ENGLISH, BABY!

Visit daily for free real conversations about popular culture. Downloadable lessons for iPod or MP4 player. You can chat with people from all over the world or join online forums to practise English while meeting international friends. Cool. Quizzes and vocabulary building lists provided.

SOUNDS, THE PRONUNCIATION APP

Excellent application by Macmillan, both available at Apple Store and Play Store, to help you study, practise and play with pronunciation. Interactive chart included. Premium version available. Clear your voice and have a shot.

BRITISH COUNCIL ON iTUNES U

Visit the British Council on iTunes U. You can download or listen to a wide range of audio and video resources from LearnEnglish. Over 150 series of podcasts and videos providing insights into British culture, and listening materials  with free activities that you can do on your computer while you listen, or print out and do whenever you want. Food, sports, environment, jobs, there is a large number of topics available. Worth playing on your iPod, iPad or Mac. 

SPLENDID SPEAKING

A colleague of mine has just recommended this website to practise speaking skills for work or University, and learn new strategies for exams like, BULATS CAE, FCE, CPE, IELTS, TOEFL. You can download free vocabulary quizzes and student interviews, and watch free videos in YouTube.

US CAMPAIGN RESUMES AFTER SANDY

Excellent update at BBC site. Both teachers and learners will find it useful to check out the above heading at the 'Words in the press' section. You can read reports, listen to them, download them or check relevant vocabulary. I would recommend as well: 'Challenges remain after Sandy'

BBC THE FLATMATES

The Flatmates is a weekly online soap opera for learners of English. If you are a teacher, the resources on the page will help you to exploit the series and its materials in the classroom (lesson plans, cartoon strips and worksheets)

BBC WORDMASTER

Check this game out to test your vocabulary skills. Three levels and thousands of words to practise. Use the clues if you're stuck, and remember to click listen for the right pronunciation. Great fun.

TOOLS FOR MILLENNIAL LEARNERS

Engaging the newest generation of learners, age 18 to 30, implies a shift from a teacher driven classroom, to a student-driven one. Read Allen & Swindle (2007). Explore the wide range of educational cool tools as Wordle, Screencast-o-matic, Jing, Prezi or Glogster. They will boost your creativity and enhance your writings and presentations with powerful visuals. List your top five tools.