Many orders for software development come to domestic specialists from foreigners, and almost all customers prefer to communicate in different languages. Some of them start learning Spanish, and some – learn English. That is why every IT specialist needs to speak the language well. This article will tell you how English will help you in your work and what resources programmers should use when learning English.
How to Learn to Speak English as an IT professional
Some people think that speaking can be improved through tutorials and online exercises, but you need to speak. Imagine that you have entirely read the Python tutorial but have not tried programming with it. Will you be able to write a quality program right away? Most likely, it will work with errors, and only after much practice will you learn to write something sensible in this language.
With English, the situation is similar: no textbook or tutorial will replace your conversational practice – look for an interlocutor ready to communicate with you in English. You can develop oral speech without leaving your home. Use the site italki.com or polyglotclub.com, and come to conversation club meetings.
Turn On Developer Podcasts
Thanks to podcasts, you can develop your English listening comprehension skills and learn helpful information about your specialty. We recommend two types of materials:
On general topics to improve knowledge of available English:
- eslpod.com – audio materials on various topics. The speakers speak slowly and clearly, so you can listen to them even at the Elementary level. Previously, the site’s materials were free, but now you need to purchase a paid account to use podcasts.
- ESL-lab.com – podcasts on general topics, divided into three levels of difficulty. There are tests for each entry; you can check how well you understood what you heard.
Visit Forums in English for IT professionals
On the forums, you can practice reading and writing in English. Communities are a valuable source of knowledge, where you can get free advice from more experienced colleagues. We recommend checking out the following forums:
- stackoverflow.com is the world’s largest and most famous forum for IT professionals. Here you can ask professional questions and chat with colleagues on free topics.
- forums.devshed.com is a popular community where English-speaking programmers from all over the world communicate.
- forum.xda-developers.com is a forum where mainly developers of mobile applications communicate.
- programmers.stackexchange.com is another excellent forum where you can ask questions and get answers from experienced colleagues.
By the way, if you urgently need to formulate a sentence or text in English, but you cannot do it, we suggest using the imtranslator.net program.
Enter a sentence or text in the language into the window, and the program will translate it for you into the selected language. Moreover, the translated text can be listened to using the built-in TTS (text to speech) module. However, try to use this site infrequently: machine translation is not always correct.
Training Courses in English for Programmers
All kinds of training programs and webinars are a source of professional knowledge and a way to improve your English proficiency. Try to learn for free from foreign experts.
- codecademy.com.
One of the most popular sites abroad with training courses for programmers. All information is presented only in English; training is free.
Integrate Watching General Videos Into Corporate Culture
To learn to speak English well and understand it, you need to know the professional vocabulary and common phrases. That is why in the process of learning English for IT, we recommend watching non-professional videos on the following sites:
- www.ted.com
The famous TED project is a source of inspiration and unique ideas. Choose lecture topics that interest you, and use subtitles if necessary.
- www.englishcentral.com
Videos from Englishcentral are good educational material for those who find it difficult to understand English speech by ear because all videos are equipped with subtitles. In addition, working with this site will not take much time: most videos take no more than 2-3 minutes.
We have tried to compile a complete guide on how to teach English to a programmer based on the experience of our teachers and students. Choose sites convenient for work and try to devote at least 30 minutes daily to them, so your English level gradually improves.
