Free ways to keep your English moving

A short, hand-picked list of free resources, plus notes on the mistakes Russian speakers make most often. No sign-up, no adverts.

Resources worth your time

Listening

BBC Learning English

Short programmes like 6 Minute English, with transcripts and vocabulary lists.

Courses

British Council LearnEnglish

Grammar and vocabulary lessons organised by level, A1 to C1.

Dictionary

Cambridge Dictionary

Clear definitions, UK and US pronunciation, and example sentences.

Pronunciation

YouGlish

Hear any word or phrase spoken in real videos by native speakers.

Collocations

Oxford Collocations (ozdic)

Find which words naturally go together: make a decision, do homework.

Practice

EnglishPage

Tense explanations with self-check exercises.

Common mistakes for Russian speakers

Instead ofSayWhy
I am agree.I agree.Agree is a verb, so it doesn't need be.
I live here since 2020.I've lived here since 2020.For a situation that started in the past and continues now, use present perfect.
She explained me the rule.She explained the rule to me.Explain takes to before the person.
I want that you come.I want you to come.Want + object + infinitive, not a that-clause.
How it works?How does it work?Questions need the auxiliary do/does before the subject.
I have 25 years.I'm 25.Age goes with be in English.
Informations, advicesinformation, adviceThese nouns are uncountable: a piece of advice.
I went to the home.I went home.Home after verbs of movement takes no article or preposition.

A 20-minute daily routine

  1. 5 minutes listening. One short BBC episode. Listen once without the transcript, then once with it.
  2. 5 minutes shadowing. Pick three sentences and repeat them aloud, copying the rhythm and stress.
  3. 5 minutes vocabulary. Write down five new phrases in context, not single words.
  4. 5 minutes writing. Write a few sentences about your day using at least two of the new phrases.

Consistency matters more than length: twenty minutes every day beats two hours once a week.