Useful Links And Resources
Sites for General Language Practice and Reference
About.com: English as a 2nd Language
Follow Kenneth Beare’s blog, read his well-written explanations, and take his interactive quizzes. There is instruction for all levels on many different topics, from general grammar to Business English.
Activities for ESL Students
Very large collection of exercises at all levels for grammar and vocabulary. There are bilingual quizzes, too.
Englishpage.com
Useful collection of interactive exercises with text tutorials. Student forums are offered, too.
The English Wonderland
Activities for listening, reading, and grammar practice.
ESL partyland
Activities for listening, reading, and grammar practice.
ESLVideo.com
Free quizzes based on videos such as TV commercials, news reports, and music videos. There are quizzes for different levels of English.
USA Learns
The site is everything it says it is on the home page: A free site for adults to learn English and improve basic reading, writing, speaking, and life skills. The lessons are professionally designed and very well organized. Wonderful for beginners and intermediate students.
Sites for Reading Practice
National Public Radio (NPR)
U.S. and World News. Many articles have an audio recording with a transcript. The comments posted are generally well written.
StoryTimeForMe.com
This is just one example of many sites with free online stories for children. (See also Speakaboos listed below.) The narrators read clearly and slowly. You can use these kinds of stories to practice reading aloud.
Sites for Listening Practice
Archive of American Television / American Television on Youtube
Videotaped interviews with different actors, producers, directors, and more. Many provide good speech models.
Elllo
The English Listening Library Online is a great site with wonderful audio recordings of different speakers. Listen to interviews and discussions, take a multimedia quiz, and learn vocabulary in a memorable way.
PBS Public Broadcasting Station / PBS on YouTube
The U.S.-based public broadcasting station has a large collection of videos for adults and children online. The videos are good speech models. Videos range from documentaries to musical performance.
Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab
A large collection of listening quizzes for general and academic study at all levels. The quizzes come with transcripts.
Real English/ Real English on YouTube
Mike Marzio creates videos which thoughtfully expose learners to real English as it is spoken by different people around the world. His editing allows you to develop your listening skills and improve your understanding of grammar and vocabulary. The interactive quizzes are very well designed.
Speakaboos
You'll find songs and games, but the strongest resource is the collection of stories, which includes fables, nursery rhymes, and fairy tales. You can listen and read along. Not all materials are free, but the site kindly offers a whole page of Free Stuff.
Online Dictionaries
Dictionary.com
Useful online dictionary
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
A great dictionary for language learners. Common phrases and uses are highlighted. Differences between American and British English are noted.
Sites for Business English
Business English Exercises
Grammar and vocabulary exercises.
Sites for Spelling Practice
GameAquarium
Interactive spelling games.
Funbrain.com
Interactive spelling exercises.
Rhyme Zone
A rhyming dictionary that can make you aware of similar sounding words (but which may have very different spelling patterns).
The Riggs Institute
A list of spelling rules for quick reference.
YourDictionary
Start with their word scramble games. If you like those, then check out their Word Searches and other word games.YourDictionary also provides spelling rules for reference.
Sites for Young English Language Learners
ABC’s and 123’s EnglishSongsDVD.com
Basic English made fun with the use of music. The videos are for young learners, but could be useful for adults, too.
Let’s Start Smart
A fun collection of videos for young learners. The focus is on learning letters and the sounds they make. Fun and useful for adult learners, too.
Super Simple Songs / Super Simple Songs on YouTube
Absolutely wonderful material for young English language learners and children in general. I’ve shared these super songs with my own children, and they love them! Because the nature of the songs is simple and fun, adult beginners could benefit from watching them, too.
Literacy Zone
Interactive games and activities. Designed for young learners, but the words and spelling games can help adults, too.
Other YouTube Channels for Language Practice
Look out for channels I highlight each month. From poetry readings to karaoke, I try to recommend a range of channels that can help develop your language skills.
Textbooks for English Language Learners
Azar Grammar Series Azar and Hagen
A three-level grammar textbook series. Betty Azar is the original author. Stacy Hagen joined her to revise and improve the books. The books are good for self-study and have clear explanations and helpful exercises.
English Pronunciation Made Simple Dale and Poms
A pronunciation textbook with CDs. Easy to follow because it’s well organized.
