EdWebs      International Education  

This page is specifically devoted to websites directly related to Education.  From Language Courses, Examinations & Preparation, Studying Abroad and Books, to Help for Teachers and The Internet.  Around 800 Websites are arranged alphabetically by topic.  If you find others useful, please contact us in the usual manner.  Also see - WWW's, Hi Kids! and Enjoying English

i  under continuous review * New websites * Academia * Audio-books * Automatic Translation & Trans-search * Business * Cognative Translation * Course book comparisons * Dictionaries * EFL ESL FLT * English File * IELTS TOEFL * Grammar * History * Langage reference * Lesson Plans & Links * Lists for teachers * Listening - video * Online teaching resources * Pronunciation * Publish Student's Work * Reading * Songs * Speaking * Teachers Sites * Traditional Stories * Transearch * Vocabulary * Writing * Young Learner / Teens * Direct Gov UK information (various topics) - Careers / Pre-school / Schools -Parents section / 14 - 19 Education / University & Higher Education / Adult Learning / Qualifications explained *  

INTERNET & SEARCH ENGINES * Search Engines * Guides to evaluating the Net * Information on creating Website pages * Internet Service Providers * Software publishers * Internet on-line glossaries * General info websites * Web Browsers * Web Editors * Surfing the Web * The INTERNET - advice on usung the Internet *   Bill Gates ~ Creator of Microsoft ~ A Profile *

June, 2009.  New websites: From various sources.  Thanks for your contributions.

Many of the websites listed are useful to teachers, or have links to teaching resources.  Direct Gov UK see below for details.  Also on WWW, Hi Kids! and Enjoying English for related topics.

Academia - information resources for UK universities

www.ucas.ac.uk   University & College Service in the UK (UCAS)

www.redmole.co.uk/student.mole/universities.html   providing links to individual universities in the UK

www.visitbritain.com  from the Tourist Board providing information on towns and cities throughout the UK

www.europa-pages.co.uk  The EFL Directory

Audiobooks:

www.broadcast.com/audiobooks

www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/audio.newshour.shtml   news reports

www.cnn.com/audioselect

www.kidsnet.co.uk

www.tssphoto.com   photo gallery archive

www.amazon.com

www.boxman.co.uk  interactive music video shop

www.dailyway.com  an archive in midi file form

Automatic translation

www.babelfish.altavista.com

Business

www.market-leader.net

www.cambridge.org/elt/nibe  business English with online activities and vocabulary by topic

www.uk.cambridge.org/elt/infotech  computer related topics and Infotech web activities

www.www.longman.com/powerhouse/index.html  Business Powerhouse

www.businessenglishonline.net/InCompany/webguide.html

www.linguarama.com/ps/index.html  Business at Linguarama

www.writing-reading.com  writing tips for native English speakers

www.www.better-english.com  business English exercises with games and vocabulary

www.free-english-games.com  as described, but mustregisterwww.buiography.com  and search for features on business leaders etc.,

www.businessonline.net

www.businessculture.com  business etiquette in other countries

www.bized.com  many resources for students and teachers

www.eleaston.com/biz/bizhome.html  Business Englsish on-line

www.elscafe.com/search/Business_English  Dave's ESL cafe - business section

CALL

www.latrobe.edu.au/www/education/celia.html  Computer Enhanced  Language Institution Archive (CELIA)

www.citl.marin.cc.ca.us/using.html  Centre for Internet Technology in Teaching

www.llt.msu.edu  Language Learning & Technology

Cognative Translation - International News Sources

www.all-link.com

www.bluemountain.com

www.onlinenewspapers.com  all the world's newspapers

www.cnn.com  world news reports in several languages

www.eleaston.com  search for Business news

www.eslcafe.com/search/Business

Course book comparison sites

www.cambridge.org/elt

www.oup.cpm/elt

www.longman.com  offers quizzes on materials from the book, some web-links.  The teacher's section has printable supplementary excercises

www.oup.com/elt/global/products/hway.home  on-line exercises to supplement each unit and word games

www.insideout.net  web=links by topic with lesson suggestions

Dictionaries

www.encarta.msn.com  Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia

www.eurodic.ip.lu/cbi-bin/edicbin/EuroDicWWW.p  European Union's electronic dictionary for translation

www.auschron.com/mrpants  Mr Smarty Pants knows...

www.guinessrecords.com  Guiness Book of Records

www.britannica.com  Encyclopedia Britannica

www.dictionary.reference.com  how to use a dictionary with exercises

www.visualthesaurus.com  visual thesaurus with some free activities

www.dictionary.com  different dictionaries and directories

www.vocabulary.com  a desk-top dictionary which can be used to check the meaning of words whilst surfing the net in many different languages

www.dictionary.cambridge.org  advanced learners / American English, idioms, phrasal verbs; |French/English & Spanish/English dictionaries

www.hyperdictionary.com  general medical and dream dictionaries + thesaurus

www.oup.com/elt/global/products/  news stories and click on words to obtain definitions

www.pdictionary.com  a picture dictionary for beginners

Teacher sites

www.english-forum.com  a good variety of resources and research tools

www.eduplace.com/main.html  Resources for English and Maths, Science & Social Studies for teachers and students

www.english-to-go.com  Provides online news.  A free lesson every week but there are additional subscriptions for more information

www.a4esl.org

www.eltforum  Longman's teaching forum

www.onestopenglish.com  Heinemann's website - registration required

www.itelj.org  the Internet TESL journal, includes ESL lessons and lesson plans

www.tefl.net/links  a portal with sites aimed at teachers

www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/links  links to more than 8,000 sites for students and teachers

www.eslnotes.com  has movie scripts

www.tesol.net/neteach.html  more tan 500 links to sites for teachers

www.hltmag.co.uk  free magazine for Humanising Language Teaching

www.learning-is-fun.co.uk  interactive modules on a range of subjects by teachers for teachers

www.englishpage.com  grammar tutorials, vocabulary exercisess, verb tenses and modals

www.topmarks.co.uk  a great site for students and teachers

Traditional Stories

www.sunsite.org.uk/packages/Online-Book-Initiative/Grimm  The Onlone Book Repository

www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~  links to fairy stories

www.muw.edu  folk tales

www.urbanlegends.com  Folklore Urban Legend Newsgroup and Archive

Transearch

www.eurodic.ip.lu/cbi-bin/edicbin/EuroDicWWW.p  European Union's electronic dictionary for translation

Vocabulary

www.elscafe.com/slang 

www.iteslj.org/links/ESL/Idioms_Slang_/  idioms and slang

www.geosites.com/athens/aegean/6720   The Idiom Connection

www.grammar.englishclub.com/index.html  English Club Vocabulary

www.a4esl.org/g/h/vocabulary.html Vocabulary and Study Quizzes

www.sportsidioms.com  sports and related idims

www.www.wolinskyweb.net/word.html  wonderful site with links to do with more or less anything to do with vocabulary anad having fun with words

www.ieiuiuc.edu/student_grammarsafari.html  helps students use search enginesto find collocations and gramatical/theoretical items on the Internet

www.bbc.co.uk/skillwise/words/grammar  as bbc sites above

www.allwords.com  an on-line dictioary with multi-lingual translations to and from Dutch, German, Italian and Spanish.  Includes crossword puzzles and other features

www.bbc.co.uk/skillwise/words/spelling  and bbc.co.uk/skillwise/words/voabulary

www.vocabulary.com.il  improvements whilst having fun with this US site for KS12, 13 & ELS

www.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/vocabula.htm with gap-fill exercises

www.examenglish.com/IELTS/IELTS_vocabulary  free listening and readng tasks

www.learningenglish.de/vocabpage.htm  learn and expand your vocabulary for free

www.grammar.ccc/commnet.edu/grammar/vocabulary  build better vocabulary  techniques, ricks and exercises.

Many of the above are useful to teachers, have links or teaching resources.  Also see - http://newwriting.britishcouncil.org/teachers  references specifically for teachers sorted/arranaged by issues and themes.

World treasures

www.cogsci.princeton.edu/~wn  WorldNet Database for English

www.visualthesaurus.com/online/index.html  Plumb Design Visual Thesaurus.  Take the guided tour to see how the relationships between words can be visually related

www.thesaurus.com  Roget's Thesaurus

www.wordsmyth.net  Wordsmyth's educational dictionary / thesaurus

Writing

www.owl.english.purdue.edu/lab/owl/tutoring/index.html  On-line writing lab

www.anglofile.com/QuizMachine/wwriting001  on-line activties

www.hio.ft.hmanze.nl/thar/writing.ht   English Channel intermediate to advanced

www.library.thinkquest.org/5115/s_writing.htm  help with story writing

www.bbc.co.uk/blastwriting  tips and tools to help young people

www.bbc.co.uk/skillwise/words/writing  improve reading writing and number skills

www.writingcourse.eu  writing department of The Learning Curve with a growing number of articles and references

http://newwriting.britishcouncil.org/teachers

Young Learners, Teens, Beginner Adults

www.preschoolrainbow.org  resource of rhymes and activities for very young learners

www.yahooligans.yahoo.com  fun searches for kids

www.kotn.ntu.ac.uk/index.html  Kids On The Net with loads of links and ideas

www.alfy.com  an excellent site for young kids with stories and themed related activities.  Take a good look at what ths site has to offer

www.syndicate.com  an entertaining collection of games, comic strips,word games etc.,

www.funbrain.com  fun and challenging on-line games for kids - includes spell-check and wacky tales

www.eduplace.com/tales/index.html   wacky web tales where kids can make their own stories 

www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html  printable books and activities for yong learners but adaptable for older low-level students.  Some need to register for 1 year

www.mathsisfun.com  for maths games, quizzes and fun whilst learning

www.topmarks.co.uk  a great site for both young learners and teachers

www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/index.htm  -  aimed at middle school students (12 - 16) ir's a great source of valuable information and teaching materials

More resources for teachers

www.pdictionary.com  A picture dictionary for beginners

www.encarta.msn.com  Microsoft Encarta dictionary

www.guinnessrecords.com  The Guiness Book of Records

www.britannica.com  The Encyclopedia Britannica

www.visualthesaurus.com  Visual Thesaurus with some free activities

Direct Gov - UK    www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm  www.ukstudentlife.com 

Education and learning

   Find your dream career

Need career inspiration? Get free, impartial advice from the Careers Advice Service

• Get careers advice Opens new window

Preschool (parents section)

• Nurseries, playgroups...
• Helping your child to learn
• More about preschool

Schools (parents section)

• Choosing a school
• School life
• More about schools

14 to 19: your life, your options

• Which way now? Years 10-11
• It’s your choice: options after 16
• Money to learn
• Coursework and exams

University and higher education

• Student finance
• What can higher education do for you?
• Where to go, what to study
• More about university and higher education

Adult learning and skills

• Your skills, your future
• Training and learning for work
• Improving your English, maths and IT
• Financial help for adult learners
• More about adult learning and skills

Qualifications explained

• What the different levels mean
• Diplomas for 14 to 19 year olds
• GCSEs
• Foundation Degrees
• More about qualifications

INTERNET

Use the Internet...Use the Internet.

 

'Use the Internet!...Unse the Internet!...', I encourage my students, 'but use it wisely'.

 

It goes without saying that, if you are reading this, you will have already discovered that there is a wealth of useful information, knowledge and teaching material available on 'the net'.  Companies, agencies and individuals spend US$ billions, to make their products and information available to the World.

 

It's free - well, more or less!  At any rate, it's very cheap, usually no more than 1 or 2 RMB at at an Internet Cafe or Bar.  So use it!  Not just for English, but for other subjects, news and entertainment.

 

It's an interesting way to learn.  You don't have to buy text books or sit in a classroom listing to lectures, when your mind may be on something else on a hot sunny day. 

 

Another very valid point is that it is a concentrated way to study, as your attention is fully fixed on whatever might be on the screen.  You mind is less likely to wander on other things.  If you are working with determination and concentration, you will probably assimilate (take in and remember) more in 2 or 3 hours on the Interenet than you would during a week in a classroom.  The less positive factor is that you are working alone, in isolation, and don't have the benefit of inter-action with classmates and teachers.  It is, therefore, necessary and desirable, to combine both methods of study.

 

I know that many parents, particularly of middle-school students, are wary of their children using the Internet, because they think they will just spend their time playing games.  Perhaps that is true, but it is a question of responsibility, organising and taking control of your working / studying situation.  It is not sensible to spend all your time on the net in such activities, but I see nothing wrong with doing 2 or 3 hours study and then rewarding youself with an hour of entertainment.

 

There is a psycological aspect which is worth consideration.  It is that, as you are not in a classroom, not using textbooks, it doesn't feel like work.  It assumes the roll of an interesting pass-time, much like reading a newspaper.

 

There are thousands of sites waiting to be explored.  You can find them by using Search engines, such as Google or Sina.  A selection of websites are also presented on this website, which may be of interest in the day to day running of your life.  I have also posted a limited summary of the facilities available on some of the more popular Search Engines.

 

Footnote:  Unfortunately, it is a fact that people using the net are sometimes subjected to nuisance messages from predators, and at worse, perverts - people who want to change your attitude or introduce you to things which are unacceptable.

 

Whatever your age, it can be worrying and disturbing.  A few tips and precautions will stop such interference.

 

1.  Never give the password of your Internet Account.

 

2.  Never give information that will allow a stranger to locate you off-line including; your name, address, telephone number, school / college, who you work for or where you work.

 

3.  Don't use your real name as part of your on-line screen name.

 

4.  Don't meet people in person who have contacted you on the Internet, especially strangers.  If you want to break this rule, e.g., to meet a boy friend / girl friend, arrange to meet in an open public place where there are lots of people, like shoppers.  Take a friend with you the first time.

 

5.  If you think you are being harrassed on-line, or receive abusive or offensive mail, do not reply.  Tell an adult and, if necessary report the incident to the police.

 

6.  If you are on-line with a video link, make sure that the background and background noises don't not give clues as to your location.

 

  Bill Gates

 

William Henry "Bill" Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, philanthropist, author, the world's third richest person (as of February 8, 2008), and chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen.  Gates was the richest person in the world for 15 consecutive years.  During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of CEO and chief software architect, and remains the largest individual shareholder with more than 8 percent of the common stock.  He has also authored or co-authored several books.

 

Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution.  Although he is admired by many, a large number of industry insiders criticize his business tactics, which they consider anti-competitive, an opinion which has in some cases been upheld by the courts.  In the later stages of his career, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000.

 

Bill Gates stepped down as chief executive officer of Microsoft in January, 2000. He remained as chairman and created the position of chief software architect. In June, 2006, Gates announced that he would be transitioning from full-time work at Microsoft to part-time work and full-time work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He gradually transferred his duties to Ray Ozzie, chief software architect and Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer. Gates's last full-time day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008. He remains at Microsoft as non-executive chairman.

 

For more information on Bill Gate, Microsoft and his Foundation search 'Bill Gates'