Prof. Leonardo's Links

GCFLearnFree.org - Reading

2011-12-07T00:22:00.001-02:00

Learn to Read English Online at GCFLearnFree.org (provided by Goodwill Community Foundation International) is one of the topics of this awesome website full of content and interactivity totally free. You will find Computers, Math and Job Skills resources as well. On the Reading section there are videos and games to help you master the top 1,000 most frequently used words in the English language. The Activities (Letter Explorer, Word Explorer, Text Explorer, Word Videos, and much more!) are very attractive to do with sounds and pictures. They are divided into categories like Action, Basic Conversation, Buildings, Food, People, Transport and others. "The goal of the Reading program is to help adults at all levels become more proficient readers." You can also create an account so your progress will be registered. Explore this impressive learning source right now! Link

Onestopenglish

2011-08-20T14:03:00.002-03:00

One of the best sites for English Teachers I've ever known: full of resources, lessons, articles, tips, audio, video and flashcards (over 7,000 resources). Its totally reliable content is published by Macmillan English Campus, part of the Macmillan Education Group. You can find many topics including ESP (English for Specific Purposes), ESOL ( English for Speakers of Other Languages), CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), and others like GRAMMAR, SKILLS, GAMES, TEENAGERS and BUSINESS as well. I suggest you to become a member so you will have full access to the Staff Room (thousands of worksheets). Keep your teaching up-to-date with this wonderful expert team of writers and authors. Link

English 2.0 - Social Network

2011-06-01T23:35:00.001-03:00

As part of my studies in the field of Computer-assisted Language Teaching at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) I've been developing this project aimed to connect English teachers striving to use Learning Technologies and Web 2.0 tools. I've started running this project in a closed-beta (by invitation only) mode. English 2.0 is designed to work as a meeting place for English Language Teachers. The main goal is to develop our Digital Literacy and discuss the application of these tools in the classroom. What toos are suitable for teaching English? How can Web 2.0 tools be used properly? How to develop Critical Thinking and Autonomy in our learners? The answers to these questions may be found there. All you have to do is to get involved. Join us!! Here's the invitation: Link

Cambridge - Interchange Arcade

2011-03-13T04:05:00.002-03:00

Interchange is a four-level course for young-adults and adults developed by Jack C. Richards. It is the world's most succesful series published by Cambridge. Interchange focuses on International communication and presents its content using real-world topics. The Interchange Arcade is an excellent extension and revision material. There you can download all the audio files used with the books. From Intro to Book Three there are several activities like matching, unscramble, fill in, multiple choice, and crosswords. All of these activities practice listening, grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. Don't miss it! Link

Lessons for Living Well

2011-01-23T15:30:00.001-02:00

Lessons for Living Well - Fast Food: Healthy Choices was developed by the San Diego Community College District, Continuing Education Adult ESL Program, in partnership with the Sacramento County Office of Education's Internet and Media Services department. It is the online student component of Eating Well, Living Well: Nutrition Education for Adult ESL. Nice way to learn how to keep your boby healthy. Learn how much sugar, fat and salt you can eat. You'll learn the key words related to fast food through an opening video and further practice with reading and quiz activities. Eat better, Feel better, Live better! Link

Timelines: English Pilot Project

2010-12-22T01:27:00.000-02:00

This is a stunning English Timeline made by The British Library . The British Library has many kinds of resources in the Language and Literature section. There is also an exhibition (Evolving English) you can take part by recording and sending your voice to Map your Voice. They are trying to understand how the English Language is used around the world. The English Timeline shows sample records with pictures and texts ranging from the year 1000 to 1970. There you can find The Magna Carta, a Medieval Encyclopedia (1360), The Legend of King Arthur, and much more. A very attractive and easy-to-navigate interface. Link

English For All

2010-11-18T18:33:00.005-02:00

English For All is part of a fantastic project (Cyberstep) funded by the United States Department of Education "to meet the challenge of creating and distributing multimedia learning materials for the hardest-to-serve ABE (adult basic education) and ESL adult learners". It was developed by the Division of Adult Career Education (DACE) of the Los Angeles Unified School District. It consists of five stories divided by four episodes each one full of audio, video, and grammar exercises. You can sign in to have your progress registered or enter the course as a visitor (no registration needed). But if you are a teacher you may register yourself and create a class, then you will receive a password to give your students so you can follow their progress and print some material as well. Let's all learn English! Link

Wordnik: All the Words

2010-10-16T22:52:00.001-03:00

Wordnik is an outstanding tool! It is more than a dictionary because it brings not only the definitions you want to see but examples from social networks like Twitter. When you type a word you get as a result photographs from Flickr and the statistics and ocurrences of the word besides its pronunciation. Suitable for understanding the use of new words around the "cyberworld". It defines itself as "the most comprehensive dictionary in the known universe". Look up any kind of words here. Link

Adult Learning Activities

2010-09-07T21:10:00.002-03:00

This is the Adult Learning Activities powered by the California Distance Learning Project. There are many topics to choose like Family, Work, School, and much more. On each topic you will find lots of stories with activities to test your understanding. You can also listen to the stories and some of them have videos. The California State University system managed the project while the Sacramento County Office of Education's Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) was in charge of the Web site management. An excellent free site to build your reading and life skills. Learn to make life better! Link

Cambridge - Ventures Arcade

2010-07-31T17:17:00.001-03:00

Ventures Arcade is the support site for students to practice the language studied with the series. It covers the content of the five-level course Ventures (low-beginning to high-intermediate) focused on adults published by Cambridge. There you can find a lot of activities and games to practice grammar and vocabulary. You can listen to the audio used in the student books. There is also a section to practice Citizenship where you can find civics, history and government questions including a test of English and the N-400 ( application form for US naturalization). Ventures teaches life skills with a focus on community, family, and work. Have fun ! Link

eGlossary - Moving into English

2010-06-29T22:37:00.001-03:00

The eGlossary is part of the Moving into English series by Harcourt School Publishers. It is a wonderful instructional material for begginers who need to learn the most important words at this level. You can choose the level ( from 1st to 5th grade). Then you choose a letter to start your search. Finally, you will see a picture with the meaning and two sentences to clarify the comprehension. Harcourt Shool Publishers was founded in New York in 1919 and now is based in Orlando, Florida. What are you waiting for? Go ahead! Link

The Learning Edge

2010-05-29T21:47:00.000-03:00

The Learning Edge is a project of the Wellington County Learning Centre in Arthur, Ontario, Canada. The site promotes a learner-centred approach to literacy upgrading. It helps people improve their reading, writing and basic math skills. It is made of 12 issues in a newspaper layout. Adult life skills content with excellent audio support. Great opportunity to maximize your ability to learn! Link

VocabTrainer - Face2Face

2010-05-17T22:24:00.004-03:00

This vocabulary trainer covers only the elementary level of the six-level course Face2Face from Cambridge. To learn the words used in this level you can use this VocabTrainer to save time. The words are divided by units. This course uses the communicative aproach and the english used prepares learners for life. Do the activities to be sure you got the right sense of them. There is also the game menu to practice what you have learned. Come face to face with English! Link

U.S.A. Learns

2010-04-27T23:07:00.006-03:00

U.S.A. Learns is a free English course developed by the U.S. Department of Education and by the California Department of Education. The project was designed for adults (immigants) who want to learn or improve their skills. There are three levels available: beginning, low-intermediate and intermediate. You can see videos, listen to the records and do online activities. Learners can register to have their scores and progress saved. Teachers can also register to create a class and follow their students work. But if you prefer you can use the site without registering. Start your course right now to strengthen your language abilities. Link

Oxford Advanced Dictionary

2010-04-05T23:44:00.001-03:00

Now we can count on Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (OALD) to expand our vocabulary. OALD is an extremely good dictionary with both British and American pronunciation. You can browse some wordlists like the Oxford 3000 (the most important), Academic wordlist or through pictures. The entries with pictures often have more information about the theme if you enlarge the picture. Excellent option for reference and study. Look up a word right now !!! Link

VOA News - Special English

2010-03-13T18:24:00.001-03:00

The Voice of America was funded by the US government in 1942. Its programs are broadcasted by radio, Internet and satellite TV all over the world. Special English programs use "clear and simple" English. The sentences are short and they have a core vocabulary of about 1,500 words. The programs are read in about two-thirds the speed of standard English. You can download the programs in MP3 format and read the transcriptions. It is a great source of news, information and cultural facts from the United States. Strain your ears ! Link

Cambridge - Touchstone Arcade

2010-02-15T22:05:00.000-02:00

Touchstone is a complete english course from Cambridge designed to adults. This place was created to give extra-practice on this material. There are plenty of games, exercises, and enjoyable activities. All the four levels are covered. Outstanding for everyone interested in english for global communication. A real touchstone of quality in English learning. Authentic English is used and the lessons are on high-interest topics.Dive in! Link

Phonetics: The Sounds of English

2010-01-16T23:17:00.000-02:00

This collaborative project led by the University of Iowa is a wonderful tool for students of phonetics, linguistics, and foreign language. The site contains animated libraries of the phonetic sounds of English. You can see an animated articulatory diagram, a step-by-step description, and a video of the sound spoken in context. If you face any trouble producing english sounds , that's the place to learn it correctly. Excellent resource! Link

English Teachers' Portfolio

2009-12-28T15:43:00.003-02:00

Created by the British Council in Brazil it is descibed as "a unique self-study language improvement programme, specifically designed to help Brazilian teachers of English develop listening and speaking skills." Through 20 lessons you can practice pronunciation. Speakers of other languages may find it very useful. One of the authors is the worldwide famous Paul Seligson. Make good use of ETP. Practice makes perfect! Link

Oxford - New Headway online

2009-12-08T23:06:00.004-02:00

Headway is a complete six-level course for adults. Brtitish english is used but there is also an American English edition available. This website is designed to give further practice on this material. You can listen to dialogues or just see the text. Grammar, vocabulary, games and everyday English is covered. Another feature is that you can record your progress on this site. Make headway!

Link (British English)

Link (American English)

The Idiom Connection

2009-11-17T21:47:00.000-02:00

This website focuses on how idioms work. According to the author "an idiom is a combination of words that has a meaning that is different from the meanings of the individual words themselves". It has an A-Z list of idioms and the respective quizzes to test your knowledge. It's desirable to know by heart at least the "100 Most Frequently Used English Idioms". Time to hit the books! Link

Cambridge - Connect Arcade

2009-11-03T13:38:00.005-02:00

Connect is a multi-skills english series for teenagers. Here you'll find creative activities and educational games for all the four levels (beginner, high beginner, intermediate and high intermediate). It is divided into high-interest topics. This ready-to-use material is a support component from Cambridge. You can practice grammar, listening and vocabulary with fun animations. Connect and have online fun. Link

Newbury House Dictionary

2009-10-25T15:29:00.002-02:00

This exceptional dictionary released by Heinle (a leading provider of ELT materials) presents to us over 40,000 entries with their respective meanings including sentences and idioms. It covers American English usage. The definitions are simple and easy to understand. If you are looking up for some verbs, you can also see the phrasal verbs related to it. You didn't figure out what that word means, Heinle´s dictionary will give you a hand. Link

Oxford - English File online

2009-10-18T15:53:00.008-02:00

This is an excellent support material from Oxford University Press. You can choose the level you want to practice. It will display many options to study: grammar, pronunciation, games, textbuilder and much more. Outstanding interactive resources. Don't waste your time, access your file here.

Link (British English)

Link (American English)

Black Cat Poems

2009-10-11T19:52:00.001-03:00

That's the right place if you want to read some of the best english poets. This website is "an online library of poems categorized by subject and poet". There you can find writers like William Blake, Emily Dickinson, T. S. Eliot, D. H. Lawrence, Edgar Allan Poe and much more. By the way, Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Black Cat" was inspired by his own pet cat, Catarina. Enjoy english poetry and be inspired by the cat! Link

VocabTrainer - Objective FCE

2009-10-03T16:24:00.005-03:00

This vocabulary trainer was specifically created by Cambridge to provide us practicing on the vocabulary from FCE (First Certificate in English). This upper-intermediate level exam requires a wide-range vocabulary. So if you have FCE in mind, optimize your knowledge here. Find your feet and be successful! Link

Online Etymology Dictionary

2009-09-26T19:48:00.002-03:00

Find out the history of the meanings of words with this special dictionary. It is a compilation of several books about etymology. Input a word and check its first meaning through the ages. It´s amazing to see the past of words and the changing that occurs from time to time. Words are alive and have a past. Discover it! Link

BBC - Skillswise - Words

2009-09-19T22:14:00.001-03:00

This is a wonderful website to improve your english skills. There are two main sections: words and numbers. In the section words you´ll see several tabs: grammar, spelling, reading, writing, listening and vocabulary. Each one has lots of activities and games to help you learn the topic. Be wise! Link

Phonetics Focus - A Sound Choice

2009-09-12T16:00:00.000-03:00

Cambridge English Online has been rewarded by ELT 08 Innovations Awards from the British Council. This incredible online resource was developed to help us learn everything we need to know in the field of phonetics. There you´ll find lots of games and fun acticities to strengthen your knowledge about all the 44 phonemic symbols and pronunciation skills, as well. It´s worth a try. Link

VocabTrainer - English 365

2009-09-05T14:16:00.001-03:00

Another interactive software from Cambridge (English 365). This website is suitable for those who want to learn business english. You will find lots of words with exercises and games to practice them. Improve your skills and communicate effectively. Achieve your goals! Link

VocabAhead - Vocabulary Videos

2009-08-30T11:59:00.002-03:00

Good option to learn difficult words. This website has hundreds of words with a video description. You choose a word to watch its meaning. You will listen to the definition and a sentence as an example. But these words are not very common words. They are used in some exams like SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), ACT (American College Testing) and, GRE (Graduate Record Examination) by many American universities as college entrance exams. Go ahead! Link

Howjsay - English Pronunciation

2009-08-09T17:24:00.001-03:00

An easy-to-use dictionary of english pronunciation on the internet. Outstanding for those who need to improve their pronunciation skills. You can search for words or sentences. Then it will appear in pink. Now what you need to do is to mouse over it to hear the pronunciation as many times as you want. Simple but effective for learners who are not sure about how to say a word. By the way, the site Howjsay refers to how the question `How do you say?´ is pronounced by native speakers of english. Enjoy it! Link

Wordwebs - Phrasal Verbs

2009-08-02T18:04:00.003-03:00

If you want to be fluent and sound natural in English you will need to get used to Phrasal Verbs. This tool is based on the Cambridge International Corpus. You can build phrasal verbs and see their meanings. It uses real life examples and like other things from Cambridge, you can trust it (Real English Guarantee) . Excellent for expanding your vocabulary. Try out! Link

English Made in Brazil

2009-07-23T21:37:00.002-03:00

I´m proud to be Brazilian! This site (http://www.sk.com.br/sk.html) is hugely necessary because its content is so rich and full of information. It has many hints about vocabulary, grammar, pronounce, but it also has jokes and a wide range of reference materials. Link

Visuwords - Graphical Dictionary

2009-07-12T21:41:00.002-03:00

Try this amazing dictionary. It is a unique kind of dictionary that shows how a word relates to others. The most interesting about it is that you can really "see" the words through a neural net. You enter a word and then you can point related words to see their meanings or study the synonyms, for instance. See it for yourself. Link

Welcome!

2009-07-05T15:33:00.000-03:00

Welcome to my brand-new blog. I hope you find some interesting links here. If you need my help, please send me a question and I will answer it A.S.A.P.