Websites and Apps for Students
Good for any level
ESL Lounge
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/index.php
An excellent grammar resource website for elementary to advanced learners. There is a huge array of exercises for all levels including a great section on phrasal verbs. Reading, listening and vocabulary exercises are also available. There is a large assortment of games: storyboard-text reconstruction, word search and crossword puzzles and of course hangman, which is really fun.
Paper 53
is actually a drawing app but can be adapted to language learning use. Visual/tactile learners may find it especially helpful since it allows users to keep an almost unlimited number of drawings and/or notes in an easily accessible, compact format. Users create notebooks which they can fill with field notes throughout the week. Finished drawings and notes may be shared via Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, or email. More artsy students may wish to invest in additional drawing tools.
is actually a drawing app but can be adapted to language learning use. Visual/tactile learners may find it especially helpful since it allows users to keep an almost unlimited number of drawings and/or notes in an easily accessible, compact format. Users create notebooks which they can fill with field notes throughout the week. Finished drawings and notes may be shared via Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, or email. More artsy students may wish to invest in additional drawing tools.
Beginner Level
Designed for beginners, this website has free audio lessons available. It is British-based so the accents are Scottish.
This is an excellent resource for beginners. It teaches reading, speaking and writing skills in fun, easy lessons. The lessons are based on the lives of three main characters in different life situations. The first ten lessons are free and each level after that is $2. Each lesson covers basic vocabulary that is used in specific situations. The lesson I watched was "introductions". It showed the cartoon characters meeting each other and saying goodbye.
Memrise: Beginning to Intermediate levels
http://www.memrise.com/courses/english/
Memrise is an excellent resource for visual learners. The focus of the lessons I tried was on vocabulary. The website allows users to browse free courses and apparently permit them to study as many languages as they wish at one time. I tried beginning Korean and French and Intermediate English. The Korean lessons assume you have the ability to type Korean characters which is why I switched to French. At least I had a chance of typing the correct word! Users add “mems” or memory aids for each word. Mems I’ve seen are YouTube videos, homemade clipart, and photographs. Some of the words have audio pronunciation guides which are very helpful. I noticed both British and American accents in the English section.
http://www.memrise.com/courses/english/
Memrise is an excellent resource for visual learners. The focus of the lessons I tried was on vocabulary. The website allows users to browse free courses and apparently permit them to study as many languages as they wish at one time. I tried beginning Korean and French and Intermediate English. The Korean lessons assume you have the ability to type Korean characters which is why I switched to French. At least I had a chance of typing the correct word! Users add “mems” or memory aids for each word. Mems I’ve seen are YouTube videos, homemade clipart, and photographs. Some of the words have audio pronunciation guides which are very helpful. I noticed both British and American accents in the English section.
English Conversation
The English Conversation app is based on British English and would be an excellent resource for anyone who would be studying in the UK. There are one hundred free lessons based on practical themes such as answering the telephone. The English in Context lessons lead to a YouTube videos published by Anglo-link which have British narrators. The conversations are typed onto the screen as they are spoken and the fonts change color with each speaker. For example, all the words the office receptionist says appear in blue font and all the words the caller says appear in green font making it easy to follow who is saying what. The one possible problem is the heavy British influence. Several of the expressions are rarely used in American English, if at all.
The English Conversation app is based on British English and would be an excellent resource for anyone who would be studying in the UK. There are one hundred free lessons based on practical themes such as answering the telephone. The English in Context lessons lead to a YouTube videos published by Anglo-link which have British narrators. The conversations are typed onto the screen as they are spoken and the fonts change color with each speaker. For example, all the words the office receptionist says appear in blue font and all the words the caller says appear in green font making it easy to follow who is saying what. The one possible problem is the heavy British influence. Several of the expressions are rarely used in American English, if at all.
Action Words
Designed for children, this is a wonderful resource for visual learners. There is no explicit instruction. The narrator says a word and users touch one four pictures only one of which is a logical depiction of the word. Correct answers are signaled by a green check mark.
Designed for children, this is a wonderful resource for visual learners. There is no explicit instruction. The narrator says a word and users touch one four pictures only one of which is a logical depiction of the word. Correct answers are signaled by a green check mark.
Comparative Adjectives
This app is designed in the same way as the Action Words shown above. Users are show two or three pictures and asked questions like "Which is the softest toy?" When the right picture is touched, the narrator says "Good job!" and a big green check mark appears next to the picture. Also like Action Words, there is no explicit vocabulary instruction; only practice.
This app is designed in the same way as the Action Words shown above. Users are show two or three pictures and asked questions like "Which is the softest toy?" When the right picture is touched, the narrator says "Good job!" and a big green check mark appears next to the picture. Also like Action Words, there is no explicit vocabulary instruction; only practice.
Grammar
Published by the British Council also has an excellent user interface. Free samples are offered for all three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. The samples cover four grammar points each topic. This app is best for beginning to intermediate students because even the topics covered at the advanced level are not very complicated. For example, the advanced level offers lessons on the simple past, the present perfect continuous, mixed conditionals, and structures that express regret.
At the elementary level, users are prompted to fill in blanks with the correct form of a word and given string of words to unscramble into logical sentences. A third task type requests users to type in their answers. The quizzes incorporate listening comprehension in addition to reading and writing. At the end of each sample, users are asked if they wish to purchase the rest of the lesson pack which are offered at $0.99 each. There are two beginner packs, three elementary, two intermediate, and two advanced.
Published by the British Council also has an excellent user interface. Free samples are offered for all three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. The samples cover four grammar points each topic. This app is best for beginning to intermediate students because even the topics covered at the advanced level are not very complicated. For example, the advanced level offers lessons on the simple past, the present perfect continuous, mixed conditionals, and structures that express regret.
At the elementary level, users are prompted to fill in blanks with the correct form of a word and given string of words to unscramble into logical sentences. A third task type requests users to type in their answers. The quizzes incorporate listening comprehension in addition to reading and writing. At the end of each sample, users are asked if they wish to purchase the rest of the lesson pack which are offered at $0.99 each. There are two beginner packs, three elementary, two intermediate, and two advanced.
Intermediate
Duolingo
I've had a lot of fun with this app while trying out the Spanish section. Lessons are centered around a particular grammar point which is tested at the end of the level. New language is presented in print and audio format by native speakers of the target language. There is a turtle icon that will replay the audio at a slower pace in case you have a hard time deciphering what the narrator is saying. The only frustrating aspect is that once you test out of the first 29 lessons, you must challenge each consecutive level by itself in the order they are presented. For example, I wanted to jump to subjunctives but I have to test out of all the lessons that come before that one before it will let me into the subjunctive lesson.
The app was designed to keep learners motivated with small, easy steps and points awarded for the successful completion of each lesson. There is a tracking chart that shows your progress in the number of words you know or have learned over the last few days. It also has a "share" feature allowing you to show your progress to your friends if so inclined. English and Spanish are just two several languages offered.
The program is so good I can't believe it's free!
I've had a lot of fun with this app while trying out the Spanish section. Lessons are centered around a particular grammar point which is tested at the end of the level. New language is presented in print and audio format by native speakers of the target language. There is a turtle icon that will replay the audio at a slower pace in case you have a hard time deciphering what the narrator is saying. The only frustrating aspect is that once you test out of the first 29 lessons, you must challenge each consecutive level by itself in the order they are presented. For example, I wanted to jump to subjunctives but I have to test out of all the lessons that come before that one before it will let me into the subjunctive lesson.
The app was designed to keep learners motivated with small, easy steps and points awarded for the successful completion of each lesson. There is a tracking chart that shows your progress in the number of words you know or have learned over the last few days. It also has a "share" feature allowing you to show your progress to your friends if so inclined. English and Spanish are just two several languages offered.
The program is so good I can't believe it's free!
Learn American English Online
http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/
One of my students found this website for me. It offers a lot of free resources for the beginning to intermediate levels. Most of the lessons are on grammar which are arranged into 7 levels according to difficulty (blue, red, yellow, green, purple, orange, and violet). Users can hear the text examples by clicking on an audio icon at the top of the lesson and sometimes there is a video tutorial on the grammar point. The best feature of the site is that it gives good information while still keeping it free.
http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/
One of my students found this website for me. It offers a lot of free resources for the beginning to intermediate levels. Most of the lessons are on grammar which are arranged into 7 levels according to difficulty (blue, red, yellow, green, purple, orange, and violet). Users can hear the text examples by clicking on an audio icon at the top of the lesson and sometimes there is a video tutorial on the grammar point. The best feature of the site is that it gives good information while still keeping it free.
English Club
http://www.englishclub.com/
This website is great for both teachers and students. A really strong calling card for learners is its chat-room opportunity.
http://www.englishclub.com/
This website is great for both teachers and students. A really strong calling card for learners is its chat-room opportunity.
My Language Exchange
http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/penpals.asp
A penpal program that provides a huge, and I mean HUGE database of participants. There were hundreds of posts from Americans learning other languages. I didn't even look at the posts from participants who wanted to learn English. I suggest the site for intermediate learners and above since you will need to be able to carry on at least a basic conversation with your pen pal.
Link to form of students searching for a penpal: http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Search.asp?selX3=
http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/penpals.asp
A penpal program that provides a huge, and I mean HUGE database of participants. There were hundreds of posts from Americans learning other languages. I didn't even look at the posts from participants who wanted to learn English. I suggest the site for intermediate learners and above since you will need to be able to carry on at least a basic conversation with your pen pal.
Link to form of students searching for a penpal: http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Search.asp?selX3=
Phrasalstein
Put out by Cambridge, this app teaches a whole lot of phrasal verbs used in both British and American English. It is designed around a horror movie theme and may not be suitable for children since some of the illustrations and kind of gruesome. Dracula drinks blood to perk himself up.
Users choose from lists of verbs and prepositions. They press the "view" button, the laboratory doors close and open again to reveal a short animation that helps them remember the phrase. The verb is used in a sentence that reinforces the animation.
Put out by Cambridge, this app teaches a whole lot of phrasal verbs used in both British and American English. It is designed around a horror movie theme and may not be suitable for children since some of the illustrations and kind of gruesome. Dracula drinks blood to perk himself up.
Users choose from lists of verbs and prepositions. They press the "view" button, the laboratory doors close and open again to reveal a short animation that helps them remember the phrase. The verb is used in a sentence that reinforces the animation.
English Monstruo
Cambridge noted that after reviewing the spelling errors made on around 200,000 of their exams, they created this app for native Spanish speakers learning English. The game I tried out would work with any language background. The player has to "open" a padlock by aligning three correctly spelled words.
Cambridge noted that after reviewing the spelling errors made on around 200,000 of their exams, they created this app for native Spanish speakers learning English. The game I tried out would work with any language background. The player has to "open" a padlock by aligning three correctly spelled words.
Speaking Pal
offers an acceptable substitute for live conversation practice at the beginning to intermediate levels. Users watch short videos of conversations and then try responding to the same questions the actors have asked and answered in the videos. During this practice time, the actor looks straight into the camera and asks the question so it is a good simulation of conversation.
offers an acceptable substitute for live conversation practice at the beginning to intermediate levels. Users watch short videos of conversations and then try responding to the same questions the actors have asked and answered in the videos. During this practice time, the actor looks straight into the camera and asks the question so it is a good simulation of conversation.
Listening Master
is a rather cheesy gaming app that purportedly teaches listening skills. I’m not going to argue with the authors since anything with intelligible speech could count as listening practice. The app would probably meet the most success among high schoolers or competitive adults that love games like jeopardy. Users spin a wheel and listen to a short lecture on a topic (harmonica, for instance). The user can choose to replay the audio or answer a multiple-choice comprehension question. If the question is answered correctly, the player’s grade increases by a half point. Starting at C, the grade works up C+, B or down C-, D. Depending on the students’ background knowledge and listening ability, the app could be fun or an exercise in frustration.
is a rather cheesy gaming app that purportedly teaches listening skills. I’m not going to argue with the authors since anything with intelligible speech could count as listening practice. The app would probably meet the most success among high schoolers or competitive adults that love games like jeopardy. Users spin a wheel and listen to a short lecture on a topic (harmonica, for instance). The user can choose to replay the audio or answer a multiple-choice comprehension question. If the question is answered correctly, the player’s grade increases by a half point. Starting at C, the grade works up C+, B or down C-, D. Depending on the students’ background knowledge and listening ability, the app could be fun or an exercise in frustration.
LearnEnglish,
designed by the British Council offers listening and reading practice for intermediate learners. There are three series of lessons with 10-12 episodes each. The episodes are themed much like a functional syllabus. Topics in the first series include “a weekend away”, and “talking about traveling problems”. The accents of the readers are distinctively British and may confuse students who need to understand American English. The performances are fairly authentic and the lines of text are highlighted as they are read. The app would be a good resource for anyone going to Britain.
designed by the British Council offers listening and reading practice for intermediate learners. There are three series of lessons with 10-12 episodes each. The episodes are themed much like a functional syllabus. Topics in the first series include “a weekend away”, and “talking about traveling problems”. The accents of the readers are distinctively British and may confuse students who need to understand American English. The performances are fairly authentic and the lines of text are highlighted as they are read. The app would be a good resource for anyone going to Britain.
Fiesta ESL
Resources for English Learners
Recursos para Estudiates de Inglés
www.fiestaesl.com
Geared toward Hispanic background English learners, this is a great site for the intermediate to advanced levels. It explains the use of phrasal and prepositional verbs, first, second and third conditional statements, participial adjectives, and common mistakes made by Hispanic students such as confusing the gerund and infinitive constructions when translating from Spanish into English.
Resources for English Learners
Recursos para Estudiates de Inglés
www.fiestaesl.com
Geared toward Hispanic background English learners, this is a great site for the intermediate to advanced levels. It explains the use of phrasal and prepositional verbs, first, second and third conditional statements, participial adjectives, and common mistakes made by Hispanic students such as confusing the gerund and infinitive constructions when translating from Spanish into English.
English Grammar
www.englishgrammar.org/
An easy guide to basic grammar terms and writing tips accompanied by pdf. downloads on simple structures. This is a good site for students with no formal academic background.
www.englishgrammar.org/
An easy guide to basic grammar terms and writing tips accompanied by pdf. downloads on simple structures. This is a good site for students with no formal academic background.
Advanced
ESL Notes offers movie guides to dozens of films both classic and modern. The guides are free pdf downloads that cover key vocabulary in the same sequence it occurs in the movie.
Livemocha: Beginning to Advanced
http://livemocha.com/
Livemocha is a language learning network of lesson plans created by native speakers around the world. The feature I like the most is that users can buy lessons they want using points they earn from giving feedback on others. For example, my first language is English so I can earn points by giving feedback to others who are learning English. I want to learn Spanish so I can upload my responses to language prompts and have them rated by a native Spanish speaker. It looks like a win-win situation to me. My only complaint is that the server doesn’t always work. I have been on the website several times today and I have gotten the “come back later” notification twice. This is definitely a website I will be exploring further.
http://livemocha.com/
Livemocha is a language learning network of lesson plans created by native speakers around the world. The feature I like the most is that users can buy lessons they want using points they earn from giving feedback on others. For example, my first language is English so I can earn points by giving feedback to others who are learning English. I want to learn Spanish so I can upload my responses to language prompts and have them rated by a native Spanish speaker. It looks like a win-win situation to me. My only complaint is that the server doesn’t always work. I have been on the website several times today and I have gotten the “come back later” notification twice. This is definitely a website I will be exploring further.
Audible
links to Amazon and targets books lovers. Once signed in, the user may choose to listen to an excerpt (usually the beginning) of a popular book. The remainder of the book must be purchased. The narration is very high quality and the books vary in difficulty. However, as there is no text to read, this app would make excellent extensive listening practice. Advanced learners could listen to the free portion of a book, take notes, and write a report on that section. Care must be taken to ensure the book they have chosen is not above their capability since written material is much denser in its content that regular spoken discourse. Novels with lots of dialogue are probably the best choice.
links to Amazon and targets books lovers. Once signed in, the user may choose to listen to an excerpt (usually the beginning) of a popular book. The remainder of the book must be purchased. The narration is very high quality and the books vary in difficulty. However, as there is no text to read, this app would make excellent extensive listening practice. Advanced learners could listen to the free portion of a book, take notes, and write a report on that section. Care must be taken to ensure the book they have chosen is not above their capability since written material is much denser in its content that regular spoken discourse. Novels with lots of dialogue are probably the best choice.
Supiki
is based on the same principle as Speaking Pal but has a little less scaffolding. It could be used with high-intermediate to advanced students who still need to improve their listen-and-respond speed. Users watch a video with captions and later practice the phrases used in the video in conversation prompts similar to the ones heard in the video.
is based on the same principle as Speaking Pal but has a little less scaffolding. It could be used with high-intermediate to advanced students who still need to improve their listen-and-respond speed. Users watch a video with captions and later practice the phrases used in the video in conversation prompts similar to the ones heard in the video.
English Page
http://www.englishpage.com/
A little sparse as far as content but, good links for the listening lounge and reading room. The site also offers free lessons on grammar topics and phrasal verbs.
http://www.englishpage.com/
A little sparse as far as content but, good links for the listening lounge and reading room. The site also offers free lessons on grammar topics and phrasal verbs.