Thread: English learning resources for a Russian friend who wants to speak English well

Hi guys,

Yesterday in class a Russian classmate was asking me about English, since he knew that I was a teacher for a time. He's working as a mechanical engineer, and it's required of him to speak English.

I am wondering what are good resources I can suggest him, especially to improve his oral skills? He told me he's using Rosetta Stone. As far as I know his level seems to be some sort of pre-intermediate to intermediate, but maybe I'm overestimating him.

Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by Valda

I am wondering what are good resources I can suggest him, especially to improve his oral skills? He told me he's using Rosetta Stone. As far as I know his level seems to be some sort of pre-intermediate to intermediate, but maybe I'm overestimating him.

Any suggestions?

For most people oral skills can hardly be improved dramatically by any method other than osmose in natural environment. Yet, you can probably suggest him Hoge’s Effortless English. Of all the crooks he looks most innocuous. At least, your classmate will be able to parrot by the end of the course a few hundred fixed phrases that are not so artificial as in many other courses, including Rosetta Stone.

I liked Hoge's "Learn Real English" better, however it's for intermediate to upper-intermediate students.
He can give a look to this site, it's good for explaining grammar, (not the tenses only, he should dig through the site for other things).
Also he can look up a course in English pronunciation, like "Tree or Three" or "Ship or Sheep" or "English Pronunciation in Use" or something like that.
Of course one needs a hell of a lot of practice to achieve tangible results.

The problems with your links is that it explains English through English, and I'm not sure if he's there yet. Are there any resources with explanations in Russian?

Originally Posted by Valda

Any suggestions?

Google "English for Russians"

Sometimes, Google is your friend.

Метод чтения Ильи франка (не только английский, но и русский, японский, арабский, грузинский... много языков), lingualeo (фильмы, песни, тексты, новые слова и т.д. и т.п. все в игровой форме, весело, красиво...), Philochko на youtube или ВК (american pronunciation, slang, casual phrases and so on)

In case Hoge’s courses are too advanced for your classmate, he may try out Pimsleur method in order to speak a modicum of English right off the bat.
English for Russian Speakers (ESL) - The Pimsleur Method
There’re only thirty first lessons of the method adapted specifically for Russians officially available on sale; but I bet my jar he may find more “unofficial lessons” based on Pimsleur approach after doing some googling like “Pimsleur English for Russian Speakers.”

I myself non native English speaker,wants to learn English.To practice speaking English i am going through free available online English videos or English conversation lessons Talking in English about your cellphone - English conversation lesson - YouTube Practicing speaking English with videos is very helpful for all ENglish learners like me.