Mary's English Course

Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2012

Mary's English Course by Mary Thompson is a website that offers free courses for beginning ESL students who are looking for extra materials to study on their own and students at higher levels who need to consolidate or refresh their ability to use English.

Features:

  • Self-study courses prepared for ESL students at various levels: beginner, elementary, pre-intermediate/intermediate, upper-intermediate/advanced
  • Specially written course materials designed to help students improve their English grammar, vocabulary, and conversation skills
  • Reference section with extra resources on English and links to useful sites for both students and teachers
Site URL: http://sites.google.com/site/marysenglishcourse/home

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Learn American English Online

Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Learn American English Online is a website designed to, as its name implies, help students learn American English for free online. Divided into seven levels, the website offers lessons and exercises focusing on important aspects of English that ESL students need to master.

Features:

  • Self-contained learning program consisting of seven color-coded levels: blue, red, yellow, green, purple, orange, and violet
  • A variety of learning materials prepared for each level, including highlights of grammatical points, example sentences, reading texts, audio clips, and self-testing quizzes
  • Videos lessons to reinforce understanding of key areas of English grammar
  • Special section on everyday spoken American English, complete with listings of common American slang and popular expressions, idioms and verbal phrases, proverbs, as well as instructions on how to pronounce vowel and consonant sounds
  • Brief guide showing students how to learn English effectively
  • Thematic vocabulary exercises with Word of the Day feature
  • Practical teaching materials for ESL teachers
  • Downloadable materials in PDF format for students studying for the US citizenship test
Site URL: http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/index.html

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Radio New Zealand

Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2011

The website of Radio New Zealand is a great resource for students of English wishing to improve their listening skills. With a big, constantly updated archive of quality radio programs, the site will help students familiarize themselves with New Zealand English and at the same time improve their knowledge of New Zealand society and culture.

Features:

  • Latest programs available both for live streaming and for download as OGG and MP3 files
  • Downloadable past programs conveniently archived by genre: science & factual, society & people, Māori & Pacific, arts & culture, news & current affairs, music, drama, recipes, books
  • Podcast feeds for easy update of content via portable devices
Site URL: http://www.radionz.co.nz/

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Dictionary of Sexual Terms and Expressions

Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Sex-Lexis.com, by Farlex, Inc., is a one-of-a-kind online dictionary that enables users to look up all kinds of sexual terms and expressions that are sometimes considered taboo and as a result left out by other 'decent' reference sources.

Features:

  • Two dictionaries in one: Dictionary of Sexual Terms (24150 terms and expressions) and Dictionary of the F-Word (865 terms and expressions)
  • A wealth of information provided, including definitions, etymology notes, synonyms and slang equivalents, and illustrative quotes showing actual uses in films, books, and other real-life sources
  • Convenient cross-referencing between related entries
  • Both keyword search and alphabetical browsing possible
Site URL: http://www.sex-lexis.com/

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World English

Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2011

World English has a rich collection of free online English learning activities. Covering a broad range of topics with an emphasis on grammar and vocabulary, these activities can be used by all English learners but are most suitable to ESL students at intermediate level and above.

Features:

  • Overview of English grammar, with a timeline of English tenses and a list of all irregular verbs in English
  • Grammar exercises on key grammar points including the use of articles and prepositions, future forms, comparatives and superlatives, conditionals, modal verbs, question tags, gerunds and infinitives, reported speech, word order, and the passive voice
  • Vocabulary quick reference section, featuring useful word lists (top 500 English words, top 100 English verbs, top 100 misspelt words, 100 words for advanced learners) and brief explanations of common idioms and slang expressions
  • Vocabulary activities, with thematic vocabulary tests and special exercises on word formation, homonyms, synonyms and antonyms, confusing words, phrasal verbs, and cockney rhyming slang
  • Writing, reading, and culture activities, tests, games, puzzles, and quizzes
Site URL: http://www.world-english.org/

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Free English Grammar Lessons and Exercises at English4u

Posted on Friday, May 06, 2011

Herwig Rothländer's English4u is a great ESL website that offers free English grammar lessons and exercises online. Visitors to the site also have free access to a range of interactive activities focusing on English vocabulary and the cultures of some English-speaking countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Features:

  • Grammar lessons on key grammar points, including conditional clauses, modal verbs, the passive voice, reported speech, tenses, and word order
  • Interactive grammar exercises accompany the grammar lessons, allowing users to check for answers instantly online
  • Thematic culture and vocabulary activities, including a variety of quizzes, crosswords, cloze tests, and matching exercises
  • A special section on irregular verbs, with many interactive exercises and a full list of irregular verbs in English
  • Useful links to more ESL resources on the Internet
Site URL: http://www.english-4u.de/

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Online Engineering Writing Handbook by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto

Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Online Handbook provided by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto is a great reference source for engineering students who need to write in English. It offers clear and concise guidance on how to write different types of engineering documents as well as how to write the different parts of a standard engineering paper. Besides, there are guides to documentation, oral communication, and the writing process that students will also find useful. Printable PDF versions of the online guides are available for download.

Features:

  • Guide to understanding genre in engineering writing, with introductions to various genres: short reports, proposals, case studies, lab reports, memos, progress/interim reports, writing for electronic media
  • Guide to writing the key components of an engineering paper: abstracts/executive summaries, introductions, literature reviews, methodologies, results, discussion, conclusions
  • Guide to documenting sources in an engineering paper
  • Guide to oral communication in engineering, with tips on how to plan, practice, present, and design visual aids for an oral presentation
  • Guide to managing the writing process, from planning, outlining, and drafting, to revising, editing, and proofreading
Site URL: http://www.engineering.utoronto.ca/Directory/Student_Resources/Engineering_Communication_Program/Online_Handbook.htm

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Waylink English

Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011

Waylink English is a UK-based website providing a whole range of free English learning and teaching resources that include practice exercises, teaching materials, reference guides, and exam tips. With a user-friendly interface, the site is easy to navigate around and will be useful to ESL students at different levels of proficiency.

Features:

  • Students' section with a variety of vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, spelling, pronunciation, and reading exercises, as well as special interactive reading cards for young learners
  • Teachers' section containing many lesson plans, classroom activities, and teaching notes for teachers of ESL
  • Comprehensive guides to English grammar and academic writing, designed to provide quick reference on common problems in using English grammar and writing for academic purposes
  • Introduction to IELTS and TOEFL with useful test-taking tips
  • Listings of English teaching jobs available in various countries around the world
Site URL: http://www.waylink-english.co.uk/

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Overseas Study Information and Tips from Graduateshotline.com

Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Graduateshotline.com is a useful website for students seeking to pursue their higher education overseas. Packed with practical information and tips, the site will help aspiring students answer questions such as which college and major to choose, what to expect about tuition fees and the cost of living, and how to prepare for English proficiency and admission exams.

Features:

  • Information on studying abroad in the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and many other countries, complete with visa application tips and highlights of top universities and study programs
  • Information on standardized English language proficiency exams (TOEFL, IELTS) and college admission tests (SAT, GRE, GMAT)
  • Free practice materials for the GRE and TOEFL exams, including a downloadable GRE word list, an online GRE vocabulary builder featuring GRE words in the news, interactive GRE verbal tests with randomly selected questions, and sample TOEFL questions
Site URL: http://www.graduateshotline.com/

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ESL Reading

Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2011

ESL Reading by Kieran McGovern is a free site offering great online reading materials for ESL leaners, both adults and children. With a variety of interesting stories ranging from adapted versions of long classics such as Charles Dickens's The Signalman and Robert Louis Stevenson's The Body Snatcher to short, funny stories for children, the site is really a good place where students can sharpen their reading skills fast and in a fun way!

Features:

  • Graded interactive stories of various genres: ghost/mystery stories, strange news stories, comic stories, funny stories
  • A wealth of self-study and classroom learning resources provided, including definitions of key vocabulary words, pre-reading activities, comprehension tests, vocabulary quizzes, writing exercises, group discussion questions, and role-play ideas
  • Short video and audio clips enliven the stories and add to students' enjoyment
  • Teaching notes, tips, links, and other useful materials for ESL teachers
Site URL: http://www.eslreading.org/

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11 Rules of Writing

Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2011

11 Rules of Writing is an online English writing guide prepared by Robert A Giaquinta, who has condensed the complex mechanics of writing into eleven easy-to-remember rules. Providing clear examples of how the rules work as well as useful links to additional sources of writing theory and practice, the site is an excellent reference guide for all students learning to write in English.

Features:

  • Summary of the 11 rules of writing, complete with example sentences
  • List of references, both online in print, that provide further information on the rules and their applications
  • Glossary explaining important grammatical terms
  • FAQs on common writing, grammar, punctuation, and usage problems
  • Links to more online writing resources
Site URL: http://www.junketstudies.com/rulesofw/

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One Green Leaf

Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A unique ESL site, One Green Leaf is home to a collection of ten short environmental songs specially composed for young learners of English as a second language. Written in 1996 by Renata Suzuki and first published in a coloring book which is now sold out, the songs help children learn English while raising their awareness of the environment.

Features:

  • Designed for ESL learners but can be adapted for use with native speakers of English
  • Each song presented on its own page with an introduction, printable sheet music with lyrics, teacher's notes, and links to additional teaching resources
  • Downloadable audio versions in MP3 file format provided
Site URL: http://homepage.mac.com/deibuyagi/renata/pages/home.html

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Learn English Online at Englisch-hilfen.de

Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011

Englisch-hilfen.de is a rich resource site for ESL learners, providing hundreds of interactive lessons, exercises, tests, and games designed to build students' ability to use English in academic and everyday situations. The site also offers useful culture and test-taking information, downloadable worksheets, as well as innovative teaching tips for teachers.

Features:

  • Grammar lessons and exercises
  • Vocabulary lessons, games, and exercises, including materials to practice pronunciation, reading comprehension, spelling, and word formation
  • Grammar and vocabulary tests, with random questions for each attempt
  • Tips for speaking and writing effectively in English
  • Cultural information on English-speaking countries
  • Preparation exercises for ESL exams, complete with a list of useful sentences for use in oral exams and daily life
  • Sample lesson plans and teaching ideas for ESL teachers
  • Downloadable worksheets in printable PDF format
  • Forum for discussion of all topics related to English and English learning
Site URL: http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/index.htm

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Business TalkRadio Network

Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011

Business TalkRadio Network is an Internet radio site that broadcasts a wide variety of business-related radio programs. Listeners can hear the programs live or download them as MP3 podcasts to play on mobile devices. For advanced students of English, this site is a great source of authentic listening materials that can be used to improve their listening skills.

Features:

  • Live online broadcast of various business and lifestyle shows, from weekday shows such as Gary Kaltbaum's "The Investor's Edge" and Craig Crossman's "Computer America" to weekend-time "Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline" and "Scuba Radio with Greg the Divemaster"
  • Archive of downloadable MP3 files of past programs, conveniently arranged by show and in chronological order
  • Full broadcast schedule of all shows
Site URL: http://www.businesstalkradio.net/index.shtml

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Technical Report Writing for Engineering Students

Posted on Monday, February 07, 2011

Michael Vallance's excellent guide to technical report writing shows students how to write a standard, well-structured technical report. Clear and straightforward, the guide provides very useful advice on every stage of the report writing process, from developing the introduction, body, and conclusion to using the IEEE citation style and laying out the final report.

Features:

  • Detailed information on the features of the introduction, body, and conclusion of a technical report and clear guidelines on how to write each section, complete with examples and self-study questions
  • Concise guide to citing sources in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) style
  • Practical tips on how to lay out the report in a professional way
Site URL: http://homepage.mac.com/mvallance/student/tcs/trw1.html

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Book-Pop: Web-Enhanced Reading Adventures

Posted on Friday, February 04, 2011

Stephen Cosgrove's Book-Pop offers a nice collection of children's learning materials that include books, stories, music tunes, and coloring pages. All provided free of charge, these useful resources will help children build their reading and listening skills in a fun way.

Features:

  • Flash-based picture books to read and listen to online
  • Downloadable stories and tunes in MP3 format
  • Printable coloring books featuring characters from Cosgrove's Serendipity series
Site URL: http://www.bookpop.com/index2.html

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Free English Learning Resources from Speakspeak.com

Posted on Saturday, October 23, 2010

The Prague-based Speakspeak.com has a good collection of free English learning resources that include grammar exercises, grammar guides, and vocabulary lists. The resources can be used by ESL learners at any level but will be of special interest to those who need a basic understanding of English to work in an English-speaking environment.

Features:

  • Free English grammar exercises, divided into three levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and covering a range of areas (verbs and tenses, verb structures, conditionals, prepositions, spelling, collocations, phrasal verbs)
  • Grammar quick reference section, providing a full summary of English grammar rules, from the use of tenses to common mistakes and how to avoid them
  • Vocabulary study pages, designed to help students review and practice English idioms and business English vocabulary, from commonly used business English verbs and nouns to essential marketing words and useful phrases for speaking on the phone and writing CVs/resumes and business letters
Site URL: http://speakspeak.com/html/d_resources.htm

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John Fleming's ESL Grammar and Writing Guides

Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010

For a quick review of essential English grammar points and writing guidelines, you can consult the outlines prepared by professor John Fleming of De Anza College, California. Available for free use from his homepage, these concise, straightforward guides will help ESL students build their grammar skills and use them to produce standard, error-free writing in English.

Features:

  • Guide to using verbs and tenses, complete with a A-Z list of common verbs for easy reference
  • Guide to identifying and using nouns and articles, parallel structures, adverb clauses, adjective clauses, and noun clauses
  • Guide to writing conditional and passive sentences
  • Guide to using punctuation marks and understanding teachers' correction symbols
Site URL: http://faculty.deanza.fhda.edu/flemingjohn/

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Learn English Communicatively at WordSpark

Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2010

WordSpark is a free-to-use website where ESL students can, as Zachary Jones - the creator of the site - puts it, "learn English communicatively". With an extensive collection of fun lessons revolving around hot topics from daily news and the worlds of music, movies, literature, and the arts, the site promises to give ESL students a unique opportunity to learn and practice English while building their knowledge of popular culture.

Features:

  • Hundreds of interesting topics to explore, from 2010 Geneva Auto Show to zoo
  • Motivating lessons focusing on different language skills, including grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, and writing
  • Rich multimedia content, with photos, pictures, videos, audio clips, and PowerPoint presentations
  • Highlights and explanations of key vocabulary words used in each lesson
  • Comprehension and discussion questions provided
  • Printable PDF worksheets available for download
Site URL: http://zachary-jones.com/english

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Audio-Visual ESOL Teaching and Learning Resources at ESOL UK

Posted on Thursday, October 14, 2010

ESOL UK is a true gold mine for ESOL students who are looking to improve their English in this age of computers and the Internet. Divided into 11 sections, the site is full of exciting, downloadable audio-visual materials that have been professionally produced to help ESOL students develop essential language skills. Printable worksheets are also provided, making it a valuable resource even in classrooms where no Internet access is available.

Features:

  • UK Citizenship section: 73 graded videos about the UK and its culture, complete with downloadable transcripts in PDF format and exercises to build comprehension, reading, and spelling skills
  • Calling You section: authentic telephone conversations featuring the use of everyday spoken British English and accompanied by activities that help the student recognize and correctly use informal and formal English (worksheets in PDF format available for download)
  • Up North section: full sets of topic-based teaching materials for ESOL teachers, consisting of downloadable audio recordings, transcripts, and teaching ideas
  • Digibooks section: graded digital books with interactive comprehension, writing, and vocabulary activities (PDF booklets available for download)
  • Music section: collection of songs for use in ESOL classrooms (lyrics and worksheets available for download)
  • TV adverts section: selected TV commercials for ESOL learning (transcripts and worksheets available for download)
  • English for Food Hygiene section: interactive multimedia course specially prepared for takers of the RIPH (Royal Institute of Public Health) foundation exam, with useful audio-visual materials for ESOL students
  • English for Driving Theory section: interactive study materials developed for ESOL students who are planning to take the Driving Theory Test
  • ESOL Leeds section: video-based ESOL learning modules with downloadable videos, audio recordings, and worksheets designed to reinforce students' basic language skills, including reading, writing, and listening
  • Chat section: chat room for ESOL students
  • Talking Heads section: featured videos showing different speakers airing their opinions on a wide range of topics
Site URL: http://www.esoluk.co.uk/index.php

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Interactive Math Games and Activities for ESL Students at Aplusmath.com

Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010

Aplusmath.com is a site that offers interactive math exercises in easy English. Neatly designed and having a friendly interface, the site is particularly suitable for ESL kids who are trying to get used to the basic concepts of mathematics in English. It is also useful for ESL teachers, who can use the free tools provided by the site to create great supplementary materials for their classes.

Features:

  • Interactive flashcards (Java and non-Java) designed to teach and test both basic and advanced math skills, from addition and subtraction to simplifying fractions and recognizing geometric shapes
  • Game room, with various types of interactive games (Java and non-Java) intended to help students practice their math while having a lot of fun
  • Homework helper, an online tool that students can use to check their solutions to assigned problems
  • Automatic worksheet creator, which can generate printable and online worksheets for immediate personal or classroom use (ideal for ESL teachers who would like to integrate math-related content into their curriculum)
Site URL: http://www.aplusmath.com/

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Grammar Slammer

Posted on Thursday, October 07, 2010

Grammar Slammer is a comprehensive guide to English grammar that will come in handy when you need advice on how to deal with problematic points of English grammar. Formatted in a clear, easy-to-use style, this online grammar reference provides everything you need to know to correctly use English grammar in everyday situations, from matching verbs to subjects to using dashes and parentheses.

Features:

  • Practical tips and advice on English grammar and writing, divided into 6 sections: style and usage, capitalizing, abbreviations, punctuation, letter writing, common mistakes and choices
  • Grammar glossary, with definitions of essential grammatical terms
  • Downloadable version for offline use (ZIP format, 800 KB)
Site URL: http://englishplus.com/grammar/

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Dominic Cole's IELTS Blog

Posted on Sunday, August 08, 2010

Dominic Cole's IELTS Blog is a good place for IELTS test-takers to visit before they enter the IELTS exam room. This useful site offers everything that an IELTS candidate needs to prepare for the test, from explanations of the IELTS test format to IELTS study tips and practice exercises, all for free.

Features:

  • Comprehensive guides to all four sections of the IELTS exam (Writing, Speaking, Reading, Listening) and how to prepare for them, complete with study tips and exam-style practice materials
  • Interactive IELTS exercises designed to test IELTS candidates' knowledge of the IELTS exam and improve their IELTS test-taking skills, including using grammar and vocabulary, recognizing common mistakes, listening for key words, and writing academic content
  • Printable materials for download, including sample essays, vocabulary lists, and practice answer sheets
  • Links to a selection of free, quality IELTS preparation websites for further practice
Site URL: http://www.dcielts.com/

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Academic English Cafe

Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Academic English Cafe is a website that provides ESL students with free resources designed to help them learn and enjoy the English language. The focus of the site is on academic writing, so students looking to improve their writing skills will find quite a lot of useful study materials here.

Features:

  • Interactive grammar and writing quizzes
  • Academic writing topics for timed writing and research practice
  • Sample academic essays with grammar and writing tips
  • Graded vocabulary building games
  • Pre-designed lesson modules with integrated listening, reading, and writing activities
  • Ready-made grammar and writing handouts
  • Classified links to useful websites and online resources
Site URL: http://academicenglishcafe.com/default.aspx

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Dictionarist: Online Talking Dictionary

Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010

Dictionarist is an online multi-lingual dictionary that not only gives you definitions of English words and phrases but also translates them into 12 other languages. You can also use the dictionary to translate between various other languages besides English and learn how to pronounce the words by using the dictionary's built-in pronunciation feature. But the best thing of all is that you can download Dictionarist and install it on your computer, all for free.

Features:

  • Provides definitions of English words and their translations into Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish
  • Provides audio pronunciations for all words
  • Standalone installer versions available for download in multiple languages (compatible with Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/Win7)
Site URL: http://www.dictionarist.com/

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