Platinum Question: Learning English?

Question

English learning tools

This is probably the most, most common question that has already been answered hundreds of times, and every time is not at all the same.
I don't need to learn a language in a month, but I need to learn a language well, no matter how long it takes. Now I am a first-year student at the university and we suddenly go through grammar from scratch, which is a very good practice, but this is not enough. Not enough to read the documentation, not enough to read light novels (even adapted ones), not enough to find the answer I need on SO. It’s simply difficult for me to read all this because I have to translate every word, even if I understand what is being said, I still go to the dictionary - I’m scared that I might not understand what I read correctly.
I rate my level as pre-intermediate (certainly not higher). I chose this path for myself:
Go through Duolingo to the end (already 60%, wow) > take on Red Murphy > start reading books / watching movies, TV shows, that is, replenish vocabulary. I chose the Rosetta Stone app for listening. I also often go through grammar tests in Lingualeo and read adapted texts there, where it is possible to translate by clicking on a word.
And this is where problems arise. It would seem that I just need more words, but many advise not to memorize words, there are still those who advise me to learn them by reading a book, and others say that they are from TV shows. It is the same with other methods, and I understand that everyone chooses the way of studying for himself. But I, reading a lot of answers, just got confused and therefore I'm asking my question here to get one single concrete answer. Ways and ways of learning English? Any criticism is welcome, I would even be glad if it were present.

Answer 1

many advise not to memorize words, there are still those who advise learning them by reading a book, and others say that from TV shows

Words still need to be memorized. Another thing is that frequently used words will be remembered anyway. The best technique, but inconvenient (no pains, no gains) - writing out words in a notebook / on punch cards (ideally not from an English-Russian, but from an English-English dictionary), memorization, regular checking.
Books are a must read. There are simplified versions, if it's very tight, but I would not go down this path.
Shows/movies are a must watch. With English subs.
The main thing to understand about the dictionary is that it is divided into active, passive, and dev\null. If the memorized word is not repeated regularly, it goes into a passive dictionary (having heard, you will understand, but you yourself will not use it in speech). From the passive, the words easily go to dev\null. The repetition of the same word can be both when used in one's own speech, and when reading-listening.
Therefore, maximum immersion in the language is important. Try to avoid consuming content in any language other than the one you are learning. Books, magazines, movies/series, news, browsing, music - all in English. Another plus of this approach is that the neural network analyzes grammar better (provided that you study it from a textbook, ideally Murphy, and do not stupidly let it go by itself).
Talk to yourself in English. _Think_ in English, and don't translate from Russian into English in your head.

PS

Когда заведете детей, облегчите им жизнь - пусть учат язык с рождения. Тогда им практически не понадобится изучать грамматику\учить слова целенаправленно, сэкономите им массу времени и сил, которые можно будет потратить на что-то полезное. Но для этого придётся поработать: единственный способ это сделать, это чтобы кто-то, кто постоянно общается с ребенком, делал это только на английском (например, один из родителей) с самого рождения и первые несколько лет (в идеале, все оставшееся время, практика всем полезна).

Answer 2

every word I have to translate
my level into pre-intermediate

Your level is definitely higher - post-intermediate, maybe even post-post-intermediate.
Our criticism of you - you underestimate yourself.
PS To learn the language, you need to plow, and not pour snot on the forums.

Answer 3

every word I have to translate

So translate. They will not translate themselves. Believe me, their number is finite.

Answer 4

All of a sudden, reading visual novels helps me :) And, I thought it would be worse - I have no problems translating technical texts at all, but there are problems with everyday vocabulary, with stable turns. Although, of course, Google Translate is always open.
You need to watch / read not just anything, but what you like, so that there is an additional incentive :)

Answer 5

If you don’t like to go into the dictionary every time, then try reading books using the Ilya Frank method . The method consists in the fact that after each fragment of the sentence, its translation into Russian is given with a commentary. And then once again a whole block of text without translation and comments - only in English. This is more interesting and, in my opinion, more effective than ordinary bilingual books, where English is on the left and Russian is on the right.
And for grammar, you can try Phrasecat.com . This is a bit of a controversial resource, more for those who have a strong self-motivation to learn English. There the essence is in training grammatical constructions. You need to supplement the design yourself, from the head, but then it settles well in the head. And with each phrase you learn one grammar rule.