My 25 Best Sites for ESL Students

These are my favorite ESL sites for learners. I really had fun checking out the sites called "Learn English With the Beatles" and "English Trailers". Happy browsing.


1. Karin's ESL Partyland

This is a forum for English language learners where they can practice English through discussions of various topics including dating and relationships, movies, music travel, the internet, and food. There is a discussion questions which you respond to, quizzes for self check, and links to interactive activities for more practice on related topics.
http://www.eslpartyland.com/students/inter.htm


2. Learning Vocabulary Fun

Learn vocabulary the fun way through word searches, puzzles, and other word games. There is even a SAT vocabulary builder and some videos to watch. I played a word search and it was fun!.
http://www.vocabulary.co.il/


3. English 4 Kids

ESL kids Lab offers: Printable ESL Worksheets, Games for ESL Classrooms, EFL Videos, PPT Lessons Videos, Interactive Kids Vocabulary & Grammar Quizzes, Power Point downloads for English teaching and learning.
http://www.english-4kids.com/


4. Learn English With the Beatles

Whether you like the Beatles of not, this is a site worth exploring. This is a super great site for ESL teachers in Middle and High School. As literacy builders, one of the proven ways we help students develop their reading and writing skills and their comprehension is by using the Method of Repeated Reading. There are many ways that repeated reading can be implemented which includes, but is not limited to rhyme, chants, and songs. If you are an ESL teacher and can’t think of a lesson to teach, this site will give you some really great ideas. You can use what’s available or you can create your own, borrowing from the ideas on this site. There are 9 songs and each song is accompanied by the lyrics, an audio clip, questions related to each song, links to worksheets and the Babylon Dictionary. I encourage you to check this site out and see how much it has to offer. You will love it and so will your students.

http://www.braam.ik.org/


5. Learning English

Free and fun site for ESL students: an English grammar e-book for intermediate and more advanced students, lively audio books, audio and video English news, cartoons, jokes, stories, songs and more…
http://www.geocities.com/serdarious/


6. English Trailers

A free website for learning English using trailers and commercials. The viewer has the option of listening to the audio or to read along with the script. Each video clip is less than 5 minutes. There are discussion questions that go along with the video. Cool way to use media for teaching language. Rated easy to hard.
http://www.english-trailers.com/


7. Agenda Web

Free online exercises for learning English: grammar, vocabulary, listening, songs, videos, resources. Check out the listening section. It has short stories on video or you can read the story page by page while you follow along reading the transcript.
http://www.agendaweb.org/


8. FunEasy English

Learn English online free. American English pronunciation, grammar, idioms, slang, writing, English language activities, TV, radio, surveys, tests, video lessons, travel information, and much more. Check out the Fun Easy English Television section where you have a variety of television stations and YouTube to view and listen to.
http://funeasyenglish.com/


9. English Media Lab

ESL Quizzes, English grammar exercises, ESL vocabulary exercises, ESL PowerPoint videos, English lessons, Business English, Survival English, Pronunciation, listening exercises, ESL Worksheets. Lots of free goodies for students!!!
http://www.englishmedialab.com/


10. English-Zone.Com

16 zones to choose from for forms and rubrics, study tips, games, and printable worksheets
http://english-zone.com/index.php


11. The Basic Elements of English

University of Calgary offers tutorials for basic English grammar as well as related sites for a Student’s Guide to the Presentation of Essays, Writing Guide, and Effective Writing Marking Guide
http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/


12. Resources for Teachers and Students

Offers 12 tips to help second language learners. Click on the “student activities” button and you will find online and interactive learning activities for language arts, social studies, math and science Pre K-12
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp


13. Dave’s ESL Cafe

Dave’ Sperling offers up this site as a place for teachers and students from around the world. It has :Stuff for Everyone”. Student activities” contains categories for learning, participating in forums, and a help section as well as English grammar helps
http://www.eslcafe.com/students/


14. Interesting Things for ESL Students

Online interactive activities for students. Some require internet connection some don't. Puzzles, quizzes, exercises and more
http://www.manythings.org/e/easy.html


15. Activities for ESL

This project of The Internet TESL Journal (iteslj.org) has contributions by many teachers. Has sources for English as well as bilingual quizzes for grammar and vocabulary. Also has a search section and links to Podcasts and YouTube.
http://a4esl.org/


16. ESL: Video

Provides a listing of sites to get ESL video teaching tools. Click on the links for students and then check out some of the sites listed.
http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Video/


17. ESL Videos

YouTube videos for learning English. Presents short lessons on a variety of subjects. Arranged by months from January 2006 to present.
http://www.manythings.org/b/e/


18. N.I.E.H.S. Kids Page

A site for kids by the National Institute for Environment and Health Services on the subjects of science and health - games, activities, stories, jokes, and other cool links
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/


19. Kids Excellent Web Links (KEWL)

Links to education, museums, homework, kid links, literature and more. Click on the links to find information on the listed topics.
http://users.tellurian.com/teach/


20. Cool Math 4 Kids.com

Great math stuff: brain benders, math games, jigsaw puzzles and lots of sources for multiplication, addition, division and the times table.
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/


21. MyEnglishTeacher. net

Need help with grammar? Need to find some resources. Offers free tools such as an online dictionary. Also has a site for learning English concepts with quizzes to self text and self check.
http://www.myenglishteacher.net/


22. English Listening Lounge

A site for listening exercises. Short passages are played for listening, with opportunities to respond to questions related to the story. Gives brief descriptions of each topic and a description of the reader as well as the speed of the presentation.
http://www.englishlistening.com/


23. The Best Websites (by Larry Ferlazzo)

This page has a listing of "best" sites where students can go for resources on teaching and learning and is designed for student self access.
http://larryferlazzo.com/Thebestwebsites.html#web20ell


24. Big Huge Labs: Create and Online Slideshow

Create a slideshow from images anywhere on the internet. Create a show of your last vacation or screenshots of that game you're playing or of that time your best friend did that thing at that party. Then share it with your friends. Sign up for Flickr toys account for free. Site recommended for student use. Three easy steps to follow.
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/slideshow.php


25. PBS Kids

Free resources to support learning at home or at school for Pre K -12. Coloring pages, videos, games and music.
http://pbskids.org/

Assistive/Adaptive Technology for Students With Disabilities

I watched the video clip, Enabling Dreams, and was quite impressed with the extent that technology has been developed to assist physically challenged students be as mobile and communicative as possible given their individual limitations. There are so many new developments in technology that there is no excuse for the physically challenged student not to be able to function or to be empowered with some control over their lives. There is no limit to the technology that has and can be developed to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

If the right tools and technology are made available to meet the needs of the students with disabilities, there is no need to add to the activities for inclusion of AAT. There are all kinds of devices that range from simple technology such as a pencil that is modified for the hands of a student with mobility challenges to devices programed by computers to read the thoughts and speak for a student who is speech impaired. With the right assistive device, student should be able to participate in some way in the same activities as the other students in the class such as in the case of Adrian who is unable to walk speak or use his limbs. The use of augmentive communication devices such as electronic speech synthesizers and speech output devises like computers equipped with text- to- speech features can impact a student with speech impairment. These types of devices allow students who may have, in the past, been limited to their home communities to participate in the classroom setting.

Experienced educators know that students with disabilities seldom come to school with clear-cut needs that fit exactly into the system. It is therefore necessary to extensively collaborate with people in different fields and agencies so that students can benefit from the array of assistive devices available. It is also necessary for the school administration, the special education team, and parents to work together to make sure that the students are placed in the right programs and the right placements so that they meet the student's need for high-quality educational opportunities as all other students are provided.

Because of their special needs, lesson plans have to be revised to ensure that all students are given opportunities to participate. The student's IEP which specifies what accommodations and modifications are necessary must be followed. Some accommodations could be extra time to complete assignments and tests. Environmental accommodations could include desk placement, modification of work space, lighting, noise reduction, and accessiblity to classroom materials. Modifications in lesson plans could include small group work, simplified instructions, reduceing the number of tasks, large print or braille worksheets, and frequent breaks.

With regard to instruction, the use of visuals, audio materials, and the integratiion of other instructional methodologies that address the learning needs of all students is necessary. An example would be the inclusion of art, drama, and music to reach students in ways that they are not otherwise being reached. Students with learning disabilities may be unable to communicate their thoughts and feelings verbally. The visual arts such as painting, drawing, music and computer graphics can give them a non-verbal way to express themselves and interact with others.

Here I am with my sisters at the Great Pyramids in Giza built about 4500 years ago and considered one of the seven wonders of the world. They really are marvels of architecture. Next to them we felt very very small. We also went to see the Step Pyramid, the first pyramid built.

Using Technology in the ESL Classroom

I have selected 20 articles related to the use of technology in the ESL classroom. These are articles that may be of interest to ESL teachers who are planning to use technology as an instructional tool. Several of the articles are linked to other ESL resources that I found to be very interesting especially for getting ideas that are useful for lesson planning. I hope you will find these helpful.

1. More Productive Use of Technology in the Classroom
by Michael Morgan

The ESL teacher needs to decide how to or how not to use technology in the classroom. Three methods are offered to help teachers meet their English language teaching objectives.

http://iteslj.org/Articles/Morgan-Technology.html

2. Integrating Technology into the ESL/EFL Classroom

by Nellie Muller

A lesson plan for teaching progressive tense using MS Excel as a learning object. Author provides step by step procedures to meet the learning objectives.

http://www.nelliemuller.com/integratingtechnologyinESL.htm

3. Computer Use in the Classroom

by Kenneth Beare

Using computers as a learning tool not just as another piece of equipment. Computers can be used to provide listening exercises, student interaction, and to encourage student self-pacing. Includes links to technology assistance, teaching resources and related articles.

http://esl.about.com/od/esleflteachingtechnique/a/t_compclass.htm

4. Teaching ESL Reading Using Computers

by Saad Alkahtani

This article focuses on how computers can be used to facilitate reading with applications for language teaching and learning. The article features three software programs that help ESL intermediate teachers to have their students practice reading using computers. The three software programs are: Mac Reader, Storyboard, and Reading Galaxy.

http://iteslj.org/Techniques/AlKahtani-ComputerReading/

5. Please Check Your Baggage: Considering Cultural Biases and Critical Issues in the Adult ESL Classroom When Using Computer Technology (2004)

by LaurieAnne Rosenblatt,

Although this article is written for the use of technology in adult ESL classes, the suggestions and recommendations are very applicable to any secondary level ESL class in which the use of technology is being considered. This article gives sound suggestions for what teachers need to do to prepare for an ESL class using technology such as the need to consider age, gender, individual learning styles, culturally specific learning styles, the purpose for using technology in the classroom. Rosenblatt provide four criteria for the selection of products and programs and describes programs she has found to be effective in her class.

http://iteslj.org/Articles/Morgan-Technology.html

6. New Technologies, New Literacies: Focus Discipline Research and ESL Learning Communities

by Loretta F. Kasper

Research article that describes how content based instruction which engages high intermediate ESL students in sustained content study within collaborative learning communities and with the use information technology resources can improve linguistic, academic, socioaffective, and metacognitive skills through an activity called focus discipline research.

http://llt.msu.edu/vol4num2/kasper/

7. Analysis of Technology Innovation in Education

by Eun-Jin KimHan

An article that discusses the effects of using technology in the classroom, particularly video streaming, the real-time audio and video delivery. One benefit of using streaming video in the ESL classrooms is that it helps the visual learners to understand contents more easily and the use of educational technologies can be an effective method to meet the educational needs of limited English proficient students in assisting them to effectively communicate with others as they develop primary target language skills.

www.msu.edu/~jinnyhan/CEP813/CEP810_Tech_Analysis.doc

8. Literature Review: Using Computer Mediated Communication in Second anguage Classrooms

by Maiko Hata

This article discusses findings on the effects of internet communication forums on ELL. Although computers are a great support for language learning they just another way to help students but they are not the answer all the problems in second language learning. The author discusses the relationship between the use computer mediated communication and the sociocultural theory and the use of discussion boards and chat rooms to assist in second language acquisition through collaborative work and negation of meaning.

http://www.osaka-ue.ac.jp/gakkai/pdf/ronshu/2003/5403_ronko_hata.pdf

9. Wired@School: 20 Teaching Units at Your Fingertips!

by Hazel Jobe,

A Franklin Fellow presents 20 on-line teaching units full of lessons and activities. This site also contains other technology related articles and you have to check the sidebar for related articles such as the 7 Brilliant Things Teachers Do With Technology.

http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech006.shtml

10. E-mail and Word Processing in the ESL Classroom: How the Medium Affects the Message from Language Learning and Technology Vol. 5, No. 1,January 2001, pp. 135-165

by Sigrun Lucas and Donald Weasenforth

Does electronic mail benefit students in terms of academic writing development? This article investigates whether student-produced writing in e-mail and word processing is similar or different with respect to the occurrence of coherence features, text length, and contextualizing information.

http://llt.msu.edu/vol5num1/weasenforth/default.html

11. Service Learning and Technology in TESOL

by Mark Warschauer and JaniceCook

Service learning has been described as 'a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development' (Jacoby, 1996, p. 5).

Technology is found to be a powerful tool to accompany the use of service learning in the ESL classroom, for several reasons: it represents an important service that ESL students can offer to the community: even a newly-arrived immigrant with limited English skills can make an important contribution to others by sharing knowledge of technology; new technologies can help facilitate communication between students and community groups, thus making service learning more interactive; information technology, can be a very helpful media to facilitate ESL students sharing of ideas for mutual reflection about their service learning experiences.

http://www.gse.uci.edu/person/markw/service.html

12. ESL Technologies : The Universal Language

by John K. Waters

Ell students often don’t have access to computers at home. But they have cell phones and BlackBerries and PDAs. As a global trend, these kinds of devices are becoming more accessible as teaching devises which is going to change the learning as we knew it before the technology age. The article focuses on award winning ESL teacher Judy Haynes in which he captures her views on technology in the ESL classroom.

www.thejournal.com/articles/19922_6

13. PowerPoint in ESL Cassrooms

by Futonge Kisito

A short but very information piece by an ESL teacher who uses powerpoint to reinforce language skills development and to create quizzes, games, and other activities. He shares his insights on the uses of technology, specifically powerpoint. Check out the sight for free downloadable pp presentations.

http://www.esl-galaxy.com/articles/PowerPoint%20in%20the%20classroom.htm

14. Confronting Technology in ESL: So What's a Poor ESLTeacher to Do?(1999)

by Donna Mydlarski

Read what the author has to say about confronting the issue of technology and take a look at the sites she has included in her article. Check out the sites with free downloadable freeware and shareware.

http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~mydlarsk/dmconfrt.html

15. Technology Motivates Students to Learn in New Ways

Tennessee school district uses technology in a strategic and focused manner to enhance student learning. Professional development is the key that helps teachers use technology effectively in the classroom and in lesson planning.

http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/site/c.kjJXJ5MPIwE/b.3413823/k.95/Technology_motivates_students_to_learn_in_new_ways.htm

16. How Well Are ESL Teachers Being Prepared to IntegrateTechnology in Their Classrooms?

By Nancy Velazquez-Torres, Metropolitan College of New York

28 pre-service teachers and 9 in-service participants from Puerto Rico share their teacher preparation experiences with learning technologies. As a result of the findings of this study, recommendations were made to higher education institutions and school administrators in Puerto Rico to regarding the preparation of language educators in the integration of learning technologies in their curriculum.

http://tesl-ej.org/ej36/a1.html

17. Harnessing Technology in the Classroom

by Ellen Ficklen and Carol Muscara

t's time for technology and we, as teachers need to get with the times. Includes ways to get stated using technology with your students and tips from the trenches (Or How Not To Reinvent the Wheel)

http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/american_educator/fall2001/tech.html

18. Curriculum Access for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities: The Promise of UDL Universal Design

Learning -Center for Applied Special Technology(CAST)

How might that curriculum be accessed by students with disabilities? How can participation be accomplished and effective progress be ensured? Although specialized curricula and instructional practices must continue to be employed to address disability-specific needs, the unique needs of students with disabilities must be understood in a broader context of the general curriculum to include providing with the opportunity to achieve a high quality of life.

http://www.cast.org/publications/index.html

19. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines - Version 1.0 Center forApplied Special Technology (CAST)

How does UDL address and redress curricular disabilities? Usually, adaptation is the process used for making existing curricula more accessible to students with learning disabilities, especially in the instructional materials and the methodology. Often, teachers are forced to make gallant attempts to modify and adapt curricular elements that were not designed to meet the learning needs of diverse students. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) refers to a process by which a curriculum (i.e., goals, methods, materials, and assessments) is intentionally and systematically designed from the beginning to address individual differences. With curricula that are universally designed, much of the difficulties of subsequent adaptation can be reduced or eliminated – and a better learning environment for all students can be implemented.

http://www.cast.org/publications/index.html

20. Multimedia in the EFL/ESL Classroom

This article may help to point the language teacher in the right direction on where to start looking for answers to the question: What multimedia is appropriate and when to use it to enhance language teaching/learning?

http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/articles/mediaeflesl/index.htm