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ESOL- English for Speakers of Other Languages Resources: Apps

Resources to help ESL learners.

Free (iOS/Android devises)

Duolingo

Many activities that match all learning styles 

      

Memrise

Grammar/vocabulary building tasks and more

      

busuu

Personalized step-by-step lessons with many features

      

Mondly

Real life settings and learners' ranking 

      

Rosetta Stone

Core lessons, vocabulary, pronunciation practice

      

Elevate

Brain training games for all language skills

      

English Central

Free videos with activities for listening and speaking (limited)

      

English Listening

Variety of free listening activities for each level

      

English Radio

Famous radio programs in one app

      

Learn English BBC Learning English by Conversation

Assorted BBC videos for listening and vocabulary building

Tubing

Real English conversation listening and "shadowing" (limited)

      

VOA Learning English

Videos and audios of Voice of America on numerous topics

      

Reading Comprehension Prep

Reading passages with quizzes at 3rd-5th Grade levels

      

Newsela

Articles in several themes at your level of reading

      

Impossible Speed Reading Game

Speed reading practice from beginner to expert level (iPhone/iPad)

Speed Reading

Plenty of speed reading exercises (Android)

English Reading & English Listening

Easy-to-read passages with vocabulary explanations (Android)

Poetry

Collection of contemporary poems

      

What am I? Riddles

Fun word-guessing games

      

English Conversation Practice

Daily dialogues with quizzes and recording

      

English Speaking Practice

Basic dialogues of daily and business settings

      

Speaking Pal

Video dialogues with speaking activities (limited)

      

American English Communication

Daily communication and common words/phrases (Android)

Speak

Speak the sentence in conversation (iPhone/iPad)

Fluent Worlds

Conversation practice in virtual world

      

Essay Writing & Essay Topics

Introduction to types of essays and writing practice (iPhone/iPad)

ARIES

Grammar and academic writing guide by the University of Glasgow

      

English Writing Skills

Academic writing tips for advanced writers

      

English Letter Writing

Instruction on letter writing with samples

      

Andy

Chat practice and vocabulary/grammar lessons with AI robot

      

Dictionary.com

Thesaurus for your writing

      

English Grammar Book

Grammar Lessons with simple quizzes

      

Learn English Grammar

Practice and tests at each level

      

Sentence Wheel

Match words for a correct sentence

      

English Pronunciation Tutor

Concrete lessons on pronunciation features (limited)

      

Sounds Right

Phonemic chart with example words

      

ELSA Speak

Pronunciation lessons with speech recognition (limited)

      

Accent Training

Shadowing practice with native American speeches (iPhone/iPad)

English Pronunciation

Vowel/consonants practice with voice recognition (Android)

Speaking Fit

Exercises and tests from syllable to sentence sounds

      

TOEIC

TOEFL Prep & Practice

Lessons, strategies, exercises, and more from Magoosh

      

TOEFL Speaking and English Learning

Speaking questions resembling those of TOEFL

      

TOEFL iBT Preparation

Reading articles, listening audios, and vocabulary list for TOEFL (limited, iPhone/iPad)

IELTS

IELTS Practice Test

Authentic practice as well as vocabulary for all sections (iPhone/iPad)

Road to IELTS

Official test practice, advice, and tutorial by British Council (limited)

      

IELTS Speaking Practice

Speech samples by learners and practice questions (limited, iPhone/iPad)

Drops

Essential vocabulary learning games

      

Word Power

Vocabulary with example sentences and pictures (limited)

      

Vocabulary Builder

Word lessons at each level

      

Word of The Day

Take a break from basic vocabulary study

      

Phrasal Verbs Machine

Fun game to learn new phrasal verbs by Cambridge University Press

      

Idioms

Idioms in several themes (limited, no trial for Android)

      

Dictionary.com

Easy definition, thesaurus, and example uses

      

The Free Dictionary

American/British pronunciations, Idioms, thesaurus, and more

      

Advanced English Dictionary & Thesaurus

Hyponyms, hypernyms, and holonyms

      

Power Thesaurus

Only thesaurus for synonyms and antonyms

      

Linguee

Accurate translations in various languages

      

Virtual Speech

Public speaking practice in Virtual Reality (limited)

      

PanoLingo

Listening/vocabulary practice in real life situations (Android, VR optional)

Note: all these apps require VR headset and compatible smartphone!

26

Writing alphabet letters and identifying sounds with pictures (iPhone/iPad)

Cursive Writing

Handwriting practice of letters

      

Cursive Words

Handwriting practice of words

      

ABC Phonetic Word Family

Many exercises for word sound recognition

      

Fee (iOS/Android devises)

FluentU

Helpful and engaging materials for all level learners

ABA English

Practice for all purposes of learning, designed for intermediate learners

      

USA Learns English 1-4

Basic vocabulary lessons for beginners in American English

      

English Central

Free videos with activities for listening and speaking (upgrade)

      

Listening Drill

Listening to your favorite audio scripts with line-by-line subtitles

      

3rd-6th Grade Reading

Reading passages with comprehension tests (iPhone/iPad)

ESL Skills: Reading

Reading practice with questions for intermediate learners (iPhone/iPad)

Outread

Speed reading practice with any text (iPhone/iPad)

Reading Trainer

Personalized reading exercises

      

Speaking Pal

Video dialogues with speaking activities

      

Like So

Speech practice on formal topics (iPhone/iPad)

Speak English Like an American

Dialogues with collocations and idioms

      

Mastering Academic Writing

Useful phrases for academic writing (iPhone/iPad)

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Cambridge English Grammar in Use

Explanations and exercises by Cambridge University Press

      

Grammar Expert

Series of simple grammar quizzes (bundle offered for iOS)

      

Grammar Up

Lessons, mock tests, result analysis

      

Grow Grammar

Parsing activities (iPhone/iPad)

Speech FlipBook

Reference and practice for syllables (iPhone/iPad)

Voice of English Learning

Overall practice with animated articulator, sound waves, and example words (iPhone/iPad)

Say It from Oxford

Recording pronunciation with sound waves (iPhone/iPad)

Accent Perfect

Exercises for foreign accent reduction

      

Phonetics Focus

Diversified practice of pronunciation (iPhone/iPad)

Sound of Speech

Videos of articulation by the University of Iowa

      

Word Power

Vocabulary with example sentences and pictures (upgrade)

      

Vocabulary.com

Fun activities for vocabulary learning

      

Vocabulary in Use Elementary

Exercises for beginners by Cambridge University Press (iPhone/iPad)

Vocabulary in Use Intermediate

Exercises for intermediate learners by Cambridge University Press (iPhone/iPad)

Vocabulary in Use Upper Intermediate

Exercises for upper intermediate learners by Cambridge University Press (iPhone/iPad)

Vocabulary in Use Advanced

Exercises for advanced learners by Cambridge University Press (iPhone/iPad)

Dictionary.com Pro/Premium

Dictionary.com with upgrades and no ads

      

Dictionary and Thesaurus Pro

Offline features, no ads, and more

      

Merriam-Webster Dictionary Pro/Premium

Widely recognized dictionary with word games

      

Advanced English Dictionary+

Simple format with American, British, Australian pronunciations (iPhone/iPad)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Word meanings in contexts for advanced reference

      

Mondly: Learn Languages in VR

Listening/speaking activities in several contexts (Android)

Note: all these apps require VR headset and compatible smartphone!

Sound Literacy

Reading/spelling practice with alphabets (iPhone/iPad)

Intro to Letters

Alphabet tracing exercises

      

Intro to Cursive

Cursive writing exercises (iPhone/iPad)

←Click to download on iPhone/iPad            ←Click to download on Android phone/tablet

 

Some apps may not work on your devise.  But you can use them on iPad in Lab (A101) as well as paid apps for free!

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