Internet Directory for English improving websites

The Internet Directory or English Language Improvement 2008–2009

Second Edition: September 2008 © Cnt cégia  évmnt  matéi iactiqu

6220 Sherbrooke Street East, Suite 416 Montréal, Québec H1N 1C1 F infmatin  t cmmnt:

Véronica Gill Tel.: (514) 873-3781 Fax: (514) 864-4908 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en ISBN 978-2-89470-241-3

Produced by the English-Language division o the CCDMD CC DMD through contributions contributions rom the CanadaQuébec Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction Instruction Copy Editing: Veronica Schami Editorial Services Graphic Designer: Projet Bleu

Internet Directory

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www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

Introduction The English-Language English-Language division o the CCDM CC DMD D proudly presents the second edition o The Internet Directory or English Language Improvement . Based on the model o its highly popular French-Language companion, the paperback guide is also available in printable PDF on the CCDMD website at: htt://.ccm.qc.ca/n

This updated collection o basic through advanced resources is or students learning English or using the language langua ge or academic purposes. The Directory includes inormation or English as a Second Language (ESL) students and students writing term papers, among others. It also lists many sites that oer resources or teachers. Most o the sites are Canadian or Québécois in origin. Some very good American, British, and international sites have been included, but only i their content is appropriate or the Canadian milieu. Preerence has been given to sites with multimedia tools that are ree, easy to use, and possess demonstrable educational value. Sites with a number o grammar and spelling errors or broken links have been excluded. Because the Internet is in constant evolution, we appreciate receiving receiv ing your eedback i you discover any problems as you explore.

Internet Directory

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Using the Directory 1. Title

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Collegial Centre or Educational Materials Development (CCDMD)

2. Site Address 3. Icons 5. Keywords a. Objectives b. Themes

6. Annotation

http://www.ccdmd.qc.ca

4. Stamps ESL

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The CCDMD designs and develops educational materials or teachers and students throughout the Québec Cégep system. To accomplish this, the Centre oers administrative, technical, fnancial, and instructional support suppo rt to college proessors so that they may produce their own educational materials.

1. TITle

The Directory is organized alphabetically according to the title o each website. 2. Addre AddreSS SS

The short version o the site address ollows the title. 3. ICoNS

Image icons describe the ormat o the materials you will ind in each site. rfnc

• Dictionaries • Research • Indexes • Translation • Citations discussin

• Chat • Exchange • Pen Pals • Blogs • Forums

Internet Directory

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Sach engin Tsts

• Quizzes • Preparing or Exams

– English Exit Exam – English Prociency Exams Activitis

• Exercises • Games Mutimia

• Podcasts • Technology • Audio • Video 4. STAMpS

identiy websites that include specic resources or teachers or inormation on government resources, associations, training programs, and ree language courses. Stamps

For Teachers Government Resources, Associations, Training Programs, and Language Courses, including: • Be Benc nchm hmar arks ks 5. KeywordS Keywords help students quickly nd websites with specifc inormation. Keywords are grouped into two categories: objectives and themes. a. objctivs Objectives are English-language skills that improve your learning,

comprehension, and ability in core competencies. ESL ES L, including:

• Ofcial Languages

Internet Directory


Grammar , including:

• Punctuation • Parts of Speech • Sentence Structure Listening, including:

• Practice and Comprehension Reading Speaking, including:

• Pronunciation Vocabulary , including:

• Spelling Writing b. Thms Themes are topic areas or students with diverse interests and

enrolled in dierent disciplines. Art and Images History and Culture Literature, including:

• Poetry • Quotations • Song Lyrics • Jokes News Science Social Science Sports Technical Language, including:

• Business English

Internet Directory

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6. ANNoT AN NoTA ATIoN TIoNS S

The annotations are brie notes that describe what you will nd when you visit a site. These notes reer to elements o each site that are most relevant or college colleg e students and English learners learner s in general. We We hope you will nd much more as you explore your own interests. The annotations also include reerences to browsers and players you will need to use the site’s multimedia. Sites that require a sotware purchase are generally not included in the Directory. We We have tried to present a balance o high-tech and low-tech sites so that, no matter what platorm you use, you will be able to nd tools and activities to t your needs. Here is a list l ist o some o the technology encountered: encountered:

pas

dcumnts

•Fl • Fla ash shV Ve ers rsio ion n7 7+

• HTM L

•W • Win ind dow owssM Med edia iaP Pla layyer

• Rich Text

• RealMedia

• PDF

• RealAudio

• Zip

• RealPlayer

• Microsoft Word

• iTunes oth

• M P3

• R SS Feeds Bss

• Podcasts

• Internet Explorer • Firefox • Safari

Internet Directory


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A+ Research and Writing or High School and College Students http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/aplus/

ESL ES L | WritinG

I you are new to essay writing, this site will help you get organized. The content is a good introduction to basic academic writing and the external links are well chosen. The The site covers choosing and developing your topic, gathering inormation, orming a thesis statement, writing the paper, and revising your writing.

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Academic Skills Centre (Dawson College) http://dept.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/lc/

ESL ES L | Grammar | VocabuLary | WritinG

Dawson College’s Academic Skills Centre provides Cégep students with resources to improve their writing and to pass Québec’s Ministerial Examination of College English (English Exit Exam). In the English section, scroll down to Grammar Handouts to learn more about word pairs, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The guide also has many links to extra inormation.

3 Adbusters http://adbusters.org/the_magazine/

rEadinG HiStory and cuLturE | nEWS | SociaL SciEncE

Use this site to work on reading comprehension comprehension or to research writing topics related to corporate media. Adbusters is a non-prot organization that publishes a magazine about the impact o advertising on our culture and environment. The articles take a clear stand on controversial issues and, whether you agree with them or not, they make or an interesting i nteresting read.

Internet Directory 11 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

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Airborn http://www.airborn.ca/

rEadinG LitEraturE

Kenneth Oppel provides interesting content or reading practice. Set in the near past, his recent award-winning book Airborn ollows the adventures o the crew and passengers aboard the luxury airship Aurora. Have un reading as you ollow the links to newspaper articles describing the adventures o the crew and passengers o the Aurora.

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AlphaDictionary http://www.alphadictionary.com

Grammar | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

The site provides links to almost 300 language dictionary sites and more than 120 subject-specic dictionary sites under Specialty Dictionaries. O particular interest is the link to Alpha Agora, where you can register or an active online discussion group to discuss topics ound on the site. You You can also make suggestions or ask questions, talk to other learners, and read what they have to say.

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Anglik http://www.anglik.net

| LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | LitEraturE | nEWS ESL

This site lists more than 30 links to innovative and unusual language improvement tools, such as learning rom song lyrics, newspapers, British art and the Monarchy, word games, slang, jokes, quotations, and lms, to name a ew. The site’s British origins limit its use or Canadian Canadia n students, but it’s un and out o the ordinary. There is also an easy and ree opportunity to make pen pals worldwide.


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Antimoon.com: How to Learn English http://www.antimoon.com/

ESL ES L | rEadinG | SpEakinG

Under Motivation, Antimoon eatures a good discussion about how to be an eective English-language learner, including how to become and stay motivated. This is a commercial site, but there is enough ree content here to make the site useul. Notably, the review o dictionaries is helpul. For a ee, you may download an application to practise and improve your pronunciation.

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Babel Fish Translation http://babelsh.altavista.com

Grammar | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

This translation tool is one o the better ree services available online. You can translate a block o text or an entire website, websi te, depending on your needs. Babel Fish translates English into 9 other languages, as well as 12 languages into English. A word o caution: Any automatic translation tool will make errors, particularly in sentence structure and grammar, gram mar, and will entirely miss certain subtleties subtlet ies o the language. Use Babel Fish as a starting point when you are having diculty, and then cross-reerence the results with another tool, a native English speaker, or a good, old-ashioned dictionary.

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Best Source or Canadian Science http://www.science.ca

rEadinG | VocabuLary art and imaGES | nEWS | SciEncE

It claims to be the best, and we wouldn’t be surprised: This site denitely contains a vast amount o inormation, inormati on, activities, and reerences to everything related to science in Canada. There are proles o scientists, and many links to other science sites, publications, and institutes. You You can even ask a scientist a question when you can’t nd the answer elsewhere. (Make sure you look around rst!) The numerous activities and quizzes tackle airly advanced technical vocabulary and topics. Beam me up, Scotty! Internet Directory 13 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

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BBC World Service: Learning English http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | VocabuLary LitEraturE | nEWS | SociaL SciEncE | tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) oers ESL ES L students a website based on the news o the day. Each page provides imaginative and interesting content with opportunities to write, read, and listen to English. This is a British site, so the accents are usually (although not always) British. The content and presentation are excellent, and there is a good link or teachers. The Radio Player requires RealPlayer. Check out the ollowing sections: • Business English covers topics such as writing a resumé, interview techniques, phoning the boss, and renting a car. • Communicate allows you to chat, participate in projects, and learn about others studying English around the world. • Learning English Webcast is a link to a weekly live podcast that supports English-language learners. You can listen live or listen to last week’s broadcast in three segments. Topics are varied, and there are games and quizzes to participate in by email or by telephone. • News English is a section where you can learn new vocabulary and read current news. There are news stories with explanations and denitions o the important words used in them. The vocabulary is British English. • Quizzes are changed weekly and archived.

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Breaking News English: Ready-to-use ESL Lessons http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG | VocabuLary nEWS

Breaking News English oers the opportunity to improve listening comprehension and reading with news stories o the day. There is a variety o related exercises under Warm-ups, Beore Reading/Listening, While Reading/Listening, and Ater Reading/Listening . Lessons, in Microsot Word or PDF, are available or dierent levels o expertise. Follow the Podcast link at the top o the page to nd an archive o other news stories. Keep in mind that this is a European site; most o the speakers have a clearly British accent. Internet Directory 14 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

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British Council: Learn English Central http://www.britishcouncil.org/central.htm

ESL ES L | Grammar | rEadinG | VocabuLary

Improve your English with exercises and games, or by reading current and archived articles in the online magazine. Visitors are encouraged to respond in writing to theme-based articles, and the responses are posted. There are useul links to sites related to the current weekly theme, and links are updated as the themes t hemes change. You You can test your English-language level with Cambridge ESOL Exams and fnd links to other online grammar exercises.

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Cambridge Dictionaries Online http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

ESL ES L | Grammar | VocabuLary

A dictionary is an essential tool or any a ny writer. Here, users can choose the dictionary that interests them and search or a word or phrase. I a word cannot be ound in one dictionary, the other dictionaries are automatically a utomatically searched. There is also a spelling eature that provides the user with possible alternative spellings. spelli ngs. Canadian and American spellings are both represented here. The Activities link provides online activities and worksheets.

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Campus Access http://www.campusaccess.com/

ESL ES L | rEadinG | VocabuLary

International and ESL students can practise their English skills on this site while researching a college career in Canada. One o the main portals or Canadian students, you will nd all kinds o inormation here on schools, nancial aid, academic academi c lie, internships, and even un stu (like quick recipes, ashion, tness, and student art). There is a job database and inormation on teaching English abroad, as well as an extensive listing o reerence tools.


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Canada: A People’s History http://history.cbc.ca

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This site explores an award-winning television series produced by the CBC CB C that describes the history o Canada. Unortunately, video clips are no longer available on the site, but there is still plenty o reading material as well as a History Crossword Puzzle, a game about being a Viking, and an extensive bibliography that was used to create the television program. The historical timeline at the top o the page is interesting, singling out important moments rom 12,000 B.C. through 1990. Eective English practice or the avid Canadian history bu!

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Canada in the Making http://www.canadiana.org/citm


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I history is your interest, and reading is your pleasure, there is no end to the wealth o knowledge and material available on this site. The site marries original narrative texts with primary historical documents to tell the history o Canada in the words o its people. You can explore specic topics, maps, images, biographies, and many documents related to Canada’s Constitution, pioneers, immigrants, and Aboriginal treaties and relations. There are presently 25 lesson plans available or teachers, and more in the works. The The comprehensive glossary is available avail able in our ormats: PDF, Word, RTF, and Plain Text. Make sure to consult the How to Use This Site menu at the top o the page. It will help you, both in your studies as well as in your navigation o the site.


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Canadian Association o Second Language Teachers http://www.caslt.org

ESL ES L | rEadinG art and imaGES

This site is geared toward teachers and CASLT CASLT members, but it is an important import ant resource or any ESL student living in Canada. As a student, joining a major association in your feld is always a good idea because you will gain access to learning materials, email bulletins, newsletters, conerences, and special oers. When you become a member o the CASL CASLT T, you can take t ake advantage advant age o benefts and added resources. For students enrolled in a Faculty Fa culty o Education, there is a one-year ree membership. Students St udents who are members o provincial language associations may become Afliate Members or only $15. I you are not a teacher, you can still use the selection o diverse and excellent links in the General Resources section. Here you will fnd games, puzzles, printouts, test databases, dictionaries, search s earch engines, and classroom exchange sites.

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Canadian Encyclopedia http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com

LiStEninG | rEadinG | WritinG

This site is a great resource or working on reading comprehension and researching writing topics about Canada. A search box to the site is provided on the Home page. Try Try the links li nks under Interactive Resources, including Games and Learning, English-Frenc English-French h Phrases, and French-English Phrases.

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Canadian History on the Web http://canadianhistoryontheweb.ca


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This site is ull o links to everything and anything related to Canadian history on the Web. Maintained by Dr. Susan Nylan, Proessor o History at


Wilrid Laurier University, University, the site is essentially a repository o resources, and there will be the occasional link that does not work. However, what does unction (and there is lots o it) is impressive. You can search alphabetically according to topic, or under the general headings o Historical Documents, Historical Graphics, Museums, Heritage Sites and Archives, Fun and Games, and Other Resources.

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Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials

http://www.cicic.ca

rEadinG HiStory and cuLturE

Developed as a part o CMEC, CICIC has a mandate to advocate wider recognition o higher education and proessional qualications. As a centre, it collects, organizes, and distributes inormation i normation on studying and working in Canada, studying abroad, oreign credentials recognition, recogniti on, and education in Canada and abroad. The website is divided into easy-to-ollow sections, each providing a vast amount o inormation and other relevant sources. sources . Find everything you ever wanted to know about education in Canada and abroad at CICIC.

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Canadian Language Benchmarks (Manitoba) http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/immigrate/eal/

ESL ES L HiStory and cuLturE

Manitoba has just changed ESL to EAL, which means English as an Additional Language. This is in keeping with the theory behind TESOL TE SOL (Teaching (Teaching English to Speakers o Other Languages), since we know that in Canada, many students learning English or the frst time already have advanced knowledge o one or more other languages.

The site ocuses quite a bit on Canadian language benchmarks, and provides links and downloadable PDF material to help you both evaluate your own language level and practise sel-study. (Language benchmarks describe a task, such as reading, writing, writi ng, speaking, or listening, and how well you can do it.)


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Canadian Olympians (Library and Archives Canada) http://www.collectionscanada.ca/olympians


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This is a searchable image database o Canadian Olympians rom the early 1900s through 2004. Each image is accompanied by a short, precise description that is perect or beginner and intermediate English students. 2006 Olympians appear on a separate site: http://www.olympic.ca. You can browse by athlete, at hlete, sport, Olympic Olympi c year, or medal. The site includes a lengthy essay on the history o the Canadian presence in the Olympics. The Educational Resources area contains two lesson plans, an idea bank, and a crossword puzzle in HTML, RTF and PDF, the standard ormats included on all Library and Archives Canada sites.

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CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

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http://archives.cbc.ca The CBC oers a large collection o ree radio and television clips to help you improve your listening comprehension. Enter search terms or browse the ollowing categories: People, Conict and War, Arts and Entert ainment, Politics and the Economy, Lie and Society, Disasters and Entertainment, Tragedies, Science and Technology, and Sports. You can also choose a

timeline with entries that are colour-coded by subject. The quality o the language used by CBC journalists is i s rst-rate, and there is an impressive variety o topics to explore. CBC emai Nstts

http://membercentre.cbc.ca Current news stories are good reading practice, and are oten useul or research projects. The CBC oers a variety o daily newsletters delivered ree to your desktop. The service requires a ree membership sign-up.


CBC eSl

http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/esl/lessons.html There are 10 lessons on these pages to help you learn to speak and read English. Each lesson has preparation activities, an audio or video le, and exercises in comprehension and vocabulary. vocabulary. While you are visiting the CBC CB C website, check the Archive or a vast collection o ree radio and television clips rom Canada’s past.

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Celebrating Women’s Achievements (Library and Archives Canada) http://www.collectionscanada.ca/women

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Another theme-based resource, this website chronicles the lives and achievements o exceptional Canadian women. Divided into topic menus according to the women’s major contributions, the elds are diverse and include lm, theatre, arts, sport, activism, science, and many others. Each piece includes a photograph or drawing o the individual, biographical inormation, and a list o additional suggested readings. In the Educational Resources area, two lesson plans, a bank o ideas or teaching and writing, and a crossword puzzle have been prepared to accompany the biographies, but the site is primarily text-based and best used or developing intermediate and advanced reading skills.

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Center or History and New Media: Tools http://chnm.gmu.edu/tools

LiStEninG | rEadinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | LitEraturE | nEWS | SociaL SciEncE

This site showcases a unique and imaginative selection s election o ree tools or Internet research in history, including Zotero (which helps you to collect, manage, and cite research sources in Fireox), Syllabus Finder, Web Scrapbook or storing a variety o media items, Survey Builder , and Scribe (a cross-platorm note-taking application), as well as several others.


The CHNM CHN M home page is also pertinent or English students with an interest in modern and ancient history. In the Resources area, you will fnd essays, blogs, amous episodes in history, and an amusing section called Sidelights. In the Projects area, you will fnd issues o topical interest, including the leading digital repository o materials materia ls related to September 11, the Hurricane Digital Memory Bank, and various other collections o rare and endangered media related to American and World history. Sanity note: You may wish to take a snack break while waiting or some o these heavily laden sites to load.

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Centre or Canadian Language Benchmarks http://www.language.ca

ES L Hi St Story ory and cuLtur cuLtur E

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The CCLB develops national standards standard s or the development o benchmarks, and promotes programs to assist immigrants in attaining att aining these standards. (Language benchmarks describe a task, such s uch as reading, writing, speaking, or listening, and how well you can do it.) The site provides inormation on language prociency, approved CLB tests, specic placement exams, workplace assessment, and assessment centres. There are some excellent brochures available throughout the site in PDF PD F. Be patient i they take a ew minutes to load. Proessionals may be interested in the entire site, but English students should check out the Learner Gateway rst.

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Churchill House School o English Language http://www.churc http://www. churchillhouse.com/english/learners.html hillhouse.com/english/learners.html


This commercial site oers ree online exercises indexed by level. Choose a level and then choose the activities you would like l ike to try. Based in England, the site is accredited by the British Council.


Try the ollowing links: • Dr. Grammar is a discussion orum that answers student grammar questions. • Exam Preparation lists and describes standardized ESL exams or students, teachers and translators. • For Teachers oers downloadable verb exercises in PDF, and other interesting links.

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Citizenship and Immigration Canada http://www.cic.gc.ca/


The Government o Canada, along with partners at the provincial and community levels, provides ree language training or adult permanent residents. Beore spending unnecessary money on private courses, see i you qualiy or the CLIC program in Québec (LINC in the rest o Canada). The site has a list o oces across the country, many ocial publications, application orms or immigration, detailed policy and regulation statements, and general statistics.

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Collegial Centre or Educational Materials Development (CCDMD) http://www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

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The CCDMD designs and develops educational materials or teachers and students throughout the Québec Cégep system. s ystem. To To accomplish this, the t he Centre oers administrative, technical, t echnical, fnancial, and instructional support to college proessors so that they may produce their own educational materials.

The Centre is subsidized by the Québec Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir, et du Sport, and is managed by Collège de Maisonneuve. Mai sonneuve. In 2005, the CCDMD broadened its collaborative eorts to include Anglophone colleges, as part o the Canada-Québec Agreement.


A diverse collection o printed, digital, and online materials is produced or a wide range o courses and programs. Students will nd translated materials or various subject areas in the Resources by Discipline section o the CCDMD CCDM D website, as well as materials specically designed or the Anglophone college colle ge community. In the Learning Centre portion o the site, there are innovative multimedia tools or improving English language skills, and exercises to prepare or the English Exit Exam. Check out the new ECO sotware, designed or anyone who wants to create Internet exercises or learning a language by listening to and pronouncing sounds and short phrases. This ree, user-riendly authoring sotware allows teachers to create and manage libraries o audio les, and develop pronunciation exercises. The exercises can be published in the orm o a website that students can access to hear the audio les, record their own voices and sel-assess pronunciation through graphic comparisons o recordings with control sounds. So as not to miss mi ss out on new and developing resources, students should bookmark the CCDMD site and visit oten!!

30

Concept Maps http://classes.aces.uiuc.edu/ACES100/Mind/CMap.html

WritinG

A concept map is a helpul tool or students trying to organize a project or essay. This site provides a denition o concept maps, discusses discuss es their purpose, and describes how to choose and use them. It oers downloadable diagrams to help you design your own maps. The site is very easy to navigate. naviga te. Follow these links: Tips on Making Your Own Concept Maps, Kinds o Concept Maps, and Concept Map Bank.

31

Council o Ministers o Education, Canada http://www.cmec.ca

rEadinG HiStory and cuLturE

Since education in Canada is the exclusive responsibility o each province and territory, it is sometimes dicult to nd resources that present pres ent inormation on the nation’s education system as a whole. This site, produced by the Council o Ministers o Education, Canada (CMEC), does just that. Internet Directory 23 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

The site provides a vast array o reliable reerences or citizens and new arrivals to Canada. It includes inormation on studying in Canada, oreign credential recognition, and even links to interesting research and statistics on education in Canada.

32

Criteria or Evaluating Internet Sources http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/evaluating/

WritinG

Anyone who has a computer and access to the Internet can put together a website, so it’s important importa nt to know how to evaluate Internet sources beore you use them in a research paper. This site provides a list o questions to t o help you sort the reliable sites rom the rest. Each category o questions has a So What button that explains why it is important to ask a sk the questions. The links to biased inormation and parody sites are un, and the external links are helpul.

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Critically Analyzing Inormation Sources http://www.library.corne http://www. library.cornell.edu/olinuris/re/research/skill26.htm ll.edu/olinuris/re/research/skill26.htm

WritinG

The questions on this page will lead you through throug h a thorough assessment o print sources and help you decide whether they are appropriate or essays and research papers. This process is also great practice in critical thinking.

34

Curricular Resources and Materials or ESL http://www.cln.org/subjects/esl.html

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This little page is a straightorward listing o resources and sites or ESL learning. There are curricular resources, instructional materials, and a theme pages area (which or now only includes a theme on Listening ). Regarding the links, it’s a mixed bag, but most o them were unctional at the time o writing. A word o caution: We did not check every site listed here, so you


will need to evaluate their learning potential or yoursel or ask your English teacher what he or she thinks o a particular resource. The page is part o a larger site called Community Learning Network, a BC-based site designed to assist K–12 teachers with integrating technology in the classroom : http://www.cln.org/.

35

Daily Grammar Lesson Archive http://dailygrammar.com/

ESL ES L | Grammar

This site oers more than tha n 400 sequential grammar gra mmar lessons. Work at your own pace, choosing lessons rom the archive. Although once a provider o ree daily email lessons, this service has been suspended due to technical t echnical problems.

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Dave’s ESL Caé http://www.eslcae.com

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

Dave Sperling’s popular ESL site is ound in almost every ESL directory. The Caé oers a large number o links to material or students and teachers. Many links are commercial. Students have ree access to grammar exercises, a helpline, and chat pages. Some links work intermittently, perhaps due to high trac on the site.

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Dictionary o Canadian Biography Online (Library and Archives Canada) http://www.biographi.ca

rEadinG

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art and imaGES

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SociaL SciEncE

This website is being continually updated and expanded, and already contains more than 20 volumes beginning with the year 1000 (yes, you read it correctly – the year 1000). You can search by volume, keyword, identity, proession, or geographic region. You can also look up an individual by Internet Directory 25 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

name, or browse by the rst letter o the last name. As this site develops, it will be possible to connect to portraits (where available), link to related stories and biographies, and connect to virtual exhibitions and search tools in order to nd primary source material and supplemental inormation related to the biographies.

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Dictionary o Events, Places, People, and Times in Canadian History http://www.edunetconnect.com/cat/candict

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This sweet little number is categorized alphabetically according to topic: Click on a letter in the alphabet al phabet and get a very narrow oering o inormation related to selected topics in Canadian history. The material is illustrated where possible and attractively presented, but there are not copious amounts o it. Quality versus quantity denitely applies here.

39

e-anglais http://www.e-anglais.com/

ESL ES L | Grammar | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG nEWS | tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

As its name suggests, s uggests, this site is designed or French-speaking students students who wish to learn English, and provides the option o reading the instructions or each activity in the student’s rst language. The titles and instructions are also provided in English, so the site is not o exclusive interest to French students. There is an extensive list o links to vocabulary sources, magazines, newspapers, television, radio, and virtual books. Several online dictionaries and translation tools are listed. At the top o the page, menus written in French, such as Cours, Exercices, Tests, and Lectures, point to excellent activities, exercises, and resources.


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Early Canadiana Online http://www.canadiana.org/eco

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This is a database o more than 2 million early Canadian texts that have been digitized (let’s hope they didn’t throw out the originals). The texts are organized into collections that are searchable according to topic, title, keyword, and year o publication. Teachers Teachers will appreciate the Lesson Plans area, as well as the act that the site provides access to an Evaluation Report o its educational sites and resources.

41

Edufnd.com: Online English Grammar http://www.edund.com/english/grammar

ESL ES L | Grammar | WritinG

You will nd interesting and well-presented material or studying English on this site. There is such a variety that it is dicult to describe in a ew sentences. There are headings related to Punctuation, Writing Tips, and English Tests. You can complete a ree assessment and then subscribe to more learning activities rom OEG, or just use what’s available on the site (which is a lot). I you happen to be building a website or ESL or other students, there is ree content available here.

42

Edunetconnect http://www.edunetconnect.com/

rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | nEWS | SciEncE | SociaL SciEncE

This Canadian site, geared to teachers, oers weekly awards to the best sites providing educational content. The Learning Categories menu presents a vast array o websites that lead to endless hallways o learning opportunities in many subject areas. The requently updated eatures centred on the home page target the learner’s curiosity, but the site is literally hemmed Internet Directory 27 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

in by commercial links. I you are Internet-savvy, you will have no problem ignoring these areas, but they may be distracting or some.

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English as a Second Language http://www.rong-chang.com/

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This is a great site or ESL learners. lear ners. The site provides material o its own, as well as links to other useul sites. Interesting eatures include a Pronouncing Dictionary o Common English Names, an ESL Chat Community, and ESL Writing Blogs. Follow the link to 100 Free Short English Stories or ESL E SL Learners to listen

to stories as they are read aloud. The reader speaks slowly and clearly, making it easy to t o ollow as you read the text t ext on the screen. Try Try the grammar, comprehension, and dictation exercises that accompany the stories. This is an excellent resource or improving your pronunciation. You will need RealAudioorMP3capabilitytoheartheseles.Justbeadvisedthatthere

are many advertisements on this site.

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English, Baby! http://www.englishbaby.com

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HiStory and cuLturE | tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

In addition to English, this site is oered in Traditional Traditional Chinese, Simplied Chinese,JapaneseandSpanish.ThespellingisAmerican.Thefocusis

on the student understanding English in context (mostly pop culture and daily usage o English), primarily through reading and listening to dialogue o real people. Each listening activity is accompanied by a short quiz and a space or users to make comments. This online English learning community allows you to create a ree membership and maintain maintai n a personal prole that can be shared with other members rom around the world. There are orums, chat, and instant messaging messagi ng eatures that members can use to keep in touch. In this way, the site encourages people to communicate and learn l earn rom each other. The comments are oten written with the inormal language o text messaging, mess aging, so be warned that the accuracy o their English spelling is questionable.


Members can save their lessons by using the My Lessons eature and any vocabulary words in My Vocab. They can also tag lessons, so others can search or them. People can also create their own lessons, but must rst register as a “teacher.” This is a busy site, which makes it dicult to use i you are looking or specic content. However, i you like to participate in a casual, contemporary learning environment with interesting, youth-oriented topics, this site is a un and original option.

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English Club http://www.englishclub.com

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Hi St Story ory and cuLtur cuLtur E

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This excellent and thorough site originates in Cambridge, England, and is ree, although there are links to commercial sites. The site uses the Concise Oxord Dictionary o Current English as a reerence, but includes pages rom Canadian and American English sources, and points out the dierences where applicable. This eature may resolve some o the conusion between dierent word spellings.

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English Department http://the_english_dept.tripod.com/

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This page is a subsection o a site that addresses the needs o EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students. Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the creator, Barbara Dieu, is an EFL E FL teacher or secondary-level students. students. The site has an international, contemporary favour. On the home page, you will discover interesting acts about English, its growth, and its place in the world, as well as anecdotes rom English students. To get a sense o the scale o this site, check out the unique Site Map that you can access rom the main Go To drop-down menu. The titles are clickable and you can search almost any topic, including lesson plans,


writing activities, media, quizzes, English-speaking countries, chat, slang, horoscopes – each area leads you yo u to a new page, where you will nd many m any excellent and entertaining educational links or learning English. Note that you may wish to enable your pop-up blocker beore entering this site!

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English Exit Exam (Ministerial Examination o College English) http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/ens-sup/ens-coll/ http://www.mels.gouv .qc.ca/ens-sup/ens-coll/ Eprv_uniorme/Anglais/Welcome.asp


I you are looking or inormation about Québec’s English Exit Exam or Cégep students, this is the place to start. This site o the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport provides a general introduction to the exam, explains the criteria or passing it, and posts the exam schedule. There are links to past exam exa m questions (the readings cannot be provided because o copyright rules) and a nd to an FAQ document called All You Need to Know: A-Z. The Marking Guide contains several sample student essays with explanations o how they were graded.

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English Language Centre: Study Zone http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/

ESL ES L | Grammar | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

Widely acknowledged as one o the best English-language study sites available, the University o Victoria’s English Study Zone has exercises in reading, writing, grammar, and games. Indexed by level, individual pages oer exercises in dierent categories. Exercises are varied and imaginative, ima ginative, and they increase in the degree o diculty. The last lesson in a series oten provides review and sel-testing. Simple design, easy links, l inks, and useul exercises make this a very user-riendly resource. Bookmark it right now! The ollowing is a brie summary summa ry o each level: •

Level 200 contains simple texts and grammar exercises.

•

Level 330 contains stories, exercises, and comprehension questions.

There are also many grammar exercises as well as some on punctuation.


• Level 410 oers a chance to read stories and write summaries o what

you have read. There are also grammar exercises in both the reading and grammar sections. • Level 490 has ve readings with grammar, comprehension, and writing exercises. Readings and exercises are arranged rom easiest to most dicult. • Level 570 contains reading exercises, including one on critical reading. You will also nd more advanced grammar exercises. The page ends with a web-based scavenger hunt and a writing assignment. The Extra Materials section contains an Index to Grammar Exercises as well as a section called Choosing the Correct Article.

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English Language Institute http://learningresources.eli.ubc.ca/

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

The English Language Institute (ELI) o UBC contains some o the highest quality ree material on the Internet or learning English as a second language. It’s probably better than a lot o the commercial material as well. The layout and design are great and completely ad-ree. Some sections require textbooks used by students and les at the ELI, E LI, but you’ll nd plenty o ree content on the rest o the site. Each section provides external links li nks as an additional resource. The site is divided into ve sections: • Using Corpora has external links that teach you how to use language databases to learn the dierent ways words and phrases can be used. • Reading oers levels 400 to 600 with pre-reading material, texts, and exercises. This is a great resource or building vocabulary and, at the advanced level, learning about some aspects o grammar. • Writing contains exercises on understanding collocations (words requently used together), combining sentences, constructing paragraphs, and using phrasal verbs. • Speaking and Listening contains transcripts, exercises, and external links organized by level or beginning to advanced speakers. •

Exam Courses is designed to help you with the TOEFL (Test o English

as a Foreign Language). This section will also help students who want to improve their vocabulary. It contains exercises on word meanings, commonly conused words, phrasal verbs, idioms, opposites, and word orms.


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English Lessons and Tests http://www.englishlearner.com


With a nice conversational tone and a sense o humour, this site provides many simple and eective lessons and tests or the beginner to advancedlevel English student. You You can subscribe to receive ree lessons by email emai l and, i you don’t have an email address, you can get one through this site. On the home page, there is an online dictionary search, a poll unction, games, and a book shop. You You can sign yoursel up on a mailing list to meet other English students (virtually) and receive tips on resources.

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English Now: An Online Tutorial (Vanier College) http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/languageschool/Potatoes/home.htm

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This site oers an intensive and comprehensive review o verbs, with great material to help you learn how and when to use each o the English verb tenses. The tutorial also covers reading comprehension, vocabulary, and listening skills. The concepts are presented in stories or texts written by Vanier students, and the exercises are careully sequenced. The themes are international and multicultural, and many o them also ocus on current events in and around Montréal, or young students who are new to the city. The site is best viewed with a recent browser. There is a wide variety o options or audio players, but make sure the volume on your computer is turned way up!

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English Online (Université de Franche-Comté) http://ressources-cla.univ-comte.r/english/index_s.htm

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This website is highly interactive; all the learning takes place through exercises and activities divided into categories. Each category has diverse activities that take dierent and interesting approaches to practising English. For example, in Listening , there are audio and video clips that are accompanied by incomplete texts. Students listen and type as much as Internet Directory 32 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

they can understand, chec checking king progress periodically. Correct inormation then appears in the appropriate place in the text, while errors are let out, allowing students to replay the audio and reconstruct the text word by word i necessary. Speakers in the listening exercises have dierent accents, which gives an international favour to the site and may assist the ESL E SL student in training the ear to dierent tones and contexts.

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English Pronunciation and Listening http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | SpEakinG

There are 13 units at this excellent site to help second-language learners improve their pronunciation and listening lis tening skills. Each unit ocuses on a group o sounds and includes practice exercises. The most dicult sounds have QuickTime video les to show you exactly how to pronounce them. There are links to download all the sotware you need to use the site. This is some o the best ree pronunciation material available. I you would like to invest in some other tools, there are a ew links l inks to good commercial sites at the bottom o the home page.

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ESL Monkeys: English as a Second Language Online Resources http://www.eslmonkeys.com

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

This charming ESL directory is divided into sections: For Teachers, For Schools, and For Students. Many ree resources are available. The site is requently updated, so we won’t give you too much inormation on speciics, as things may change by the time you get there. However, the layout is easy to navigate and the content is never boring. There are also useul little tools on each page, such as the Word Look Up eature. The downside o the site is that most o the multimedia unctions only i you have Microsot Internet Explorer as your browser, i you have Adobe Acrobat Reader, and i your pop-up blocker is disengaged. Those o you with this lucky combination, however, however, won’t be disappointed.


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ESL Notes Presents: The English Learner Movie Guide http://www.eslnotes.com/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG

What a great idea! With the emergence o DVDs and the capacity to watch movies with subtitles in the language o your choice, sitting down in ront o the TV has never been such an educational experience or language learners. At this site, a multitude o guides provides plot summaries o popular flms, character lists, glossaries, and brie discussions o cultural reerences. This is a un way to practise reading, and an excellent way to work on listening comprehension. Each flm entry may be downloaded in PDF, HTML, or Microsot Word. The catch is that you need to buy or rent the movie movi e yoursel! Don’t expect ex pect to fnd a ree version on the site. I you want to, you can order it online.

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English Tests, Etc. http://www.english-test.net

ESL ES L | Grammar | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG LitEraturE | SociaL SciEncE | tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

The home page o this site lists easily accessible online tests pertaining to various English grammar topics, special themes, and TOEFL-style exam preparation. Most tests are organized into levels o diculty (Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced). The site is densely packed with stimulating and original activities that are ully unctional, within which you will be hardpressed to nd a punctuation or grammatical error. The language and themes tend to have an American bias, but the creators o the site seem to have been brought together virtually, rather than through any geographic connection. To “meet” these people, just click on an image under the site logo. You will be treated to a detailed history o each instructor’s proessional experience, experience, and, in most cases, you will fnd links to learning materials developed by the instructors as well as articles they have written. The group seems to be a bit o a cooperative, a very interesting and innovative innova tive approach to teaching English. The best part is that (or now), it’s all ree. Take advantage o this great site beore the authors implement their commercial plans!


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English Trailers http://www.english-trailers.com/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary

This little package, presented by DreamWorks, makes a good partner to the English Learner Movie Guide, and actually provides trailers on-site. Improve your listening comprehension by watching movie trailers (commercials or hit movies). You can search or flms by title, actor, genre, or the year it was released. There is also an in-house dictionary database at work behind the scenes. The site is designed and maintained by English Eng lish teachers, and contains warmup activities, scripts o the trailers, and exercises. Many activities activiti es are designed or use with a partner or group. The site provides a link or QuickTime in the Welcome area, where you will also fnd detailed animated instructions on using the site. To maximize your experience, you can create a user account that gives you access to more trailers trail ers and bonus eatures o the site, includinclud ing quizzes that allow you to save your scores. Teachers can also use this unctionality to supervise and grade their students’ perormance.

There are a ew typos, unortunately, but the overall concept is good, so this site gets a pass. Fresh and un!

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eSpindle http://www.espindle.org

rEadinG | WritinG | VocabuLary

This website started rom a parents’ initiative to improve tutoring practices or their children in English spelling conventions. The non-proft organization oers a ree trial o their innovative, independently developed tutoring program that improves memory and learning associated with reading and spelling.

The program is designed as comprehensive, ongoing tutoring support that allows ecient and systematic progress at the level o the learner. Hints and sample sentences are linked to a database o 100,000 words. Each paying membership is matched by the organization in the orm o a ree subscription or a disadvantaged student.


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eWorkshop: Ontario’s Education Foundation Programs http://www.eworkshop.on.ca

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The Education Foundation program involves teacher training and the t he development o teacher guides in printed orm. The eWorkshop eWorkshop site represents a natural progression o the Foundation’s work into technology and multimedia, providing online learning modules and teaching resources. The literacy modules oered here are careully planned and educationally sound. Although designed or primary-level students, many are easily easil y adapted or adult use. The division o material into Emergent, Early, and Fluent reader levels helps the student to understand the process o learning to read. Printable material is available in PDF ormat. The many high-quality, ast-loading Flash videos are intended primarily to guide teachers in their instruction strategies. However, these can be un to watch, and they provide helpul hints or eective solo learning.

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First Among Equals http://www.collectionscanada.ca/2/4/

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The site proles every Canadian prime minister and also ocuses on ve main themes related to the oce throughout history. A special plus is that the site includes transcripts o ocial speeches, categorized according to political topic. The material is text-based and suited to intermediate and advanced readers. I the material is too dicult or i you would like to learn along with your children, there is a kids’ version o the site. Based on the same content, this site is more m ore colourul, and includes period photographs, a act sheet, and a helpul keyword eature. There is a Fun section with simple yet eective trivia, trivia , matching games, and a great Picture Gallery that eatures prime ministers in places and with people you might not expect! There is also a link or teachers.


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Focus on English http://ocusenglish.com/

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The site ocuses on listening to native speakers discuss a variety o topics, and introduces useul idioms and common expressions. The site oers unique, simple, and interesting visuals, such as graphs and maps as conversation starters, which are helpul or the solo student and would be ideal or projection in an ESL classroom environment. A link is oered to install chat, but it is or personal use only and will not match you up with students at this particular site. You will need RealPlayer to hear the audio les.

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Free Rice http://www.reerice.com

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This website is initiated by the World Food Program. As soon as you enter the website, the main page becomes a vocabulary quiz. The multiple-choice quiz gives you a word and our options o potential meanings. Every question that you get correct earns you 20 grains o rice ri ce that are donated to people around the world. The website generates revenue through advertising space, which makes the donation possible.

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Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

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Reading newspaper articles every day is one o the best ways to build your reading and writing skills. The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, has a well-developed online edition that covers national and international news, as well as eaturing sections on business and investing, sports, arts, travel, technology, and health. These pages contain many surprises, and subscribers have access to RSS eeds. Internet Directory 37 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

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Government o Québec http://www.immigration-Quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/employment/lookinghttp://www.immigration-Quebec.gouv .qc.ca/en/employment/lookingnding/learn-english.html


This is an important site or new immigrants, as it provides valuable inormation regarding settling in, housing, and language training. A ew organizations that oer ree, low-tuition, or paid courses are eatured on the page. There is useul inormation on trades, job search, and language requirements when looking or employment in Québec. The site provides online government orms and electronic services.

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Grand dictionnaire terminologique: Ofce québécois de la langue rançaise http://www.ol.gouv http://www. ol.gouv.qc.ca/ressources/gdt.html .qc.ca/ressources/gdt.html

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You can look up words and phrases in French or English on the Québec government’s website o the Ofce québécois de la langue rançaise . This is not a translation transla tion tool but a resource or nding correct terminology. terminology. It is basically a database data base o lexicons and vocabulary that, though not exhaustive, is constantly being updated. You need to know some French to use the site to its ullest. Be careul to interpret the denitions in context to ensure they are ar e culturally appropriate and refect your intended meaning.


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Guardian Unlimited http://www.guardian.co.uk/

ESL ES L | rEadinG | WritinG HiStory and cuLturE | LitEraturE | nEWS | SociaL SciEncE

This is a well-organized site, rich in inormation and opportunities to improve reading and writing skills. Based in Britain, the Guardian Unlimited has interesting international content content on a wide variety o topics. Sign up or the alert service, and have articles about topics that interest you delivered ree to your desktop. A ree sotware download is available and no registration is necessary. Click on Culture to nd the Books link – it is o particular interest to the English student. In Authors, you will nd biographical inormation about a large number o international writers, as well as articles and reviews. There are links to extracts rom books and, or the adventurous, there are writing games and quizzes. There are also QuickTime audio links or selected news stories. Note that the announcer will speak with a British accent.

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Historical Voices http://www.historicalvoices.org

LiStEninG | SpEakinG

This site preserves and displays historical events and inormation in the orm o archival spoken-word recordings. Here, the student can listen to interviews, press statements, court cases, and many other examples o actual people caught on “tape.” Some o the audio recordings come with a transcript so that you can ollow the text while listening. The sources are varied, and so are the ormats. orma ts. I a particular site s ite doesn’t work or you, check which media player is required. RealAudio is oten employed, as well as RSS eeds or podcasts, but it is not always clearly mentioned, which can be rustrating or users. The Education area presents excellent inormation or teachers, along with lesson plans to accompany specic audio archives. A word o caution: ca ution: Test Test everything beore presenting to your class! This site has ambitious goals and objectives set out on its home page, but it still has a ways to go beore it lives up to all o these. Nevertheless, the existing content, despite a ew glitches, is worth a look.


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How to Do Research on the Internet http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/vl/www/wwwcon.htm

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This is a straightorward introductory i ntroductory tutorial to research on the Internet. Even i the student has extensive experience surng and searching online, this site will help clariy clari y terminology, such as the dierences between search engines and subject gateways, the denition and structure o a URL, domain names as clues to the type o organization represented by a website, etc. Other tutorials on various topics in inormation technology are available in the Subject Guide at the top o the page. Printable versions o all the tutorials are oered on the site.

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HyperGrammar http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/


This is an extensive grammar site oered by the University o Ottawa’s Writing Centre. The site is indexed by topic, and there are links rom each lesson to related pages within the rest o the site. All these links can make moving around a bit conusing; however, however, the content is useul, clear, and very well written. The benet o this method is that the student can navigate according to his or her own train o thought. As a linear approach to learning grammar is problematic on many levels, this approach is rereshing and educationally sound, once you get into the fow o it. A word o caution: It is highly recommended to start by reading How to Use HyperGrammar, and not a bad idea to tackle this site early in your day with a rested brain and resh eyes.

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Hypertext Writer’s Guide (University o Victoria) http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/welcome.html


Every step o the essay-writing essay-writi ng process is covered here. The Table o ConC ontents and Index make it easy to nd exactly what you are looking or, and Internet Directory 40 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

the site is well designed. The inormation is easy to read, and the pages load quickly. Use this site to plan and research your essay, to revise and prooread your drat, and to prepare a bibliography o your sources. Learn about dierent types o essays and the terms you need to write an essay on literature. Amaze your riends and relatives by knowing the denition o the literary term zeugma (we bet even your teacher has to look it up). This site is well worth a bookmark.

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I Love Languages http://www.ilovelanguages.com

rEadinG | WritinG HiStory and cuLturE | SociaL SciEncE

This award-winning site has been established in some orm since 1994. 199 4. It has been quoted in both online and print media m edia press on many occasions. The site is primarily a catalogue o language-related Internet resources, with many links that are not specic to English. One helpul aspect o the site is that its commercial listings appear together and are accessible rom one menu, so the student is not obliged to sit through sites that are selling products and services. There are a large number o dictionaries, translation tools, and teacher resources included in the Languages area. In the School area, the student can nd language camps, programs, and universities. There is also a Jobs area with links to language-related employment resources.

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Images Canada http://www.imagescanada.ca/

rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | SociaL SciEncE

Photo essays are usually written by an archivist or historian to develop a narrative on a specic theme and then enhanced with images. Using the site’s search engine, you can collect and arrange your choice o images to accompany a photo essay o your own or select an Image Trail to see a prepared set o about 50 to 150 images on a particular theme. Beautiully presented, the site is a great alternative or English students who are visual learners or who are not ready or a lot o heavy reading.


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Interesting Things or ESL Students www.manythings.org

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG VocabuLary | WritinG LitEraturE

This site is included here because it has such a varied selection o amusing and unusual oerings that employ diverse learning strategies. It will appeal to dierent learners, and exercise multiple skills, skill s, including grammar, vocabulary, listening, spelling, and pronunciation. Two words o caution: There are a ew errors err ors on the site, and not every tool too l works perectly, perectl y, or has much educational value. valu e. In addition, the games and interactive activities have been designed or dierent platorms, including Flash,JavaScript,andvariousplayers.Dependingonyoursystem,youmay

not have success using all o them. Nevertheless, the site owners should be congratulated on oering a truly non-prot resource, where the student is never subjected to unwanted advertising.

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International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com/pages/index.php

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This international newspaper includes original content as well as articles rom newswire newswir e services and major papers, pap ers, like The New York York Times. Articles are presented with high-quality visuals, and there are always a lways links to more detailed inormation, as well as discussion groups and blogs. Your choice o ormat and a nd media: You You can get streaming stream ing audio news new s here, RSS eeds, and even downloads or your cellphone.


75

Internet Picture Dictionary http://www.pdictionary.com

VocabuLary

This is a very simple website that teaches vocabulary by using pictures. Good or beginners only, students can browse by letters or categories (animals, transportation, or numbers) or search a word and a picture will appear. However, since the content is so narrow, the search eature has only limited value; when the word doesn’t exist in the list, unrelated words that happen to start with the same letter are proposed. A handul o activities are provided or students to review what they have learned. In addition to English, the website provides the same words in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. For a more extensive picture dictionary, check out the Merriam-Webster Visual Dictionary Online. Onli ne. The problem with both these resources, however, is that the words most easily matched with images are nouns. Students with no knowledge o a language can get an idea rom these dictionaries about basic names o objects, but the dictionaries do not help to improve speaking or writing skills.

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John’s ESL Community: English Interactive http://www.johnsesl.com/

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG LitEraturE

Follow the Students link or inormation, activities, exercises, and games to challenge and improve your language skills. Many o the Listening exercises are based on the American National Public Radio and National Geographic articles. The site is easy to use and the links l inks are reliable. The listening exercises use RealAudio. The site’s new design now also oers many resources reso urces or teachers, including the possibility o setting up a password-protected class website.


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LangCanada Portal Project http://www.langcanada.ca

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | SciEncE | SociaL SciEncE

This CASLT-managed site aims to be a one-stop Internet resource or second ocial language learning. The site provides resources or both English and French language learning, but its most original eature is the possibility o search options in both languages. For instance, a Frenchspeaking student can locate English material mat erial using a French search engine, and vice versa. Three superb search engines ocus on the separate areas o Educational Resources, Training Organizations, and Research. In the Educational Resources area, students can search according to topic area or learning level (adult and child), type o language skill, or teaching and learning resource. There is also a section devoted to Educational material s, such as Resources by Theme. Here you will nd less common materials, learning English through music and images. The site is still under development, so visit oten.

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Language Sites on the Internet http://www.verbivore.com/rllink.htm

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This excellent Web directory o English language langua ge sites is one page in Richard Lederer’s Verbivore site. The Language Links are arranged by topic in an index at the top o the page. Find links to Etymology, Grammar and Usage, Language Columns/Online Magazines, Linguistic Links, Newsgroups, Puns, Reerence, Reer ence, Word Games, Word and Letter Play, and Word Watching & Vocabulary Development. The links are o excellent quality.

This is an essential site or advanced ESL students, and or anyone who has an appetite or language.


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Learn English Search swicki http://learn-english-search-swicki.eurekster.com

ESL ES L tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

A wiki is a collaborative website where users can contribute and edit the inormation. A swicki is a collaborative search engine. A swicki learns rom the interests o the community that uses it – the more users who consult a certain topic area, the larger the keyword will appear in the list o contents. Used with prudence, it will lead to many unexpected places, and will appeal to the curious. However, since the sites open in the same browser window, it is easy to get lost. This particular swicki is the creation o Steve Chadwick rom http://www. examenglish.com/ – a great resource or those preparing or an English language exam, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and the Cambridge University exams. Most o the major tests are described in detail so that you will know exactly what to expect. There are ree mini-exams oered, and you can nd testing centres, and purchase learning materials.

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Learning Centre (Library and Archives Canada) http://www.collectionscanada.ca/education

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I this Directory has not yet convinced you that Library and Archives Canada is quite simply a stroke o brilliance brillia nce on the part o the educational powers that be in government, visit this site. We will not even introduce it here, as everything you need to know is clearly clearl y stated on the home page. The visual design is quite qui te a bit more contemporary and colourul than the usual Archives are, but the site is still just as rich with Canadian history and educational resources. There is something or absolutely every student and teacher. Go there, NOW!


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Learning Centre (Vanier College) http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/tlc/


The English Exit Exam section contains everything you need to know to pass Québec’s Ministerial Examination o College English, with tip sheets, explanations o the marking criteria, and sample student essays. There is also a link to the English Now online tutorial or second-language students.

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Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.ca/

rEadinG | VocabuLary art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | SciEncE | SociaL SciEncE

A huge repository where you can explore all kinds o historical documents as well as special collections, including Canadian Genealogy, Multicultural Resources, Aboriginal Resources, a Portrait Gallery Gallery,, and an Online Canadian Biography Dictionary. There are many sub-links within this site so, to avoid missing anything, a nything, keep going back to the home page, where you can access eatured exhibitions and browse selected topics.

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Library Spot: Dictionaries http://www.libraryspot.com/

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This is an essential link or ESL ES L students and or anyone looking or reerence material. Part o the Start Spot site, this is an excellent place to nd the dictionary you’re looking or. Find other Start Spot links, including Libraries, Reading Room and Reerence Desk on the let side o the page.


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Listen to CBC Radio (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) http://www.cbc.ca/listen/

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Improve your listening comprehension and vocabulary with CBC Radio One, listed by city (news and talk shows), or choose CBC Radio Two (music with commentary) at the bottom o the page. The spoken English is clear and o excellent quality. There is a table o contents to other CB C Radio sites listed by topic.

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Literature.org: The Online Literature Library http://www.literature.org/authors/

rEadinG LitEraturE

This small collection o public access literature provides ull texts in a ormat that is relatively easy to read onscreen. The authors include Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, and René Descartes. It’s hard to imagine reading an entire novel onscreen, but literature students may appreciate the ability to copy the text, hear it read by a screen reader, and search or key passages and characters.

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Longman Dictionary o Contemporary English Online http://www.ldoceonline.com/

ESL ES L | SpEakinG | VocabuLary

Second-language students will appreciate this learners’ dictionary. The advantage o learners’ dictionaries is that the denitions are given in clear, simple language, and many entries have pictures and audio pronunciation les. The quality o the online content is high, and the site is ree and easy to use, but you must register rst. The site contains a number o irritating sales pitches or the ull book/CD edition.


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Look Way Up http://lookwayup.com

rEadinG | WritinG | VocabuLary tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

This is an online dictionary and thesaurus with a spelling correction correc tion eature that installs onto your browser. This This is a ree, useul, and ecient tool or when you are working online. In most cases, you will not have to leave the page you are on to check your avourite translation engine or hard copy dictionary. Reerring to a small space on your toolbar, just look words up using this handy unction. An added advantage is that the tool recognizes the context o the word in question, thereby increasing your chances o getting an accurate denition. A word o caution: Use common sense. The dictionary cannot read your mind, so look or clues, such as context, to help you decide which o the oered denitions is correct. I you’re not sure, cross-reerence it with the usual suspects. A bonus: The dictionary can change its orientation depending on whether you are a teacher, student, writer, or lawyer.

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Louvre Museum http://www.louvre.r/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en

rEadinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE

The Louvre website is very interactive and oers a lot to someone who is learning English. It has many virtual tours where students can see all kinds o artwork and read descriptions. Users can also click on the French language option, which will lead them to the same point where they let o in English. Students can create their own personal spaces on the Louvre website to develop albums o their avourite pieces. Content is organized according to exhibitions, themes, and other types o activities. It’s a un website to explore or people who are interested in art.


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McCord Museum http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/

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I you are looking or new ways to practise English, explore the McCord Museum, Montréal’s premier Canadian history museum. Although this site is not specically or language instruction, it oers an enjoyable alternative to other reading and listening sites. Try these links rom the home page: Keys to History – Games: Practise English with topics about Canada’s history.

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Keys to History – Thematic Thema tic Tours: Tours: Choose a tour and click on View the Movie Clip, where you can watch and listen to movies about Canada’s history.

Most activities require an up-to-date version o Flash.

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Media Awareness Network http://www.media-awareness.ca

rEadinG | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | nEWS | SciEncE

This site is a media and Internet education resource designed or teachers and parents, but it will appeal to young adults and children. It’s a terric way to improve English while looking critically at media, both the regular inormation sources and the accompanying advertisements. Issues such as media violence, stereotyping, online hate, and inormation privacy are thoroughly addressed. There are educational games, news, blogs, and a resource catalogue. The Lesson Library in the Teacher’s Area is searchable and allows you to search topics ranging rom alcohol and tobacco use through body image, diversity, gender portrayal, and ethics. The attractive site design is well organized, with a colour scheme that changes rom page to page, to liven things up a little. A handy eature is the Content Cart, which allows you to collect materials as you browse, sort them, and print them all at once.


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Medline Plus: All Easy-to-Read http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/easytoread/all_easytoread.html

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This is an alphabetical listing o resources with excellent interactive materials to help second-language students build their reading and listening comprehen comprehen-sion or studies in the health care feld. fel d. This public access site is a service o the U.S. National Library o Medicine and the National Institutes o Health.

The inormation is designed to be easy to read and understand. There are read-along audio tutorials supported by comprehension questions, as well as access to a dictionary and an encyclopedia o medical terms. term s. Translations Translations are in Spanish. The site is regularly maintained, and the links are reliable.

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Merriam-Webster Learner’s [Pronunciation] Dictionary http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

Merriam-Webster oers a separate dictionary o pronunciation designed or ESL learners. There are no denitions; instead, this site contains audio pronunciationn les, a word-o-the-day eature, and a language help section pronunciatio with tips on common word use problems. There’s also a helpul glossary o grammar terms. In addition, you can improve your listening and speaking, all while completing exercises. This is simply an excellent resource or improving your pronunciation.

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Merriam-Webster Online http://m-w.com/

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Search Merriam-Webster’s dictionary and thesaurus, improve your vocabulary vocabula ry with the word o the day, and challenge yoursel with crossword puzzles and word games. Many o the dictionary entries have audio les to help improve pronunciation.


94

Montréal Botanical Gardens http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/

rEadinG | VocabuLary art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | SciEncE

This attractive site is a good way to read English while learning about botany and gardening. The Outstanding Plants and Collections area contains beautiul images, but most o the text inormation i normation appears in French when you click on the thumbnails. This is the case with several areas o the site, and helpul only or French-speaking students! Since most o the activities take ta ke place at the gardens themselves and not on the website, we actually recommend you visit in person. An interactive map on the Greenhouse and Gardens page prepares you or your visit by providing a sense o the layout, scale, and a sneak peek at the collections. Bring a good book to practise your reading in an environment o serenity, particularly in the o-season, when it is ree to wander in and walk around. Be sure to check out the educational signs and posters, where the text appears in multiple languages. International students may nd a taste o home here, as well as receiving an introduction to the cultural diversity that is Montréal. Many o the collections are dedicated to the city’s ounding communities and contain special materials, architecture, and, in some cases, tributes, such as the Hiroshima Peace Bell designed by artist Katori MasahikofortheJapaneseGarden.

95

My (Virtual) English Tutor http://www.myet.com/en/download.htm

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | WritinG

This site provides a ree download o a sophisticated application or learning English. All you need is a microphone and speakers or headphones, and the program will perorm like a personal tutor. My ET has the capability o evaluating your speech capabilities, correcting your pronunciation, pitch, rhythm, and emphasis, according to the accent you select, and helps you learn how to express yoursel eectively. My ET also provides you with an online community, and content you can customize and update according to your interests. Beware Mac users and Open O pen Source Technology Technology users – My ET will only work on a Windows system running Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher higher.. Internet Directory 51 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

96

NetLingo http://www.netlingo.com/

SpELLinG | VocabuLary tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

This site is useul or those who need to keep up with the changing vocabulary vocab ulary o the Internet. NetLingo is a Web dictionary that helps explain the online world o business, technology, and communication. Terms are listed alphabetically, and by topics that are regularly regula rly updated. Check in oten to access new inormation, and stay on the cutting edge o language on the Web!

97

NPR: Podcast Directory http://www.npr.o http://www. npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory rg/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php .php

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG HiStory and cuLturE | nEWS | SociaL SciEncE

Use this site to improve your listening and reading skills, to research essays, or to just have some un. American National Public Radio oers almost 300 podcasts organized in a topic index, along with supporting written material.

98

Online Citation Styles Reerence Guide http://www.bedordstmartins.com/online/citex.html

WritinG

Citing research sources rom the Internet is an ever-changing art that all students who write essays ess ays and research papers need to master. Have you ever wondered how to cite a Web page, an email message, mess age, or a discussion board posting? Here you will nd easy to ollow, up-to-date inormation on how to cite Internet sources in Modern Language Association (MLA), (M LA), American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago, and other citation styles.


99

OWL (Original Site) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/oldindex.html


The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University is one o the very best university English sites. Purdue makes its material on academic writing, grammar, spelling, and punctuation available ree to English students anywhere on the Web. There are handouts, PowerPoint presentations, a newsletter,, and lots more or you to discover here. newsletter Note: This is Purdue’s original site. Purdue is working on a new site, and the pages are listed in this Directory under The OWL Family o Sites.

100

The OWL Family o Sites http://owl.english.purdue.edu/


The OWL (Online Writing Lab) has been around since 1993. Created at Purdue University, this is the granddaddy o sites oering help and inormation to college and university writers. It is very well designed and easy to ollow. The OWL website is divided into Suggested, Featured and Most Popular resources. Here are some things you can learn rom this website: • Imp Improve roveyourwrit yourwriting ingbylearn bylearning inghowtodeve howtodevelop lopanoutli anoutline, ne,creat createa ea

thesis statement, and ways to avoid plagiarism • Learn Learnhow howtocite tociteyour yourreference referencesources sourcesaccording accordingtoM toModernL odernLanguage anguage

Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) styles

101

Paradigm Online Writing Assistant http://www.powa.org/


Paradigm’s interactive interacti ve writer’s guide and handbook covers how to develop topics or dierent types o essays, how to organize writing, and how to edit or grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. It has a separate section


with tips to improve your spelling. The design is a little cluttered, but the content is solid and the site is easy to navigate. Paradigm is actually less commercial than it looks; the products to purchase are low-cost print or sotware versions o the handbook.

102

Project Gutenberg: Free eBooks http://www.gutenberg.org/

rEadinG LitEraturE

I you want to improve your English, you have to read, read, read. Project Gutenberg, named or the inventor o the printing press, is an online project proj ect dedicated to making books whose copyright has expired in the United States ree to readers. (It’s up to users to check a publication’s copyright status in their own countries.) There are 17,000 ree eBooks available in almost 50 languages. languages . The eBooks are organized using Library o Congress Classication, and may be searched by author, title, or subject. Files are availableinHTML,PlainText,orZip.Thesiteiscontinuouslymaintained,

and new material is added requently. requently. Take the time ti me to read the License and Trademark inormation beore starting, and try the ollowing links: Online Book Catalog, Oine Catalogs, and Authors.

103

Rabble Podcasts Network http://www.rabble.ca/rpn/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG HiStory and cuLturE | nEWS | SociaL SciEncE

I you want to improve your listening li stening skills, Rabble.ca produces and compiles some o the very best in Canadian podcasts and online radio. The podcasts are arranged by theme and are accessible rom a list at the top o the page. Some pages provide a “listen now” option; others require iTunes iT unes to work. The download is conveniently convenientl y provided with each podcast. There is a denite slant to the let politically and socially. Scroll down or brie descriptions o what you can nd in each section. There are too many sections to name them all here, but here is a short list l ist o oerings to whet your appetite:


• Rabble Rumble: Listen to debates. • Redeye: Take a close look at today’s political, social, and cultural issues. • Rabble Docs: Listen to documentaries.

Radio Book B ook Lounge: Hear author interviews, reviews, and readings. • Healing the Earth: Learn about environmental issues. •

Note that the podcasts may take some time to download.

104

Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab http://www.esl-lab.com/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | VocabuLary

This site oers practical listening comprehension exercises indexed by level and topic. Each lesson includes pre-listening, listening, and postlistening exercises. The site is divided into ve sections: • Gen Genera eralL lList isteni ening ngExe Exerci rcises ses • Lis Listen tening ingQu Quizz izzes esfor forA Acad cademi emicP cPurp urpose oses s • 20-M 20-Minu inute teESLV ESLVoca ocabul bulary aryL Less essons ons • Lan Langua guage geL Lear earnin ninga gand ndLif LifeT eTips ips • Long ongCon Conver versat sation ionsw swith ithRe RealV alVide ideo o

The pronunciation is American. The audio is clear, and there is a transcript so that listeners li steners can read along a long i they wish. Mac and Open Source TechTechnology users should note that the audio is only available in RealMedia or Windows Player.

105

Research Guide or Students http://www.aresearchguide.com/

WritinG

This is an invaluable resource or anyone writing essays or making presentations. Add it to your avourites right now! Research and essay writing are described in easy-to-ollow chapters, all accessible rom this page. You will learn how to search or inormation, arrange it, present it, cite it, and compile a bibliography o your sources. Scroll down to the bottom o the page or a complete list o chapters and links.


106

Selected Sites or ESL and EFL Students http://iteslj.org/ESL.html

ESL ES L

This is one o the very best directories o Web-based ESL material. The site lists links that are interesting and useul, with a minimum o advertising and clutter. This is an essential and un resource or students learning l earning English as a second language.

107

Sel-Study Quizzes or ESL Students http://a4esl.org/q/h/

ESL ES L | Grammar | VocabuLary

There are more than 1,000 activities or ESL students here. There are quizzes under the ollowing topics: Grammar, Places, Vocabulary, Idioms, Homonyms, Scrambled Words, and Miscellaneous. The quizzes require no special sotware, and they are accessible on portable port able devices. The site is a project o TESL Journal, and it uses teachers’ contributions.

108

Seven Steps o the Research Process http://www.library.corne http://www. library.cornell.edu/olinuris/re/research/skill1.htm ll.edu/olinuris/re/research/skill1.htm

WritinG

A leading American university takes t akes you through seven steps in researching an essay. essa y. This This hypertext document covers how to identiy a topic, nd and evaluate sources, and cite sources using standardized ormats. The subsections related to scholarly and non-scholarly sources are particularly helpul. Some links are useul only or Cornell University students, but there is enough content to make a visit to this site worth your time.


109

Shakespeare Illustrated http://shakespeare.emory.edu/illustrated_index.cml

rEadinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | LitEraturE

Do you need help reading Shakespeare? Are you a visual learner? Here is a site or you. You will nd a wide range o art depicting the work o Shakespeare, indexed under his titles as well as under the artist names. The scenes depicted are annotated and linked to other images in the collection.

110

Sounds o English, Spanish, and German http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Eacadtech/phonetics/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | SpEakinG

Many ESL students have trouble pronouncing particular sounds, and repeating the same mistakes can be rustrating. This Internet resource is the answer. Click the English icon in Choose a Language to load The Sounds o American English.

For each sound, there is an animated diagram showing how to move the jaw, lips, and tongue, and a video clip o a native speaker making the sound. I you need to learn how to make individual sounds, it’s a great resource – and it’s ree. You will need Flash Player Version 7 or higher to use this tool.

111

Speak Read Write http://www.speak-read-write.com

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

Thiswebsite,createdbySallyJennings,anESLtutorbasedinBritishCo -

lumbia, is not to be passed up. At rst glance, it may be tempting to do so, because the site has an awkward visual design, without the special eects that recent Flash and top-o-the-line top-o-the- line browsers oer. All too oten, however, such sites are heavy on the glamour and low on instructional design. Internet Directory 57 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

This site is the complete opposite. Beginner to advanced adult English students will nd many hours’ worth o valuable exercises here that appeal to diverse learning strategies and needs. All the major skills are addressed: grammar, reading, writing, listening, speaking, and comprehension. The examples and short stories are current and relevant to daily lie. Several activities ocus on pronunciation pronunciati on and listening. The audio is lovingly provided by Sally hersel and, while it may be a little on the heavy side (le (l e size), it is clear, and presented in a very typical West Coast Canadian accent.

112

SQ4R: A Classic Method or Studying Texts http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/assistance/learning_services/ astacts/SQ4R.cm

rEadinG

Improving your English means improving your reading, but it may not be easy at rst, especially i you are new to the language. SQ4R has been around since the 1960s and is taught in many college and university study skills programs. The method breaks down the task o reading into various steps: It is a useul tool to help native speakers and ESL students improve their comprehension o any non-ction text. Although time-consuming and intensive at rst, once mastered, the SQ4R S Q4R method will usually take t ake only a ew moments. Ultimately, it will enable you to restructure the way you think about the process o analyzing a text in any language.

113

Thesaurus.com http://thesaurus.com

VocabuLary | WritinG

Quickly look up words in a thesaurus, dictionary, or encyclopedia, browse links on grammar and style, or use the Word o the Day eature. Note that its translation engine is not highly recommended.


114

Topics: An Online Magazine or Learners o English http://www.topics-mag.com/

ESL ES L

|

Grammar

|

rEadinG

|

VocabuLary

HiStory and cuLturE | SociaL SciEncE

This international e-zine oers a place to exchange experiences, meet people rom all over the globe, and discuss issues particular to learning a new language and living in a new culture. The Language Corner covers topics such as vocabulary, idioms and expressions, and grammar. Rather than oering exercises, readers are encouraged to submit writing based on the topics being discussed. There are online projects, book and movie reviews, and a travel section, all written by ESL students.

115

Using English or Academic Purposes: A Guide or Students in Higher Education http://www.ueap.com/

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG

This website is a complete course in using English or college and university. Content is divided into the ollowing sections: sectio ns: Accuracy, Assessment, Background, Listening, Materials, Reading, Speaking, Vocabulary and Writing. Most sections include an introduction, detailed instruction and exercises or improving skills and condence in each area. The content is delivered in clear, inormal language, or example: “I you are going to get as many marks or speaking as writing, spend as much time on it as your writing.” This is one o the best sites in the Directory i you are using English or academic purposes. Check out the sections on note-taking and what to listen or in lectures – invaluable advice you may not nd anywhere else.


116

Utne.com http://www.utne.com/

rEadinG

Utne magazine provides interesting and challenging reading material to help you improve your comprehension and vocabulary, and it’s a great place to look or an interesting writing topic. The editors at Utne select and reprint what they consider the best content rom more than 2,000 alternative media sources. You can subscribe to Utne, or take advantage o the many ree links and audio material in MP3 ormat. Many (but not all) articles are airly short. Each issue and its articles relate to a specic theme.

117

Virtual Training Suite http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | nEWS | SciEncE | SociaL SciEncE | SportS

The Virtual Training Suite is part o Intute, an online service developed by a network o British universities universit ies and partners to provide ree, high-quality high-qual ity Web resources in education and research. The many tutorials are listed alphabetically within major subject areas. They ocus primarily on job descriptions and felds o employment, thus enabling college-level students to acquaint themselves with potential career paths while improving their reading abilities. Each tutorial integrates text with listings o outside websites that oer additional inormation on the specifc specif c job or feld o study. There are ew images included other than the icons that indicate the dierent sections o each tutorial. Check out Internet Detective in the Additional Tutorials section. It is a neat, simple tool with a pleasing visual visua l presentation and none o the problems you will see described below. This site has both its positive and negative aspects. While it is interesting, content-rich, and supposedly interactive, there are some serious problems with usability. Individual tutorials ollow similar, simila r, but not identical, paths through the specifc material they are presenting. The Welcome, Start, and Tour menus are repetitive, and you may get bored o seeing the same inormation reappear over Internet Directory 60 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

and over again. The natural tendency is to skip ahead using the navigation bar on the let, but, because the inormation is not presented in the same ormat in each tutorial, the student may miss important steps or become conused. In addition, websites listed in the tutorials are not linked, so the student is obliged to use the Links Basket, a collection device which, although innovative, is a slow way to work, and not one that most students are accustomed to using. Finally, the tutorials do not open in a separate window, so it is tricky to fnd your way back to the site’s home page. This site will appeal to some, but not to others. It is worth taking t aking a look, even with its weaknesses, but be prepared to go at a slower pace than you may be used to working online.

118

Visual Dictionary Online (Merriam-Webster) www.visualdictionaryonline.com

VocabuLary art and imaGES

The dictionary contains 20,000 terms with contextual denitions in up to six languages developed by terminology experts, along with 6,000 ull-colour images o a wide variety var iety o objects. This website is designed to help you nd the right word at a glance. By consulting the search unction unction or lists o themes, you can match a word to an image, useul especially when you know what something looks like but not what it’s called, or when you know the word but can’t picture the object. The problem with picture dictionaries, dictionari es, however, is that the words most easily matched with images are nouns. Students with no knowledge o a language can get an idea rom these resources about basic names o objects, but the dictionaries do not help to improve speaking or writing skills.

119

Voice o America: VOA News – Special English http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/daily_radio.cm

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG HiStory and cuLturE | nEWS | SociaL SciEncE

Voice o America has developed a Special English site aimed ai med at the ESL learner. News stories are written in simple English, using a core vocabulary Internet Directory 61 www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

o about 1,500 words. Sentences are short and simple, and stories are read at a slow pace, allowing you to ollow along as you listen to the broadcast. The material is interesting and chosen rom current news stories. Follow the links on the let side o the page to nd Our Word Book, Radio Programs, Podcasts, and Games with Words. Don’t miss Wordmaster, where you can read and listen to stories.

120

The Walrus Magazine http://www.walrusmagazine.com/

ESL ES L | Grammar | LiStEninG | rEadinG | SpEakinG | VocabuLary | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | SciEncE | SociaL SciEncE

This Canadian literary magazine provides a wide variety o reading material to improve your comprehension and vocabulary. Short ction and essays are eatured. Columns like Field Notes and Culture are especially interesting. Free registration allows users to access past and current issues. Follow the link to The Walrus Interviews or access to more than 175 contemporary authors discussing their work. Read users’ comments and add your own to the blogs. Word games can be ound in each issue under the heading Think Tank.

121

Wilred Owen Multimedia Digital Archive http://www.hcu.ox.ac.uk/jtap

ESL ES L | LiStEninG | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | SociaL SciEncE

This site showcases primary sources with a ocus on World War War I poetry, photographs, and contemporary video and audio clips o interviews with veterans. Many o the clips are short visual essays that appear somewhat out o context when viewed alone, but are intended to be combined in the student’s own work to create virtual seminars. (Be careul how you use the sources and where you present your work – most o it is copyrightprotected.) The site structure encourages the development o something called Path Creation Schemes, a method o collecting and combining diverse yet related material so that a common theme emerges. A quote on the main page o


this section reerences the ascinating ascinati ng must-read article o Vannevar Vannevar Bush, “As We May Think” (Atlantic Monthly, July1945 ), that literally predicts the invention o personal computers and the development o the Internet. This site will appeal to students with an interest in World War War I history and a desire or media-enhanced learning material. You will need RealPlayer, QuickTime, and/or Windows Media Player to access all the inormation presented here.

122

Word Central (Merriam-Webster) http://www.wordcentral.com

VocabuLary

Not a very content-heavy website and, at rst glance, the graphics make it it appear to be more or a younger audience. There is a section called Daily Buzzword that is simply the word o the day. Build Your Own Dictionary encourages users to add words that they’ve invented. There are three games: Robo-Bee (complete the sentences), BIGBot (choose synonyms), and Jumble Kids (unscramble the letters given to orm a word). Do not be ooled by their slick appearance (which makes a nice change rom some o the older websites we’ve reviewed) – both the learning and play components are quite challenging!

123

Word Mania http://www.wordmania.org/

rEadinG | VocabuLary

This website provides activities, games and puzzles or ESL E SL students. It’s divided into seven categories: Brainteasers, Trivia, Crosswords, Hangman, Word Search, Kids’ Area, and Classic Books. These sections provide many games and exercises dealing with vocabulary and comprehension.


124

World Wide Words http://www.worldwidewords.org/

ESL ES L | rEadinG | VocabuLary | WritinG art and imaGES | HiStory and cuLturE | SociaL SciEncE

World Wide Words Words is an essential essenti al site or anyone who wants wa nts to learn more about the English language. Michael Quinion answers questions rom Internet ans, and writes articles about the origins o popular expressions and new or strange words that may not have made it into dictionaries. This is an excellent site or language learners but, because Quinion writes rom a British perspective and uses a lot o wordplay and strange expressions, it may be more appropriate or intermediate and advanced students.

125

Zero Bio: Online Biology Quiz and Games Site http://www.execulink.com/~ekimmel

rEadinG | VocabuLary SciEncE | tEcHnicaL LanGuaGE

In Québec, students study advanced science, biology, biolo gy, physics, and chemistry by Grade 11 or entry into Health Science, Pure and Applied Science, and Modied or Preparation or Science college-level programs. This website, intended to support students in Grade 9 Science, Grade 11 Biology, and Grade 12 Biology in the rest o Canada, may prove to be an excellent tool or Québec Cégep students who are interested i nterested in studying the science disciplines and need to improve their English language skills to do so. Without even trying, you’ll improve your technical vocabulary and pick up a wealth o inormation on your chosen eld. There are some ingenious browser-based and Flash activities related to typical science problems that parallel the classroom curriculum. curricul um. Don’t miss the virtual Dissection Lab! ( W Wg: g: not f he sqesh  sesve. While saving many rogs, this activity contains photographs and videos o actual dissections. On the other hand, it also addresses some common ethical concerns and answers questions many students are too shy to ask beore an actual dissection.) The activities on this site load quickly, even i your system and browser are not state-o-the-art. You will need the most recent version o Flash Player, Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer to use all the available multimedia.


125 of the best sites on the Web for English learners · · · · · · · · ·

Alphabetical Analytical Categorical Lexical Grammatical Pedagogical Practical Technological Topical

http://www.ccdmd.qc.ca/en

Internet Directory for English improving websites

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