📚 English Study
A curated collection of English learning resources specifically for technical professionals and AI practitioners.
🎯 Essential Resources
New General Service List (NGSL) (opens in a new tab)
The NGSL is a carefully selected list of the most important words in General English, created through analysis of over 273 million words from the Cambridge English Corpus.
Key Features:
- 2,800+ high-frequency words that cover ~90% of general English texts
- Research-based vocabulary for effective learning
- Essential for technical professionals working in English environments
- Foundation for academic and business communication
Why It Matters for Tech Professionals:
- Documentation Reading: Most technical documentation uses these core words
- Communication: Essential for meetings, presentations, and emails
- Learning Foundation: Base vocabulary before technical terminology
- Professional Growth: Critical for career advancement in tech
📖 Study Approach
1. Vocabulary Foundation
- Start with NGSL words for general English proficiency
- Focus on words most relevant to your field
- Practice using words in technical contexts
2. Technical English Integration
- Combine NGSL vocabulary with domain-specific terms
- Read technical blogs, papers, and documentation
- Practice explaining technical concepts in English
3. Active Usage
- Write technical summaries in English
- Participate in English-speaking tech communities
- Present technical concepts to others
🛠️ Learning Tools
Vocabulary Builders
- Anki/Flashcards: Create custom decks with NGSL + technical terms
- ** spaced repetition**: Review words at optimal intervals
- Context learning: Learn words within sentences
Reading Practice
- Technical Blogs: Medium, Dev.to, Hacker News
- Documentation: Open source project READMEs, API docs
- Research Papers: arXiv, academic papers in your field
Writing Practice
- Code Comments: Write clear, professional comments
- Technical Summaries: Summarize articles in your own words
- Blog Posts: Share your learning journey in English
📊 Progress Tracking
Weekly Goals
- Learn 20-30 new NGSL words
- Write 3-5 technical summaries
- Read 2-3 technical articles
- Practice speaking with technical vocabulary
Monthly Milestones
- Complete NGSL core vocabulary (2-3 months)
- Read one technical book in English
- Participate in English technical discussions
- Present a technical concept in English
🌐 Recommended Resources
Study Materials
- Grammar: English Grammar in Use (Cambridge)
- Writing: Technical Writing courses on Coursera
- Speaking: Toastmasters, language exchange apps
- Reading: Technical blogs, research papers
Practice Platforms
- GitHub: Read and contribute to projects
- Stack Overflow: Ask and answer technical questions
- Reddit: r/programming, r/MachineLearning communities
- LinkedIn: Professional English networking
💡 Tips for Technical Professionals
Efficient Learning
- Focus on relevant vocabulary: Prioritize words used in your field
- Context-based learning: Learn through technical materials
- Consistent practice: Daily 15-30 minutes is better than weekly cramming
- Active usage: Apply learned vocabulary immediately
Integration Strategy
- Start with documentation: Read English docs for tools you use
- Code in English: Write comments and commit messages in English
- Community participation: Join English-speaking tech communities
- Teach others: Explain concepts in English to reinforce learning
🎓 Success Metrics
Short-term (1-3 months)
- Comfortable reading technical documentation
- Basic technical writing in English
- Participation in English tech discussions
Long-term (6-12 months)
- Fluent technical communication
- Professional writing skills
- Confidence in technical presentations
🚀 Next Steps
- Start with NGSL: Begin with the most frequent 2,800 words
- Create study plan: Set realistic daily/weekly goals
- Find study partners: Connect with other English-learning tech professionals
- Track progress: Use apps or journals to monitor improvement
- Stay consistent: Regular practice is key to long-term success
Last updated: November 27, 2025
Remember: Learning English is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency and context-based learning will yield the best results for technical professionals.