On this page you can find my top EFL student links which first appeared in InsidESADE, the ESADE Idiomas student magazine.
Click on a link to one of the issues below or simply browse through the list by scrolling down.
Issue 9 (Ten of the best) - Autumn 2001
Issue 8 - Summer 2001
Issue 7 - Spring 2001
Issue 6 - December 2000
Issue 5 - March 2001
Issue 4 - June 2000
Issue 3 - April 2000
Issue 2 - February 2000
Issue 1 - December 1999
Issue 1
Reading - Here are some fables with exercises afterwards to help you
improve your reading comprehension.
http://www.comenius.com/fables/
Writing - At the Student Keypal Club you can practice your writing and
make new friends.
http://www1.oup.co.uk/elt/internet.english/keypals.html
Listening - Randall�s Cyber Listening Lab has numerous listening
exercises for you to try. The emphasis, though, is on US English. You need to
download Real Audio Player before you try the activities, available from the
site.
http://www.esl-lab.com/index.htm
Pronunciation - Back to basics with this animated version of the
alphabet. Practice the sounds out loud.
http://www.paddocks64.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/se-av-letter-a.html
Grammar -The ultimate grammar website with explanations, quizzes, and
reference sections. Try the excellent PowerPoint presentations.
http://webster.commnet.edu/HP/pages/darling/original.htm
Vocabulary - Good site for vocabulary quizzes. Part of the Internet TESL
journal with some excellent links too.
http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/vocabulary.html
Dictionary - The Merriam Webster Online site contains not just a
dictionary, but also a thesaurus, links to Word of the Day and much
more.
http://www.m-w.com/
Games - Try some of the English games here.
http://www.lapasserelle.com/lm/exercices/games.page.html
Chat - Dave Sperling�s ESL chat central is a great place to interact with
other English students from around the world.
http://www.eslcafe.com/chat/chatpro.cgi
100 Hot Websites - if you just want to browse the web then here are the
100 most popular sites, updated hourly.
http://www.web100.com/
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Issue 2
Vocabulary - Have some fun at the EF website for beginners to advanced.
http://englishtown.ef.com/en/lessons/games/
Beginners - Choose an area of vocabulary to practice from one of the sites listed here.
http://www.monumental.com/richardx/vocab1.html
Intermediate - Choose an area of vocabulary to practice from one of the sites listed here.
http://www.monumental.com/richardx/vocab2.html
Phrasal Verbs - Try the phrasal verbs dispenser to practice and expand your knowledge of phrasal verbs.
http://www.stuff.co.uk/phrasal.htm
If you don�t already have it you will need to download Shockwave from http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/
Advanced vocabulary game - Advanced students should try the Reader�s Digest Deluxe Word Power for a great word game. You also need Shockwave for this site.
http://www.readersdigest.com/wordpower/
World Languages - If you�re looking for a dictionary, grammar or reference site for any of the world�s languages then visit A Web of On-line Dictionaries.
http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/rbeard/diction.html
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Issue 3
A collection of mini-mysteries to solve online. Try the mystery of the
week and e mail your solution. Good for advanced learners.http://www.mysterynet.com/thecase/
If you want to swell your "inbox" find a mailing list to join here.
http://www.amused.com/mail.html
Try the interactive word games Boggle and Crossword Challenge. Click
on some of the Tool Box links too.
http://www.wordplays.com
Presentations and public speaking.
http://www.englishclub.net/presentations/index.htm
Another online grammar resource.
http://www.englishclub.net/grammar/index.htm
Advanced students interested in Shakespeare should check out this
site. The complete works, searchable quotations and a discussion
area.
http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/works.html
Have some pronunciation fun with these tongue twisters.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8136/tonguetwisters.html
Interesting trivia answers and explanations.
http://www.uselessknowledge.com/knowledge.shtml
Expand your vocabulary with Word Dragon drag n drop puzzles.
http://www.worddragon.org/
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Issue 4
Thinking of going abroad for the summer and not sure where to go? Visit
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ and click on
the destinations or theme guides for some inspiration.
Read a book for pleasure this summer. Download a free classic text from the
Project Gutenberg site http://promo.net/pg/
Improve your reading comprehension skills with texts from the South China
Morning Post http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/comp/Readcomp.htm
Write on! Go to the Keypals Club and meet a cyber penpal http://www.mightymedia.com/keypals/
Keep on talking! Sign up for a Yahoo account and get chatting online with the
latest Voice Chat feature http://chat.yahoo.com/?myHome
Listen to the radio. Windows Media has a great choice of English radio
stations to choose from http://windowsmedia.com/mediaguide/default.asp?page=2
Hey DJ! Had enough of other people's music then create your own radio station
and listen to your favourite English summer hits, then broadcast to the world
http://interactive-radio.net/
Flash activities at the CLTA and lots more besides http://www.clta.on.ca/hillsofmexico/flash/homflash01.htm
There's more than enough to keep you occupied here. E mail and multimedia
lessons, an online community to join and fun and games. http://www.englishpractice.com/
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Issue 5
How can I improve my English on the web?
Here are three useful ways to use the web to help you improve your
English.
- First, explore the web. Most documents on the web are written in English.
Find sites that interest you� maybe to do with your work or hobbies. Interact
with the sites. Follow links from these sites to other sites. All the time you
will be reading, sometimes writing and even listening in English. �Surf� the
web with a partner and talk (in English) about the information you find too.
- A second way that the web can help you learn English is as a powerful
research tool and information resource. Use a search engine such as Google http://www.google.com/
Type in a keyword of a subject that you want to learn more about in the
dialogue box and click on Google Search.
- Thirdly, the web has a mountain of English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
materials. There is an ever-increasing use of the web to post materials
specifically designed to help EFL learners learn and practice their English.
Below are ten links to different sites. Try them out!
Reading - Here are 18 online reading comprehension exercises by Phillip
Towndrow. Intermediate level and above.
http://www.geocities.com/philliptowndrow/lessons.htm
Writing - At the Student Keypal Club you can practice your writing and
make new friends. All levels.
http://www1.oup.co.uk/elt/internet.english/keypals.html
Listening - Randall�s Cyber Listening Lab has numerous listening
exercises for you to try. The emphasis, though, is on US English. You need to
download Real Audio Player before you try the activities, available from the
site. All levels.
http://www.esl-lab.com/index.htm
Pronunciation - Back to basics with this animated version of the
alphabet. Practice the sounds out loud. Basic level.
http://www.paddocks64.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/se-av-letter-a.html
Grammar -The ultimate grammar website with explanations, quizzes, and
reference sections. Try the excellent PowerPoint presentations. All
levels.
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm
Vocabulary - Good site for vocabulary quizzes. Part of the Internet TESL
journal with some excellent links too. All levels.
http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/vocabulary.html
Dictionary � The Merriam Webster Online site contains not just a
dictionary, but also a thesaurus, links to Word of the Day and much more. All
levels.
http://www.m-w.com/
Games - Try some of the English games here. All levels.
http://www.lapasserelle.com/lm/exercices/games.page.html
Chat - Dave Sperling�s ESL chat central is a great place to interact
with other English students from around the world. All levels.
http://www.eslcafe.com/chat/chatpro.cgi
In the news. This BBC site looks at language used in recent news
broadcasts. Intermediate and above.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/words/
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Issue 6
Aardvark's English Forum and EFL Resources
A great starting point for EFL students with World News, Resources,
Interactive English Language Exercises and much more.
http://www.english-forum.com/
English Club
A comprehensive web site with some valuable grammar, pronunciation and
vocabulary exercises. There are monthly quizzes, a reference section and a host
of other features.
http://www.englishclub.net/
Learn English
An incredible British Council site that has just about everything: an online
placement test in association with UCLES; word, grammar and song exercises, a
magazine, games, stories and poems.
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/adult_frame.html
Longman ELT
This ELT publisher has a relatively new site that can add value to your
English course. The most useful section is the Companion Websites area, where
you can find extra activities to complement the coursebook you use in
class.
http://www.longman-elt.com/students/index.html>
Pronunciation Web Resources
Links to virtually every pronunciation resource on the web.
http://www.sunburstmedia.com/PronWeb.html
ExChange ESL magazine
If you want to publish your English writing and reach a global audience
submit your recipes, short stories and cultural anecdotes to ExChange, based
at the University of Illinois.
http://deil.lang.uiuc.edu/exchange/
Damaged Property
Practise you past tenses. Type your story in the spaces provided. Then print
it out and get your teacher to correct your errors.
http://webhome.idirect.com/~cclcs/damaged.html
Spider-Man Rebus
Use this simple rebus as inspiration for your own written work. Share your
stories in class or ask your teacher if you can act them out.
http://www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/spidey/spidey1.html
Lucent Technologies. Bell Labs Innovations
Have fun with cutting edge technology - write a text, choose a voice and
listen to what you have written!
http://www.bell-labs.com/project/tts/voices.html
Interesting Things for ESL Students
A fun, interactive site.
http://www.manythings.org/
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Issue 7
This issue is a little different from the previous ones. I haven�t included
any links to EFL sites but links to sites where you�ll need to use your English.
I hope you find them interesting, useful and fun.
Show me the money!
Think you know business? Prove yourself with 19 million euros of someone
else�s money! A useful team simulation game for trading in the EU. You�ll
improve your English and business skills at the same time with Eurogame.
http://www.eurogame.uli.it/en/index.html
Sing-a-long
Have you always been singing the wrong words to the songs in Dominic's
Backbeat column? Find the right lyrics here.
http://www.lyricsworld.com/
Send an e-greeting card
Blue Mountain is still one of the best e-greeting card sites around. Send an
e-card, in English of course, to your teacher, classmates, friends or
colleagues. There are plenty of categories to choose from, and so many holidays
to celebrate that you really need an excuse not to send one.
http://www.bluemountain.com
Talkback Live
Log on to the CNN news site, watch the latest streaming video news
broadcasts, read news from around the world and join special guests in live
chat. Read the transcripts from past guests or let your fingers do the talking
and make your voice heard too.
http://www.cnn.com/chat
Great Brit reads!
Your teacher keeps telling you "Read more English!" So, take their advice for
once and surf over to the British Literature site and find a good e-text to
print out and take to bed tonight.
http://www.britishliterature.com/
Team Talk
Who�s better: Manchester United, AC Milan, Bar�a or Brighton & Hove
Albion? For real (or even Real) football fans who like nothing better
than to talk Beautiful Game.
http://www.teamtalk.com/
TLC
Take one of these amazing interactive tours or play an interactive game and
broaden your horizons. You'd never believe that learning in English could be so
easy! When you've finished there's plenty more on the Discovery channel only a
click away.
http://tlc.discovery.com/
Go on, J
Everyone loves to laugh. Learn a few good jokes in English and you�ll
really impress your teacher, classmates, friends and colleagues; in fact,
anyone who�ll listen to you.
http://www.jokes.com/
Mad Cows, Foot and Mouth Disease, Train Crashes and
Eurosceptics
Are you still planning to visit Britain to improve your English this summer
or is your boss sending you on a business trip? This ultimate guide from the
British Tourist Board will help you plan your trip.
http://www.visitbritain.com/
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Issue 8
RhymeZone!
Type in a word and find rhymes, similar sounding words, synonyms, antonyms, definitions and pictures. There are also search facilities for some of the greatest literary works and artists.
http://www.rhymezone.com/
Anagram Fun
Have hours of amusement with such a simple tool. Type words, phrases or sentences in the form and get anagrams back. Enter your name or those of friends, family and work colleagues for some interesting results. Great extensive reading too.
http://www.wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html/
Word Police
Are you an Advanced English learner? Prove your worth by joining the Word Police. A tough selection awaits you with the Word Police entrance exam. If you pass you will receive a certificate from the Word Police Academy.
http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/wordpolice/
Active Worlds
In this virtual universe you can explore new online worlds and communities or even build your own. Experience the chat worlds where your character or �avatar� can move about and chat in 3-D. There are plenty of English community chat worlds to join. A unique experience that also offers you buddy lists, instant messaging, and file transfer capabilities!
http://www.activeworlds.com/
Brain Pop
Watch up to five animated educational movies a day. Improve your knowledge of the world around you. Topics range from health and science to technology, all in English, of course.
http://www.brainpop.com/
BBC English
Improve your English in three areas: Work, Music & Sport. Reasonable content from the "Beeb" but not very user-friendly. Recommended only if you are an advanced computer user and Intermediate English level and above.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
First Time in England
Follow the story of two Spanish students who meet up in England. An online graded reader for Beginners & Elementary Level students written by Ted Powers.
http://www.btinternet.com/~ted.power/first.html
Online English Grammar
120 grammar topics organised alphabetically. One of the most useful grammar references on the internet.
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/subidx.cfm
Common Errors in English
An interesting site for perfectionists. Scroll down to the Go to errors link if you aren't interested in the methodology.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/
Advice on spelling
This spelling site has 32 lessons created for teachers to use with students. However, you can do the exercises on the Student Page and then check your answers on the Teacher Page.
http://www.mcdougallittell.com/lit/spelling/gr7toca.htm
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Issue 9 (Ten of the best)
This issue presents ten of the best websites that I have found over the last two years for English language learning. There is something for everyone here.
English Town
The best site for vocabulary games. Six different types of interactive games: Word Find, Quiz Wiz, Hangman, Crossword Puzzle, Fun Quizzes, and Magnet Poetry.
http://www.englishtown.com/master/community/games/
Guide to Grammar and Writing
Charles Darling�s enormous site has some useful tips for students at all levels. The best sections are: Word and Sentence level, Paragraph level, Ask Grammar and Quizes.
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm/
Anagram Fun
Some say the simplest things in life are often the best. The anagram site will give you lots of amusement while reading extensively in English. Type words, phrases or sentences in the form and get anagrams back. Type in your name or those of friends, family and work colleagues for some interesting results.
http://www.wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html
Active Worlds
3-D virtual reality chat. After you download the program you can navigate this virtual universe and can explore online worlds and communities or build your own.
http://www.activeworlds.com/
BBC
Learning English with You Me Us, in the News, for Work, with Music, through Sport. Also has links to the massive BBC website where you can listen to the radio, watch and read the news and tons more.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/index.shtml
Randall�s ESL Cyber Listening Lab
Randall Davis must have lots of spare time because his main hobby appears to be creating English listening exercises for students. More than 100 exercises at three levels: Easy, Medium and Difficult.
http://www.esl-lab.com/index.htm
The Centre for Language Training and Assessment (CLTA)
CLTA have a number of activities created with Flash (a multimedia plug-in) for elementary students. They also have a CrazyEnglish and Terrible teacher section for more advanced learners.
http://www.clta.on.ca/hillsofmexico/gc/homgrammmar.htm
ITESL
The ITESL site is the portal for English language students. You can find almost any language resource if you start here.
http://iteslj.org/ESL.html
Many Things
A fun site with word games, puzzles, quizzes, slang, proverbs and much more.
http://www.manythings.org/
Edufind
An online grammar reference with120 grammar points explained.
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/toc.cfm
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