In the first two posts in this series, I talked about how to start studying English and study methods. Today I'm going to dive into the huge sea of resources that are available for language learners. These resources are great if you want to study alone, but they're also great if you're looking for extra work to complement what you are learning in your English lessons. The Internet is full of resources, some good and some bad, and it can be difficult for an ESL learner to decide which resources are useful. So to help you out and save you a lot of time, I'm going to list some of my favorite websites and free resources that all English students can benefit from, no matter what your level!
Quality websites
All of these websites offer tons of free resources, as well as the option to pay for courses and extra, more specific resources. They are a great place to start a self study routine, or in addition to your weekly English lessons. There are of course many more, but these are my top 5 for self study. Let me know what you think!
Website | What to use it for |
|---|---|
My absolute favorite for self study and homework: Learn English Online | British Council The best thing about this website is that everything is divided by levels, so you can choose your level and not waste time doing exercises that may be too easy or difficult for you. | EVERYTHING! I often assign listening and reading homework from it, but you can find grammar and vocabulary exercises, English for business, short series and even do a level test! |
Another great resource, also divided by levels, is: Home - English Practice Online (english-practice.net) | If you want to practice your grammar, this is the place for you. There are grammar explanations and exercises for all topics and levels. |
Another fabulous place to practice your grammar is: Perfect English Grammar (perfect-english-grammar.com) This website is probably more adapt if you are at least an A2 or B1 level. | Grammar explanations, grammar posters, grammar exercises, even grammar self study courses! Did I mention it's good for grammar? 🤣 |
If you are planning on doing any type of official certification or test, this website has test specific exercises to help you practice: Test English - Prepare for your English exam (test-english.com) | Here you will find grammar, listening, reading and specific test exercises for all test levels (A1-B2). |
Just for fun - do you like music? Then this is a great way to introduce some fun listening practice into your study routine: LingoClip - Enjoy learning languages with music | Here you will find all types of songs that you can listen to and play games with to practice your listening comprehension. |
Self study books
If you're the type of person who enjoys following a course or a book, here are a few valid options to choose from. I'll include an option for every budget, so whether or not you want to spend money on your English studies, you'll find something for you!
Book | What it's good for |
|---|---|
This is a FREE downloadable PDF (don't worry, it's not sketchy) where you will find explanations and exercises for every grammar topic. | |
Vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary. This book includes pictures and phrases connected to everyday situations, helping you to boost your vocabulary fast! | |
If you are studying for a specific exam, I highly recommend investing in a book - these books have a great combination of exam specific exercises, grammar revision and speaking and listening practice. |
There are, of course, an infinite amount of resources out there, but I hope these recommendations give you some guidance on where to start, whether your a complete beginner or studying for your Proficiency test. Stay tuned for the last post in this series where I'll be giving you some tips on how to organize your own personal study routine. Until then, happy learning!
Glossary
dive into: phrasal verb - to jump into water (or in this context, to "jump" into a topic, to begin talking about or discussing a specific topic).
tons: informal synonym for a lot
sketchy: informal - something low quality or dangerous
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