English from scratch: books, movies and podcasts

Learning English from scratch is an exciting process that has long gone beyond the limits in foreign language courses. Practice can be made by using books and smartphones. We have already shared a few tips on how to start learning English from scratch, so in this article, we emphasize resources that help enhance knowledge of a foreign language for students at the Beginner and Elementary levels.

Contents

1. Books that will help you learn English from scratch
2. English from scratch: movies and series with simple vocabulary
    2.1. Cartoons and TV teen series for people with a basic level of English
    2.2. Learn English from scratch with the help of educational videos
3. Learning English from scratch through podcasts

Books that will help you learn English from scratch

Reading in English helps you expand vocabulary, reinforce grammar, and improve spelling. English-language books are available in various electronic and audio formats, adaptable to specific language proficiency levels. The wide variety of literature for beginners allows one to choose the best option for reading. The best choice includes adapted books, short children's stories, fairy tales, and comics.

Familiar to everyone, these books for children will captivate even adults who are learning the language from scratch:

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain) – the vocabulary of the story will be understandable even to those who have just started learning English;
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll) – a list of recommended books for people who barely know English typically does not go without this novel. 
• Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe) – a familiar childhood story that is easily understood even at the A1 level of English.

When it comes to choosing books to learn English from scratch, pick up some interesting genres and formats for reading. Reread classic works in the original, for example: The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway), Round the World in 80 Days (Jules Verne), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle), Murder on the Orient Express (Agatha Christie).

Another option for reading is to explore scripts from movies you have already watched. They often contain plenty of dialogues, simple vocabulary, and grammar. On top of that, recalling specific scenes from the film can help you predict the meanings of many words.

English from scratch: movies and series with simple vocabulary

Learning a foreign language through movies and series is the most enjoyable way to enrich your vocabulary and boost listening comprehension. Additionally, language videos in the original help you discover more idiomatic expressions, slang, and acquire culture and traditions of another country. Nevertheless, content with simple vocabulary can be found for everybody at a Beginner level.

Start watching movies and series with subtitles in a language you understand, then gradually move to ones in original as you feel confident. It is much easier to start with those movies and series that you have already seen in dubbing. Here are some popular movies for English level A1:

• The Jungle Book (2016);
• Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001);
• Forrest Gump (1994);
• Twilight (2008);
• The Holiday (2006).

There is a win-win option for beginners including such series as "Friends" (1994-2004) and "Alf" (1986-1990). On the internet, a vast array of series with subtitles can be found for those who have just started learning a foreign language from scratch.

• The humoristic show with straightforward and comprehensible dialogues, "Extr@" (2002-2004) is an ideal option for those at the beginner level in English.
• How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) – an American comedy TV series with an easily understandable plot and everyday dialogues.
• London Central (2014) – a youth educational series with basic phrases for beginners.
• The vivid language and short duration of "Modern Family" (2009-2020) make it an excellent choice for learning a foreign language by means of watching TV series from scratch.

Cartoons and TV teen series for people with a basic level of English

Cartoons in a foreign language for a young audience usually go without complex grammatical structures or slang expressions:

• Lady and the Tramp (1955) – a cartoon for those who are about to start watching something in English;
• Finding Nemo (2003) – an understandable plot accompanied by straightforward dialogues;
• Song of the Sea (2014) – here comes good animation for those learning English from scratch;
• Up (2009) – a cute and exciting story that will suit beginners.

Learn English from scratch with the help of educational videos

By using educational videos on various topics, you can reinforce grammar knowledge, expand vocabulary, and improve communication skills. Short clips may come with subtitles, explanations from the instructor, and additional exercises.

Here are some popular channels where videos can be found for those learning the language from scratch including:

• Learn English with James;
• BBC Learning English;
• Linguamarina;
• British Council | LearnEnglish;
• Інгліш Шоу;
• English Spot.

On YouTube, not only educational videos are helpful but also thematic content with simple vocabulary. Most thematic channels allow you to add English subtitles for their videos in the settings.

Learning English from scratch through podcasts

Listening often becomes one of the most challenging stages in learning a foreign language, especially for those starting from scratch. While you may be familiar with grammar rules and have a rich vocabulary, understanding English when being spoken and translating in real-time can be difficult. Podcasts for beginners can help you quickly adapt to spoken English, even if you are at the Beginner or Elementary level. Their distinctive features include simple vocabulary and a slow storytelling pace.

• Learn English Podcasts від British Council – short episodes with everyday life situations are good for those who barely know English, there is also transcription and a test;
• Everyday vocabulary on the BBC's 6-Minute English podcast is presented through simple dialogues. In addition to audio, transcription and dictionary are available;
• TED Podcasts in the original designed for those learning English from scratch are available on multiple platforms for listening;
• Voice of America: Learning English offers many topics for beginners with short audio tracks and additional materials vades on the topic;
• 10 Things That Scare Me – short monologues of people sharing their fears. There are episodes, each of them has a transcript.

To maximize the effectiveness of podcasts, listening to them regularly is a must. Choose topics that interest you, read the transcripts, and write down unfamiliar words. Practice the words and phrases you hear in conversations with your teacher or fellow students in English courses for beginners.