There are several ways how to learn a foreign language: a course, a stay abroad (perhaps after some previous study), a combination of both, or an individual study (from a book, a cassette, etc.) Naturally, people choose the most convenient way for them, which depends on their financial situation, time available and on the urgency. There are many people in our society who simply do not have time enough to attend a course regularly, not to mention the necessity to learn vocabulary, make some exercises, write essays, etc. Besides, I have met many people who are ashamed to show they are not prefect and who are reluctant to speak when feeling uncertain. They simply refuse to utter a sentence which is not perfect – but that is the only way how to learn a foreign language.

For those who do not wish or who cannot afford to go to courses and language schools, there is a way how to learn English at the time you prefer and in the place you prefer (on the condition that there is a CD-player) at the speed you choose.

The Slovak company Hemisféry published a set of 6 CDs and a book called Angličtina pre všetkých which can lead beginners as well as intermediate learners through the traps of English language. You can find here grammatical rules illustrated on sentences, typical phrases, as well as some colloquial expressions.

The advantage is that you find all rules and sentences in one section, disadvantage appears when – sometimes – the explanation is too complicated for you and you would need a teacher or a native speaker to sum it up in a simple way and give an example.

Some parts, though, are explained more minutely and perhaps more orderly than in most of the available textbooks (pronouns, comparative adjectives and adverbs). Apart from grammar, you can also learn dates and years, time expressions, telephone numbers, typical English phrases which sometimes are not translated at all (there is, there are), abbreviations, abridged expressions, phrases stressing repeated action, sentences with English adverbs – already, just, not yet, etc.

Each of the six CDs is about one hour long and contains several different sections. If you are a visual type of learner, you can look everything up in the textbook. The chosen expressions are used frequently in spoken English, and the accent on the CDs is authentic and clear at the same time.

We are recommended to use the special kind of player, Psychowalkman, which is supposed to help concentrate on the lesson learned but in my opinion, any CD-player would do. Especially for very busy people who drive a lot, I see this form of learning English as an ideal solution. Whether in a car, train, bus, tram, or in the seclusion of one‘s home, Angličtina pre všetkých can represent a good way to learn a new language. If not for everyone, for many people who have failed repeatedly to complete their study of English it may offer help to master phrases and sentences used in everyday life step by step. Z. VILIKOVSKÁ