OVERVIEW
This section provides links to online resources for writers whose first language is not English. Here you will find assistance in many areas, including vocabulary, syntax and grammar, among others. In addition to the guides that provide you with information, this page also includes self-study tools that allow you to test your knowledge.
RESOURCES
Academic Word List (ESLDesk)
This website lists 570 words that occur often in academic writing. The words are categorized into 10 lists in order from most frequently used to least frequently used. The words can be defined as well as translated into many different languages.
Activities for ESL Students (The Internet TESL Journal)
“Quizzes, tests, exercises and puzzles to help you learn English as a Second Language (ESL).”
Advanced Composition for Non-Native Speakers of English Collocations (EnglishClub)
Provides a comprehensive definition of “collocation” as well as lists of common English collocations, quizzes, and tips for learning them.
Dave’s ESL Cafe Resources (Dave Sperling)
Includes grammar lessons, idiom lists, phrasal verb examples, pronunciation tools, slang lists, and quizzes.
The English Club (English Club)
“Everything from lessons for learners to jobs for teachers, including fun pages like games, videos, quizzes and chat.” See particularly English Writing
ESL Lessons and Help (Wyzant)
“Here, tutors have shared their knowledge so that you won’t be confused as to what a preposition is. You can also brush up on irregular verbs and learn some cool new vocabulary strategies.”
Grammar for learners of English (Frankfurt International School)
“The purpose of this website is to guide learners in effective, enjoyable ways of improving their English and doing well in education.” The following is the full list of grammar points covered by the site:
Verbs – tenses
- Future
- Present simple
- Past simple
- Present continuous
- Past continuous
- Present perfect
- Past perfect
- More tenses
- Tense selector
Verbs – general
- Auxiliary verbs
- Conditionals
- Gerund
- Irregular verbs
- Modal verbs
- Passive
- Phrasal verbs
- Questions and tags
- Reported speech
Other grammar
- Adjectives/adverbs
- Articles
- Capitalization
- Collocation
- Comparative/superlative
- For/since
- Inflections
- Parts of speech
- Prepositions
- Relative clauses
- Some/any
- Syntax
- Usage
- Word order
Learning English Video Project (English Club)
“The Learning English Video Project is a unique seven-part series of documentary films about people learning English in different countries around the world. Made by independent UK filmmaker Daniel Emmerson, the series features students from across the world who have different methods and reasons for learning English.”
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
This dictionary states definitions in clear terms and offers a variety of sample sentences.
Online English Grammar Book (Englishpage.com)
“Englishpage.com is constructing a grammar book of high-quality English lessons and exercises to help English learners learn English grammar online.”
Resources for English as a Second Language (UsingEnglish.com)
This website has a variety of resources for both students and teachers, including quizzes and handouts. Resources include:
- Dictionary of English Phrasal Verbs
- Dictionary of English Idioms & Phrases
- English Irregular Verbs List
Resources for ESL Instructors and Students (Purdue OWL)
Includes grammar and mechanics resources, information on academic integrity, practice exercises, and tips on workplace writing.
Self-Study Quizzes for ESL Students (The Internet TESL Journal)
About 1,000 HTML quizzes for multilingual writers to practice homonyms, vocabulary, idioms, and more.