Online Resources for English Language Learning
Conversation
Question cards for starting conversations on several different topics.
A list of questions for starting conversations on several different topics.
Reading
Reading passages, organized by grade level and topic, with vocabulary and comprehension questions.
News articles at different reading levels with comprehension questions and writing prompts.
NALC subscribes to this monthly newspaper written for adult ELL learners. Let us know if you would like to try this with your learner. Free monthly Teacher’s Guide is available for each issue with quizzes and suggestions for supplemental activities. If you sign up for the “Free Teaching Aids” blog you will also receive a monthly email with additional videos and instructional materials, but these can also be found on the website (see links below):
Here is how to access a digital version of the newspaper, if you would like to share your screen and read some articles with your student during your tutoring sessions.
The website URL is my.bigtimbermedia.com
Username: tutor
Password: teachNALC
The Times in Plain English is a free online newspaper that takes current news articles from various publications and re-writes them in easier to understand language. Each article also offers a "Tips for Teachers" link with comprehension/discussion questions. Translation into a wide variety of languages is also offered.
Breaking News English is a website that offers free weekly news articles and corresponding activities/lesson plan ideas. Best for intermediate to advanced English learners. Once you have chosen an article, we recommend choosing the “2-page mini lesson” for corresponding activities.
Reading Skills for Today's Adults
This site has leveled reading selections focused on topics such as: civics, employment, housing, health, school, money, government, and more.
This site has leveled stories written for adult learners. Each story focuses on a different learner, and has an accompanying listening track so learners can listen as well as read the story.
A curated collection of digital books for adults and children, including titles tailored to the reading levels and interests of adult learners. Feel free to make an account or click “Continue without an account.”
An extensive collection of essays and short stories for ELLs from beginner to intermediate level.
Listening
Watch a music video and fill in the missing lyrics.
Video lessons at different levels.
Ted Talk videos with accompanying activities.
Videos, transcripts, and vocabulary related to current events and other ESL topics.
Video lessons for ELL learners on a variety of topics: grammar, vocabulary, culture, etc.
Video lessons for ELL learners on a variety of topics: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation.
Video lessons for ELL learners focused on grammar and vocabulary.
Writing
Lists of prompts for different writing topics for ESL students.
Interesting Writing Prompts For ESL Students
Lists of descriptive, explanatory, argumentative, and hypothetical writing prompts.
Vocabulary
Matching and memory games for vocabulary groups.
Vocab games for all levels.
Learning English Idioms with TV Shows
This is a series of videos that teaches English idioms through clips from popular television series. This is a great resource for high intermediate or advanced learners.
Grammar
Grammar explanations and exercises. This site uses British English, so there may be some spelling and word choice differences.
PDF Grammar exercises and answer sheets.
There are several free courses that explain various grammar topics.
A Digital Workbook for Beginning ESOL
This free online book contains three levels of interactive grammar lessons and reading activities for beginning students of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The grammar section includes a select set of YouTube videos, and the three original readers include short picture or chapter stories. Each lesson is accompanied by self-correcting exercises.
Pronunciation and Phonics
Rachel’s English: The Sounds of English Playlist
The videos on this playlist explain how to make the different sounds of English.
Shows the written forms and sounds of English consonants and vowels.
The “Games” section has various activities to practice with components of phonics and reading such as matching letters and sounds, blending sounds, spelling, and more. There are also read-along stories and decodable readers for additional practice.
Sequential or standalone lessons for assembling common prefixes, Latin roots, Greek forms, and suffixes.
All Skills
Free curriculum for English, Job Skills and Citizenship prep. Does require the teacher and learner to set up a free account (requires an email address and a password).
Answer questions on English vocabulary, English grammar, and English idioms (proverbs) and donate rice to charity.
Find a variety of worksheets on many different ESL topics. Students fill out the worksheet online, and have the option of emailing the answers to their teacher.
Learn English Free: English Club
EnglishClub is a website designed to help beginning to advanced English Language Learners develop their English skills. Learners can find activities and materials to learn about and practice listening, reading, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. The site includes audio tracks, videos with subtitles, interactive quizzes, and more.
Learners will find short lessons and explanations on a variety of topics, including reading, grammar, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, and idioms.
Literacy Minnesota Educator Resources
This site is a hub for all things ESL and Adult Basic Education, with resources to help tutors teach across all skills—speaking, writing, grammar, vocabulary, listening, citizenship, and more. Tutors can search for resources by keyword, and filter searches by audience, topic, format, and level.
Find resources to help with reading, writing, high school equivalency preparation, and much more.
General Language Learning
YouTube Video: The seven skills you'll need to master a new language
Great video for tutors or students about the skills that help in mastering a new language.
Can you explain a hard idea using only the ten hundred most used words? It's not very easy. Try it out here!