Student-Resources

= Student Resources =

Here are some sites you can encourage your students to use, from dictionaries to online audio and ebooks.

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Dictionaries Most publishing houses also have online versions of their dictionaries. These not only come with text and word games but with audio as well. Here are a few you may know.
 * Cambridge Online dictionary ,Merriam Webster Online
 * The Free Dictionary

Visual dictionaries
Now you can also use visual dictionaries that appeal to your visual learners! They go from very basic, to a more sophisticated search and find variety. Here are a few of them:


 * The Internet Picture Dictionary has vocabulary in different categories. This site also includes several types of vocagulary games such as Fill in the blanks, Straight recall, Word scramble as well as flash cards for vocabulary learning.


 * Shahi: A visual dictionary with a difference. This dictionary not only allows you to get the definition of the word but also the images most associated with it.


 * Wordnik: This site not only gives you the meaning of the word with sample sentences, but also words that are used in the same context. Added to this you have pictures, audio, statistics and much more.

Pronunciation
While most of the commercial dictionaries come with an audio component, here you will find two applications that work well for listening. The first is


 * Forvo : On this site students can type in a word and listen it its pronunciation from people worldwide. This is great for listening to different accents.


 * Howjsay: Another great source for listening to the pronunciation of a word. Type in, and just listen.

Text-To-Speech programmes
There are a number of text-to-speech software on the web which can be used to help your students improve their listening and speaking skills.Just type in the text and select the person you would like read it to you. All services have male and female speakers and some offer accents from different countries.


 * Natural Soft:


 * Text-to-speech imtranslator

=ebooks and audio= Online resources like audiobooks and ebooks are a good way to introduce your students to literature in English. Here are a few sites that you can check out:


 * Read Print: An online collection of classic and modern literature for children, teens and adults.
 * Many books Read an extract and then select the format in which you would like the book to be downloaded.
 * English for children: Here students can read the text and then play a vocbulary game to strengthen learning.
 * 100 short English stories for ESL learners: Here students will not only enjoy reading the story, but do listening, vocabulary and comprehension exercises.

Audio

 * Books should be free: Read by English speakers, students can download these stories and listen to them in their mp3 players. Or find and dowload the printed version and read while listening to the audio.
 * Randall´s ESL Cyber Lab: An excellent site for students to do listening comprehension exercises: audio, scrips, vocabulary, comprehension exercises available.

Vocabulary learning
There are a number of vocabulary learning sites for your students to spend time playing games and expanding their knowledge of English. Here are a few links:


 * Vocabulary and Spelling City
 * English Vocabulary Building Games
 * Learning chocolate
 * ESL Games world