, the Wiggles and other popular characters come alive on this playful site . But the best thing of all is the interactive French element, which encourages your toddler to learn a new language through easy-to-remember songs.

TOT TESTED "Ruby was very quick to recite the lyrics of the songs and she's already learnt the French words for ice cream and apple," says Amy, 31, from Surrey, mum to Ruby, 2.

Great for In The Night Garden fanatics

2. In the Night Garden/ CBeebies

In The Night Garden is the overwhelming favourite among the selection on offer on the CBeebies site, with games and songs as well as colouring and make-it activities. If you have a webcam, you'll be able to cherish your younger ones' reactions to appearing alongside Iggle Piggle and co.

TOT TESTED "Dora pressed her nose against the screen when she saw herself on the Ninky Nonk," says Emily, 38, from Cornwall, mum to Dora, 20 months. "I'm glad she can enjoy the site without getting overexcited."

Great for tiny ones

3. Kneebouncers

For younger children who just like pressing buttons, Kneebouncers offers some simple, fun games to play. It gets them accustomed to using a keyboard and helps them develop an understanding of cause and effect.

TOT TESTED "Jem loves the music section," says Victoria, 34, from Cornwall, mum to Jem, 14 months. "After a few times, he seemed to take a real interest in the melody and now likes to bop along to the rhythm."

Great for learning to count

4. Hoobs

Channel 4 puppets The Hoobs bring to life a wide range of learning games and activities. Everything from counting and rhyming to grouping things and spotting the difference is covered on the site.

TOT TESTED "Nyah always loved The Hoobs on the television" says Marilyn, from London, mum to Nyah, 5, and Fox, 2. "And unlike some other sites, all the games here actually teach toddlers something. "

Great for encouraging a love of reading

5. Miffy

This website, which promotes the series of classic Miffy rabbit books, provides a great selection of simple games and colouring activities, as well as music, audio books and colourful animation clips.

TOT TESTED "Lola is actually more interested in reading as a result of this site," enthuses Lynda, from Norwich, mum to Ariadne, 5, and Lola, 2. "She's becoming a big fan of the Miffy books just like her older sister."

Great for playing games

6. Mr.Men


Children can get to know their favourite Mr Men even better on this fun site through interactive games and entertaining videos. Play paddle tennis with Mr Bounce, mend Mr Lazy's snack machine and help Mr Messy make a mess. Every game uses a different skill, whether it's hand-eye coordination or artistic talent.

TOT TESTED "Peter loves the music on this site and sings along," says Annie, 31, mum to Peter, 3, and Emily, 6 months. His favourite game is flying Mr Nervous in his spaceship."

Great for mouse skills

7. Poisson Rouge

The first time you visit this website with your toddler, you'll be amazed. With no instructions, its child-friendly design encourages simple, intuitive navigation around the 200+ games, activities and animations on the site. Each toy you click on will lead you to something different.

More like this

TOT TESTED "My two love this site," says Sarah, 29, from Bristol, mum to 2½-year-old twins Emily and Maisie. "It has everything from number games and the alphabet in English, French and Spanish, to dancing bees and a musical board game. Their favourite bit is the aquarium - the fi shy games help their mouse skills and they love clicking on the red anemones to make the fish pop out!

Great for unleashing artistic talent

8. Paint with Jackson

When your toddler fancies painting, but you don't fancy clearing up the inevitable mess, then this is the site to turn to. It lets her use the mouse as an explosive paintbrush to, well, paint like Jackson Pollock. Fantastic fun!

TOT TESTED
"Lotte laughs and laughs whenever she has a go on this site," says Nicola, 36, from Herts, mum to Lotte,18 months. "She's learnt that each time she clicks the mouse, the paint changes colour, and that seems to really fascinate her!"

Great for wild imaginations

9. SwitcherooZoo

Welcome to a weird and wonderful virtual zoo where you can invent new and freaky creatures from the heads, bodies and feet of various animals at the click of your mouse. Strange, silly and unusual - but if your child wants to see what a zebra crossed with a cheetah and a dog would look like, this is the place to go.

TOT TESTED "My boys have had great fun with this website, and it's perfect for when they're in a daft mood," says Anna, 33, from Kent, mum to Finley, 4, and Jamie, 2. "The only downside is that it has lots of ads and navigation is fi ddly, so they need quite a bit of help. "

Great for animal recognition

10. Bzzzpeek

Did you know that Italian pigs go "ruff-ruff" rather than "oink oink" and fi re engines in Denmark go "ba-boo, ba-boo"? This website brings together a collection of onomatopoeic sound recordings of pre-schoolers from around the world making the sounds of different animals and vehicles.

TOT TESTED "Sam loves the lion and pig noises best," says Emma, 36, from Cheshire, mum to Sam, 3, and Annabel, 10 months. "The site helps him learn to recognise different animals and it's a good starting point for talking about different languages and cultures, too."

programming, drawing, preparing for school

Gifted children live in every city, but teachers who are ready to go beyond the school curriculum are far from being everywhere.

Polina Kalmykova

for affordable education for all

Author's profile

But the Internet is full of resources for learning - independent and under the guidance of experienced teachers. You can learn anything: build robots on your knee, create art installations from ordinary things, or program in Minecraft.

I have selected 11 sites that provide quality and interesting education for children and teenagers - the selection includes paid courses and free alternatives.

Choose what your child needs right now

  • Get ready for school
  • Get to know the arts
  • Learn to code
  • Pull up school subjects

Get ready for school

Tilly

How much: 10 tasks per day - free, full access - from 83 R per month
Age: from 2 to 7 years old

Tilly has developed courses for children from two years old and for preparing those who are older for school. Children learn to distinguish colors, learn the names of the cubs of different animals, and train to determine whether an object is flat or three-dimensional in a picture.

And for future first-graders, classes help to understand the system of sounds and letters of the Russian language and mathematical concepts that will be needed at school: addition and subtraction, even and odd numbers, the number line and the composition of the number.

Classes are held in the form of interactive exercises. Children watch theory slides and listen to the speaker's comments, and then perform tasks: they try to substitute the desired mathematical sign in an example or find where the stress falls in a word.

/list/kids-dev-apps/

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Classes are designed to meet Federal State Educational Standards, which call for families to be involved in the learning process. Therefore, part of the exercises - for example, from the speech therapy unit - children can only perform with their parents. Once a day, Tilly sends homework: this helps the child to study regularly, and parents do not waste time looking for suitable exercises.

Everything is like in school: first theory, then practice

How much: for free
Age: from 5 years old

family leisure. Some of them, for example, the special project “History of Russia. XVIII century" - will help you deal with the school curriculum in a playful way, while others will simply tell you how to have fun and educationally: watch cartoons about art, solve old riddles from "Murzilka" or "Chizh" or color illustrations from old books.

In addition to children's audio performances and stories, "Arzamas" has collected useful games - rebuses and logic tasks

Get to know art

DSHI-online

Price: free
Age: from 7 to 17 years old

The creators of the "Children's Art School Online" decided to look at the world around children from the point of view of art and talk to schoolchildren in a language they understand.

For example, they offer to study the basics of photography at a master class on selfies, and at a course on creating a non-standard avatar, children will learn about the history of a portrait in world painting. Teachers will tell children who love to dance how to conquer Tik-Tok, and parents will be helped to find a common language with a teenager — for example, by turning the mess in his room into an art installation together.

/list/online-games-for-children/

English, programming and logic: 9 educational online games for kids will not receive access to new lessons. At the same time, teachers are still in touch: they check the work and help students deal with emerging issues. Microcourse "Animated canvases" will help the child to take a high-quality photo for the flash mob #isolation

Get to know art

Animation and me

Cost: Free
Age: 14+

Animation and Me is a course that will teach your child how to create cartoons. It consists of 30 lectures recorded by legendary animators - Yuri Norshtein and Konstantin Bronzit - and young professionals who talk about modern techniques in animation.

Lectures are divided into two blocks. First, children get acquainted with the theory - the history of animation and the basics of the profession. And then they will learn about the practical skills that any multiplier needs. The lessons themselves are not long - 20-25 minutes, but after each one they give homework: it will help you get your hand in before you start creating a real cartoon.

/list/family-games/

Board games for kids

No one will check your homework, but you can compare your work with others: completed tasks are placed directly below the video with lectures. And in the project groups on Vkontakte and Facebook, cartoons of guys who have already completed the course are published.

Finished homework for the lecture "Acting": it was necessary to depict five standing people in calm poses, but in such a way that they differed from each other

How much: free
Age: from 6 years old

The Pushkin.Youth project is an educational course for students and schoolchildren based on the Pushkin Museum. All of them are devoted to the history of art and culture, but take place in different formats: from open lecture halls and project workshops to a full-fledged 4-year curriculum.

Usually classes at the museum are held face-to-face, but some of them are recorded on video: you can watch lectures by art historians on social networks. Now the museum is closed for quarantine, so classes are held live and are available to everyone. To get a link to the conference on Zoom, you need to leave contacts in a special form or just write to the guys on Instagram.

/list/study-for-free/

Free courses in Russian: 20 online platforms

Pupils and students who are constantly studying at Pushkinsky conduct online tours of the museum, launch flash mobs and marathons and create their own games . If a child is just getting acquainted with art, you can start with entertainment: games will help you understand that museums are not boring, and flash mobs are a great way to join the company of other enthusiastic teenagers.

Every year on March 11, Pushkinsky.Youth students take the places of guides and acquaint visitors with the life and works of the Pushkin Museum

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Learn to program

Code. org

Price: for free
Age: 4 years and older

Programming courses on this site are more like puzzles: students use blocks with ready-made commands to solve game problems: for example, help an artist draw a picture from a stencil or a bird — get out of the maze.

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Even those who cannot read yet can study. Actions on simple levels are indicated by icons, but the essence remains the same: to solve the problem, you will have to figure out in what order to perform actions, how cycles work, and how variable numerical values ​​change the behavior of characters on the screen.

If you are tired of the same type of tasks, you can make your own project: program a mini-game or make colorful characters dance to the music. For inspiration, it is convenient to use the archive of other people's work: all projects are published with open source so that students can exchange ideas and experiences with each other.

In order for the artist to draw the roof of the house exactly along the lines, you need to arrange the lines of code in the correct order and substitute the correct values ​​

Learn to program

Aitigenio

Price: from 550 R for a two-hour lesson, the first lesson is free
Age: from 8 years old

This online school is suitable for children who want to try their hand at programming, but do not know where to start.

There are no ready-made programs in ITGenio: the course is individually adjusted to the interests and abilities of the child, and the direction of learning can be changed at any time - for example, switch from game programming in Scratch to programming in Minecraft or completely engage in Photoshop or 3D modeling .

Classes are not held in groups, but one-on-one with a teacher: you can choose a convenient time and study at your own pace.

If a child gets bored with programming, you can try your hand at creativity - for example, learn 3D modeling

How much it costs: from 4300 R per month
Age: from 8 years old

"School of programmers" is not an entertainment course, but full additional education with a program for several years. Classes are held according to the schedule in the mode of webinars: students communicate live with teachers, write and submit code for verification, and immediately receive feedback. There are a lot of lessons: every week 4 hours are allotted only for compulsory classes, and each student can also choose electives according to interests, for example, web design, information security or robotics.

Students in grades 2-11 can enter the school, the program depends on age. To enroll, you will have to pass exams: those who fail to cope with tasks in mathematics, logic and algorithms are unlikely to be enrolled in the course.

You can enroll in the main department of the "School of Programmers" only at the beginning of the academic year. For those who want to see how the classes are going and learn something new right now, an additional registration for special courses and free lessons is opened during the year.

Children who attend the "School of Programmers" from the fifth grade will have mastered two programming languages ​​by the eighth grade: Python and C++

Pull up school items

Children and science

How much: free
Age: from 7 years old

The Children and Science project is not an addition, but an alternative to school lessons in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Online courses for the portal were created by the best Russian teachers who do not want to work with outdated textbooks and programs. Previously, only students from several elite Moscow schools could attend their author's classes, but now they are available to anyone with an Internet connection.

Each course consists of video lectures, notes, game assignments and a final test that will help assess how well the child has mastered the program. Each student chooses the pace and trajectory of learning for himself: for some, it is enough to look over the notes to catch all the most important things, and for some, they want to watch several related lectures on different subjects before moving on to the next thematic block.

/ucheba/

What students can get for good studies

The "Children and Science" project will not be able to completely replace school classes: so far, the portal has only one or two lessons for each class. Most of all classes are in mathematics: among them there are also topics that are not even mentioned at school, for example, “Game Theory” and “Probability Theory and Statistics”.

I did not cope with the task. But for schoolchildren who have taken a course in human physiology, it's time to spit

Pull up school items

Letovo.Online

How much: free
Age: from 11 years old

Letovo is a special private boarding school, which is more important to find a talented child than a family that can pay for education. Children are accepted on the basis of a strict competitive selection, and scholarships that can cover up to 100% of the cost of education help to solve the financial issue. Although Letovo is located in Moscow, children from all over the country can enter there: for students from other cities, there is a campus with accommodation buildings on the territory of the school.

To help talented children prepare for exams and make a good education accessible, Letovo teachers have created an online school. On this portal, students can check their level of knowledge in school subjects: the test will show which topics have gaps and offer materials that will help improve the result.

Letovo.Online also invites children to try their hand at solving Olympiad problems, and if this still doesn’t work, you can watch webinars where teachers explain the logic of solving competitive tasks. Or join an online circle to prepare for the Olympiads with other schoolchildren. True, you won’t be able to start right away: the next set will be only in September.

Olympiad problem in Russian: the illustration shows how to find the correct answer

Pull up school items

Foxford

How much: free during quarantine
Age: from 7 years old

Classes in Foxford are like a real school, only in an online format: children come to the webinar according to the schedule, listen to the teacher and look at the blackboard , ask questions that can be answered immediately, and after the lesson they do their homework.

Foxford has no compulsory classes to go to, even if they are deadly boring. From a huge database of courses in all school subjects, you can create your own program, including, for example, preparation for the Unified State Examination in computer science, a course on diseases, and online physical education training.

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After which university can you find a well-paid job?

There are also ready-made collections of paid courses. For example, specialized programs for schoolchildren who have already decided on their future profession, or classes that guarantee admission to the university of their dreams: if the applicant fails the exams, the money for studying will be returned. And if you like studying at Foxford more than going to school, you can switch to home schooling and join the external study program: then the curator will monitor the child’s progress instead of the class teacher, and experts from the OGE and USE and university teachers will prepare for the exams.

At Foxford, classes are not limited to school subjects: on video courses you can even learn how to sew soft toys or build robots

The best sites for learning English

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Can online courses replace higher education?

Educational platforms offer to become a financial manager, game designer or Instagram marketer in a few months. Is it worth getting a higher education in a world where there is Coursera, Skillbox and Udemy?

When learning a language, the main thing is to turn classes into a lifestyle, constantly make discoveries and practice. We have compiled a selection of 20 free resources for you to help you with this. By choosing one (and preferably more) application or site from each section, you can train all aspects of the language: words, grammar, pronunciation, and listening. Read more about how to learn a foreign language, about methods and methods, read our article.

Websites for learning English

Duolingo

Duolingo

Level : A1-A2

Duolingo is the world's most famous language learning app. Lessons are held in a playful way, so it is fun and interesting to study in the application. The level of difficulty increases gradually: at first you will learn individual words, but by the end of the course you will be able to parse whole sentences. Application users compete with each other, earning experience points. For many, moving to a new league and earning achievements becomes a real incentive to practice.

Duolingo benefits
  • Learning from scratch. The Duolingo curriculum is built for you, so it's a good app for learning a language from scratch when you don't know what to start with. But if you have already learned something, then you don’t have to go back to the very beginning. Before using the application, you will be asked to take a language proficiency test.
  • Mastering vocabulary and basic grammar. The application has several types of tasks: choosing a word, typing, translating a word or phrase, compiling a sentence, and others. They help to secure words in memory.
  • Daily activities. The app will send you regular alerts so you don't forget to work out.
  • Not only English. In Duolingo , in addition to English, German, French and Spanish are also available for Russian-speaking users. But if you already speak English, you can learn more than 30 languages. Even fictional Klingon and Valyrian.
Cons of Duolingo
  • Little listening. Duolingo lets you listen to how words are pronounced and even has listening tasks where you need to write down what the speaker said. But these tasks are not enough. To develop the skill, you need to listen to full-fledged dialogues and texts.
  • Poor speech perception. In Duolingo there are tasks for pronunciation, but it is unlikely that you will be able to learn how to speak them correctly - the application does not perceive speech well. It is better to practice pronunciation with a living person.
  • Only an addition to the main classes. You won't be able to learn a language using the application only. So that the learned words do not turn into dead weight, they must be perceived in context and used in real speech situations. And in Duolingo this is just not there. To learn a language, you need to immerse yourself in the language environment as much as possible - read, watch movies, communicate.

Duolingo

Memrise

Memrise

Level: A1-A2

Memrise is similar to Duolingo . The applications have similar functionality, the pros and cons are basically the same. But the Memrise has some unique features:

  • The application uses mnemonics. You can add a note (called "memes" there) to each word to help you remember it better. For many words, there are already ready-made memes compiled by other users.
  • Media video. Paired with a new word, there is a video recording with a native speaker who pronounces this word. Thanks to this, you can understand how the word sounds in real speech.

Memrise

BBC Learn English

BBC Learn English

Level : A1-B2

BBC Learn English is the educational resource of the British radio station BBC . The materials on it are collected in courses, so you do not have to write the program yourself. The site is suitable for different levels, but most of the content is on A2 and B1. There is also a guide with individual grammar topics if you are interested in something specific. The resource is also available as an application.

Why BBC Learn English is useful
  • Learning grammar. The site has a program 6 minute grammar , in which the lessons cover the basic grammar topics at the basic ( basic ) and intermediate ( intermediate ) levels. First, you are given some theory and asked to complete tasks, and then you listen to a podcast or watch a video where the facilitators practice the topic they just covered.
  • Learning vocabulary. Program 9 is structured similarly0257 6 minute English : you learn words by listening to short recordings - simple and interesting.
  • Pronunciation training. The Sounds of English and Tim's Pronunciation Workshop programs help you improve British pronunciation at a beginner to intermediate level.
  • Listening practice. Text transcripts of all audio and video materials on the site can be downloaded. It is convenient for them to check themselves and clarify incomprehensible points.

The only drawback of the platform is that it is completely in English. There is a Russian version, but it is incomplete and only translates section headings. Therefore, it can be difficult for beginners to navigate.

BBC Learn English

Vocabulary cards

Flashcards are one of the most popular ways to memorize new words and expressions. On one side you write the phrase in English, on the other side - the Russian translation. Of course, now you no longer need to cut out cards from paper or cardboard, there are many resources and applications for this. We will cover two main ones.

Anki

Anki

Level: any

Anki is a classic program with basic functionality: you are given a card and you have to answer what is written on the other side. You can make sets of cards yourself or use ready-made ones created by other users.

Initially, the program was created for language learners, but over the course of 15 years, students from various fields have fallen in love with it. Anki has four versions: web version, desktop app, Android app and iOS app . Application for iOS is paid, costs 25 USD. The rest of the versions are free.

Pros
  • Spaced repetition system. The program uses one of the best ways to learn new words - the spaced repetition system ( spaced repetition system, SRS ). This system is based on the mechanisms of memory. You repeat a new word in a minute, the next time in a few hours, then in a day, and so on. Thanks to this approach, words remain in memory for a long time.
  • Complete sets. Anki already has a huge number of word sets, so if you just want to learn irregular verbs or words on the topic travelling for example, you won't have to spend time creating flashcards.
  • Many settings. In the program, you can customize the card format and repetition time if the standard settings do not suit you.
  • Can be used offline. The offline version of Anki is free, so you can study even on the subway without connecting to wi-fi .
Cons
  • Complicated interface. The interface and design of Anki are outdated. It is not intuitive and not understandable for new users. To figure out how to work with the program, you may have to watch tutorials.
  • Paid version for iOS. Anki for iPhone is quite expensive - 25 USD. This is not a subscription, the program will be given to you forever.
  • Only one mode. Anki is essentially an electronic analogue of paper cards. There are no additional modes in the program. Because of this, memorization can seem monotonous and boring.
  • No automatic synchronization. The app and desktop version do not sync automatically. You will have to do this manually.

Anki

Quizlet

Quizlet

Level: any

The basic principles in Quizlet are the same as Anki , but there are additional modes in Quizlet. The program is available on all platforms, the basic version is free. To get access to advanced functionality, you have to pay.

Pros
  • Intuitive interface. The interface of the Quizlet is intuitive and the design is modern. I want to learn more in this application.
  • Multiple study modes. In Quizlet , in addition to the standard mode with cards, four more are used - Learn , Write, Spell and Test . Thanks to this, classes become more varied and interesting.
  • Complete sets. In Quizlet , as well as in Anki , there are many ready-made sets with words.
Cons
  • No spaced repetition system. The main disadvantage of Quizlet is the lack of SRS. Because of this, learning may not be as effective as in Anki .
  • Full functionality is paid. To use the offline version and other important features, you will have to pay - 2.99 USD or 3.99 USD per month, depending on the tariff.

Quizlet

English communication apps

When learning a language, it is important to find an opportunity to speak. Without this, it is unlikely that it will be possible to advance far. For offline communication in English, you can look for conversation clubs, they are in any major city. There are also online alternatives.

Tandem

Tandem

Level: any

Tandem is an app for finding language partners. Users in it, as it were, “exchange” their languages: a native English speaker will speak English with you, and you will help him with Russian for this. In the application, you can call, chat, send voice messages, in general, everything is like in a full-fledged messenger. The basic version is free.

Pros
  • Good design. Thanks to the modern design, the application is clear and convenient.
  • Many language partners. Tandem has over a million active users, so finding a language partner is easy.
  • Search for tutors. The application has an additional service for finding tutors. However, specialized services, such as iTalki, are better suited for this.
Cons
  • Errors in the application. Users complain about frequent errors in the application that occur even at the stage of creating an account.
  • Not all interlocutors take language learning seriously. Many people use the application as an analogue of Tinder. Therefore, it can take time to find a companion who is as serious about learning a language as you are.

Tandem

HelloTalk

HelloTalk

Level: any

HelloTalk - analogue Tandem , the principles of operation, advantages and disadvantages are mostly the same. But there are still a few differences:

  • Group chats. In Hellotalk you can communicate with a person not only personally, but also join group chats. This application resembles a social network.
  • Audio lessons. Hellotalk has audio lessons, but you will have to pay extra for them - 99 USD per year.

HelloTalk

HiNative

HiNative

Level: any

HiNative is different from the two previous apps. On this platform, you can ask questions to native speakers, but it is not intended for direct communication. When registering, you indicate your native language, with which you can help other users, and the language you are learning, with which you need help. Points are awarded for good answers. With the help of them, you can move your question up the list so that more people see it. Answers to HiNative arrive quite quickly, sometimes literally within five minutes. But keep in mind that not all native speakers are experts in the language. Therefore, it is better to double-check grammar explanations on third-party resources. But on the other hand, there is no doubt about the “sense of language” of native speakers.

What is possible in HiNative
  • Check the text for errors. On HiNative you can post sentences or short texts and ask native speakers to check them. They will tell you if your proposal sounds natural, if there are mistakes in it, and how to fix them.
  • Check your pronunciation. You can record your speech and send it to the native speaker for verification, or, conversely, ask him to pronounce the desired phrase.
  • Ask a question about a country. You can ask questions not only about the language, but also about life in the country and about culture. If you are going to the country, locals can tell you where to stay, which stores are cheaper and how much transport costs.

HiNative

Podcasts in English

Podcasts are perhaps the best way to combine business with pleasure. By listening to podcasts, you will not only practice your listening skills, but you will also learn something interesting. Often they are accompanied by text transcripts, by which you can check incomprehensible places. Podcasts exist for every level, from absolute beginner to advanced .

Elementary Podcasts by the British Council

Elementary Podcast

Level : A2-B1

Organization The British Council has produced a series of podcasts for beginners and intermediates. The episodes are quite long, 25 minutes each, but you don't have to listen to everything at once. Podcasts have a variety of topics: food, hobbies, travel, family, movies, art. There is even an issue about the artist Frida Kahlo and life in Kazakhstan. So by listening, you will be able to replenish your vocabulary well. Each issue is accompanied by assignments that help to better understand the material.

Elementary Podcast

Voice of America Learning English

VOA

Level : B1

The website of Voice of America, the American broadcaster, has recordings of programs designed specifically for foreign language learners and intermediate speakers. The programs have different headings: art and culture, science and technology, health and lifestyle, US history and others. Each episode lasts 3-5 minutes, so you can listen to a dozen episodes in one subway ride. The voice of the announcer in the programs is one third slower than usual, so the information is perceived quite simply. The most basic vocabulary is used, and incomprehensible terms are necessarily explained.

VOA Learning English

The English We Speak

The English We Speak

Level : B1

The English We Speak is a series of podcasts from the BBC about the English language. On them, the presenters introduce listeners to popular set expressions, idioms and slang. A great option for those who want to replenish their vocabulary with lively colloquial phrases. The speech speed of the speakers is not high, so the programs are well suited if you speak the language at an intermediate level.

The English We Speak

This American Life

This American Life

Level: B2-C1

This American Life is the most watched podcast in the US. Each episode has over 1 million downloads. Episodes vary in length from 10 to 20 minutes. In them, the announcer tells unusual and fascinating stories from the life of ordinary Americans. With the help of a podcast, you can get acquainted with different American dialects, because people from all over the country take part in the show. The pace of speech is natural, it can be quite high, and not only basic words are used, so it is better to listen to the podcast at an advanced level.

This American Life

YouTube channels for learning English

YouTube is another good source of material for classes and practice. Below are three channels that are definitely worth subscribing to.

TED

TED

Level: B1-C1

TED is an American non-profit organization. Twice a year, she holds conferences under the motto "Ideas worth spreading" - "Ideas worth spreading." Both well-known politicians, artists, scientists, and completely unknown people who want to share something important with the world perform at them. TED lectures are engaging, delivered in simple language, often with humor. That is why the audience likes them so much: the most popular performances have several tens of millions of views on YouTube .

TED lectures can be great material for self-study of the language. With the help of them, you will replenish your vocabulary, tighten your listening comprehension and pronunciation. To do this, you just need to do it right:

  1. Watch the performance without subtitles first. Concentrate, try to understand yourself as much as possible;
  2. Watch the video again, but now with English subtitles. Pay attention to places you didn't understand on first viewing;
  3. To practice pronunciation, repeat the words in the subtitles after the announcer, keeping all intonations.
  4. Write down unfamiliar words and repeat them after some time. To do this, you can use applications with cards.

TED

Puzzle English

Puzzle English

Level: A1-B2

Puzzle English is a Russian-language channel about English. It has a lot of grammar stuff. The lessons are short and simple, so if you don't understand a topic well, the channel is a good place to fill in the gaps. There are also materials for practicing pronunciation and vocabulary replenishment.

Puzzle English

Virginia Bēowulf English Studies

Virgin Beovulf

Level: any

Virginia Bēowulf is a unique YouTube channel. It does not contain the usual parsing of Present Perfect or Conditionals , but there is material that you will not find anywhere else - about pronunciation features, about speaker errors, or, for example, about the fact that English actually has five articles. The videos on the channel help to understand the mechanisms of the English language, and thanks to this, the grammar from the textbooks will be better absorbed. So they will be useful at any level, from A1 to C2.

Virginia Beowulf

Dictionaries

Google Translate is not always able to give an adequate equivalent of an English word. In this case, dictionaries will come in handy, not only English-Russian, but also corpus and explanatory ones.

  • Multitran - English-Russian and Russian-English dictionary. Gives word meanings for different fields of application and many synonyms. True, you should be careful with multitrane: ordinary users can add values ​​\u200b\u200bto it, so if in doubt, double-check the information.
  • Reverso Context is a corpus dictionary in which you can see how a word is used in a context. Enter a word, on the left you are given passages with this word in the original language, on the right - in translation. Reverso Context is very useful because it shows different translations of the same word.
  • Cambridge Dictionary - a set of Cambridge dictionaries, there is both English-Russian and explanatory. An explanatory dictionary is the surest way to understand the meaning of a word, especially if it has a lot of Russian equivalents.
  • Urban Dictionary - Dictionary of slang phrases and expressions. It will definitely come in handy if you communicate a lot with native speakers or, for example, like Guy Ritchie films.

Bonus

English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy

Murphy

Level : A2-B2

Raymond Murphy's textbook is the ultimate grammar book for all English learners. It stands out from the rest of the guides by the simplicity of explanations and at the same time a wide range of topics. All the grammar you need up to level Upper-Intermediate , found in Murphy . The textbook is not cheap, prices start at 24 USD, but it's definitely worth it. If the amount is too high, you can easily find a pdf version on the Internet.

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