How to Master English for Freelancers and IT Specialists

Reading out loud

This is the most potent exercise out of all here. Get any book written in English and read it aloud with the same audiobook playing in the background. Just repeat this by using an audiobook and reading the words simultaneously. This method, often referred to as 'shadowing ', involves listening to a native speaker while simultaneously trying to repeat what they are saying. It is a 'cheating way' to learn English because it helps you mimic native speakers' intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation. After a month of doing that, your pronunciation will be perfect.

Don’t take complex books, though. I don’t suggest getting into fiction because it often contains complex words that you may not know. Start with non-fiction books, which are usually written in a more straightforward language and cover a wide range of topics, and then you can slowly move to reading everything.

Here are some outstanding books you should start from:

Switch all languages to English.

Your phone, GitHub account, IDE, laptop, weekend games, YouTube, social media, Alexa, etc.- everything has to be in English. This means changing the language settings on your devices, using English versions of software and applications, and consuming English content. It will help you transition from “Speaking English” to “Thinking English.”

Here is a starting list of everything you have to switch on English:

Social Media apps
Phone
PC / Laptop
AI assistant
Google
Streaming services (YouTube, Netflix, etc.)

Switch to English Internet

Slowly start transitioning to using Google in English. Start watching English YouTube channels. There are alternatives for all the channels you are currently watching. Start following English-speaking influencers on social media.

It may be challenging at the beginning to find video resources with subtitles; here are some services you have to check out:

Start producing English Content.

You can’t learn without practicing; the best practice is a 'cringe public practice '. This means putting yourself in situations where you have to speak English in front of others, even if it feels uncomfortable or embarrassing at first. Produce podcasts, videos, or articles in English for public use. With that, you will learn not only how to speak English but also how to speak so that people listen. It will make you pay attention to how others talk and notice the small details that make a difference.

I suggest starting from LinkedIn because it has the easiest English and a very supportive community. You can also try Twitter or Threads.

Join (or create) the English Speaking club.

Toast has a pretty small community in Ukraine, but there are a couple of more paid English learning groups. It is important to join one so that you can learn how to debate. Participating in an English-speaking club or community provides a supportive environment for practicing your English skills, receiving feedback, and learning from others. If there is no such group, just create one with your friends and debate on anything.

Some already existing international English-speaking communities:

Join English Speaking Communities

There are a lot of study buddy and language exchange communities in Discord where you can find great friends. I have found my wife there, lol, and you can find a friend with whom you can chat in English daily. I have got the list of the most active communities I am a part of:

Learning Communities

The English Crew – https://discord.gg/UzZwHSUUpX

Language Learning Community – https://discord.gg/language-learning-community-634078414332231681

Bluelearn – https://discord.gg/bluelearn

Study Together – https://discord.gg/study

Startups

Startups & Entrepreneurship – https://discord.gg/Qu4fHXc54r

Entrepreneur – https://discord.gg/NyjduFNYvj

Freelance and programming

KavunUA – https://discord.gg/Ww2RCJNje7

The Coding Den – The Coding Den – Discord Server (disforge.com)

Spend some time in English speaking country.

Not everyone has this opportunity right now, but spending one year in the US was the final dot for me in learning English. First, you will have trouble understanding day-to-day talks for a couple of weeks, but then they will become natural for you. Immersing yourself in an English-speaking environment accelerates your language-learning process, improves your fluency, and exposes you to different accents and dialects. If you can afford it, go to a foreign country once you have at least a B2 level of English.