If you are learning English as a new, additional language, click on a topic below to find help tailored for you on that topic. (And if English is your native language, you may still find useful links here.)
A. Vocabulary (including Dictionaries)
C. Listening
D. Reading
E. Grammar
F. Writing
A. Vocabulary
- RMIT Learning Lab: Academic Word List - Practice the words you need to know to understand your course readings
- Academic Word List: Oxford Learner's Dictionary- Find the definitions for the words on the Academic word List
- Latin and Greek Roots - Get to the root of the idea
- Using English for Academic Purposes: Vocabulary Guide - Includes exercises and strategies for building academic vocabulary
Dictionaries:
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries - A highly recommended dictionary for advanced learners. Includes clear definitions, many example sentences, and information on usage
- The Acronym Database - Find the meaning of unknown acronyms
B. Pronunciation
- BBC Learning English: Pronunciation: Videos that explore the sounds of English and pronunciation difficulties (note: British English pronunciation)
- Sounds of English: exercises and quizzes
C. Listening
The following sites have specific listening exercises. For further listening practice, most radio and TV stations and networks (CBC Radio, the BBC, NPR and CNN in the US, etc.) stream some or all of their programs through their websites, so you can listen to them on-line. Also, we suggest that when you watch DVD movies, you set the movie up to show you the subtitles, so you can read what's being said.
- Randall's ESL Listening Lab
- CBC Learning English - Weekly news broadcasts with exercises for intermediate learners
- The BBC's Learning English site
- 6 Minute English - Short, topical programs for listening
- Lingohack - Short news stories that introduce new vocabulary
- TED Talks - Listen and learn from presentations on a wide variety of topics
- Professionals Podcasts (from the British Council)- Listening activities to improve your English for business or the workplace
D. Reading
- The University of Victoria's advanced reading exercises
- The University of Victoria's intermediate reading exercises
- Business Magazine (from the British Council's Learning English Site) - Interesting articles for Business students
E. Grammar
- The Nature of Writing: Videos and interactive exercises on grammar and writing.
- University of Victory ELC Grammar Index
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Exercises, Tests, Games
- The University College of London's Grammar Reference
- The English Zone - explanations, lesson ideas and quizzes
For specific grammar problems:
- Four ways to express the future
- Forms of the future tense
- Conditionals
- Verb tenses
- Modals - can/could, would, should, might, etc.
- Prepositions and phrasal verbs
- Verbs and prepositions
- Medical plurals
F. Writing
Also see the various resources in the Writing section of this site's Essential Skills Resources pages.
- Hong Kong University's Writing Machine - ten lessons on academic writing
- Hong Kong University's Academic Grammar page - covering all facets of academic writing, not just grammar