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Tips and Links for Learners of English

• Tip 1: English Examinations

  • Cambridge General:
    Take KET (A2), PET (B1), FCE (B2), CAE (C1), CPE (C2)

    Cambridge Business (BEC):
    Take Business Preliminary (B1), Vantage (B2), Higher (C1)

    www.cambridgeesol.org
    www.cambridgeenglish.org/de/
    Cambridge English Language Assessment (Wiki)
    Cambridge English Language Assessment Learning Tips (YouTube Videos)
    Cambridge English Language Assessment on Facebook
    Cambridge Examinations: Speaking Test (YouTube Videos)
    Macmillan Exams - Download information sheets about Cambridge & other exams
    

  • Other examinations:

    General & Business:
    TELC
    www.telc.net
    Telc GmbH (Wiki)

  • Business:
    LCCI
    www.lcci.org.uk
    Info auf Sprachenmarkt.de

  • University:
    IELTS
    www.ielts.org
    www.britishcouncil.de/ielts
    International English Language Testing System (Wiki)

  • University:
    TOEFL
    www.ets.org/toefl
    TOEFL (Wiki)
    TOEFL Study Guide (Discover Business)

  • Common European Framework of Reference / CEFR
    (Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen / GeR)
    Europäischer Referenzrahmen (Wiki)
    www.europaeischer-referenzrahmen.de (German)
    GeR - Goethe-Institut (German)
    EnglishProfile.org - CEFR for English (English)
    Council of Europe - CEFR (English)
    

  • Placement Tests:
    www.sprachtest.de
    GLS Sprachenzentrum - Placement test
    Cambridge Test Your English
    Oxford Online Placement Test
    Hueber English Elements - Placement test
    LCCI - Placement test
    Engames - Placement test
    VHS Marzahn-Hellersdorf

• Tip 2: English Radio Programmes

  • BBC Radio
    Radio Stations in the UK
    CNN Radio
    Voice of Amercia - Learning English
    Deutsche Welle Mediacenter
    Eslradioandtv.com
    Al Jazeera Live Stream
    Radio Australia

• Tip 3: Television, Movies and DVDs

  • Use subtitles
    Learn English (YouTube)

  • English Courses on TV (e.g. on BR-Alpha)
    Telekolleg - Fast Track English I-IV - General, The Business World, America (1997/98)
    Telekolleg - Inside the British Isles (Helen Wood, 1995, Level: B2/C1)
    Telekolleg - Into the English World: Grundkurs Englisch (with Carolin Nyhuis, Eric Gladhart, 2012)
    Telekolleg - Englisch für Anfänger (mit Graham Pascoe, 1982)
    Top Notch TV (Peason-Longman, YouTube)

  • English News on TV
    BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Deutsche Welle TV, CNBC, Al Jazeera, France 24 (English)

• Tip 4: Audio Books

  • ESL-Bits Audiobooks
    Books Should Be Free
    Librivox
    Audible.com (charged)

• Tip 5: English Newspapers and Magazines

  • The Guardian
    The Observer
    The Times
    The Independent
    The Telegraph
    The New York Times
    The Washington Post
    Huffington Post (UK)
    Huffington Post (US)
    The Economist (Weekly Magazine)
    The New Yorker (Weekly Magazine)

• Tip 6: English Conversation Groups & Courses in Berlin

  • Connect Berlin e.V.
    Meetup-Gruppe: English Conversation Club Berlin (ECGB)
    English Events in Berlin
    VHS Berlin
    Links to English Language Schools in Berlin
    Kurse beim GLS-Sprachenzentrum Berlin
    Kurse bei Berlitz Berlin Mitte

• Tip 7: Social Networking Sites & Chat Rooms

  • Social Networking
    XING
    Facebook
    Google+

  • Chat Rooms
    ICQ
    Learn English - Live English Chat
    English, Baby!-Chat

• Tip 8: Talk to Yourself & Read Texts Aloud

  • Talk to yourself: Talk about anything and everything. As long as you do it in the privacy of your home nobody will think you are crazy. ;-)
    Try reading out loud until you feel comfortable hearing your own voice in English. You can also record your voice to check your pronunciation.

  • Learn English the Natural Way (YouTube)
    Techniques - Talking to Yourself (English Conversations)

• Tip 9: English Books, Novels, Stories

  • Online Books:
    Project Gutenberg (free e-books)
    Classic Reader (free classic books online)
    Dailylit.com
    The Online Books Page (University of Pennsylvania)
    English Reading Room (englishpage.com - free books, magazines, newspapers etc.)
    ReadBookOnline.net
    Graded Readers (learnenglish.de - Info & Links)

  • Printed Books - Graded Readers:
    Book series: Berlitz "Englisch lernen mit ..." (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Langenscheidt "Lernschmöker" (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Macmillan "Readers" (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Oxford "Bookworms" (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Penguin "Readers" (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Cambridge "English Readers" (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Collins "English Readers" (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Reclam Fremdsprachentexte "Rote Reihe" (Amazon-Link)
    Book series: Wordsworth "Classics" (Amazon-Link)

  • Bookshops in Berlin:
    English Bookshops in Berlin (Guide by Ian Barwick)
    Saint George's Bookship - new & second-hand books

• Tip 10: Post-It™ Notes

  • LSIPortsmouth: "Improve your English, Vocabulary 'post-its' - Learning Tips" (YouTube-Video)

• Tip 11: English Language Learning Magazines

  • Spotlight Online
    Business Spotlight
    Just English
    Hot English Magazine

• Tip 12: Comics

  • Comics English - Having Fun Learning English with Comic Strips
    Daily Bits - Links to 17 free Graphic Novels
    Comix4Free
    Go Comics
    Calvin & Hobbes on Go Comics (recommended)

• Tip 13: Quizzes

  • BBC Learning English Quizzes
    EGO4U - English Quizzes
    ESL Quiz Center (Dave's ESL Cafe, Dave Sperling)
    English Tests and Quizzes (About.com)
    English Club Quizzes

• Tip 14: Listen to English Songs & Read English Lyrics

  • ESOL Courses - Learn English with Songs
    Songtexte.com
    Last.fm

• Tip 15: Listen to Podcasts

  • Spotlight Audio kompakt
    Podcasts in English - listen and learn
    E-Fellows.net -Business English Podcast
    Business Spotlight Podcast
    British Council Podcasts
    ESL Pod - English as Second Language Podcast

• Tip 16: Visit English Websites & English-speaking countries

  • www.bbc.co.uk
    www.visitbritain.com
    www.australia.com
    www.newzealand.com
    www.discoverireland.ie
    www.tourist-information-uk.com
    www.discoveramerica.com
    www.visitcalifornia.com
    www.visitengland.com
    www.wales.com
    www.visitscotland.org
    www.southafrica.info
    www.visitmalta.com
    www.visitgibraltar.gi
    www.visitchannelislands.com
    www.visitcornwall.com
    projectbritain.com
    The Internet Movie Database
    National Geographic
    MTV (US)
    MTV (UK)
    USA Survival Guide (1Cover Travel Insurance)
    29 Surreal Places In America (Buzzfeed.com)
    Sprachreisen England / language trips to England (Sarah Landrut, German)
    Guide: Student exchange and boarding schools in England (Peter Wisniewski, German)
    Travel to English-speaking countries (Forum englisch-hilfen.de, German)

• Tip 17: English Reading Groups & Book Clubs (Berlin)

  • British Council Big Read (Berlin)
    The Booker Tea Reading Group (Berlin)
    The English Reading Group in Berlin
    Meetup - Berlin Play Reading Group
    The Connect Book Club

• Tip 18: English Theatre, Comedy & Events (Berlin)

  • English Theatre Berlin (Kreuzberg)
    English Events in Berlin (Website)
    FB Group: English Events (Berlin, Germany)
    Comedy Club Kookaburra - English Shows
    ComedySportz Berlin
    Comedy in English Berlin
    The Fish Bowl Comedy Showcase in Bar 1820
    The Fish Bowl on Facebook
    Comedy auf Deuglish Berlin (Facebook)
    Shakespeare im Park Berlin
    The Connect Book Club

• Tip 19: Screensaver

  • Linguasaver
    Rockle LingoMigo

• Tip 20: Karaoke

  • KaraokeParty
    Karaoke on YouTube
    Example: Adele - Somebody Like You (YouTube)
    Monster Ronson's Ichiban Karaoke (Live Karaoke in Berlin)
    

• Tip 21: Online Dictionaries & Visual Dictionaries

  • Free online dictionaries:
    dict.cc
    LEO
    PONS
    Beolingus
    Woerterbuch.info
    Links to bilingual online English-German dictionaries (marcjaeger.net)
    Links to monolingual online dictionaries (marcjaeger.net)

  • Free online Picture dictionaries & visual dictionaries:
    PONS English Picture Dictionary
    Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary - Picture Wordlist

    Printed Picture dictionaries & visual dictionaries:
    The Oxford Picture Dictionary - monolingual (Amazon-Link)
    Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary - monolingual (Amazon-Link)
    Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary - multilingual (Amazon-Link)
    DK Publishing Ultimate Visual Dictionary (Amazon-Link)
    Coventgarden Visuelles Wörterbuch Englisch-Deutsch (Amazon-Link)

  • Download free offline dictionaries:
    elcombri Translator
    QuicDic (Chip.de)

• Tip 22: One Word a Day & Word of the Day

  • OWAD - One Word a Day
    OWAD for Business
    Spotlight Word of the Day
    Business Spotlight Word of the Day
    Merriam-Webster Word of the Day
    Cambridge Word of the Day (bottom left corner)
    New York Times Word of the Day
    Dictionary.com - Word of the Day
    Wordsmith.org - A Word a Day

• Tip 23: YouTube

  • Youtube.com
    BBC Learning English on YouTube
    English with Jennifer (JenniferESL)
    The 50 most important common phrases, idioms, proverbs and sayings (English/German, Sprachheld)

• Tip 24: English Online Courses

  • Free English courses:
    Langenscheidt Online Audio-Sprachkurs Englisch
    British Council - Learn English
    BBC Learning English
    Listen and Write - Free Listening Practice
    EGO4U - English Grammar Online for you
    Englisch-Hilfen.de - Learning English Online
    English-online.org.uk - Free English Online Courses
    Esolcourses.com - Free English Lessons Online
    Englisch-Lehrbuch.de
    Englishpage.com - Advanced English Lessons
    UEfAP.com - Using English for Academic Purposes
    engVid.com - Free English video lessons
    vilogo.tv - English video courses
    Livemocha.com - Learn American English
    Englisch lernen: Der vollständige A-Z Leitfaden (Gabriel Gelman, German)

  • Fee-based platforms:
    Babbel.com
    Dalango.de
    Yabla.com

• Tip 25: Language Exchange / Tandem Language Learning

  • Palabea.com (video chat & learning platform)
    busuu.com (interactive online courses & chat with native speakers)
    Erstenachhilfe.de - Tandempartner (tandem language exchange)
    Tandem-Berlin.de - Language exchange in Berlin
    Tandem Sprachlernmethode (German Wiki)
    Tandem language learning method (English Wiki)

• Tip 26: Learning Logs / Mindmaps

  • ABZ Austria - Lerntagebuch (PDF)
    Erstenachhilfe.de - Tandempartner (tandem language exchange)
    FreeMind - Mindmapping Software
    Lerntagebuch (German Wiki)
    Learning log (English Wiki)
    Mind-map (German Wiki)
    Mind map (English Wiki)

• Tip 27: Flash Cards / Vocabulary Trainers

  • Your Dictionary - Links to Vocabulary Flashcards
    Vokabel.org - Vocabulary Trainer
    Cambridge Objective PET - Vocabulary Trainer
    LEO Language Trainer
    Vokabeltrainer-Online.net
    Anki - Flashcard Software (freeware, download from Chip.de)
    Dict.cc Vocabulary Trainer
    Vocabulix Vocabulary Builder
    Vokker.net - Learn vocabulary with flash cards
    IchLerneOnline.de - Karteikarten online & mobil lernen

• Tip 28: Sentence Diagramming

  • Sentence diagram (Wiki)
    Your Dictionary - Diagramming Sentences
    Diagramming Sentences Guide
    Diagramming Sentences (Eugene R. Moutoux)
    "A Picture of Language" (New York Times article)

• Tip 29: Try out Alternative Language Learning Methods

  • Foreign Languages Web: Methods in Detail
    Wolfgang Butzkamm: "A Paradigm Shift in Language Teaching – at long last!" (article about monolingual and bilingual methods)

• Tip 30: English Apps for Your Mobile Phone

  • Dict.cc App (Chip.de)
    British Council Apps
    Cambridge Apps
    Langenscheidt Apps
    PONS Apps (PDF)
    Hueber Apps
    englishforums.com - Top Mobile Apps
    Oxford Apps & E-Books
    Dictionary.com Apps
    Merriam-Webster Apps
    Collins Apps

• Tip 31: Join an English Rhethoric Training Club

  • Mercury Toastmasters Berlin

• Tip 32: Learn Poems and Texts by Heart and Repeat Them

  • Bartleby Verse
    World-English.org - Classic English Poetry

• Tip 33: Crosswords and Word Games

  • BBC Learning English Crosswords
    Lbt languages - Crossword Puzzle Archive
    WESLI English Online Crosswords
    Learn English Today - Word Games
    Language Games
    ESL Galaxy - Crossword Activities for Kids and Adults

• Tip 34: English PC or Online Games

  • Games to learn English
    English-Online.org.uk - Games Zone
    English-Portal.de - Daily Games
    Vocabulary.co.il - English Vocabulary Games

• Tip 35: Board & Card Games

  • Spotlight Verlag Board Games
    Balderdash (Amazon-Link)
    Lingua Ludica - Learn English by Playing (Amazon-Link)
    Taboo (English Edition) (Amazon-Link)
    Settlers of Catan (English Edition) (Amazon-Link)
    Piatnik Absolutely English (Amazon-Link)
    Spotlight: A Weekend in London (Amazon-Link)
    Spotlight: A Weekend in New York (Amazon-Link)
    Spotlight: Are You Joking? (Amazon-Link)
    Brainbox - The World (Amazon-Link)
    Brainbox - British History (Amazon-Link)

• Tip 36: Visit Exam Preparation Websites (FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS, TOEFL etc.)

  • Splendid-Speaking.com - Practice your English speaking skills (recommended)
    Flo-Joe Exam Success (recommended)
    Cambridge - Exam samples
    Exam English - Free practice tests for learners of English
    British Council - IELTS free practice tests
    IELTS Speaking
    ielts-simon.com
    IELTS.org - Free test sample
    IELTS-Exam.net - IELTS free sample practice tests
    Canadavisa.com - IELTS free practice test
    TELC.net - Practice material
    ETS.org - TOEFL iBT sample questions
    TOEFL Study Guide (Discover Business)
    TOEFL iBT Course - Demo
    English Stuff - ESL practice tests (FCE, TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC)

• Tip 37: Language Learning Calendars

  • Langenscheidt Sprachkalender (Amazon-Link)
    Langenscheidt Sprachkalender Business English (Amazon-Link)
    Harenberg Sprachkalender (Amazon-Link)

• Tip 38: Keep a Vocabulary Notebook

  • Cork English College: Build your vocabulary!
    english-at-home.com: Improving your English vocabulary
    really-learn-english.com: Methods for Learning English Vocabulary

• Tip 39: Change the Language Settings on Your Mobile Phone, Operating System etc.

  • BBC language: Change the language settings

• Tip 40: Be Aware of False Friends (False Cognates & Deceptive Resemblences)

  • lemaxu.de - false friends
    englisch-hilfen.de - false friends
    uebersetzungsfallen.de
    Grimm grammar - false cognates
    Richard Humphrey: False Friends, Falser Friends, Falsest Friends (Amazon-Link)
    Graham Pascoe: Sprachfallen Englisch (Amazon-Link)
    

• Tip 41: Subscribe to Newsletters

  • Spotlight Magazine - Newsletter
    GoEnglish - Weekly English Idioms Newsletter
    English in Your Inbox
    Helping Your Learn English - Newsletter
    Voice of America - Newsletter
    World-English - Newsletter
    One Word a Day - Newsletter
    Perfect English Grammar - Newsletter
    English-Test.net - Newsletter
    

• Tip 42: Go to English-speaking Bars, Restaurants, Pubs (e.g. in Berlin)

  • toytowngermany.com: List of Irish Pubs
    Irish Harp & Kilkenny Berlin (recommended)
    Oscar Wilde Berlin
    Irish Pub Europa-Center
    Belushi's Berlin
    East London Berlin (recommended)
    The Circus Berlin - Katz & Maus (Café Bar)
    Geist im Glas Bar

• Tip 43: Use Language Learning Software and Self-study Books

  • Macmillan "Language Practice"
    Elementary Language Practice (Book & CD-Rom)
    Intermediate Language Practice (Book & CD-Rom)
    First Certificate Language Practice (Book & CD-Rom)
    Advanced Language Practice (Book & CD-Rom)
    

    Cambridge "English ... in Use"
    Elementary
    Essential Grammar in Use - German Edition (Book & CD-Rom)
    Essential Grammar in Use - English Edition (Book & CD-Rom)
    English Vocabulary in Use Elementary (Book & CD-Rom)
    English Pronunciaton in Use Elementary (Book & 5 Audio-CDs)
    
    Intermediate
    English Grammar in Use Intermediate (Book & CD-Rom)
    English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate & Intermediate (Book & CD-Rom)
    English Pronunciation in Use Intermediate (Book & 4 Audio-CDs)
    English Idioms in Use Intermediate (Book)
    English Phrasal Verbs in Use Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate (Book)
    English Collocations in Use Intermediate (Book)
    
    Advanced
    English Grammar in Use Advanced (Book & CD-Rom)
    English Vocabulary in Use Advanced (Book & CD-Rom)
    English Pronunciation in Use Advanced (Book & 1 Audio-CD)
    English Idioms in Use Advanced (Book)
    English Phrasal Verbs in Use Advanced (Book)
    English Collocations in Use Intermediate (Book)
    
    Business Vocabulary
    Business Vocabulary in Use Elementary/Pre-Intermediate (Book & CD-Rom)
    Business Vocabulary in Use Intermediate (Book & CD-Rom)
    Business Vocabulary in Use Advanced (Book & CD-Rom)
    
    Academic Vocabulary
    Academic Vocabulary in Use (Book)
    

    Cambridge "Past Papers" (all levels)
    Amazon-Links to Self-Study Packs for KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS, BEC etc. (Book & Audio-CDs)

    Cambridge "Top Tips for ..." (all levels)
    Amazon-Links to the series for PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS etc. (Book & CD-ROM)

    Cambridge "Common Mistakes at ..." (all levels)
    Amazon-Links to the "Common Mistakes" series (for KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS etc.)

    Cambridge "Grammar for ..." (all levels)
    Amazon-Links to the "English Grammar for ..." series (for PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS etc.) (Book & Audio-CD)

    Cambridge "Objective ..." (all levels)
    Amazon-Links to the "Objective" series (for KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS etc.)
    

    Pearson-Longman "Practice Tests Plus" (all levels)
    Amazon-Links to the "Practice Tests Plus" series (for YLE, KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS etc.)
    

    Pearson-Longman "Gold Exam Maximiser"
    Amazon-Links to the "Gold Exam Maximiser" series (for PET, FCE, CAE, CPE)
    

    ETS TOEFL (exam preparation, past papers)
    McGraw-Hill: Official Guide to the TOEFL Test with CD-ROM (Amazon)
    McGraw-Hill: Official TOEFL iBT Tests with Audio (Amazon)
    
    

    Vokabeltrainer
    Langenscheidt Wortschatztrainer Business English 6.0
    Langenscheidt Vokabeltrainer English 6.0
    SuperMemo UX (Polish vocabulary learning software)
    

    Bilingual Dictionary Software (German - English)
    Langenscheidt e-Taschenwörterbuch Englisch
    Langenscheidt Collins Großwörterbuch Englisch
    Langenscheidt Muret-Sanders Enzykl. Wörterbuch Englisch (2 Volumes)
    Langenscheidt e-Fachwörterbücher
    PONS Schülerwörterbuch Englisch
    PONS Großwörterbuch Englisch
    Das große Oxford Wörterbuch
    Duden Oxford Großwörterbuch Englisch (Office Bibliothek)
    

    Monolingual Dictionary Software (English - English)
    Oxford Essential Dictionary (A2-B1)
    Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (B2-C2)
    Concise Oxford English Dictionary
    Oxford Collocations Dictionary
    Oxford Learner's Thesaurus
    Cambridge Grammar of English
    Cambridge Pronouncing Dictionary
    Longman Pronunciation Dictionary
    Langenscheidt/Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (B2-C2)
    Longman Essential Activator & Writing Coach
    Encyclopaedia Britannica 2014 Ultimate
    Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary & Thesaurus

CEFR level names / Kompetenzniveau nach GeR(S)

Source: Wikipedia & St Giles International, see also: Tip 1 & 43

© 2012-2017, Marc-Christian Jäger - English to German translator and proofreader, Berlin

Links

Marc-Christian Jäger, MA - Bornholmer Straße 85 - 10439 Berlin - +49(0)3041722364
info@marcjaeger.net
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