Best Internet Sites for Learning English

Compiled by Joe Lauer in the summer of 2021

Note: Many times sites combine skills, such as listening and reading, together.
But each site has been classified under only one category.

Listening

• All Levels
  1. Hiroshima University’s English Podcast and English News Weekly
     • https://huepod.wordpress.com
     • https://enwpod.wordpress.com
  2. Listening with Comprehension Exercises
     • http://esl-lab.com/
  3. English Listening Lessons
     • https://www.talkenglish.com/listening/listen.aspx
  4. Videos with transcripts
     • http://www.englishcentral.com/watch
• Easy Levels
  1. Basic Listening Lessons
     • https://www.talkenglish.com/listening/listenbasic.aspx
  2. BBC Learning English
     • https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/lower-intermediate
• Intermediate Level
  1. Scientific American Podcasts (with transcripts)
     • https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcasts/
• Advanced Level
  1. Movie Transcripts
     • http://www.script-o-rama.com/trans.shtml
  2. BBC: News, With Transcripts
     • https://www.bbc.com/news/av/10462520
  3. PBS Feature Videos (with closed captions)
     • https://www.pbs.org/video/

Vocabulary

• All Levels
  1. Fun Quizzes
     • http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/vocabulary.html
  2. Word Puzzles
     • http://www.funbrain.com/detect/
  3. Interesting Crossword Puzzles
     • http://iteslj.org/cw/
• Easy Level
  1. Vocabulary Translation Exercises
     • http://iteslj.org/v/j/
• Intermediate Level
  1. Slang
     • http://www.eslcafe.com/slang/slang.cgi?
  2. Idioms
     • https://www.eslcafe.com/resources/idioms/
  3. Idioms and Phrases
     • https://www.talkenglish.com/speaking/listidioms.aspx
  4. Homonyms
     • http://www.quia.com/custom/1055main.html
  5. Lots of Fun Activities
     • http://a4esl.org/a/v5.html
• Advanced Level
  1. TOEFL Vocabulary Practice
     • http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltoeflquiz.htm?once=true&
  2. IELTS Vocabulary
     • https://www.ieltspodcast.com/ielts-vocabulary/

Grammar

• All Levels
  1. Interesting Quizzes
     • http://a4esl.org/q/h/grammar.html
  2. Basics of English Grammar
     • https://www.talkenglish.com/grammar/grammar.aspx
  3. Grammar Exercises
     • https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/?220320
• Intermediate Level
  1. Medium to Difficult
     • http://a4esl.org/a/g5.html
  2. Comprehensive Grammar Explanation
     • https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/
  3. Phrasal Verbs
     • http://www.eslcafe.com/pv.cgi?
  4. Grammar Help from the BBC
     • http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/youmeus/learnit/learnit_archive.shtml
• Advanced Level
  1. TOEFL Grammar Practice
     • http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltoeflquiz.htm?once=true&
  2. Cambridge English Exam
     • https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/

Reading

• Easy and Intermediate Level
  1. Comics
     • http://www.snoopy.com/comics/peanuts/index.html
  2. Alice in Wonderland
     • http://the-office.com/bedtime-story/classics-aliceinwonderland.htm
  3. Interesting texts with comprehension exercises
     • https://linguapress.com/inter.htm
• Advanced Level
  1. New York Times Learning Network
     • https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning
  2. Some On-line Magazines
     • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/
     • http://www.sciam.com/
     • http://www.newsweek.com/
     • http://www.time.com/time/
     • http://www.usnews.com/usnews/home.htm
  3. Some Other News Sites
     • http://www.asahi.com/english/english.html
     • https://mainichi.jp/english/
     • http://www.usatoday.com/
     • http://abcnews.go.com/

Semi-Conversation

• All Levels
  1. Conversation Questions — Do these with a friend!
     • http://iteslj.org/questions/
  2. Advice for Improving Speaking Skills
     • https://www.english-at-home.com/speaking/
• Easy and Intermediate Level
  1. English Speaking Basics
     • https://www.talkenglish.com/speaking/listbasics.aspx
  2. Keyboard chat with a robot!
     • http://www.cleverbot.com/
  3. Travel Vocabulary
     • http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~itesls/ts/

Writing

• All Levels
  1. Writing: Made for Japanese University Students
     • https://vu.flare.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/english/writing/frontpage.htm
  2. Blogger: Make Your Own English Blog
     • https://www.blogger.com/about/?hl=ja
  3. The Open Diary
     • http://www.opendiary.com/
• Easy Level
  1. Spelling
     • http://www.funbrain.com/spellroo/

Other Good Sites

1. DeepL: Check your grammar
   • https://www.deepl.com/translator
2. Ginger: Check your grammar
   • http://www.getginger.jp/
3. On-line Dictionary
   • http://www.m-w.com/netdict.htm
4. Various Interesting Activities
   • http://www.englishdaily626.com/
5. Vocabulary and Grammar
   • https://www.englishpage.com/
6. University of Victoria: Vocabulary, Grammar and Reading (all levels)
   • https://continuingstudies.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/