English as a Second Language (ESL)

These resources provide information for teaching and learning English as a Second Language. Resources range from discussions of English as a Second Language issues to practical activities for teachers and learners.

Resources in this category:

Activities for ESL Students
http://a4esl.org/

Includes over 1,000 quizzes, exercises, and puzzles to help students studying English as a Second Language (ESL). The activities are contributed by teachers and include grammar and vocabulary activities. Some activities require Flash and Java, but students can also select "HTML-Only" activities. Can be used be a wide variety of native language speakers.

American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP)
http://www.aaiep.org/

People who are interested in learning English as a Second Language (ESL) in the United States can use this website to easily search for ESL programs in the USA. Programs can be searched by state, by criteria, and by keyword, and helpful information is provided about each program. There is also information on how to choose an ESL program. Members can also use this site for AAIEP member information.

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
http://www.grammarbook.com/

Improve your grammar with this easy-to-use reference and workbook. Filled with real world examples and simplified explanations. Includes a grammar blog to discuss issues and find the answers to your language problems and quizzes to test progress.

Boggle's World
http://bogglesworldesl.com/

Includes a variety of resources for teachers of elementary and middle school English, English as a Second Language (ESL), and English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Resources include crossword puzzles, flash cards, songs, work sheets, lesson plans and more. There is also a section for adults learning English and sections on business ESL and on ESL jobs.

Boggle's World
http://bogglesworldesl.com/

Comprehensive resources for teachers of English as a Second Language. Includes a large selection of printable worksheets, flashcards, and class activities.

Breaking News English
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Ready to use lesson plans for ESL (English as a Second Language) and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) courses based on current affairs. News articles, listening, and communicative activities at two different levels of difficulty are uploaded daily.

The Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA)
http://www.cal.org/caela/

This association’s purpose is to "assist states with emerging populations who are learning English as a second language (ESL)." This site includes research findings on ESL issues, a toolkit for working with adult English Language Learners, information on language and literacy instruction for adults, frequently asked questions, annotated links to related sites, and more.

The CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
http://www.speech.cs.cmu.edu/cgi-bin/cmudict/

"The Carnegie Mellon University Pronouncing Dictionary is a machine-readable pronunciation dictionary for North American English that contains over 125,000 words and their transcriptions." Enter words and click "Look Up" for a phonetical translation that will help learners pronounce the word(s). Includes a guide the phoneme set that is used in the translations. Good for quickly finding out how to pronounce a word.

Colorín Colorado!
http://www.colorincolorado.org/

Colorín Colorado is a free, web-based service that provides information, activities, and advice for educators and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners.

Dave's ESL Cafe
http://www.eslcafe.com/

Are you learning English as a second language and finding it confusing? This site offers many links on lots of different aspects of language acquisition. You can also find links to forums and chat to help improve your speaking skills.

English Exercises Online
http://www.smic.be/smic5022/

This site has both online and worksheet activities for learning British English. Includes lessons and exercises in grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and more! Some are available only for people fluent in Dutch.

English Teaching Forum
http://exchanges.state.gov/forum/

The online version of the "quarterly journal published by the U.S. Department of State for teachers of English as a foreign or second language." Articles in the forum include current issues facing ESL and EFL teachers, lesson plans, resources, and more.

ESL Jobs
http://www.esljobs.com/

ESL Jobs provides free listings of opportunities to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) around the world. It also offers links to websites that offer certification as an ESL instructor.

ESL Magazine
http://www.eslmag.com/

An online version of the magazine for "for teachers of American English and ESL/EFL professionals worldwide." It includes abstracts of feature articles and the full text of one article from each issue. It also includes relevant links, information on ESL conferences and jobs and more.

Everything ESL.net
http://www.everythingesl.net/

This searchable site for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers includes, "inservice ideas and strategies, content based lesson plans, downloadable activities, tips on classroom resources, interactive discussion boards, and more!"

Interesting Things for ESL Students
http://www.manythings.org/

"A fun study site for students of English as a Second Language with word games, puzzles, quizzes, slang, proverbs and much more." Some of the resources require Flash or Java. Many of the resources can be used by speakers of any native language, but there is also a special section for Japanese speakers.

The Internet TESL Journal: For Teachers of English as a Second Language
http://iteslj.org/

This is a monthly online journal for teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL). It includes "Articles, Research Papers, Lessons Plans, Classroom Handouts, Teaching Ideas & Links." The links include resources for ESL teachers and activities for ESL learners. Issues from 1995 to the present are archived on the website.

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day for Teaching ELL, ESL, and EFL
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/

Valuable website resources on Larry Ferlazzo’s daily blogs for ESL, EFL, and ELL educators. Ferlazzo shares his vast experience as an educator for English language learners. Use these sites for your lesson plans or classroom!

Learning Vocabulary Can Be Fun
http://www.vocabulary.co.il/

Educational resource for learning English vocabulary by playing word games. The games include: 1) Word Search, 2) Hangman, 3) Match Game, and 4) The Vocabulary Quiz.

Literacy Connections
http://www.literacyconnections.com/

Here is a resource for parents or teachers offering information about reading and tutoring as well as resources on children’s literature, English as a second language and adult literacy.

MyLanguageExchange.com - Learn to Speak English
http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Learn/English.asp

Featured in The Wall Street Journal, PC World, and Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine, this innovative approach to learning English allows you to practice --via e-mail, text chat, and voice chat-- with native speakers of English who are learning your native language.

Sounds of English
http://www.soundsofenglish.org/index.html

Sounds of English will help you to perfect your English speaking accent. There are handouts and audio practice exercises as well as diagrams showing the shape of the mouth when making certain sounds. This is a cheerful, non-profit resource for both teachers and students with good links!

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp

"TESOL's mission is to develop the expertise of its members and others involved in teaching English to speakers of other languages to help them foster effective communication in diverse settings while respecting individuals' language rights." The site has information about ESL issues and TESOL's advocacy efforts. Some resources are restricted by login to TESOL members only.

Topics: An Online Magazine for Learners of English
http://www.topics-mag.com/

In this online magazine, "Learners of English as a second language express their ideas and opinions on topics of interest to them. Readers can explore an international world." This magazine includes a wide variety of international perspectives on travel, food, learning English, movies, books, family, customs, and more! There is also a section for teachers.