NECMETTIN ERBAKAN UNIVERSITY ENGLISH PREPARATORY SCHOOL RECOMMENDED SELF-STUDY ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

 

PRONUNCIATION

Pronunciation – Self-Practice

1. Minimal Pairs – Practice sound contrasts (ship/sheep, cat/cut) out loud.

2. Slow → Normal → Fast – Say the same sentence at three speeds to build fluency and accuracy in pronunciation.

3. Shadowing - Immediately repeat a speaker’s words in real time to closely imitate pronunciation to master rhythm and intonation.

4. Mouth Awareness – Watch your own mouth in a mirror when saying tricky sounds (like “th”).

5. Tongue Twisters – Practice classic ones daily (“She sells seashells…”) to improve articulation.

6. Recording & Playback – Record yourself speaking and listen back to identify pronunciation errors and track improvement over time.

Pronunciation

1. Forvo – Pronunciation dictionary by native speakers worldwide.

Pros: Hear real accents, many languages.

Cons: Not for structured practice.

2. YouGlish – Search engine for real-life English pronunciation examples in context.

Pros: Hear words in thousands of authentic YouTube videos with transcripts.

Cons: Not structured lessons, but great for contextual practice.

3. ELSA Speak – AI speaking trainer with specific focus on pronunciation with instant feedback.

Pros: Very accurate; tracks progress.

Cons: Some lessons require premium.

4. Speechling – Free coaching app with native speaker feedback and daily practice.

Pros: Record your voice, compare instantly, get corrections from coaches.

Cons: Premium unlocks more coaching, but free plan is generous.

5. LingQ (Pronunciation practice feature) – Language learning app with text + audio shadowing.

Pros: Listen, repeat, and shadow real texts with native pronunciation.

Cons: Full course features require premium, but pronunciation practice is free.

 

VOCABULARY

Vocabulary – Self-Practice

1. Word Journal – Write down 5 new words daily, add your own sentence, and review weekly.

 

2. Thematic Clusters – Group words by topics (e.g., travel, health) to strengthen associations.

3. Keyword Method – Create funny images/phrases that connect new English words with Turkish equivalents.

4. Active Recall – Cover the word and recall its meaning (paper flashcards or notebook).

5. Context Creation – Write a 3–4 sentence micro-story using newly learned words.

6. Collocations Practice – Learn words with their natural partners (e.g., make a decision, strong coffee) instead of in isolation.

7. Personal Connection – Relate the new word to your own life or experiences (e.g., delicious → "My mom’s soup is delicious.").

8. Word Maps (Mind Maps) – Draw connections by adding synonyms, antonyms, examples, and pictures around the word.

Vocabulary Tools

1. Quizlet – Flashcards, games, and quizzes for memorizing vocabulary.

Pros: User-created decks; different modes.

Cons: Quality of decks varies.

2. Memrise – Vocabulary learning with mnemonics and short video clips.

Pros: Engaging and gamified; spaced repetition.

Cons: Some advanced features require premium.

3. Anki – Spaced-repetition flashcards for self-study.

Pros: Powerful memory tool; customizable.

Cons: Steep learning curve.

4. WordUp – Focuses on frequency and real-life usage.

Pros: Personalized learning path.

Cons: Less structured for beginners.

5. Vocabulary.com – Quiz-style vocabulary learning with explanations.

Pros: Clear definitions and examples.

Cons: Website-like interface on mobile.

 

GRAMMAR

Grammar – Self-Practice

1. Sentence Transformation – Take a simple sentence and rewrite it in past, future, negative, question forms.

2. Daily Diary (Grammar Focus) – Write 3 sentences a day practicing a specific tense or structure.

3. Error Spotting – Write 10 sentences deliberately with errors, then correct them.

4. Rule Teaching – Explain a grammar point aloud as if teaching a friend (forces deeper understanding).

5. Pattern Building – Choose a grammar pattern (e.g., “used to”) and create 5 unique examples.

6. Grammar in Context – Highlight examples of a grammar point while reading or watching something in English.

Grammar Tools

1. LearnEnglish Grammar (British Council) – Structured grammar exercises.

Pros: Covers all levels; reliable source.

Cons: Grammar only, no integration with skills.

2. Johnny Grammar’s Word Challenge – Quick quiz game on grammar/vocabulary. Pros: Fun, gamified approach.

Cons: Not very detailed in explanations.

3. English Grammar Test (SevenLynx) – Comprehensive grammar quiz app.

Pros: Detailed explanations; good for test prep.

Cons: Basic design.

4. Simpli (Simpler English) – Simplifies texts, highlighting grammar structures. Pros: Helps see grammar in real context.

Cons: Free version limited.

5. Daily Grammar App – Lessons and quizzes for structured practice.

Pros: Easy to use, lesson-by-lesson progress.

Cons: Ads in free version.

6. Lingolia Grammar – Online explanations and exercises.

Pros: Clear rules with examples; available in multiple languages.
Cons: Not very interactive; mainly reading-based. Some features require premium.

 

READING

Reading – Self-Practice

1. Read Aloud – Improves both reading comprehension and pronunciation.

2. Summarize in English – After reading a paragraph, write or say a short summary in your own words.

3. Underline Unknown Words – Guess their meaning from context before checking later.

4. Skimming & Scanning Drills – Time yourself to find main ideas or details quickly.

5. Re-reading for Depth – Read the same passage three times: first for meaning, second for details, third for vocabulary focus.

6. Vocabulary Notebook – Write down 5 useful words/phrases from each text and make your own example sentences.

7. Silent Reading + Retelling – Read silently, then close the text and retell it in English without looking.

Reading Tools

1. Beelinguapp – Parallel texts with audio narration.

Pros: Side-by-side Turkish/English texts.

Cons: Free library limited.

2. LingQ – Read authentic materials, highlight and save vocabulary.

Pros: Personalized reading input.

Cons: Some content locked behind premium.

3. BBC Learning English – Stories Section – Authentic news and stories.

Pros: Updated regularly, reliable source.

Cons: UK accent focus.

4. News in Levels – News articles written at three difficulty levels.

Pros: Great for graded reading.

Cons: Limited to news genre.

5. Sözlük Plus (Türkiye-based) – Reading with fast English–Turkish dictionary support.

Pros: Useful for academic reading.

Cons: Best as support tool, not full lessons.

6. English e-Reader (https://english-e-reader.net/)

Pros: Free access to hundreds of graded short stories and books.

Cons: Some classic stories may be slightly outdated; limited interactive exercises.

 

LISTENING

Listening – Self-Practice

1. Shadowing Technique – Listen to short audio (or your own recording) and repeat immediately, imitating rhythm and intonation.

2. Dictation Practice – Listen to any audio (even a song you know) and write down what you hear.

3. Chunk Repetition – Replay a 5–10 second clip until you can repeat it fluently.

4. Pause & Predict – Stop mid-sentence and predict what comes next.

5. Re-listen with Focus – First listen for general meaning, second for specific words, third for pronunciation/intonation.

6. Summarize Aloud – After listening, close your notes and retell the main ideas in your own words.

7. Speed Variation – Play audio at 0.75x for clarity, then again at 1.25x to train faster comprehension.

Listening Tools

1. Voscreen (Türkiye-based) – Movie/TV clips with comprehension checks.

Pros: Fun, addictive; Turkish-made.

Cons: Focused on short clips, not extended listening.

2. VOA Learning English – Simplified American news with transcripts.

Pros: Good for intermediate learners.

Cons: Slower than natural speech.

3. TED-Ed – Educational short talks with subtitles.

Pros: Inspiring, academic style.

Cons: Can be advanced.

4. BBC Sounds (Learning English Podcasts) – Interviews, stories, and drama.

Pros: Wide variety of listening genres.

Cons: UK-centric.

5. Elllo.org (App) – Thousands of short listening clips with quizzes.

Pros: Many accents and topics.

Cons: Outdated interface.

6. BBC Learning English – 6 Minute English
Pros: Short, practical, focused on everyday topics.
Cons: Limited depth, only a few minutes long.

WRITING

Writing – Self-Practice

1. Daily Journal – Write 5–10 sentences about your day.

2. Timed Writing – Give yourself 10 minutes to write on any topic, no stopping, then review.

3. Paraphrasing Exercise – Take one of your sentences and rewrite it in 2–3 different ways.

4. Sentence Expansion – Start with a short sentence and gradually add details to make it more complex.

5. Peerless Editing – After a break, re-read your own writing and find 3–5 mistakes to fix.

6. Summary Writing – Read a short article or watch a video, then write a 3–5 sentence summary in your own words.

Writing Tools

1. Grammarly – Checks grammar, style, and clarity in writing.

Pros: Real-time corrections.

Cons: Advanced features require premium.

2. LanguageTool – Free grammar/style checker.

Pros: Open-source; multilingual.

Cons: Less detailed than Grammarly.
3. Write & Improve (Cambridge) – Submit essays and get instant CEFR-based feedback.

Pros: Excellent for academic prep.

Cons: Requires internet.

4. Drafts – Minimalist writing app for note-taking and practice.

Pros: Distraction-free writing.

Cons: No corrections.

5. Notion (free version) – Organize essays, drafts, and research notes.

Pros: Great for structure and planning.

Cons: Needs self-discipline, no auto-corrections.

6. Writing Pal – AI-powered writing tutor with practice exercises.

Pros: Provides guided writing strategies, feedback, and interactive tasks to build academic writing skills.

Cons: Less known than Grammarly/Write & Improve; interface may feel dated.

 

SPEAKING

Speaking – Self-Practice
1. Mirror Speaking – Talk to yourself in English for 2 minutes in front of a mirror.

2. Topic Monologues – Pick a random topic (e.g., food, travel) and speak for 1–2 minutes.

3. Self Q&A – Ask yourself a question (e.g., “What did I do yesterday?”) and answer in full sentences.

4. Record & Reflect – Record your voice daily and listen for errors or unclear parts.

5. Thinking in English – Spend 5 minutes mentally describing what you see around you in English.

6. Shadowing Practice – Listen to a short podcast or video and repeat what you hear at the same time, imitating pronunciation and intonation.

Speaking Tools

1. HelloTalk – Voice/text chat with learners worldwide.

Pros: Real interaction, cultural exchange.

Cons: Free version has limits.

2. Tandem – Language exchange via text, audio, or video.

Pros: Peer-to-peer speaking practice.

Cons: Depends on finding active partners.

3. Speak English Fluently (TalkEnglish) – Practice common phrases with audio.

Pros: Focuses on everyday conversation.

Cons: Less interactive.

4. Speechling – Record speech and compare with native audio.

Pros: Great for fluency practice.

Cons: Premium needed for tutor feedback.

5. ConversationExchange (App version) – Find speaking partners for online practice.

Pros: Free partner search tool.

Cons: Less structured, partner quality varies.

6. Speeko – AI-powered speech coach for presentations and speaking practice.
Pros: Real-time feedback on pace, tone, fillers, and intonation; progress tracking; personalized exercises.

Cons: Full features require subscription; mostly iOS/Mac (limited Android support).

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