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How to Learn English for Free

How to Learn English for Free

Learning English isn’t easy but it’s so worth it! To help you master this new language, we’ve compiled this list of helpful resources. From ESL online classes to games to learn English, these resources can help you learn how to communicate effectively in English!

Originally, this list was intended to include every resource we could find that would help you learn English. After a few days, it became obvious that there was WAY more out there than I had expected! However, many of the websites were not very functional, had bad layouts and were just not very fun to use.

That’s when we decided to keep this list a little shorter and focus on the very best ESL online classes, games to learn English and other ESL resources we could find. After all, it’s better to have a few great things than a long list of useless ones.

So, in no particular order, here are the best ESL online classes, English learning games and other ESL resources we could find:

1) Get a FREE Mango Languages {or similar} subscription from your local library!

There are many quality language learning programs that cost a lot of money. Fortunately, many people don’t actually have to pay for them! Local library systems around the country offer these subscriptions for absolutely free. Many libraries also offer free ESL conversation times and other resources that can help you master English faster!

Check and see if your local library participates!

2) Learn English in easy 5 minute lessons with the DuoLingo smartphone app!

Although I’m a native English speaker, I’ve been using DuoLingo to study Spanish. I love the short lessons and the thorough quizzes. I am naturally competitive, so the “streak” counter that keeps track of how many days I’ve completed my lessons is very motivating to me.

DuoLingo is completely free to install and use. You can use it to learn English or one of many other languages. Each section focuses on conversation, vocabulary, speaking and listening skills. The lessons usually begin with simple matching tasks and progress to more difficult quizzes, speaking tests (where you read aloud what is written) and listening tests (where you type up what is said to you).

3) Use the USA Learns website’s online ESL courses!

USA Learns provides helpful courses, videos, audio and quizzes to help you master conversational American English. You can learn at your own pace and take courses on your own time. Over 1,000 English learning activities are available! Click here to register or watch this video with more information:

4) Visit Elllo.org for over 2,500+ FREE ESL online classes!

Elllo.org (with three ‘L’s) has over 2,500 lessons to help you learn English. The lessons include audio, video, scripts, interactive quizzes and vocabulary support. The videos offer one-minute English lessons that can be watched any time. They’ll even send lessons directly to your email!

The lessons are divided into seven different difficulty levels, including Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Free daily lessons and downloadable worksheets are also available.

Just click here to jump over to Elllo.org and see what they have to offer!

5) Join the English Club for helpful information, including slang and conversational English.

The English Club welcomes learners to browse their free podcasts, quizzes, lessons and games to learn English. English Club provides audio lessons to help you practice speaking, listening and pronouncing English words. Vocabulary, grammar, spelling, writing lessons are also available. Mobile-friendly ESL games, videos, songs, quizzes, jokes, conversation forums and chat features are also available.

Click here to visit the English Club!  

6) Check out the many ESL lessons available at ManyThings.com! 

ManyThings.com may not be a very attractive website but it does offer great online ESL learning tools without any intrusive advertisements. Here, you’ll be able to access daily lessons, audio files, read-along stories, songs, instructional YouTube videos and more. The site is easy to use but, like I said, not very appealing to look at.

Here are even more Online ESL Resources!

ESL Online Courses

MangoLanguages.com You may be able to get a FREE MangoLanguages.com subscription from your local library! Many libraries offer these services for FREE and some even offer on-site ESL courses and conversation times. Click here and find your local library for more information.

5 Minute English – These lessons are divided into short, easy segments to help you practice the English language in short, manageable amounts of time.

English, Baby! – This site is free to use but requires you to register. Every day, you’ll have access to a new English lesson. You’ll also have access to English chat rooms, forums, vocabulary lessons, quizzes and downloadable audio files.

ESL Student Lounge has hundreds of lessons divided into different learning levels. You can visit their website or download their app to start learning today.

Pumarosa provides detailed lessons for beginners, intermediate learners and more!

Learn 4 Good provides helpful online ESL courses for those learning English as a second language. Check out their exercises here!

20 Minute ESL Lessons encourage you to study a little every day. Lessons include audio playback, quizzes and follow up exercises.

Games

Fun, interactive games to learn English will help you practice what you’ve learned. These are way more fun than studying textbooks and tests!

Apples 4 the Teacher helps you learn common words with this list of online games. These games focus on common words including weather, food, family, clothing, anatomy and more.

The Internet TESL Journal  has another great way to master English vocabulary. Check out these games!

Verb Busters provides an interactive game for conjugating verbs. As you solve problems quickly,  you’ll earn more points and move up the ranks. You can adjust the difficult and use the ‘hint’ feature!

Cram helps you create and study thousands of flash cards. Use sets that other people have already made or make your own! Over 178 million flash cards already exist, with nearly a million added every week.

Vocabulary Can Be Fun uses games to encourage mastery of new words. These basic games include unscramble, matching, word building, slang games, and more.

Video & Audio

Videos and audio files are an important resource when you’re learning English as a second language online. These resources help you learn the proper pronunciation of the new words you’re learning.

ManyThings.org invites you to practice English pronunciation with these helpful Youtube videos and these songs and read-along story podcasts. 

Antimoon offers audio clips designed to help you learn pronunciation and intonation.

Learn English Online provides helpful pronunciation instruction, especially for difficult letter combinations.

Coaching & Tutoring

LearnThat.org teaches you exactly what you need to learn with adaptive, interactive coaching. It’s fast, fun and free! Their multimedia lessons often focus on vocabulary and spelling.

WyzAnt.com has experienced tutors that provide detailed guides to help you better understand the parts of speech in the English language.

English Forums, the largest “Learn English” community online, invites you to ask questions and discuss ideas. Questions are usually answered in about 30 minutes.

Lesson Guides & Quizzes

Dave’s ESL Cafe provides hundreds of lessons on grammar, idioms, phrases, slang and more!

MansionIngles.com has vocabulary, exercises and listening activities. Some features are available free and others require a paid subscription.

Internet4Classrooms.com has 35 linked quizzes, practice exercises and more.

The Internet TESL Journal features vocabulary quizzes that will help you learn words related to everything from food to health care and Chinese horoscopes! Learn hundreds of new words on this site alone! They also offer grammar quizzes to can help you learn important aspects of grammar, such as word order (syntax), prepositions, pronouns and more.

ESLNotes.com uses popular movies to teach English lessons in their English Learner Movie Guides. The lessons are based on popular movies and use plot summaries, characters, vocabulary and more to help you learn the English language.

Breaking News English is a similar site that uses breaking news stories to teach English! This website organizes breaking news into seven learning levels.

ShipOrSheep.com provides practice with minimal sound-alike pairs, such as ship or sheep.

Aardvark’s English Forum improves your understanding of written English by providing daily quotes and interactive language exercises.

English Club invites you to test your knowledge of elementary, intermediate, advanced and specific English terms with their vocabulary quizzes.

Advanced English Grammar Exercises are designed for those who are already very familiar with English but want to improve the accuracy of their written and spoken grammar.

Using English includes lessons, quizzes, activities and helpful tips designed for those who teach ESL courses. Check out what they offer. Maybe it’ll help you, too!

Need help with a specific word? Try the Spanish-English Dictionary at SpanishDict.com.

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.