Useful Links
YADYOK Resources for English Learning
Learning English as a second language can be a rewarding but challenging endeavor. Numerous resources are available to help you improve your skills and reach your language learning goals. These include studying in YADYOK but also studying outside the classroom. Some options for studying outside the classroom are using online language learning platforms or apps, and self-study materials such as textbooks, podcasts, and videos. To succeed in your language learning journey, it is important to find a method that supports your classroom learning, fits your learning style and schedule, and sets specific goals to keep yourself motivated. In this list, we will examine a range of resources for English language learners of all levels. No matter your needs and preferences, there is likely a resource that can help you succeed in your language-learning journey.
OBIKAS/BUIS is the abbreviation for the Student Information and Registration System. Through this system, which is affiliated with the University Registration Office, students can receive e-mails related to academic subjects. Similarly, the YADYOK Administration also informs students about issues such as changes in course schedules and exam dates through this method. It is recommended that you use the "boun" email address provided by the Registration Office to receive these emails. If you want to use a different email address that you frequently use, make sure that it is registered in OBIKAS/BUIS. Otherwise, important notifications that are required to be received from the University and YADYOK Administration will not reach you. In addition, announcements regarding courses and BUYES/BUEPT exams are made through the YADYOK web page (yadyok.boun.edu.tr).
BUOWL: You can find explanations, descriptions, and examples on this site to develop your English writing skills.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: English - English dictionary with great collocations and thesaurus parts.
Cambridge Dictionary: English - English - Turkish dictionary; good for starters of English who need both English and Turkish definitions
OZDIC: A comprehensive collocations dictionary that will help students produce natural-sounding English.
WIKIDIFF: A dictionary that explains the differences between two similar words searched by the student.
LUDWIG: A sentence search engine that helps write better English by giving contextualized examples taken from reliable sources. Also downloadable on desktop to check the appropriateness of the sentences written. An alternative to Grammarly.
REVERSO – Rephrase Function: A translation and grammar check tool that also gives different paraphrased versions of a sentence written.
QUILLBOT: An AI powered paraphrasing tool that will help students write fluently.
GRAMMARLY: This website and app offer tools for checking grammar, spelling, and punctuation in written English.
Purdue University Online Writing Lab The Purdue OWL resources will help you with the types of writing you may encounter at University.
BBC NEWSROUND: News on various topics. Intermediate+
TEST ENGLISH: Staged reading tasks from A1 to B2.
British Council – Reading Practice: Staged self-study reading lessons with reading tasks.
News in Levels: World News for English Learners in three levels. The site helps develop reading and listening skills as well as vocabulary.
Listening Time: This podcast is for English learners who want to practice their listening comprehension in a natural way. In each episode, an American speaker talks about different topics without reading a script. Each episode includes transcrip, which you can use to help you understand the speaker.
Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab: Staged listening activities, intermediate+ academic listening tasks with script, interactive quizzes, explanations of vocabulary items, videos teaching idioms, games and quizzes.
ELLLO: Staged listening activities, standardized exam practice (for IELTS and TOEFL) with scripts, interactive quizzes and vocabulary/grammar exercises.
BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures: Series of lectures on various topics, ranging from Artificial Intelligence to Law and Politics, with downloadable transcripts.
University of Reading Lectures: Wide range of lectures divided into three groups (Introductory Lectures, Lectures of General Interest and Subject Specific Lectures), with comprehension questions and transcripts)
BBC SOUNDS PODCASTS: Intermediate+ Authentic Podcasts
TEST ENGLISH: Staged listening tasks from A1 to B2.
BBC Learning English – 6 minute English: 6 minute listening tasks with transcripts and vocabulary study.
The Speech Accent Archive- English: hundreds of examples of people from different parts of the world reading the same paragraph aloud so that you can hear the difference in their pronunciation. There are 650 examples of English language speakers.
englishvocabularyexercises.com/academic-word-list:Vocabulary Exercises based on the Academic Word List (AWL) from Gerry Luton at the University of Victoria.
Quizlet: A website that also has an app in which students can create their own word sets /flashcards to revise later on or create their own quizzes. Students can also find word sets /flashcards created by other users. Great to review a unit’s vocabulary.
"English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy - is a grammar reference and practice book for intermediate to advanced English learners. It presents grammar points and includes exercises, and an answer key.
"The Oxford English Dictionary" - is a comprehensive English language dictionary containing over 600,000 words and providing detailed definitions, etymologies, and historical information. It is widely regarded as the definitive resource for English vocabulary and is available online and in print.
"The Elements of Style" by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White - is a classic style guide for writers, initially written by William Strunk Jr. and later revised and expanded by E.B. White. The book covers various writing topics, including grammar, usage, sentence structure, and style. It is known for its concise and straightforward advice and emphasis on the importance of clarity and simplicity in writing. "The Elements of Style" has become a widely-used resource for writers, students, and professionals, and is often used as a textbook in college writing courses. It is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their writing skills and achieve clear and effective communication through their writing.
"The Cambridge Handbook of English Corpus Linguistics" by Graeme Kennedy - is a comprehensive reference work covering the field of corpus linguistics as it relates to English, including its history, construction of corpus resources, and various methods for analyzing and interpreting data. It also discusses practical applications in lexicography, translation, language teaching, and natural language processing. It is an essential resource for those interested in the study of language and language use through corpora.
"The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need" by Susan Thurman - This book covers the basics of English grammar and usage, and includes examples and exercises to help readers improve their writing skills.
"The English You Need for Success" by V.E. Schwab - This book covers essential English vocabulary and grammar skills, and includes exercises and activities to help readers improve their language skills.
"English Pronunciation in Use" by Mark Hancock - This book covers the basics of English pronunciation, and includes exercises and activities to help readers improve their speaking skills.
"Improve Your English" by Alison Shaw - This book covers a range of English language skills, including grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening, and includes exercises and activities to help readers improve their language skills.
"Essential Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy - This book covers the basics of English grammar, and includes exercises and activities to help readers improve their language skills.
"English Vocabulary in Use" by Michael McCarthy - This book covers a range of essential English vocabulary, and includes exercises and activities to help readers improve their language skills.
"The English You Need for Business" by V.E. Schwab - This book covers essential English vocabulary and grammar skills for business situations, and includes exercises and activities to help readers improve their language skills.
BBC Learning English: This website, from the British broadcasting corporation, offers a range of resources for learning English, including news articles, podcasts, and videos.
English Central: This website offers video lessons featuring native English speakers, as well as interactive exercises to help learners improve their pronunciation and comprehension skills.
EnglishClub: This website offers a range of resources for learning English, including lessons, quizzes, and games ().
English Grammar 101: This website offers lessons and exercises on English grammar, including verb tenses, verb forms, and sentence structure.
Englishpage.com: This website offers a range of interactive exercises and lessons for learning English, including grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
MyEnglishTeacher.eu: This website offers a range of resources for learning English, including lessons, quizzes, and games.
The British Council: This organization promotes cultural relations and education opportunities around the world.
Duolingo: This app offers interactive lessons and exercises to help you learn English grammar, vocabulary, and more. It includes a game that makes learning fun and engaging. (Duolingo can also be accessed online).
Babbel: This app provides interactive courses to help you learn practical conversation skills in English. It also includes a speech recognition feature to improve your pronunciation.
Rosetta Stone: This app uses an immersive, interactive approach to help you practice your speaking, reading, and listening skills in context. It offers a variety of lesson types and tracks your progress as you learn.
Memrise: This app uses a combination of flashcards and interactive exercises to help you learn English vocabulary and grammar. It also has a community feature that allows you to connect with other learners and compete in language-learning challenges.
Busuu: This app offers interactive courses in various languages, including English. It focuses on helping you learn practical conversation skills and includes a speech recognition feature to improve your pronunciation.
English Central: This app uses videos and interactive exercises to help you improve your listening, speaking, and vocabulary skills in English. It offers a variety of lesson types and tracks your progress as you learn.
English Grammar in Use: This app offers interactive exercises and explanations to help you improve your understanding of English grammar. It includes a variety of lesson types and tracks your progress as you learn.
Hello English: This app offers interactive exercises and games to help you improve your English language skills. It provides different lesson types and tracks your progress as you learn.
HelloTalk: This is a language learning and language exchange app that connects users from around the world to practice and improve their language skills through conversation with native speakers.
Lingoda (paid): Lingoda is an online language learning platform with native-speaker teachers. It offers live and recorded classes in multiple languages and allows students to schedule classes at their convenience.
Voscreen helps you improve your English language skills on your own through short video clips.
Lyricstraining Discover a new and fun way to learn English and other languages by playing with the videos and lyrics of your favorite songs.
English Central is a YouTube channel that offers a variety of English language learning resources, including lessons, quizzes, and exercises.
English with Lucy is a YouTube channel hosted by a British English teacher that offers lessons, quizzes, and exercises to help learners improve their language skills.
English with Jennifer is a YouTube channel featuring lessons and exercises taught by a native English speaker.
English with Max is a YouTube channel that offers a variety of English language learning resources, including lessons, quizzes, and exercises.
Arnel’s Everyday English is a YouTube channel featuring videos on grammar and vocabulary.
In order to get into a good habit of English self-study (or any other topic for that matter!), it is important that you:
● Set specific goals: Determine what you want to achieve through your self-study, such as improving your listening, reading, speaking, or writing skills. This will help you focus your efforts and stay motivated.
● Create a study schedule: Decide on a regular time and place for your self-study, and make it a habit to stick to your schedule as closely as possible. It can also be helpful to break your study sessions into shorter, more manageable chunks of time.
● Use a variety of resources: Self-study can be more effective and enjoyable when you use a range of materials, such as textbooks, podcasts, videos, and online courses. This will help you keep your studies fresh and engaging.
● Find a study partner or group: Consider finding a study partner or joining a study group to keep you accountable and motivated. You can also practice speaking and listening skills with a language exchange partner.
● Be patient and consistent: Self-study requires patience and consistency, as it can take time to see progress. Don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results, and remember to celebrate your small victories along the way.
