Ranking of the best books for learning English in 2020

In the modern world, knowledge of the English language is increasingly becoming a necessity. In 90 countries of the world, it is the second language, or it is widely used. 1 billion people on the planet today speak and communicate using English. Business and tourism, training and technical documentation, hobbies and the Internet - the field of application is very extensive.

The book was and remains the most demanded means of knowledge. The range of publications for learning a foreign language is wide. Basically, there are textbooks for beginners and those with basic knowledge, publications for children, students and professional courses, as well as books for reading in English.

Criteria for choosing a book for learning English

It is difficult to understand the sea of ​​literature on teaching a foreign language without reference points. What to consider when choosing a textbook.

• Preparation level

Does the student have basic knowledge or will have to start from scratch. Weaknesses of knowledge: pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary.

• Informativeness

A successful manual contains information that is of interest not only from the side of linguistic knowledge, but also for broadening one's horizons. It’s nice to learn something new and unusual along with acquiring skills.

• Motivation

Few people are satisfied with the possibility of only reading and translating English texts. Life requires language skills for communication, solving standard situations, expressing one's own opinion, representing business and personal interests on international platforms. Fascinating presentation of information in accordance with the indicated motivation, enhanced by audio and video materials, is doomed to success.

• Authentic resources

For both beginners and advanced learners, the adaptation of material from media reports and programs, press news, travel guides, travel atlases plays an important role. The difficulty level for students with an initial base should be gentle.

The principle of working with text material is based on the principle: Think - read - explore - react.

• Communicativeness

It is important that the study guide contains exercises for the derivation of grammatical knowledge into oral speech. Synchronous working out of the rules in live communication brings worthy results.

• Testing and control

It is important for a student to have a flexible approach to the learning process, therefore, when choosing a textbook, exclude literature with blocks of information that has been mastered earlier. The stage of acquiring new knowledge should be longer, the development of consolidated knowledge should be displayed in conjunction with fresh knowledge. In other words - weak sections (phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation) require careful immersion. Tests are used to determine the level of knowledge gained. The test result is compared with the set goal.

Top authors and books

Matveev Sergey Alexandrovich

The writer has more than a dozen publications on Vedic, Buddhist linguistics, philosophy and culture. As a philosopher and linguist, he participated in the organization of the Institute of Metaphysics in St. Petersburg and the Swedish Novia Tour International. An active organizer of intensive training programs and international interactive education courses. The creator of the author's method of teaching a foreign language "Blitz-Attack". Sergey Aleksandrovich participates in programs for the translation and publication of books on philosophical treatises, ancient medicine, religion, sacred books of antiquity.

S. Matveev "30 lessons of English"

The self-instruction book by Sergei Matveev, edited by P. Yu. Shablina, was published in 2016 from the AST publishing house.

The author proposes a methodology, thanks to which there is an effective assimilation of colloquial structures, linguistic foundations and the elimination of the language barrier. Each lesson is dedicated to a specific topic, there are transcriptions in Russian and a dictionary corresponding to the topic. The turns of live English are sorted out according to a specific grammatical topic.

• an ideal guide for mastering the basic level of communication in 30 lessons;
• the opportunity for self-systematization of existing knowledge of the language;
• easy and accessible form of presentation;
• exercises and keys.

• absent.

S. Matveev “Complete course of English. Fast, fun and effective "

The book edited by G. Gennis was published in 2018 from the publishing house "AST". The publication is distinguished by an accessible form of presentation and an author's method.

• phonetics in the proper volume;
• grammar course;
• popular phrases and examples of dialogues;
• logical presentation of the material;
• modern tutorial.

• absent.

S. A. Matveev, Zh. L. Ohanyan "The most complete and effective course of the English language" set of three books "

The collection was released in 2018 from the publishing house "AST" and contains:

1. "English language. Express self-study guide ";
2. “English for every day. Useful diary ";
3. "Learning English while driving and at home."

The first book presents 15 lessons with a focus on dialogue. How to get to know each other and find out the way, talk about hobbies and hobbies, other popular topics allow you to speed up your adaptation to the language. Mastering dialogues is preceded by a grammar course with brief information and rules.

The second book is not only planning for the lessons of daily teaching of the English language, but also written control over the implementation of the assigned tasks with intermediate results.

The third book by the author Sergei Matveev, whose editions were mentioned above. An audio disc is attached to the manual, on which the study of oral speech is conducted, the material is consolidated in an accessible form for listening.

• indispensable kit for quick and competent mastering of English;
• high learning efficiency thanks to the audio course;
• division into thematic lessons, with the possibility of a flexible study mode;
• for a decent level of grammar and vocabulary;
• from individual language skills to deep immersion;
• fluent English for tourism and intercultural exchange.

• not.

S. Matveev “Fast English. All grammar in tables and diagrams "

The publication was published in 2014 under the editorship of Larisa Robaten from the AST publishing house.

The book is intended for readers who have studied English, but have not.

Edition - a cheat sheet in the form of tables and diagrams for the restoration and mastering of grammar.

A tutorial with practical tips.

• author's method;
• a budget option;
• helps to improve knowledge of English grammar.

• absent

Petrov Dmitry Yurievich

MSLU teacher and host of the Polyglot program on the Kultura television channel speaks 30 foreign languages, but works fluently in eight: Italian, English, Greek, Spanish, French, German, Hindi.

The Center for Innovative and Communicative Linguistics under the leadership of Dmitry Petrov has been opened and operates in Moscow.

D. Petrov “16 lessons of the English language. Initial course + 2 DVDs "English in 16 hours"

The book by Dmitry Petrov was published in 2014 from the Eksmo publishing house.

The author is fluent in several languages ​​and has developed a unique method of teaching a foreign language.

One lesson - one topic, for example: verbs, prepositions, pronouns. To facilitate perception, the material is supplied with tables, DVD, exercises. Grammar is given special meaning, and emphasis is placed on verbs and pronunciation. The book allows you to master a foreign language in the amount necessary for fluent communication in live English.

• the second edition supplemented and revised with video materials;
• a large number of positive reviews;
• high return on each lesson.

• not.

D. Petrov “English language. 16 lessons. Advanced course "

The book was published in 2016 by the Dmitry Petrov Center publishing house for readers who have mastered the basic course. The principle of presentation of the material is preserved - topics, theory with rules, exercises, consolidation.

• enrichment of language skills with stable turns, sayings;
• platform for free communication;
• fluency in grammatical forms;
• Perfect and Continuous - mastering forms, using correctly.

• not found.

A. Petrova, I. Orlova "Popular tutorial of the English language" (+ CD)

The book by Anastasia Petrova, in collaboration with Irina Orlova, was published in 2016 from the publishing house "AST". Anastasia Petrova, a recognized methodologist and teacher, has more than 30 publications on teaching and improving the English language. It is not the first time that Irina Orlova is co-author with Anastasia.

The edition has been updated, contains modern vocabulary, with audio materials. The self-instruction book will allow you to be fluent in 2000 words, with a competent construction of phrases for use in oral and written communication.

• an audio application for developing speaking skills and improving pronunciation;
• the ability to master the norms for technical and scientific translations;
• phonetic exercises;
• samples of competent mini-dialogues;
• original texts for reading, understanding, translation.

• not found.

T.Yu. Drozdova "Practical grammar of the English language"

The book by Tatyana Drozdova was published in 2016 by the Anthology publishing house.

The author proposes to continue studying English or master the basic level A1. The publication contains several hundred exercises for thorough study on the principle of a workbook.

• suitable for levels A1 and A2;
• accessible form of presentation using diagrams, tables, models;
• step-by-step, deep mastering of the grammar of the language;
• ideal for advanced learners.

• absent.

A. Dragunkin “New cool English self-instruction book. For energetic lazy people. Advanced course "

The book by Alexander Dragunkin was published in 2018 by the Ripol Classic publishing house.

The author's methodology is based on the "Pointing Words" system and allows you to overcome the language barrier after 3 lessons. The publication is recommended for readers with any level of training, including zero.

• visual aid with black and white illustrations;
• augmented and revised edition;
• high efficiency of mastering the passed material;
• unusual presentation of the material.

• absent.

N. Bonk, I. Bonk, I. Levina "English step by step." in two parts plus CD

The book by Natalia Aleksandrovna Bonk, Izadora Ilinichna Levina and Irina Anatolyevna Bonk was published in 2016 by the Eksmo publishing house.

The publication has become a teaching aid for more than one generation. Grammar, phonetics, exercises to consolidate the theory - extensive material is designed for a long time. The pan-European scale indicates the expected level of knowledge of the language after the end of the course as B1 - the bar for a confident user.

• for self-study and under the guidance of a specialist;
• for beginners and with basic knowledge;
• tutorial with discs;
• practical exercises on keys;
• the opportunity to thoroughly practice pronunciation with useful practical exercises.

• absent.

S. Boltunova, M. Tsypysheva “American version of the English language. Study guide for adults. Advanced course + CD

The book of the Russian publishing house "Nauka" 2005 edition is aimed at the circle of people planning to communicate in English in the United States. The manual was approved by the Academic Council of the St. Petersburg Department of Foreign Languages ​​of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The publication is based on linguistic and regional material.

• thorough preparation for direct contact with native speakers of America;
• all the subtleties and features of the spoken language of the States;
• pronunciation and spelling in American terms;
• guide to the preparation of business papers with samples of standard documentation.

• specialization in the USA.

N. Baikova “Berlitz. American English. Basic course "(+ 3 CD)

The book from the Russian publishing house "Living Language" was published in 2005.

The manual is based on dialogues of certain scenes from life. The principle from simple to complex involves using the platform of the previous lesson as a basis. Further, the action proceeds in increasing complexity. All grammar rules are laid out in the fields, with explanations.

• an effective way to acquire the skill of live communication;
• audio guide to help you master the material;
• 24 lessons on topics of real life situations;
• edition with three discs.

• not.

L. Popova, L. Rabochen “English language. Everything you need for beginners "

The book by Lyudmila Popova, Larisa Rabotin and the compiler Elbek Muratov appeared in 2012 from the publishing houses "AST" and "Astrel".

The collection of 4 books includes:

• volume of English humor "They're not joking with the war?" Muratov Elbek Nurulaevich with proverbs, jokes, aphorisms, anecdotes and sayings;
• “I'm going on vacation.Russian-English Dictionary ”with the most used expressions, transcriptions based on Russian graphics;
• training book "1000 English words" with frequently used words for practical language exercises, simple translations;
• "Active English-Russian dictionary-minimum" for the first steps of study, development of personal experience of oral communication in a foreign language, with a large set of sentence-building constructions and samples of vocabulary activation.

• effective teaching methods;
• an initial course with all the necessary materials;
• a diverse approach.

• Not.

M. Rubtsova, A. Vertyagina "Complete course of English"

The book of Muse Gennadievna Rubtsova was published by the Russian publishing house "AST" in 2014. A study guide for a solid grammar study, understanding the structure of an English sentence, mastering reading skills in the original, expanding vocabulary and speaking experience.

• building the educational process according to the principle from simple to complex;
• the possibility of learning from the zero level with the achievement of the level of reading the original texts.

• absent

English for kids

The modern child needs English. The earlier you start learning, the easier it is to develop skills later. Whatever field of activity the child would choose in the future, language knowledge will come in handy. It is known that at an early age, adaptation to a foreign language is much faster. The playful form of teaching aids for children will turn classes into an exciting experience.

G. Shalaeva "Learning English with Mom"

The book by Galina Shalaeva with illustrations by V. Dolgova was published in 2016 from the publishing house "AST".

Readers are offered training in the latest methodology for everyday, spoken English skills. Colorful design and Russian transcription will facilitate the educational process as much as possible.

• for children with zero preparation;
• adult-led training.

• according to reviews, there are no popular characters in the illustrations.

“English for kids. Learning to write letters and words "

The edition from the series "Curriculum and courses" was published in 2018 by the Russian publishing house "AST".

Parents and children will have a fascinating acquaintance with the English alphabet, setting their hands to write English letters, as well as the first communication skills in a foreign language.

• the opportunity to prepare your child for the school curriculum;
• mastering the vocabulary minimum;
• suitable for elementary school.

• not.

I. Frank “The English language. Primer"

Irina Frank's book was published in 2020 by the publishing house "AST".

Children's bright edition for preschool and home study. The first words and letters written with their own hand are waiting for the little ones.

• an attractive study guide;
• accessible form of material presentation.

• not found.

I. Frank “The English language. Primer in pictures. Primary school: a unique method of developing lessons "

Edition of 2017 from "AST". An effective training system for the first communication skills in a foreign language.

• fascinating acquaintance with the English alphabet;
• developing lessons;
• pronunciation is indicated in Russian letters;
• only positive feedback.

• not.

L. Shereminskaya "THE SMART KITTEN Fairy Tales for Learning English"

The book for children by Lyudmila Shereminskaya was published by the Russian publishing house Phoenix in 2015. A bright, colorful edition from the "English by Stages" series.

• game form of study with performances;
• variability of plots and adaptation to the vocabulary of children.

• not.

Name	Publisher	Binding	Pages, number	Circulation
16 English lessons	Eksmo	solid	224
English language. 16 lessons. Advanced course	Dmitry Petrov Center	solid	272	5000
30 English lessons	AST	solid	416	3000
"Popular English language tutorial"	AST	solid	512	3000
Practical English grammar	Anthology	soft	400
The most complete and effective English course	AST	solid	736
Complete English course. Fast, fun and efficient	AST	solid	384
Fast English. All grammar in tables and diagrams	AST	solid	192	6000
New cool English tutorial. For energetic lazy people. Advanced course	Ripol Classic	solid	496
English step by step. Tutorial. In 2 parts.	Eksmo	solid	576	2500
Learn English with Mom	AST	solid	336	3000
English for kids. Learning to write letters and words	AST	soft	64	4000
English language. Primer	AST	solid	48	3000
English language. Primer in pictures. Primary school: a unique method of developing lessons	AST	solid	96
American English + CD: A Study Guide for Adults. Advanced course	The science	solid	330	2000
Berlitz. American English. Basic course	Living language	soft	184	3000
THE SMART KITTEN BOOK FAIRY TALE FOR LEARNING ENGLISH	Phoenix	soft	31	3000
English language. Everything you need for beginners	AST, Astrel	solid	1348
Complete English course	AST	soft	512	3000

Knowledge of English in the modern world is not a luxury, but a means of moving forward in life. It's nice to hear a foreign performance and understand what this is about. It's nice to be abroad and communicate freely with native speakers. It's nice to quote a classic in the original and show off your erudition. But you never know where you will have to face the recognized international language of communication. Just pick a good study guide and spend 20-30 minutes a day for self-study. Welcome!