With online technology being so widespread and easy to use, you might have looked to see how online resources (aka websites) can help you learn and improve your English. Well, you have come to the right place. In part 1 of this article, you will find 5 online resources that have been specifically chosen to help you learn and improve your English skills.

1. Learning and understanding idioms might not always seem a priority, but mastering idioms is important if you want to sound fluent in English. While you can use Google to search for idioms and their meaning, it is undoubtedly useful to have an online resource where most idioms and their meanings are listed in one place. Idiom Site is a good place to start. (We also have collections of idioms on our YouTube page.)
2. While Vocabulix is another vocabulary resource, it employs other ways of practising words. The flashcard memorization program can be used to practice vocab and verb conjugations (he says, I say, etc.) You can also use the website’s Find Friends facility to find people who are also learning English.
3. Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab is an online ESL resource specifically designed to help you improve your listening skills. You can choose from general listening quizzes in easy, medium, and hard levels to listening quizzes for academic purposes to help you prepare for TOEFL /TOEIC tests.
4. ESL Gold would be one online resource that is a one-stop shop for all learning ESL elements. You can choose from a variety of free learning tools (from speaking, listening, and writing to pronunciation, idioms, and grammar), you can find a tutor to help you learn and practice English, or you can watch explanatory videos on topics such as irregular verbs, how to give instructions, conversation starters, and the past progressive tense.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this article, in which we look at more online resources to help you in your ESL studies. Are there any other online resources you can add to our list?

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About the Author

Denine Walters is currently a freelance writer, editor/proofreader and ESL teacher. Previously, she taught online English lessons to students from all around the world and, before that, she lived and taught English to young learners in Taiwan. In her free time, she likes to read, do scrapbooking and grammar quizzes, and travel.