The more vocabulary you know, the more successfully you can use the language in practice - this statement does not require proof. But it is also true that just knowing words will not bring much benefit, because you also need to be able to make competent constructions from them. That’s why you can’t get away with ordinary cramming here – it’s important that grammar and vocabulary in English were worked on simultaneously, in conjunction. The best helpers in this matter are British textbooks. We invite you to familiarize yourself with 10 manuals that will definitely become a reliable aid for you in learning a foreign language.

How can vocabulary textbooks help?

Firstly, they help you learn to express your thoughts correctly. The first step in development colloquial speech– replenishment of vocabulary. English-Russian dictionaries will help you with this; you can read about the rules for choosing them at. But the second step is learning the peculiarities of the natural use of already learned words. And here you won’t be able to cope without special benefits.

Secondly, thanks to the textbooks it will be easier for you to understand foreign speech. Everything is simple here: the more words you learn, the more effectively you can distinguish the vocabulary of native speakers. And textbooks will be especially effective if used in conjunction with audiobooks. More about this method of learning in the article “”.

Third, manuals help to overcome foreign language levels with higher rates, because often it is a meager vocabulary that is the main obstacle in the transition to a new linguistic level. For example, if you are unfamiliar with business vocabulary in English, then you may not dream of effectively completing the Advanced level, even if you seem to have mastered all the rules and grammar of this stage.

Now let's get acquainted with the manuals of the best British publishers.

Cambridge University Press

Vocabulary in Practice

Six textbooks of varying degrees of complexity, containing only exercises - there is no theoretical information here. Each contains 30-40 lessons with different types test tasks.

English Vocabulary in Use

A series of manuals of four difficulty levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced intermediate, high. Textbooks consist of lessons structured according to the “theory-practice” scheme. That is, the student must first learn grammar and then test his knowledge with practical exercises.

New English File

The manuals are presented in six variations for different levels– from Beginner to Advanced. Textbooks contain educational texts, practical lessons and theoretical information about them. It contains English vocabulary on topics relevant to today's realities, so thanks to the manual you can get acquainted with frequently used words and constructions.

Oxford Word Skills

The series consists of three textbooks:

1. Basic
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced.

Each manual contains 80 lessons, consisting of two blocks: theory with grammar and exercises. All lessons are divided into categories based on specific topics.

Upstream

A series of manuals for in-depth language learning with complex vocabulary groups and large volumes of grammatical rules. The textbooks contain a dictionary with full translation and transcription, audio exercises with accompanying text materials, as well as multi-format tasks for practicing the use of grammar rules and learned verbal structures.

Pearson

Test Your Vocabulary

A series of six books of varying degrees of difficulty: from beginner to advanced. Each manual consists of 60 lessons with theoretical materials and reinforcement tests.

Boost Your Vocabulary

A series of four books. The manuals contain 12 lessons without theoretical information, but with lexical comments and many test exercises.

Six textbooks various levels difficulties, but having the same structure: lexical exercises, grammar, tasks to improve speaking skills, generalization tests.

Heinle

The series is for those who have already mastered the basics of the English language and moved on to studying at the Pre Intermediate Level, which you can learn more about. It consists of three textbooks, each of which includes 22 lessons devoted to specific groups of vocabulary. The main advantage of the manuals is that when performing practical exercises, the student works not with individual words, but with full-fledged expressions and constructions.

Compass Publishing

A series of books at Intermediate level and above. The manuals contain 30 lessons - each covering 20 words. Vocabulary is presented with precise definition, indicating the part of speech and transcription. After the theory, the student is offered reinforcement exercises and texts in which the learned words are used.

Here are 10 verified English manuals on vocabulary, which are actively used for language learning all over the world. Using them in your training, you will not only get acquainted with new words, but also learn how to competently use vocabulary in any situation in real life.

Have you encountered any difficulties replenishing vocabulary?

If yes, then you are not alone :)

Many who learn English consider working on vocabulary one of the most difficult challenges. However, we all understand the importance of this on the path to mastering the English language.

Why is a wide English vocabulary important?

Developing vocabulary is one of the most important parts of learning a new language. It is often much more important to have a wide vocabulary than to adhere to strict word order and know grammatical rules.

Having a broad vocabulary will help others understand you, especially in situations where it is imperative to get your point across.

You never know if you might need to say, “I lost my passport” or “I have food poisoning.” Even if you have not yet fully mastered English grammar, a wide vocabulary can be decisive in the question of whether you will get help or not.

Exciting Methods to Improve Your Vocabulary

Learning English should be fun and exciting, and sitting at a desk for hours trying to memorize word cards has nothing to do with that. Luckily, there are plenty of fun ways to improve your vocabulary without flashcards or memorization.

Here are some tips to help you expand your vocabulary:

Give meaning to the context of the words you learn. Pay attention to how they are used in sentences.

Use new words whenever you can. Mention them during conversations and include them in correspondence.

Start simple. Learn the words that will be most useful to you first. Everyday life. Anything related to time, food and daily worries is suitable.

Group words according to meaning. Food, transportation, vocabulary for visiting a doctor - great options. Trying to remember random words like “cheese” and then “submarine” only confuses you.

Avoid opposites. Don't mix antonyms in your word groups, it will only confuse you. Stick to synonyms.

5 books to improve your English vocabulary

While English language learners have an abundance of online vocabulary-building resources, these textbooks stand out because they are designed specifically for language learners and take a creative approach to vocabulary building.

1. “McGraw-Hill Essential ESL Dictionary”

First of all, you will need a good dictionary so that you can look up interesting words that you come across.

The advantage of this dictionary is that it was created specifically for students learning English. This means that the book has been designed to be easy to understand, so nothing is lost in translation.
Along with the book you get free access to a number of additional resources. Some sections cover grammar rules and spoken English. There's even a section with vocabulary words and pictures on various topics, for example, electronics, animals or classroom vocabulary.

Video English Course for Beginners

Video English Course for Intermediate Level

2. English Vocabulary in Use Series

The English Vocabulary in Use series of dictionaries is a best-selling book published by Cambridge University Press to help students of all levels who want to expand their vocabulary and strive to master the English language.

One of the best features of this series is the ability to choose between American and British English, which is important for students preparing for the IELTS or TOEFL exams.
“Basic Vocabulary in Use” teaches 1,200 of the most important English words and is ideal for beginners.

The other books in this series contain thousands of words, selected according to level of knowledge, with technical and other technical terms in each new dictionary.

3. “Oxford Picture Dictionary”

If you're a visual person like me, you'll appreciate the dictionary, which teaches vocabulary through beautiful photographs and illustrations.

The Oxford Picture Dictionary is ideal for this, and it also includes targeted vocabulary sections, preview questions and stories to help you understand the context of the words covered.
There are even bilingual versions of the visual dictionary, so you can find and buy a Russian-English dictionary.

4. “504 Absolutely Essential Words”

This vocabulary book is best suited for people who want a survival language or who want a solid grounding before moving on to more advanced level material.

As the name suggests, the dictionary covers more than 500 of the most important and frequently used words in the English language.

5. “NTC Vocabulary Builders”

Another top textbook from McGraw-Hill is “NTC Vocabulary Builders.”

This book is intended for advanced students who need help using English vocabulary in a professional environment. This makes the textbook series ideal for students studying business English or who need English for work.

The Blue Book is a version intended for upper-intermediate and advanced students. Also, there is a green textbook “Green Book” for beginners and “Red Book” for intermediate students.

All three levels are quite difficult compared to other textbooks, so they are recommended only for serious students preparing for professional tests or learning English in relation to their field of work.

Improve your vocabulary today

Most The best way achieve a huge vocabulary - immerse yourself in the English language. Use sites like YouTube to watch English-language videos and music.

If you're just starting out, try reading Wikipedia articles on Wikipedia's Simplified English page.
Such resources will help you remember material from your textbooks, allowing you to expand your vocabulary much faster.

They can also help make learning more refreshing and fun, since none of us want to read textbooks all the time!

Choosing a textbook is not an easy task; it requires special concentration and developed intuition, as well as a lot of secret knowledge and magical rituals. This is why English language learners are usually not allowed to take on such a serious task.

This is all a joke, of course, but students really rarely have the opportunity to choose a textbook. Typically, schools have a developed methodology for teaching English and a set of textbooks with which they work.

The same applies to private teachers; they usually choose textbooks according to the “pike’s will, at my command,” that is, according to the level and needs of the student.

But if you decide to learn English on your own, or want to make a diagnosis using your avatar, i.e. check the selection of your school's textbook/courses/teacher, you are welcome. Because today we will talk about the top 10 English textbooks from English publishers.

If you still remember boring textbooks that tell us about the delights of developed socialism and the achievements of working people, you will be pleasantly surprised - modern English textbooks are colorful and contain interesting and useful information.

Usually they not only teach English, but also provide you with a variety of interesting facts from the lives of celebrities, about the culture and customs of different countries and much more!

1. New Cutting Edge, Longman

For whom: adults
Level is designed for: 120-150 hours of training

Each textbook comes with a “Mini-dictionary”. One level consists of 15 modules. The course is designed mainly for the development of speaking skills; accordingly, there is an abundance of various “Speaking” tasks. New vocabulary is always accompanied by speaking tasks.

In addition, it is worth noting an important section found in each module called “Real life”, which covers life situations and useful phrases for such situations.

One of the advantages of the course is a set of listening exercises, since in it you will find many tracks recorded not only by BBC announcers, but also by foreigners with their own pronunciation features, so that students learn to understand not only the ideal “Queen's English”, but English in everything its diversity. The grammar in the book is also accompanied by oral and written tasks, most of them are of a creative nature.

This course is perfect for people who want to improve their speaking skills and break down language barriers.

2. Enterprise, Express Publishing

Structure: 4 levels, from Beginner to Intermediate
For whom: adults
The level is designed for 80-120 hours of training

The Enterprise course consists of a Student’s Book, Workbook and Grammar book. Each level consists of 4 large thematic modules, divided into several parts. It has a very clear structure.

It starts with a short introduction to the topic (“Lead-in”), then a “Reading” section, followed by a “Vocabulary Section”, in which words found in the text are worked out.

The development of speaking skills in the course itself is quite limited, but there are very good written assignments with very detailed explanations of how to correctly write diverse essays, letters, etc.

3. New Total English, Longman

Structure: 6 levels, from Starter to Advanced
For whom: adults
The level is designed for 120-150 academic hours

This course consists of a Student's book and a Workbook. This is a relatively new textbook, appearing later than the aforementioned Cutting Edge and Enterprise, but has a number of advantages. 1st - this textbook is accompanied by a DVD with a video for each module, as well as tasks for the film watched. The plot of the film is related to the theme of a particular module.

Ideal for use in courses, since after each module it has a page with explanations of grammar, and students who have been on a spree with independent work skills will be able to familiarize themselves with and learn a new grammar topic on their own.

The textbook contains modern vocabulary and helps to harmoniously develop all four skills.

4. New English File, Oxford

Structure: Beginner - Advanced
For whom: adults
Designed for 60-120 hours

Standardly consists of Student’s book and Workbook. The publishers themselves position it as a textbook for those who learn English for themselves.

Allows you to systematically work on all skills, has a pretty good dictionary, all words and phrases are listed at the end of the book.

The advantage of this textbook is the system of cross-references and symbols, which makes it easy to navigate through the textbook.

5. New Headway, Oxford

Structure: from Beginner to Advanced
For whom: adults
Rated for: 120 hours

One of the most important advantages of this textbook is that attention is paid to both spoken English grammar and spoken language in general, which, as you know, is slightly different from the traditional one presented in textbooks.

In addition, Headway is considered a kind of classic for teaching English. Overall the course is good, but there are some disadvantages. It is not suitable for independent work, since it does not have general structure, Topics. Also the grammar is very fragmented.

The textbook itself is a bit academic, so some may find it boring, especially compared to Cutting Edge or Total English.

6. New Hotline, Oxford

Structure: from Beginner to Intermediate
For whom: for teenagers

A high-quality 4-level course designed for teenagers. The entire course is based on a photo story about the life of British teenagers who live on the same street. Each module begins with a photo sequence, which also introduces new vocabulary and grammar.

In addition, each module includes a “Culture Spot” section, which introduces teenagers to the socio-cultural phenomena of Great Britain. There is a “Grammar Reference” section that contains a clear and well-presented explanation of the grammar covered.

A very good course for working with teenagers, as they are really interested in it. The conditions for grammar practice are slightly limited, so it makes sense to additionally include a grammar textbook.

7. Face 2 face, Cambridge

Structure: from Starter to Advanced
For whom: adults

A relatively new, quite good English language course. Aimed at adults. Quite a lot of attention is paid to both grammar and vocabulary, general and thematic, dedicated to life situations.

The textbook is quite dynamic and interesting, the grammar is presented quite competently and coherently. Enough attention is paid to communication tasks, especially communication in situations close to life (section “Real World”). The Help with Listening section helps develop listening skills and understand spoken English.

8. New Opportunities, Longman

Structure: from Beginners to Upper-Intermediate
For whom: for teenagers

A good five-level course designed for teenagers who are seriously studying English. Good grammar and vocabulary base. Contains cultural information, the course also has a video called “Opportunities in Britain”, documentary stories telling about life in Great Britain.

The textbook is quite heavy, both in vocabulary and grammar. Good for preliminary preparation before taking exams.

9. Oxford Team

Structure: from Elementary to Intermediate
For whom: for children: 10-13 years old

A solid three-level course based on communicative methods of language teaching, with much attention paid to language in real situations. The grammar is discussed in detail. Oxford Team consists of 12 sections.

Among the features of the structure of the textbook, it is worth noting that each section begins with a story about the journey of two children. Each section is united by one topic and contains corresponding vocabulary and texts.

The development of writing skills begins with a model text, which should initially be analyzed, and only then proceed to independent writing of the text. The sections end with a song that is in tune with the theme of the section.

10. Solutions

Structure: from Elementary to Advanced
For whom: for teenagers

A five-level course designed for teenagers. Convenient to use, since each page of the textbook is one 45-minute lesson. Good for working on grammar and vocabulary, but academic and dry, with adult themes, provides a good foundation, but is only suitable for very motivated students.

This is what a great 10 English textbooks looks like. And any of them will teach you English, if you just want to.

Bonus for our new readers!

We offer a free individual English lesson via Skype.

• exercise at home or at work anytime
• A dream teacher who is fun to learn and chat with
• guarantee of results: more than 10,000 students achieved their goal

Big and Friendly family EnglishDom

This unique manual is indispensable for those who have mastered English in basic level, but needs significant replenishment of vocabulary. In this vocabulary course, words and expressions are grouped by topic. Vocabulary is divided into main topics necessary for daily communication, work, study and travel. Words and expressions are presented in texts and dialogues, and exercises are given to practice what has been learned. An effective author's technique will help you learn a large number of words without spending hours cramming and trying to remember new material. Mastering this training course will allow you to speak English at a new level, make your speech richer and more lively, and make your communication freer.
The book is intended for students of English at a good “continuing” level (B1-B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in courses or educational institutions, with a teacher or independently.

Typical Responses.
Thanks, I've been keeping busy. - Everything is fine, things are going well.
Thanks for asking, I’m fine, how are you? - Thank you, great, what about you?
Hi, how are you doing? It's good to see you! - Hey there! How are you? I'm glad to see you. Can't complain. - Not complaining.
Can you say it again, please? - Repeat again, please. And how about you? - And you? What do you have?
To the best of my knowledge... = As far as I know... - As far as I know... As far as I know...
Good for you! - Great!
Sounds good/bad/awesome. - Sounds great./Somehow I don’t really like it./Sounds just amazing.

Mu Goodness, Blimey! - Oh my God! (slang)
It plays into my hand. - It's good for me.

Can't argue with that. - Exactly, you can’t argue with that.
How do you know? - How do you know?
That's a good one! - You said it well!
Really? Tell me more about it! - Interesting! Come on, come on...
Frankly speaking,... = Well, to be honest with you,... - Honestly speaking,...
I have no idea. - I have no idea.
I wish I knew. - I wish I knew.

Download the e-book for free in a convenient format, watch and read:
Download the book Complete course of English vocabulary, How to learn English words in order to learn them, Level B1-B2, Komarda T.G., 2016 - fileskachat.com, fast and free download.

• English language, Preparing for the OGE and the Unified State Exam, Nezheritskaya V.V., 2019 - The reference book contains information on all topics tested on the Unified State Exam and the Unified State Exam in English. The reference book will help you update your knowledge for successful... Books on English
• English language, Textbook for 7th grade, general secondary education institutions with Belarusian and Russian languages ​​of instruction, Demchenko N.V., Sevryukova T.Yu., Yukhnel N.V., Naumova E.G., Maneshina A.V. ., Maslenchenko N.A., Rybalko O.N., 2019 - Approved by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus. Books on English
• English language “excellent”, 8th grade, Manual for students, Kotlyarova M.B., Melnik T.N., 2018 - The proposed manual contains rules and exercises on English grammar for practicing lexical and grammatical skills for 8th grade students , and … Books on English
• English Vocabulary in Use, Advanced Book with Answers, Vocabulary Reference and Practice, O’Dell F., McCarthy M., 2017 - This book has been written to help you expand your vocabulary at the advanced level. You already know thousands of… Books on English

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• English for Journalists, Telen E.F., 2000 - The materials of the manual give an idea of ​​the nature and characteristics of the activities of the media in the UK and the USA, the specifics of training and ... Books on English
• Russian-English phrasebook for the practical, Zakharova K.I., 2013 - This phrasebook will provide practical assistance in all situations in which a traveler may find himself on a trip abroad. The book contains... Books on English
• English for students of law schools, Fedotova I.G., Staroselskaya N.V., Tolstopyatenko G.P., 2004 - The manual presents textual dialogical material for two-way translation, illustrating key concepts and categories of the main industries and institutions of international public ... Books on English
• The International Portfolio of Sovereign Belarus, Additional materials for reading and discussion in English lessons, Sergienko N.A., 2017 - This manual consists of eight sections, each of which is systematized and adapted for its productive use, and also contains a number of ... Books on English

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A wide vocabulary is something every English learner should strive for, because the more words you know, the more you can say. However, in addition to learning new words, you also need to learn how to correctly combine them with each other, compose sentences from them and use them in your speech. And textbooks on English vocabulary will teach you all this wisdom. We will tell you about the 7 most popular textbooks for improving your vocabulary and explain how to work with them.

We have already compiled for our readers detailed review. At the same time, we wrote that these comprehensive manuals help develop all English language skills and also expand your vocabulary. Below we will write several reasons to take a book to increase your vocabulary in addition to the universal textbook. In this review, we will introduce you to the following 7 vocabulary guides:

• English Vocabulary in Use
• Oxford Word Skills
• Test Your Vocabulary
• Keywords for Fluency
• 4000 Essential English Words
• Vocabulary in Practice
• Boost Your Vocabulary

Why do we need additional textbooks on English vocabulary?

Special aids to expand your vocabulary will allow you to:

1. Learn words effectively

Each of the presented textbooks on English vocabulary is focused on learning new words in context. You learn new vocabulary and immediately use it in practical exercises, see how it “works” in natural speech. This is the most productive and quick way replenishment of vocabulary.

2. It’s easier to express your thoughts

Of course, knowledge of grammar and conversational practice are mandatory “pillars”, without which you cannot speak English confidently. However, other things being equal, a good vocabulary will allow you to speak more beautifully and clearly. Also, if you are about to take an exam or emigrate, having a large vocabulary will make your life much easier. Of course, the main textbook provides a good supply of vocabulary for each level of knowledge, but if you want to make your speech more natural and expressive, you will need manuals for replenishing your vocabulary.

3. It is better to perceive speech by ear

Obviously, the more English words you know, the more you can understand. Therefore, we advise those who complain that they have difficulty listening to English to pay attention to such manuals. Quite often, the reason for such misunderstanding is that a person has a limited vocabulary, so our brain plays a cruel joke on us - we simply do not hear all unfamiliar words.

4. Activate vocabulary

A huge advantage of such manuals is that they focus not so much on teaching new words, but on practicing the use of various words in the English language. Surely you have heard people complain: “I already read English texts, but I speak very poorly.” The thing is that such students have extensive knowledge, that is, they recognize a word when they hear it or come across it in a text. At the same time, their active reserve is very small, that is, they cannot use in their own speech all the words that they seem to know. English vocabulary books help solve this problem: through practice and constant repetition, words move from passive to active vocabulary.

5. Reach the next level of English faster

At what level should I take this training aid? Each series of books includes textbooks for different levels of knowledge, so at any level you can choose good material for replenishing your vocabulary. If you are learning English with a teacher, you can ask him to take additional material from the textbook you like. If you study English on your own, try to regularly complete the tasks from the selected manual.

English Vocabulary in Use

Elementary	Average	Intermediate advanced	High

Publishing house

This textbook is published in the “... in Use” series, like the famous textbook by Raymond Murphy English Grammar in Use, which we wrote about in the “” review. Therefore, the format of these books is similar: each lesson unit takes up 1 spread. Theory is given on the left, practical exercises are given on the right.

There are two ways to work with this tutorial. If your vocabulary is quite limited, it is best to go from the first lesson to the last and not skip anything. If you lack knowledge on some certain topics, you can select and study them.

Exercises to expand your vocabulary in English Vocabulary in Use include tasks on choosing a word, filling in missing words in the text, crossword puzzles, writing short texts, matching a word to a picture, dividing words into groups according to some criteria, selecting definitions for idioms and phrasal verbs, selection of synonyms, etc.

Features of the textbook

If you learn English on your own, this manual will be convenient to use. At the end of the textbook there are answers to all exercises, that is, you can test yourself.

An undoubted advantage of the manual is the presence at the end of the book of a list of all words found in units. The words are written in alphabetical order, a transcription is given for each of them, you can immediately find out how the word is read correctly. In addition, each word has the page number on which it appears, so if you want to know how to use it correctly, just turn to the page you want.

Oxford Word Skills

Elementary	Average	High

Publishing house: Oxford University Press (UK).

The structure of the textbook and the principle of working with it

In this series of British vocabulary books, suitable material should be selected according to the following principle:

• Basic benefit - for Elementary levels and Pre-Intermediate.
• Intermediate manual - for Intermediate and Upper-Intermediate levels.
• Advanced manual - for Advanced and Proficiency levels.

Each book in this series contains 80 units. The lesson ranges from one to three pages depending on the topic. The blocks of theoretical material are immediately accompanied by practical exercises to consolidate knowledge. All units are divided by topic into group modules of 5 or 10 lessons. After each module in the textbook, you will be asked to take a test that will check how well you have mastered the material of all the lessons you have completed.

When working through this tutorial, you can also go in order or choose exactly those topics in which you have gaps. However, if you are learning English on your own, the first option is preferable: this way you will not miss anything important.

Tasks for replenishing vocabulary are varied: insert missing letters, find synonyms, answer questions, choose a word, insert a missing word into a phrase, etc. In addition to written exercises for vocabulary training, Oxford Word Skills includes tasks for developing speaking and listening.

Features of the textbook

The main feature of this textbook is the presence of a voiced dictionary, that is, you can listen to how all the words you study sound.

At the end of the manual there are answers to all exercises, as well as tests following each module, so this textbook can also be recommended for self-study.

There is also a list of words in alphabetical order at the end of the manual. For each of them, a transcription is given and the page number on which you will find exercises with this word is indicated.

Additional online exercises for this tutorial series can be found at elt.oup.com. Click on the link “Basic”, “Intermediate” or “Advanced”, and the exercises for the corresponding manual will be available to you.

Test Your Vocabulary

Elementary	Below the average	Average	Above average	High

Publishing house: Pearson (UK).

The structure of the textbook and the principle of working with it

Each of the five books in the Test Your Vocabulary series consists of 60 units, which occupy 1-2 pages depending on the topic. These guides for learning English vocabulary will appeal to those who like to take various tests. However, the books also contain theoretical material; it is presented briefly, in the form of a short historical or grammatical note.

Despite the fact that this series is a book with vocabulary tests, the tasks presented are very diverse. You can decide different types crossword puzzles, caption pictures, combine words into phrases, select phrases for comic book characters, etc.

The authors suggest working with the textbook as follows. To remember new words well, you need to return to them repeatedly, so make all notes in the book in pencil. After completing the exercise and self-test, remove all answers. After 1-2 months, return to the lesson and try it again. This way you will consolidate the vocabulary in your memory.

Features of the textbook

The main advantage of this series is interesting practical tests that help you quickly remember new words and the specifics of their use. At the end of each textbook you will find answers to tests and a list of words to study in alphabetical order.

Key Words for Fluency

Below the average	Average	Above average

Publishing house: Heinle (UK/Scotland/USA).

The structure of the textbook and the principle of working with it

Textbooks of the Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate levels in this series contain 22 voluminous lessons, which are divided into several parts. Each part is dedicated to 1 word. For this word you will be offered about 10-20 variants of word combinations (collocations), that is, you will see which words and how exactly the vocabulary in question can “work”. In the Upper-Intermediate level manual, words are not combined by topic, but the principle of presenting the material is the same.

You can learn and remember all these useful phrases during practical exercises. They are quite similar, but after completing them you will learn in which cases which expression should be used. In addition, many phrases contain prepositions, and students of English will confirm that it is not always easy to remember which preposition to use in a particular case. Therefore, having learned the expression completely, you will also remember well the preposition that is used in a particular phrase.

Features of the textbook

This series of textbooks is strikingly different from all other textbooks presented in our review in that you learn not new words, but new expressions. As the author of the series notes, knowing individual words is not enough for an English learner. To speak confidently, you need to know how words “cooperate” with each other, that is, in conjunction with what words they are used. Knowing such expressions will allow you to speak English faster and easier, while avoiding mistakes in the use of words.

The Pre-Intermediate level manual provides tests after studying each group of lessons; the other two textbooks do not have such testing tasks, but after a while you can return to the lesson and try to go through it again, so you will see what has stuck in your memory.

At the end of the textbooks there are answers to all tasks, as well as a list of words in alphabetical order and the pages on which they appear.

4000 Essential English Words

Level: 1	Level: 2	Level: 3
Level: 4	Level: 5	Level: 6

Publishing house: Compass Publishing (UK).

The structure of the textbook and the principle of working with it

All books in this series are suitable for people studying at the Intermediate level and above. 4000 words will just help you move to the next level, because students should have such a vocabulary at the Upper-Intermediate - Advanced level.

The 4000 Essential English Words series consists of 30 units, each of which is devoted to learning 20 new words and how to use them. Thus, by the end of all 6 textbooks, you will know 3600 words from the lessons + about 400 words from the appendices at the end of the textbook.

• Universal words. Words that are used in both formal and informal communication are offered for study. It doesn't matter what kind of English you're learning - general conversational, technical or business English - these words will definitely come in handy.
• Frequently used words. This vocabulary is widely used by native speakers orally and writing V different areas activities. You will often see these words in articles, books, news and everyday conversation.
• According to the authors, the words proposed for study cover approximately 90% of the vocabulary used in colloquial speech and modern fiction, and 80% of the vocabulary used in scientific articles and newspapers.

The lesson presents 20 new words, each of them is given a definition in English, transcription, part of speech is indicated, an example sentence is given and a picture is drawn. After this, you will be asked to do several exercises, and then read the text, which contains all the new words, and answer questions about it.

Features of the textbook

If you like to read in English, we recommend choosing this series of textbooks on English vocabulary. The presence of texts with the words you are studying will allow you to memorize words not only from exercises, as in other books, but also in context. Fascinating articles are easy to read, and therefore the words from them will be easy to remember.

At the end of the textbooks there are appendices that also indicate words useful for learning, they are presented in the form of a visual dictionary. Following the appendices is a list of words in alphabetical order, indicating the pages on which they appear in the book.

There are no answers to the exercises in the manual, so we recommend either learning English with a teacher, or purchasing an additional book with answers.

And the most interesting thing for lovers of modern teaching methods: 3 books from this series are available as an application for Android. You can install the third, fourth or fifth part of the textbook as a program for your gadget.

Vocabulary in Practice

Level: 1	Level: 2	Level: 3
Level: 4	Level: 5	Level: 6

Publishing house: Cambridge University Press (UK).

The structure of the textbook and the principle of working with it

Each of the manuals in this series consists of 30-40 units (depending on the level). After 10 lessons you will be asked to repeat the material and at the same time test yourself using a test.

• going from the first lesson to the last is an option that will allow you to study all the topics as well as possible;
• skip lessons on topics for which you have a good vocabulary, and study only topics that are new to you. After completing the training, take verification tests and, if necessary, repeat misunderstood topics.

Practical exercises are varied: you will need to select synonyms, insert missing words, solve crosswords, label objects in pictures, combine phrases for dialogue, etc.

Features of the textbook

A special feature of this edition is its emphasis on grammar. It should be noted that the manual is structured in such a way that even without theoretical explanations everything will be clear to you. If you have any difficulty, you can search for clarification on the Internet. This is also not bad: when you find answers to your questions on your own, you remember the material well.

At the end of the textbook there are answers to all exercises, as well as verification tests. There you will also find lists of words with transcriptions, divided by units.

Boost Your Vocabulary

Level: 1	Level: 2	Level: 3	Level: 4

Publishing house: Pearson Longman (UK).

The structure of the textbook and the principle of working with it

The Boost Your Vocabulary series consists of 4 editions, which should be selected according to the following principle:

• the first book is for the Beginner-Elementary level;
• the second book is for the Elementary level;
• the third book is for the Pre-Intermediate level;
• the fourth book is for the Intermediate - Upper-Intermediate level.

The manuals include 12 unit lessons, each occupying 6 pages. After every four units you will be asked to take a screening test. The author suggests the following scheme for working with it:

1. Go in order or choose a topic that interests you.
2. The first two pages of each lesson contain lists of words or expressions, this will be your own dictionary reference. Near in English words you need to write a translation. At the same time, if you study on your own, listen to the online dictionary on how to pronounce words correctly. Study them and try to remember them.
3. Do practical exercises without looking at the dictionary.
4. Check the exercises by referring to the dictionary you created.
5. Finally check your answers by referring to the keys at the end of the textbook.
6. After completing four units, take the test and, if necessary, return to the unclear topic.

There is no theoretical reference in the textbook, but it is an excellent source of practical exercises. There are tasks in the form of tests, crosswords, answering questions, word choice, etc.

Features of the textbook

At the end of the textbook, answers to self-test tasks are given. There you will also find short lexical comments for each lesson. In the units you will see marks with a REF icon, this means that for explanations you should refer to the reference book at the end of the textbook.

For those who want to track their achievements, there is a special page at the end of the textbook with Self assessment and progress check. Here you can note which topics were easy for you and do not require repetition, and which ones will need to be revised, how many words you knew before the lesson, and how many after it, etc.

We wrote about seven textbooks on English vocabulary that have been tested by time and by our teachers. You can use all of them both for self-study and in lessons with a teacher. Learning new words using such manuals will allow you not only to learn new words, but also to learn how to use them correctly in your speech, which means that speaking English will become much easier for you.

Do you want an experienced mentor to help you expand your vocabulary and speak English fluently and competently? Try it.