Writing Process

Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
This site gives students techniques and definitions for nearly every conceivable writing genre and writing task. A veritable one-stop-shopping site for student essay writers.

Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab Handouts
Purdue’s Online Writing Lab is a longstanding, well-developed site with a rich collection of writing handouts on topics of writing, grammar, ESL, and research. All handouts can be printed for convenient viewing and sharing.

St. Martin’s Handbook
This companion Web site for the St. Martin’s Handbook features many practical resources for students, tutors, and instructors: Interactive grammar exercises, tutorials on avoiding plagiarism, advice for avoiding common English errors, help with documenting sources in all the common academic styles, sample student essays, and more. Students can create a free online registration account, which they can use to explore this and other valuable pages linked to the Bedford St. Martin’s Web site.

Writing Style

The Elements of Style, William Strunk, Jr.
This classic reference book is a must-have for any student and conscientious writer. Intended for use in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief space the principal requirements of plain English style and concentrates attention on the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated.

English Writing Style, from Wikipedia
A good starting point for students who want to see a basic definition of English Writing Style. From here, students can access several other sites where English style is presented in more detail.

Grammar

Garbl’s Writing Center — Grammar Guides
An impressively thorough and up-to-date list of grammar websites, compiled by former Seattle journalist Gary B. Larson. This particular web page is part of a larger site providing advice and Internet links on the central topic of clear, powerful writing.

Guide to Grammar and Writing
A clearly indexed and organized site that provides the usual handbook-style descriptions, with informative examples, and quizzes to test one's knowledge. This site is sponsored by the Capital Community College Foundation of Hartford, Connecticut.

ESL

Idioms
Dave’s Idiom Page
On this page, students can randomly call up selections from an apparently inexhaustible list of famous English idioms.

Listening
National Public Radio
This page contains a complete listing of NPR programs, linking students to pages where they can listen to archived broadcasts in their entirety. These programs are very good practice in hearing and speaking everyday American English.

Randall’s Cyber ESL Listening Lab
Students who want listening practice for the most common everyday speaking situations should visit this site. All situations are divided into Easy, Medium, and Difficult levels, and are followed by a quiz to test the listener’s understanding.

Puzzles
Crossword Puzzles for ESL Students
Several levels of stimulating crossword puzzles designed for ESL students. This is a fun site. This page is part of a larger site, The Internet TESL Journal, that both ESL students and teachers will find valuable.

Quizzes
Dave’s ESL Quiz Center
Another section of Dave Sperling’s well-liked ESL Café. Students can test their grasp of common English language concepts, as well their knowledge of American and world cultures.

Easy Vocabulary Quizzes
These picture-based vocabulary quizzes, for beginner ESL students, are playful and valuable. This website, Manythings.org, has a vast collection of similar games and quizzes across the whole range of English language skill areas.

Self-Study ESL Quizzes
A large collection of quizzes for ESL students, with varying levels of difficulty in such topics as vocabulary, grammar, American idioms, and more. This page is also part of The Internet TESL Journal.

Reading
Aesop’s Fables
A wonderfully vast collection of fables and folktales, of varying lengths and levels of complexity. Good for basic reading practice and comprehension.

News Stories from CBS 5 & CNN
This is a fascinating and varied collection of stories from the CBS 5 and CNN Archives. Organized by subject, these stories are good for English students who want interesting reading material. Outlines and abridged versions of each story are available.

Speaking
Sounds of English — English Pronunciation
This site offers many interactive exercises, charts, and printable handouts that students can use to learn more about and practice their English pronunciation. This page is part of a larger ESL site that students might want to explore.

Eslgold.com — Pronunciation
The eslgold.com Web site is a treasure trove of helpful information and exercises for ESL students. This page in particular focuses on pronunciation, offering, for example, a list of minimal pairs that students can listen to and repeat aloud.

TOEFL Preparation
Eslgold.com — TOEFL/TOEIC
This is another page from the eslgold.com website. It's a valuable resource for students preparing to take these standard ESL examinations. From here students can find all the web links they'll ever need to learn more about the TOEFL and TOEIC tests.

World Languages

Chinese
Chinese Language Information Page

French
Conjugate a French Verb
French Language, About.com

German
German for Travelers
German Web Exercises

Japanese
Japanese Writing Tutor
Regions and Cities of Japan

Spanish
Gramática
Learn Spanish

References

Dictionaries & Thesauruses
Dictionary.com
Merriam-Webster Online

Research & Documentation
Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab
Research and Documentation Online, Diana Hacker

Word Fun
Internet Anagram Server
Learn a Word a Day

Special Topics

Keyboarding
Free Touch Typing Online
Typeonline

Mouse Practice
MouseMaster
Mouse Practice

Survey
Learning Styles Survey
Created by Diablo Valley College.

U.S. Citizenship
Preparing for the U.S. Citizenship Interview
Free Course — Missouri Multicultural Network