Interesting links to keep learning English at home

How is your English going lately?

Do you devote time to studying and revising it? Do you actually use it? Today I'm bringing you some useful webpages for you to keep learning English on your own. Three years ago I wrote another post with fun resources for you to keep learning English and now it's time for an update!!

From: http://autoenglishlearning.blogspot.com/2015/04/8-great-websites-to-learn-english.html

1. Webpages to improve your listening skill

Other than the webpages I mentioned in my previous post, namely Listen a Minute; Esl-lab; and ESL Video, today I'm bringing you other webpages that will help you become a solid listener!

- 6 minutes English / BBC Learning English: This webpage is ideal if you're in the intermediate level. You have short extracts of videos and programmes talking about a specific issue and showing you some vocabulary on the way. You can download the transcript and the audio and listen to it as many times as you want. On top of that, there are countless topics! You'll learn a lot!

- Vaughan radio: Have you heard of Vaughan method? This method actively prompts you to speak English by means of different questions. In Madrid, you can listen to Vaughan radio while you are driving your car or cooking. You can even watch it on TV! If you're not in Madrid you can listen to in on the link provided. There are various types of programmes that cover the different levels, so don't miss them!

- Podcasts in English: In this webpage, you'll have access to hundreds and hundreds of interesting podcasts that you can download for free! However, if you want to practise with listening or vocabulary exercises you 'll have to pay membership. Anyway, a good opportunity to access unlimited listening material. 

TED talks: I presume you know what TED talks are since they are so popular nowadays. A person delivers a speech on an interesting topic in front of an audience. As simple as that! There are TED talks on a wide range of topics, so I'm sure you'll get to learn new things on your way to learning English!

- Https://learningenglish.voanews.com/: In this recommended webpage, you'll have access to tons of news items with their tapescripts. You can even practise your listening skills with some quizzes that will put your listening to a test!

2. English reading
Other than The Big Project, where you'll be able to read thousands of newspapers across the globe, and La Mansión del Inglés with hundreds of readings and audio-books, you have some other sources of reading across the Internet: 

- CNN News: In this webpage, you'll get instant access to breaking news in the US, so you'll stay tuned with one of the most influential countries in the world! There are videos, so you'll get to practise your listening as well. 

- El País en inglés: If you are fed up with reading newspapers in the UK and in the US, well,...suffer not, for you can also read Spanish newspapers in English. In this case, one of Spain's most renown paper, no other than El País. Enjoy its pages and news...in your favourite foreign language.

- Reuters: If you're into financial and politics, then  Reuters is definitely your site! Browse through its endless news and watch some of its videos to practise your listening skill!

3. English vocabulary
Vocab is very important when you're learning a new language. However, learning simple words is not enough. Once your English level is up, you'll have to learn idioms and expressions. Here you have two webpages that will help you master these expressions:

- https://www.theidioms.com/: This site offers a selection of the most used idioms sorted out by topic: idioms of food, idioms of violence, idioms of the body, animal idioms, colour idioms, idioms related to numbers,...

- http://www.phrasemix.com/collections:  This webpage is similar to the previous one, but it doesn't deal with idioms, but, rather, with phrases that you can use in different situations, e.g. in a job interview. Can't miss it!

4. Speaking 

- English with Jo: This website is arranged in different topics. The lesson starts with a video, then you receive some suitable vocabulary to speak about the topic and finally some questions related to the topic so that you can have a conversation. Ideal to practise your speaking before an exam!

5. Writing

- Dictations online: In this site, you'll hear some dictations according to your level of English and you'll have to write just what you listen to. At the end, you'll see the tapescript of the text. Ideal to practise your orthography! 

6. General webpages:

There are sites like isabelperez.com that offer wide amterial so that you can practise your English in the different skills.

- One of my favourites is the British Council webpage, which has everything for you, from grammar and vocabulary to podcasts sorted in different levels. Totally a must!

Well, I hope you have enjoyed my selection of  webpages. Let me remind you that I have created some very interesting sites myself so that you can practise your English, for example, Learning English EOI, the blog that I've been using with my students of language school for the last three years; English Calisto y Melibea, the blog I used with my students of high-school in the year 2015-2016; Listen 2 English, for you to practise your listening according to your level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages; and Grammaring with English, my webpage so that you can practise your grammar autonomously. 

I hope that from now on, you use these sites to keep advancing with your English!