Resources For Learning English
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This document provides resources for practicing English skills independently or in class across six main areas: 1) Reading comprehension through various news websites, 2) Listening comprehension through news broadcasts, speeches, music lyrics, and dictation exercises, 3) Writing resources from Purdue University and the Chicago Style Manual, 4) Grammar, vocabulary, and TOEFL practice through various exercises and tests, 5) Business English websites, 6) Additional resources for planning English discussion classes including lesson plans, forums, and examples of other "American Corner" language exchange clubs. A variety of websites are outlined covering listening, reading, speaking, writing, grammar, and vocabulary skills for students of all English levels.
Resources For Learning English
- 1. Resources for Practicing English Alone or In Class I. READING COMPREHENSION: News Reports: 1. CNN: http://www.cnn.com/ 2. USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/ 3. Newsweek: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ 4. BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk 5. Newsweek International: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3037881/site/newsweek/ 6. Time Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/ II. LISTENING COMPREHENSION: News Broadcasts: 1. VOA America Radio: http://www.voanews.com/english/index.cfm – news reports are read at a slower speed with limited vocabulary. 2. National Public Radio (USA) –http://www.npr.org/ 3. BBC Radio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/ 4. Story telling: http://www.storyteller.net/stories/audio 5. Listening Lab: http://www.englishlistening.com/startListeningNow.do Speeches: These are famous speeches, movie clips and radio broadcasts. Some are written out as well. www.americanrhetoric.com Music Lyrics: If students want to practice English by listening to American music, the lyrics can be VERY helpful. 1. www.azlyrics.com, 2. www.lyricspedia.com Dictation 1. Stories and excerpts: http://www.fonetiks.org/dictations/ or (alternate link) http://www.dictationsonline.com/ 2. Real-life situations (medium level): http://www.englishclub.com/listening/dictations-medium.htm 3. Real-life situations (high level): http://www.englishclub.com/listening/dictations-long.htm 4. News dictations: http://www.listen-and-write.com/audio IV. WRITING: 1. Purdue University: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl 2. Chicago Style Manual http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html V. GRAMMAR, VOCABULARY and TOEFL practice: Grammar: 1. http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_toefl1.htm - 33 questions, gives answers after you answer the question. Questions in structure format 2. http://esl.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=esl&cdn=education&tm=5&gps=294_499_1276_6 21&f=11&su=p897.3.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.testmagic.com/Knowledge_Base/TOEFL /Structure/index.htm - in written expression format. Different levels. Pick the bottom 3. 3. http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/toefl_structure_1.htm Reading: http://www.eduers.com/toeflibt/Sample-TOEFL-Reading-Questions.htm Vocabulary: 1. http://www.freerice.com/ 2. http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_toefl2.htm 3. http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/toefl_vocabulary.htm 4. http://freetoefl.net/ - do this one with a partner. Race to see who finishes first and has the best score. VI. BUSINESS ENGLISH 1. http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/index.htm 2. http://www.business-english.com/ 3. http://www.better-english.com/grammar.htm
- 2. Helpful Sites for Planning Classes and Discussions in English Clubs GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Dave’s ESL Café - http://www.eslcafe.com/ DISCUSSION STARTERS AND IDEAS 1. www.esldiscussions.com 2. Short interesting videos to discuss: www.ted.com 3. American Stories (culture, listening and reading) www.storycorps.com ENGLISH CLUBS 1. Excellent site for starting and maintaining a club: http://www.englishclub.com/index.htm 2. Example of club site in Tajikistan http://www.english.tj/main_en.html COMPLETE LESSON PLANS 1. Lower Level with complete lesson plans: www.breakingnewsenglish.com FORUMS AND DISCUSSIONS 1. http://www.speakoz.com/english-directory/english-learning-groups.html AMERICAN CORNER WEBSITES: try looking at for ideas of what other ACs are doing 1. Albania: http://tirana.usembassy.gov/ac.html 2. Cyprus Greece: www.americanembassy.org.cy/americancorners/ 3. Russia: http://amcorners.ru/ 4. Hungary: http://www.americancorner.hu/htmls/americancorner.html LIST OF MORE RESOURCES 4. List of EFL/ESL resource websites http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/eslplans.html