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English as a Second Language: Listening & Speaking

A selection of resources for English as a Second Language learners and instructors.

Pronunciation

Both online and print dictionaries include a written key to show how each word is pronounced. In addition, online dictionaries, like the ones featured on the "Dictionaries & more" page of this guide, have a pronunciation feature that lets you listen to the pronunciation of any word being searched.

Our library collection includes a few pronunciation guides and a variety of video collections, some of which are featured on this page, that you can use to improve your pronunciation (and your listening) skills. Some of the books about speech and pronunciation available from our library's print and electronic book collections include:

Websites to improve listening

English Listening Lounge -- This is a collection of 500+ recordings of spoken English portraying various accents. The recordings include transcripts and quizzes you can use to improve and test your listening skills.

5-minute English Listening Lessons -- A small list of short recordings of English conversations with quizzes to test your listening comprehension.

Talk English -- Speaking lessons and articles, listening lessons, guides to improving conversation, fluency, grammar, pronunciation and more.

Audiovisual Resources

Our library provides access to several video collections that may help you improve your English listening and speaking skills. Kanopy streaming video collection includes educational videos including some intended for those who are learning English as a Second Language. To access Kanopy:

  1. Go to the Leeward Library website
  2. Click on Research Databases
  3. From the complete list of databases choose Kanopy Streaming Videos 
  4. Enter keywords in the search box or choose a topic from the list of available subjects and start searching.

 

    Kanopy Homepage

 

Some of the video series available from Kanopy that ESL students may find useful include:

Cutting Edge Basic English Series -- The Basic English Series includes five videos to introduce English learners to a variety of conversational situations including basic meeting and greeting, talking about activities and feelings, asking for help, giving and following instructions and more. These videos can be very helpful for beginners.

Say it Right Series -- The Say it Right Series includes ten episodes to help English learners improve or correct their pronunciation of several English sounds.