It's time! A selection of online services that will help you go to success

Now it is impossible to imagine such a thing, but once in June, July and August it was possible to do only pleasant things. I wrote the last test, shifted in my chair at homeroom and am free as the wind. Summer was a separate little life, during which anything could happen. Someone grew up like a bamboo, someone returned to school with a keen interest in geography, someone suddenly turned out to be a Goth.

Now the vacation is at least three times shorter. And for many, it goes to passive relaxation. But this does not mean that it will not be possible to transform dramatically. Even in a beach-horizontal position, you can engage in self-development. We have compiled a selection of online services that will help you take care of yourself without unnecessary effort.

Fitness for the brain

Neuropsychologists have long proved that the most important functions of the brain — thinking, memory and attention — can be pumped with the help of cognitive training. The problem is that most exercises are not very diverse and generally quite dull. Therefore, the creators of the Wikium service have found a solution: they combined serious, truly effective simulators with bright game mechanics.

You will not have to overpower yourself also because each workout takes no more than 15 minutes a day: a warm-up and five exercises. Tasks are offered not just any, but those that develop the skills you have indicated.

Wikium mini-games will teach you to easily switch between different tasks and not be distracted by external interference, help you get rid of forgetfulness and increase the speed of learning information, quickly find the optimal solution and respond to critical situations. This, of course, is not a complete list. So the prospects are very wide.

50 simulators are available to premium account holders (9 for free use of the service). Moreover, Wikium is constantly expanding its range. For example, not so long ago two separate courses appeared: "Speed Reading" and "Emotional Intelligence".

Experts say that special techniques can increase the efficiency and speed of reading by 3-4 times. These are the techniques you will learn by taking the course "Speed Reading", which includes several unique exercises to hone the necessary skills, as well as programs for the development of attention and memory. Ultimately, the possession of speed reading will result in the fact that the preparation for some important events will be significantly reduced and there will be more free time.

With a book on life

One of the hobbies of an educated and ambitious person should be reading. We won't even describe what positive functions literature carries — everyone knows that. The question is how to fit at least an hour or two spent with a book into the modern rhythm of life. This opportunity does not come every day. However, there is a way out: listen to audio versions. They not only broaden the horizons, but also develop the skill of focusing attention.

The Storytel service has the largest audiobook library in Runet. There are more than 50 thousand works in Russian and English at your service, and the catalog is constantly expanding. There is everything your heart desires, from timeless classics to high-profile bestsellers. Now in the top, for example, the second part of Alexey Ivanov's grandiose novel "Tobol. There are few chosen ones."

Of course, everything is not limited to fiction. Business books, children's literature, non-fiction, poetry — everything fits in one application. The works are voiced by professional readers, which guarantees a good listening experience. Moreover, stars were invited to perform some hits. For example, the immortal works of Dovlatov were read by Konstantin Khabensky, Alexey Kortnev, Maxim Vitorgan, Efim Shifrin. And Edward Radzinsky – his own books. There are also real masterpieces like a collection of poems by Anna Akhmatova performed by the poetess herself.

By the way, about the application. There are a number of very useful functions there. Fast—forward allows you to enrich your intelligence faster, and slow-down allows you to better assimilate books in English. Bookmarks, syncing with other devices, recommendations, an automatic shutdown timer in case you listen before going to bed. And perhaps the most important thing is the ability to download the book to your phone and enjoy it even without Internet access. Just what you need for a vacation.

The service works by subscription. Having issued it, you get unlimited access to the entire library. Even if you listen to Stephen King, the price still won't change. And the first two weeks of use are generally free.

I am my own tutor

Many people regret that at one time they did not pay attention to English when there was such an opportunity. Knowledge of a foreign language is a very important factor for building a successful career, and it helps a lot when traveling.

The Puzzle English service offers to turn learning English into a hobby. Few people will be interested in studying according to old patterns that wander from one textbook to another. They got tired of them at school. But if the exercises are embedded in entertainment content, then the knowledge of Shakespeare's language will go much more actively. It seems like you are resting after a hard day, and in parallel you are gaining useful knowledge.

Understanding oral speech is sometimes difficult even for those who speak the language. Because of this, it is difficult to communicate with foreigners and you have to watch films in dubbing. The main feature of Puzzle English is just the training of the so—called listening. There are more than two thousand cool videos from YouTube, clips and excerpts from TV series available on the site. You can simply watch them with English and Russian subtitles or fill in video slots — play each phrase using the suggested words.

Listening, of course, should be taken when there is a certain vocabulary. Many different formats have been invented to replenish it. For example, you can set daily goals for the number of words learned and then check yourself by doing the appropriate exercises. The complexity of the new vocabulary (and other tasks on the site) is determined depending on the results of the entrance test.

Of course, there is also an opportunity to tighten up grammar — there is nowhere without it. Puzzle English teachers have recorded several hundred video tutorials with an analysis of a variety of grammatical nuances, from basic to Present Perfect Continuous. And each of them is recommended a suitable exercise.

If desired, you can choose a more traditional training model by connecting the paid service "Ticher Method". In this case, self-training sessions will alternate with online classes with a teacher. He will guide you through one of the developed programs. There are seven of them in total — for people with different levels of training. And yes, there will be exams.