Showing posts with label English Language Websites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English Language Websites. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Yappr: Learn English by Watching Videos

Yappr
There are lots of video sharing websites but Yappr is the first one which has been designed specifically for learners of English. What makes all the difference is that the videos have subtitles (or translations) in English and you can replay phrases at the click of a button. You will also find notes explaining idioms and phrases that you don’t necessarily find in text books. There's a good selection of videos organised in categories (perhaps 'sexy' is one we could have done without) and if you register, you can chat with other Yapprs around the world or comment on videos. You can already edit translations and very soon you will be able to post, transcribe and translate videos yourself. This makes it a very interesting tool for teachers, who'll be able to put their own favourites online. In fact, Yappr promises to become the YouTube of English language learning.
Yappr_screen

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Go4English.com

Go4English.com
Go4English.com is owned by British Council, which is the UK’s international cultural relations body. The website offers English learning information and tests for teachers, students and kids. You can learn English online while you are taking a test, listening to a song, or even playing a game.
Go to Go4English.com

Elllo (Learn English Naturally)

Elllo
Elllo focuses on your English listening skill. You can listen to speakers from all over the world for different topics, such as sports, travels, games, and so on. There is related text script under the audio player. You can also listen to some nice English songs or watch some videos.
Go to Elllo

ESL Basics: Vocabulary Videos

ESL Basics Logo
ESLbasics.com brings English to life through hundreds of ESL/EFL/TESOL videos. We have hundreds of ESL/EFL/TESOL videos, including:
    • Vocabulary
    • TOEFL Preparation
    • Idioms
    • Phrasal Verbs
    • Business English
    • Teacher Tips and Activities
At ESL Basics, we believe that real-life context is a student's best friend, not a list of terms to memorize. This is why our vocabulary is surrounded by a conversation. ESL Basics fosters an environment where students aren't just learning one word, they are acquiring language. ESL Basics is structured around a philosophy of student-centered lessons, videos, and usability. We also know that everyone learns better together, so we have created the ability for students to share what they find with their peers through social networks around the globe.

China232 Business English Podcast

China232 



Podcast aimed at intermediate to advanced students of Business English done by two Canadian brothers. They explain a lot of useful words and phrases in a fun talk show style. Free study guides are available on the website.

Real English

Real english logo
Mike's an American who's been running a language school in Istres near Marseille since 1976. He's also the brains behind Real English, an ESL site that utilizes authentic and natural ESL videos of people speaking real English on streets across the globe. The lessons are all free and free-access. Here's how Mike describes the site:
This site combines ESL grammar and functions with the spontaneity provided by the people we meet casually during our filming campaigns. You will not find any actors here. All of our clips are based on people being themselves, speaking naturally and spontaneously, just like in the situations which learners will deal with when their training is finished, when they travel to English-speaking countries, or when they welcome English speakers into their homes and offices. If you're looking for authentic video material specifically designed for ESL (with exercises), Real English is a really valuable resource. Be sure to check out the New Flash Video Lessons, which you could easily miss. 

Real english screen

BBC Learning English: The Flatmates

Flatmates logo
I first wrote about The Flatmates way back in December 2005. Over 3 years later, this BBC Learning English soap opera is still going strong. Episode 182 features a dialogue about the global economy and explains some key finance vocabulary. You can listen to the episodes online (all 182 are available in the archive!), or download them in mp3 format. Each episode features a quiz and a discussion page, where you can interact with other learners. Finally, a resources page provides ideas and materials (worksheets, lesson plans, posters) for using the series in class.
Flatmates screen

Monday, March 19, 2012

Englishspeak: Learn Spoken English for Free

Englishspeak.com is a free and award winning new system for learning to speak English. The program contains lessons that give special attention to English pronunciation and everyday language. With over 100 lessons, Englishspeak.com provides a large amount of audio content. Users have access to two different speeds of playback for each item.
Each English lesson simulates a conversation between the user and a native speaker. Users are put in a variety of real world situations and take part in conversations using the most frequently used English words and English grammar.
There is a tremendous emphasis put on pronunciation. Users have access to normal and slow playback speeds for each conversation, sentence, and word. Place your cursor over any word in the program and it will be pronounced slowly by our instructor, not by a computer generated voice.
Englishspeak

Word Ahead: Vocabulary Videos

Word ahead logo
WordAhead.com
This website has a collection of short, simple and fun multimedia clips and an audio narration to correctly pronounce, define, and provide examples of difficult English words. The videos are entirely appropriate for middle and high school students. Visitors can subscribe to receive a Word of the Day video from WordAhead. A WordAhead widget is also available on the website. 
There are over 500 videos and flashcards, each illustrating a word. The videos are professionally done and include a drawing, and a spoken definition followed by an example.
Lassitude

British Council Elementary Podcasts

British Council Elementary Podcasts
The British Council has started a new series of its Elementary Podcasts. These are an excellent way for you to practise your English language listening skills. You can listen on your computer, or download to your mp3 player. Each episode has got many activities that you can do on your computer while you listen, or print out and do when you want. Full transcripts are available.

Learning Chocolate

Learning chocolate
LearningChocolate.com is a website which aims to help children to memorize English vocabulary in an easy and efficient way, by using images, pronunciation and games. The words are divided into nearly 80 categories such as Animals, Clothing, House, Numbers, etc.

22frames: Captioned Videos

The web offers a world of quality videos for our enjoyment and enlightenment. However, for learners of English some videos can be difficult to understand. Captioned videos are an answer. The problem is they are generally scattered and/or mixed with all other videos across the Internet. Until now, there was no central place to easily and reliably search for captioned videos across multiple video hosts. 22frames was built, in part, to provide such a place.
Although not originally created with language learners in mind, 22frames now has an ESL section with videos which illustrate specific examples of idioms and slang.
22frames

Online Course: The Business of English

The Business of English
The Business of English from Australia Network is a 15-part series for intermediate to advanced English language learners which looks at the language used in everyday business situations such as meetings, presentations and negotiations. Each episode comprises video and audio versions plus a full transcript, a quiz and useful tips.

BBC Learning English: How To ...

BBC Learning English How To
How To ... is a course on the BBC Learning English site where you can discover and practise phrases and expressions which you can use in all kinds of different situations, whether it's to order a drink in a restaurant or have an argument with someone. Each unit has audio and texts you can download or you can subscribe to an audio podcast. There are also quizzes and exercises to help you practise what you have learnt. Great stuff!

VOA Learning English YouTube Channel

Voice of America Learning English is a news and information service used by English learners and teachers worldwide. Reports are written in VOA Special English, which is read one-third slower than regular English.
VOA Special English has its own YouTube channel, where you can find over 500 videos. This recent report about using the internet and social media to find a job gives a good idea of what to expect.
COMMENT
The subtitles are very useful, but I'm not really sure about the slower delivery. Shouldn't learners be getting used to hearing English spoken at normal speed? What do you think?

Download-esl

Website: Download-esl
Resources for English Teachers & Students, ESL Worksheets, videos, mp3 podcasts, online tongue twisters, ebooks, audiobooks, listening, PowerPoint, grammar quizzes, English teaching resources for kids

Fun Easy English


Learn English online free. American English pronunciation, grammar, idioms, slang, writing, English language activities, TV, radio, surveys, tests, video lessons, travel information, and much more.