Independent Learning
The path to becoming an independent learner involves using your initiative to try new study techniques and access the resources you require to achieve your academic goals. Being able to work independently, taking responsibility for your own learning, and making informed choices are key elements of being an independent learner. Working independently requires motivation, and the confidence to try things out – and learn what works and what doesn’t work for you. A successful independent language learner - at any stage of their studies - recognises when they need help and what kind of help they might need, and sets themselves goals for ongoing development. Small group learning situations and one-to-one teaching sessions offer useful opportunities to get feedback, and monitor your own learning development.
There are a number of ways that we encourage independent language learning and development in CeTTL:
- The links below direct you to a number of websites that can you help you with a range of language learning needs.
- You can book in for 1:1 English language consultations with Student Learning tutors.
- University of Waikato College students can join the online conversation groups and writing 1:1 sessions.
- You can use the range of English language resources located in the library, which include grammar, IELTS preparation, graded readers, writing and listening resources.
University of Waikato students and staff can login to use the online English language resources:
Online resources
- Clarity Active Reading - contains video, passages for reading, short answer questions & vocabulary lists.
- Clarity Practical Writing for life - includes essay writing; stages, job applications, emails, graphs & reports, plagiarism, taking notes, text speak and official letters.
- Clarity Tense Buster - 33 grammar areas (simple present to phrasal verbs).
- Clarity Study Skills Success - critical thinking, avoid plagiarism, research, reading, writing, listening (to lectures), speaking (seminars) & grammar.
- Clarity Road to IELTS - ebooks for question type on reading, writing, speaking & listening, tutorials and interactive activities modelled on the real IELTS test papers.
- Clarity Clear Pronunciation 2 - 43 sounds in English can be learnt in clearly understandable speech. Consonant clusters, word stress, sentence stress, connected speech and intonation are covered. Also, Australian, British, North American pronunciation models can be chosen with multiple accents.
For further help contact us.
Useful websites to practice your English language skills:
General Language Skills
Free websites:
- a4esl.org – activities for ESL Students
- BBC – Skillwise English & Maths for adults
- British Council – five free apps for learning English on the go
- Business English exercises linked to the Straightforward 2nd ed. textbooks for pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper intermediate levels (choose your level and click “Search the Archive”)
- Busy Teacher – latest articles for teachers
- Cambridge University Press – independent learning activities which are linked to textbooks
- Clarity English – free app for IELTS prep
- Literacy Aotearoa – reading, writing, the official NZ Road Code
- New Headway – exercises linked to the textbooks
- EnglishLearner – online English exercises on grammar, reading, vocabulary and listening (beginner to advanced levels)
- English Central – learn English with videos – over 9,000, (need to register)
- ESOL Courses – free English Lessons online
- Literacy Waikato – the Online Books Page (free ebooks)
- Futurelearn – MOOCs - free online short university courses
- The Free Dictionary by Farlex – dictionary, synonyms, idioms, word a day, articles etc…
- English Language Centre@uvic – The ELC Study Zone has elementary to advanced level lessons and exercises on grammar, reading & vocabulary
Grammar
Free websites:
- British Council – grammar and vocabulary practice
- Dave’s ESL Cafe – grammar lessons
- English Club – grammar lessons
- English Grammar– grammar lessons and downloadable worksheets in pdf format
- wyzant – student quizzes and activities
- ESOL Courses – online grammar, quizzes and games
- GrammarCheck – grammar tips and useful examples
- Grammar Monster – what is a dependent clause?
- Grammar Monster – what is the subject of a sentence?
- Grammar Revolution – list of adverbs
- elt-resourceful – lesson plans for teachers
- TALKENGLISH.com – auxillary verbs
- University of Ottawa, The Writing Centre – parts of speech
- Woodward English – English grammar games
- YOUR DICTIONARY – types of sentences
- YOUR DICTIONARY – pronouns
Reading
Free websites:
- English Club – reading lessons
- University of Victoria, Study Zone – free ESOL Self Access reading exercises (beginner to advanced levels)
- wyzant – reading – student quizzes and activities
- ESOL Courses – online Reading Lessons and Activities
- Fishpond – some free ebooks, and some you need to pay for
- Global – reading practice, with exercises for pre intermediate to upper intermediate levels
- HundrED – pictures to improve reading comprehension and critical thinking
- Loyal Books - free downloadable public domain ebooks
- Ako Aotearoa – NZ books, audio versions of books and learners’ guides.
- News in Levels – news website for English language students (levels 1-3; 1000-3000 useful words)
- NZ Driving Tests – Information and quizzes for driving in NZ
- NZ Herald Online
- Macmillan Education – reading exercises, including vocabulary and grammar from the Guardian newspaper
Websites where you have to pay:
- ebooks from Oxford University Press – graded readers for English language learners. Purchase all the readers as an in-App (via Oxford Learner’s Bookshelf on the App Store or Google Play)
- eBooks from Cambridge University Press – graded readers for English language learners
- eBooks from Macmillan – graded readers for English language learners
- Wheelers – books with audio
Listening
Free websites:
- BBC Learning English – you can also download listening to use later, including good listening practice in “6 Minute English”
- BBC News
- CNN News
- English Club – listening lessons
- ESL News New Zealand – Listen to New Zealand news spoken slowly and clearly, using easy vocabulary
- ESOL Courses – online Listening Lessons for ESL Students
- ESOL Courses – learn English With Songs
- ESOL Courses – online Word Search Puzzles
- elt-resourceful – downloadable lessons for listening (exploiting authentic recordings and videos)
- wyzant – listening materials for elementary to upper intermediate levels
- Inside Out – video lessons with worksheets
- IOP Physics World – scientific explanations on video
- Lyricstraining – learn how to sign popular songs (beginner, intermediate, Advanced & Expert)
- Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab – listening exercises
- University of Delaware, Self Access Learning Center – exercises for English language students
- University of Delaware, Self Access Learning Center – general listening exercises
- TED Talks – talks on different topics
- TVNZ online news
- YouTube – search for videos on different topics
Speaking and Pronunciation
Free websites:
- English Central – learn English with videos (need to register)
- English Club – pronunciation lessons
- English Club – speaking lessons
- elt-resourceful – free downloadable lessons
- ESL Partyland – sites for tongue twisters
- Hancock McDonald – speaking materials for elementary to upper intermediate levels
- Hancock McDonald – pronunciation materials for elementary to upper intermediate levels
- Rachel’s English – pronunciation resource
- Say Again? – University of Waikato College online pronunciation exercises
Writing
Beginner to Intermediate levels:
- English Club – writing lessons
- ESL GALAXY – writing exercises with answers, and worksheets for beginner to intermediate levels
- ESOL Courses – online Gap Fills and Cloze Exercises
- Smore – create free online flyers using text & graphics
- Walden University – sentence structure and types of sentences
English for Academic Purposes (EAP):
- University of Waikato, Library – the APA referencing style guide
- University of Waikato, Library – tutorials, referencing guides & questions
- elt-resourceful – free downloadable writing lessons
- Massey University, OWLL – digital resources for academic study; including podcasts and downloadable guides
- Purdue University, The Writing Lab – general writing resources with answers
- Smore – create free online flyers using text & graphics
- University of Auckland – write@uni; preparing for successful academic writing
- University of Manchester, Library – Being critical: Thinking, reading & writing critically
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Writing Center – The Writer's Handbook - tips on proofreading
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Writing Center – The Writer's Handbook - writing process and structure
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Writing Center – The Writer's Handbook - tips and downloadable handouts about 'quoting' and 'paraphrasing'
- University of Richmond, Writing Center, Writer's web – explore the stages of writing process
Punctuation
Free websites:
- St Petersburg College – basis grammar and punctuation: simple sentences
- University of Ottawa, Writing Center – building sentences
- University of Ottawa, Writing Center – interactive exercises
- UEfAP – punctuation for university students
- University of Ottawa – punctuation practice
Vocabulary and Spelling
Free websites:
- British Council – grammar and vocabulary practice
- English Club – vocabulary lessons
- wyzant – student quizzes and activities
- ESOL Courses – online Lessons, Games, Quizzes and Worksheets
- ESOL Courses – Picture Vocabulary Quizzes for Beginners
- ESOL Courses – crossword puzzles for English Learners
- ESOL Courses – English for work; online lessons and worksheets
- Hancock McDonald – vocabulary materials for elementary to upper intermediate levels
- Readability-Score.com – gives a reading score when a block of text is typed
- University of Delaware, Self Access Learning Center – various spelling activities
- University of Delaware, Self Access Learning Center – vocabulary activities
IELTS
Free websites:
- British Council – IELTS practice material for listening, speaking, reading and writing modules
- Canadavisa.com – IELTS tests, for general training practice
- eltresourceful – writing part 2
- Exam English – IELTS band score calculator
- Exam English – IELTS practice tests for listening, speaking, reading and writing modules
- ESOL Courses – online English for Advanced Learners and IELTS students
- Farlex – dictionary
- IELTS – for test dates and locations, advice on test preparation, sample practice materials and hints and tips to help candidates perform at their best
- IELTS Advantage – writing task 1
- IELTS Advantage – 10 most common writing task 2 topics
- IELTS ADVANTAGE – IELTS Blog, IELTS Tips, Student Advice, Sample Answers and Lessons.
- IELTS-Exam.net – IELTS exam preparation
- YouTube – samples of IELTS speaking tests
Study Skills and Exam Preparation
Free websites:
- Big Ideas – how to prepare for final exams (blog - the state university of New York)
- Busy Teacher – 15 essential Study Skills for ESL students
- Free book – Study Skills by Routledge
- Student Learning Centre - Otago University – resources for Study Skills
- The University of Auckland – group work guidelines for students
- ThoughtCo – study skills for intermediate level learners
- University of Victoria – mind mapping
- University of Victoria – study groups
- University of Victoria – goal-setting
- University of Victoria – time management
Teacher resources
Useful resources
- The Internet TESL Journal – activities for ESL teachers
- Busy Teacher – latest articles for teachers
- Busy Teacher – 15 essential Study Skills for ESL students
- The Internet TESL Journal – activities for ESL teachers
- elt-resourceful – lesson plans for teachers
- Readability-Score.com – gives a reading score when a block of text is typed