‘We could all get by with a little help from our friends’ said The Beatles, a world-famous band. That’s what we’re here for, to give you a little help on your learning journey, whether it is help with business writing, preparing for the IELTS test or improving your grammar. There is a wealth of reliable resources available for adults, teens and children alike. What’s more they are free for you to access anytime, anywhere!
A one-stop shop for all your learning needs
Language learning is a process. We need to listen, read, speak and write in order to communicate effectively in a new language. The British Council’s free English learning resources will help you develop all these skills and more. So take your pick and enjoy learning with us!
The self-study lessons online are designed based on the levels set by the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). Taking a free online test will help you decide which level is best for you. Right from beginners (CEFR level A1) to advanced (CEFR level C1), British Council LearnEnglish website has something for every English language learner. You can improve your everyday English and practice the language you need for conversations and socialising through interactive activities. In the process, you will also build your vocabulary, brush up your grammar and develop comprehension skills.
Step into the Magazine zone to develop reading skills while learning about global issues, special days and festivals. Watch YouTube videos in the Video zone and get better at understanding different accents and speakers, as well as learn a range of colloquial and idiomatic language in context. And who doesn’t love stories! You can get lost in the Story zone with short entertaining stories about vampires, stars and falling in love.
For all you gamers out there, try our vocabulary games online. Wordshake and Sushi Spell will get you practising your vocabulary and spelling. Watch out, they can be quite addictive! English learning can definitely be fun.
Interactive, fun activities for children
The way we learn as children is vastly different from how we learn as adults. Children need stories, colourful pictures, funny videos, something to click, something to colour, and a high score to win. Let them hang out with Hero the hamster or Kitty and her adorable grandmother to learn tenses and prepositions. They will have fun with tongue twisters in English improving their pronunciation as they go along.
The LearnEnglishKids website takes children on a journey around the world, introducing them to bugs and insects, sea creatures and monsters too. What more do you need to engage your children and get them to learn grammar, vocabulary, and spelling at the same time! The website also provides free downloadable worksheets. So, you can print them out and have your children work on them offline instead of them being glued to ascreen.
True-life experiences for teens
As teenagers, we want nothing more than to get real. Language learning happens best through reality TV shows, parties, and themes of love and friendship. All you teens, get your fill of ‘Grammar snacks’ learning tenses and relative clauses by travelling to Dubai, Bali, Peru and even the Australian Outback, all through the LearnEnglishTeens website. You can take a break from studying and listen to news about influencers on social media or about a doctor who handles patients by day and is a rap singer by night! Engaging language exercises will help you get a bite of vocabulary and think critically about important life questions!
If you are tearing your hair out with discursive or descriptive essays for school, the British Council’s free LearnEnglish resources are just what you need. You will find step by step instructions to help you write that perfect essay. Crack those reading and writing exams too with the exam tips and practice on the website.
Prepare for the ‘world of work’ by learning how to write formal emails, describe bar charts or prepare for interviews with the British Council LearnEnglish Teens. You could have asked for a better friend and guide!
Business English for professionals
English is the lingua franca that is used by business professional across the globe. For many skilled professionals, Business English is the bridge to an international career or that much-needed promotion. How can you deliver that killer presentation, write that well-structured report or negotiate confidently to close that deal? Effective business communication is vital in today’s workplace. You can access a plethora of resources on the British Council’s LearnEnglish Business English pages.
Learning Business English online offers you the flexibility to develop your English language skills on your own time. You will be able to converse confidently at the office or in other business environments once you understand the what and how of business communication.
Start off with a bit of reading and master skills the skills of skimming and scanning to read more effectively. Listening to Business English podcasts will help you get familiar with different accents and help you improve your pronunciation too. Learn e new vocabulary and formal phrases while you read and listen, and add them to your language repertoire, your memory bank of words and phrases. Practice writing formal emails and describing graphs to help you become a confident business professional building strong relationships with your peers and clients.
Techniques for test takers
Need that golden IELTS score to get into that coveted university? Looking to start a new life in another country? Whether you are doing the IELTS General Training or Academic test, you can find out about all your need and more on the TakeIELTS website. It is important that you first understand the test format and the grading system. A few short videos will help you figure out how IELTS works and understand each element in the IELTS band descriptions.
