Useful Websites for Students
The best way to reinforce what you have learned in class is by practicing your English outside of class. Below are just some of the hundreds of websites on the Internet that students can visit to practice and improve their English skills. Most are designed specifically for ESL students. Many of the websites also provide additional activities to do online or at home.
All Things English
Visit these websites for various activities on reading, writing, listening, speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar for students of all levels.
Listening Activities
Visit these websites to hear various podcasts and listenings for ESL students of all levels, including conversations, news reports, and opinion pieces.
- ESL Pod
- Podcasts in English *includes activities
- Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab *includes activities
News & Lectures
Visit these websites to hear news reports, opinion pieces, and lectures.
ESL (beginning to advanced)
- Voice of America (VOA) News
- Simple English News
- Breaking News English *includes activities
General Public (advanced)
Vocabulary
Online Dictionaries
Visit these dictionaries to look up unknown words online.
- Longman English Dictionary Online (ESL Dictionary)
- Dictionary.com
- Merriam Webster Dictionary Online
- Ninja Words (simple, quick dictionary)
- Word Nik (extensive dictionary with example sentences)
- Visuwords (word maps)
Collocations
The Corpus of Contemporary American English allows you to search for collocations (common word combinations) by keyword.
Writing
Visit these websites for information and activities related to writing and grammar for writing.
- LSC-North Harris Writing Center - Our writing center provides many downloadable worksheets and references sheets for students on writing, the writing process, and grammar.
- Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
I. OWL Resources for Writers
II. OWL Resources for ESL students - Capital Community College "Guide to Grammar and Writing"
