Spoken English Practice is based on the fundamental concept that you don’t have to spend money to learn English grammar , vocabulary or pronunciation.  There are a huge amount of free resources that you can use to improve grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation  in your own time. Where you need to spend money on is to practice English speaking with native teachers so that you get to apply what you learned in real conversations. If you think about it, this is exactly how children learn to speak perfect English. They “absorb” sentence structures , new words and sounds and they start using them when they speak. They don’t study English through textbooks or memorization.

So what are some free resources that English language students can use to improve their oral English proficiency? Here’s 8 of our favorites with our insights on how to use them in your learning. We have kept the list as diverse as we can – there is something for beginners, kids, intermediate and advanced level ESL students.

BBC English Learning

The English Learning portal on the BBC website is one of the most useful places to learn English free. It has a wide variety of activities such as vocabulary quizzes, role play games, interactive videos, grammar lessons etc. The learning materiel is typically updated everyday making it both fresh and interesting for students.

However, please remember that BBC English Learning focuses on British English. So if your goal is to master American English, this might not be the perfect website for you to use daily.

ABCya!

This is a website designed for kids who want to learn English but is very useful for adults who are at a beginner level too. It is a fun, interactive way for parents to teach kids fundamental of the English language. The website has a ad free paid version but we recommend staring with the free version as it has a lot of learning materiel to get started.

If you are adult looking for a beginner level English course, ABCya! can be a good starting point. You can learn basic vocabulary and learn how to build simple sentences.

TED

This is not a traditional English learning website but if you are intermediate or upper intermediate level English language learner TED offers a huge amount of videos you can use to 1.) Improve your pronunciation and listening skills 2.) Expand your vocabulary in a natural way 3.) Learn the right speed to speak English.

Further, TED.com is a fascinating resource for anyone who wants to take their Spoken English to the next level. Bored of sitting in English classes learning the same basics? Give TED.com a try and you will be amazed by how fun English learning can be.

Quora

Quora is another non traditional English learning resource that we like our students to use. Tired of learning new vocabulary from the dictionary? Use Quora to pick up new words and expand your vocabulary. Want to improve your English reading and writing skills along with your speaking? Quora again is a great resource for this.

A huge part of being fluent in English is the ability to form sentences in English in your head. The only way to do this is to immerse yourself fully in English. Quora is a great resources to do this.

Urban Dictionary

Are you someone who understands normal English but gets confused when native English speakers use slang and other forms of colloquial English? Urban Dictionary is a great resource to expand your understand of slang and informal English.

The reality is native English speakers don’t speak English like how English is taught in textbooks. Real English is very different from textbook English. For example, a native English speaker will use words such as Ain’t and Gotcha. Or you might hear them say “what’s up dude” or “how’s it going”.

If you still not confident use slang when speaking English that is fine. Most ESL student are not. However, you should at least be able to understand when native speakers use them. That’s the only way you can communicate effectively.

NPR.org

NPR is really a hidden gem if you want to learn quality American English. There is a lot of rich literature that you can find on the NPR site. Also, the content is timely and newsworthy, so you will be improving English through current events and news.

NPR is more suited if your English level is intermediate or advanced and if your goal is to improve American English.

English Club

The English club community is a great free resource if you have a quick question about grammar or vocabulary and want to get an answer. It is one of the most active English language communities out there. The English Club community unlike most other English forums on the internet responds pretty quickly and has a strong network of English language teachers and experts moderating it.

So next time you need help with an essay you are righting or an test you are preparing for, type your question on the English club forum and see whether anyone will help out.

December 15, 2015