Useful Websites

Please note that there are no websites which are specifically for the IGCSE ESL course. The recommended sites below are therefore useful for practising the main skills that you will need to do well in the examinations, and to keep you up-to-date with some of the topics and articles you can expect to discuss and read.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
Useful for news articles, interactive listening activities, an updated daily grammar exercise, and word quizzes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/
Although mainly concerned with revision for GCSE English, there are useful exercises for IGCSE ESL – e.g. reading non-fiction/information texts, writing in different styles, exam tips. There’s also a link to the ‘SOS Teacher English’ site, which has more practice in these areas.

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk
The British Council’s main learning English as a Second, Other or Foreign language site. Lots of activities, usefully designed to suit the different levels of EFL. It also has particularly useful grammar exercises.

http://www.englishspace.ort.org/launchpad/about_whatis.asp
A completely free site, containing lots of appropriate activities. Designed for ESL learners aged between 12 and 16. It also puts you in touch with other learners around the world.

http://www.debatabase.org/
Use this site for keeping you in touch with current and international issues. There are lots of topics – many of which are common themes that you will read about, hear, and discuss in your examinations.

http://www.selfaccess.com/
Lots of free sample exercises, etc. Specifically written for the ‘self access’ approach to learning ESL. It has listening exercises too. However, if you wish to gain full access to this site, you will have to pay.