Sites of Sites

These are websites that have organized hundreds of links for English language learning for both teachers and students. You can literally spend days poring through the links and finding new ways to share English with your students.


One of the first sites dedicated to ESL learners, Dave Sperling's site still ranks as one of the best. You should also check out his textbook that helps students learn to use the Internet to learn English.


Another site with reams of links and content for learning English.


A stupendous compendium of links for learners from the Internet TESL Journal. Games, grammar, slang, listening, pronunciation; you name it, this site has links to it. Have patience as you wade through the pages.

Listen, Learn, Speak

The following sites are focused on listening and pronunciation skills.

The Sounds of American English

Great site from the University of Iowa that provides a graphical presentation of each American English phoneme, from an animated Saggital Sam to video of what the mouth looks like when a voiced labiodental fricative is used, students will develop a very clear understanding of the pronunciation American English.


High interest topics in a slower, more understandable format for English language learners.


Boring name, but excellent stories with text, audio and sometimes even video support. Students can read, listen and watch the stories and then click on the 'activities' link to work on vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension exercises.


A serialized video and audio presentation for learning English. Well produced with a great deal of vocabulary and natural language use in daily situations. The video is supported by grammar exercises and quizzes on the content and language structures presented.


Communicate!

The following links are excellent resources for genuine communication practice with other students world-wide. If you are in an EFL environment and your students are lacking interaction in English, introduce them to these sites.

Schmooze University

An oldy but a goody, SchmoozeU is a MOO, MUD Object Oriented. What is a MUD? A multiple user domain. Simply, this is a textual environment where learners can come, create a character, navigate a campus, interact with real people and the environment itself, and learn English in the process. Careful with taking pearls from the Fountain!


Take this fantastic opportunity to connect with other language learners around the globe for conversation in either a text chat or voice chat exchange. Log on and identify your native language and the language you'd like to learn and, voila!, people are knocking on your metaphorical door.


Ready for life in 3-D online? Second life is a virtual world complete with personalities from all over the globe. Nearly every major coroporation, many educational institutions and even National Public Radio have a presence here. For teachers, here is your chance to build your own classroom, even you own school.


Like this blog? I bet you and your students can make an even better one. It's easy, intuitive and a great opportunity to expand the audience for your students' writing beyond your classroom.

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