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Awesome English 2025

A curated collection of high-quality resources for learning English, focused on practicing the core skills — listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Includes resources for grammar, vocabulary, and media to enhance your English studies. This list is for:

  • ESL Learners at all levels
  • Self-study enthusiasts seeking structured practice
  • Educators looking for student resources
  • Professionals improving English for work, study, or travel

Contents​

Top Picks​

  • Anki - It really helped me expand my vocabulary. I just review cards for about 10 minutes each day, and somehow the words stick in my memory. It's like having a superpower to memorize!
  • Hard Fork by The New York Times - I listen to this on weekends. The hosts talk about tech stuff in a casual way that's easy to follow.
  • NPR - Great for my daily commute.
  • English Grammar in Use (Murphy) - I found Blue Murphy's Grammar in Use to be an excellent resource for learning grammar.
  • Harry Potter Series - It's a great choice for English learners because the series features a gradual increase in complexity from one book to another.

Listening​

Podcasts 🎧​

Podcasts provide an engaging medium to enhance listening skills through diverse topics and formats. Many include transcripts, enabling simultaneous listening and reading, which aids comprehension.

Beginner Friendly 🔰​

  • 6 Minute English - Teaches useful English language for everyday situations with the BBC.
  • ESL Podcasts - Ideal for those looking to improve English speaking and listening skills.

Intermediate Level 📚​

  • All Ears English - Learn advanced conversational American English.
  • Culips Podcast - Focuses on conversational English for everyday use by native speakers.
  • Luke's English Podcast - Hosted by a qualified language teacher and stand-up comedian, providing an engaging podcast series.
  • CNN 10 - A 10-minute digital news show explaining global news to a worldwide audience.

Advanced Level 🎓​

Tech Podcasts 💻​

Tech podcasts improve English skills while keeping you updated on technology. They introduce new vocabulary and industry terms, enhancing comprehension and listening.

General Tech 🖥️​

Developer Focused 👨‍💻​

Interview Podcasts 🎤​

Interview podcasts help develop advanced listening skills through natural conversations and diverse speaking styles. They cover a wide range of topics and feature different accents and speaking patterns.

Thought Leadership 🧠​

  • Lex Fridman Podcast - Deep conversations about intelligence, consciousness, love, and power.
  • The Knowledge Project - Interviews with world-class doers and thinkers, packed with lessons and insights.
  • The Ezra Klein Show - In-depth conversations about ideas with leading thinkers across politics, society, and culture. Excellent for advanced learners interested in complex topics.

General Interest & Entertainment 🌟​

  • The Tim Ferriss Show - Deconstructing world-class performers to extract actionable tactics and routines.
  • Joe Rogan Experience - Wide-ranging conversations with diverse guests, perfect for extended listening practice.
  • Fresh Air with Terry Gross - One of America's most respected interview programs featuring in-depth conversations with figures from arts, culture, and politics. Terry Gross is renowned for her clear speaking style and thoughtful questioning.
  • Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - Conversational, long-form interviews exploring human experiences with celebrities, experts, and thought leaders in an authentic, accessible format.
  • WTF with Marc Maron - A pioneering interview podcast with over 1,000 episodes featuring deep, revealing conversations primarily with entertainers, comedians, and cultural figures.
  • Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend - The popular comedian interviews celebrities and interesting personalities in a casual, humorous format that showcases natural conversational English.
  • SmartLess - Hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes, featuring surprise guests and conversational interviews with a comedic tone that demonstrates natural banter and humor.

Business & Innovation 💼​

  • How I Built This with Guy Raz - Entrepreneurs and innovators tell the stories behind their companies, providing excellent exposure to business English and narrative storytelling.

Live Radio Stations 📻​

Online radio stations provide real-time exposure to native English speakers, helping you adapt to different accents, speech patterns, and current events discussions.

National Broadcasters 🌍​

  • NPR - National Public Radio with transcripts available.
  • BBC London - News and talk radio station from London.
  • Bloomberg Radio - Financial markets and business news radio.

Regional Stations - East Coast 🌅​

Regional Stations - West Coast 🌄​

Regional Stations - Central 🌎​

Sites​

  • Spotlight - Spotlight is a daily 15 minute radio program for learning English.
  • ESL Lab - Different levels of conversations.
  • EngVid - Free English Video Lessons.

Speaking​

The list includes language exchange platforms, apps for pronunciation, forums.

  • Tandem - Language exchange app connecting users with native speakers for text, voice, and video chats.
  • HelloTalk - App that links you with native speakers for language exchange through text and voice messages. Focuses on building conversational skills.
  • Reddit's r/Language_Exchange - Reddit community where users can find language exchange partners to practice speaking with.
  • Discord Language Learning Servers - Communities on Discord where you can join voice chats for real-time language speaking practice.
  • Elsa Speak - AI-driven app that helps improve pronunciation by offering detailed feedback on speaking.
  • TalkEnglish - Site with speaking exercises and conversation topics to improve fluency through practice.
  • Rachel's English - YouTube channel focusing on pronunciation and clear speaking in American English.

Watching​

YouTube​

Watching YouTube helps learn English by providing exposure to authentic language, visual context, diverse content, subtitles, and opportunities for interactive learning.

  • Learn English with Ronnie - Funny english videos with Ronnie.
  • BBC English Grammar - Short videos by BBC.
  • BBC English HowTo - Useful english phrases that you can use immediately.
  • Anglo-Link - Useful grammar lessons.
  • Daily Dictation - Daily dictation for students who want to improve their listening comprehension skills.
  • Learn English with Let's Talk - On this channel different experts will tell you how to expertise in the different consequences in daily life and in which situation what type of phrases you should use.
  • Learn English With TV Series - A truly enjoyable and effortless method to enhance listening comprehension and grasp native speakers through TV shows, movies, and talk shows.
  • RealLife English - Videos discussing various learning methods and the mindset required to embark on your English learning journey.

Live TV Channels​

Watching live TV helps learn English by exposing viewers to real-time conversations, diverse accents, cultural context, and immediate vocabulary application, and you can watch TV in the background for deeper immersion into the language.

  • ABC7 Eyewitness News - TV station licensed to Los Angeles, California.
  • ABC News - ABC news TV channel.
  • Bloomberg - Bloomberg business TV channel in New York.
  • CBS News - CBS news is the news division of American TV and radio network CBS.
  • KTLA 5 - TV station located in Los Angeles, California, United States.

TV Talk Shows​

TV talk shows help learn English by providing exposure to conversational language, diverse accents, and cultural references, while engaging viewers with entertaining discussions that enhance listening skills and vocabulary.

Tech Shows​

Tech shows help learn English by offering insights into industry-specific vocabulary, concepts, and trends while featuring expert discussions that enhance comprehension and listening skills in a relevant context.

  • Marques Brownlee MKBHD - A channel offering in-depth tech reviews and discussions, presented in clear, understandable English, focusing on consumer electronics and emerging technology trends.
  • Linus Tech Tips - A channel that provides tech reviews, build guides, and technology discussions, using straightforward language accessible to a wide audience.
  • Unbox Therapy - A channel showcasing unboxing and reviews of the latest gadgets, using conversational and clear English, making it approachable for a wide audience.
  • TechLinked - A channel offering bite-sized tech news and updates, presented with humor and clarity, making it easy to follow for learners of English.
  • BBC Click - BBC Click is the BBC's flagship technology programme.
  • Sky News Swipe - Sky News`s tech show.

Reading​

News​

Reading is a core skill for learning English, as it builds vocabulary, enhances grammar, and improves comprehension, providing exposure to diverse writing styles and contexts that are essential for mastering the language.

Books​

These books vary in complexity and genre, allowing learners to choose according to their interests and reading levels while improving their English skills effectively.

  • Harry Potter Series - Harry Potter is a great choice for English learners because the series features a gradual increase in complexity from one book to another, allowing readers to develop their language skills progressively.
  • Pride and Prejudice - Although the vocabulary can be challenging, this classic novel offers rich insights into English literature and culture, making it a rewarding read for advanced learners.
  • Animal Farm - A short allegorical novella that uses simple language to convey complex themes about power and society.

Writing​

Writing is a fundamental skill in English learning that helps reinforce vocabulary, grammar, and expression. Regular practice is essential for improvement.

Writing Tools 🛠️​

Practice Platforms​

AI Writing Assistants 🤖​

  • ChatGPT by OpenAI - Interactive AI that provides writing feedback, grammar explanations, and conversation practice.
  • Claude by Anthropic - AI assistant for writing feedback and English practice through natural conversation.
  • Hemingway Editor - Helps simplify and clarify your writing by identifying complex sentences and common errors.

Writing Tips 💡​

  • Practice writing for at least 15 minutes every day
  • Start with simple topics and gradually increase complexity
  • Read your writing aloud to catch errors and improve flow
  • Use AI tools for immediate feedback, but don't rely on them exclusively
  • Keep a journal in English to track your progress
  • Join writing communities or find a writing partner for feedback

Grammar​

Understanding grammar is essential for mastering English. These resources provide structured learning and practice opportunities.

Learning Resources 📖​

Vocabulary​

Building a strong vocabulary is crucial for effective communication. These resources help expand your word knowledge systematically.

Word Lists and Resources 📑​

Study Tools 🎯​

Flashcard Apps​

  • Anki - Powerful spaced repetition software for efficient vocabulary memorization.
  • Memrise - User-created vocabulary lists with mnemonics and spaced repetition.
  • Quizlet - Create and study flashcard sets with various learning modes.

Dictionary Resources 📚​

  • Forvo - Native speaker pronunciations of words from different English-speaking regions.
  • Dictionary.com - Comprehensive dictionary with definitions, pronunciations, and example sentences.
  • Thesaurus.com - Find synonyms and antonyms to expand your vocabulary.
  • Oxford Learner's Dictionaries - Learner-friendly definitions with clear examples and pronunciations.
  • Linguee - Context-rich dictionary with real-world usage examples.
  • ReversoContext - See words and phrases used in authentic contexts.

Tools​

These tools enhance your English learning experience with interactive features and practical applications.

Learning Enhancement Tools 🎯​

  • Play Phrase - Search and play specific phrases from movies to learn natural usage.
  • Lyrics Training - Learn English through music and song lyrics with interactive exercises.
  • Grammarly - Writing assistant that checks grammar, spelling, and style in real-time.
  • YouGlish - Learn word pronunciation from real-world videos.
  • Visuwords - Visual dictionary that shows word relationships and connections.

Assessment Tools 📊​

Exercises and Tests​

Regular practice and assessment help track your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Practice Platforms 🎯​

  • English Test Store - Comprehensive collection of English proficiency tests.
  • Duolingo - Gamified language learning platform with daily exercises and progress tracking.
  • LingoRank - Improve listening comprehension through TED talks with interactive exercises.

Test Preparation Resources 📚​

General English Tests​

Skill-Specific Practice​

  • Listening: Daily dictation exercises and audio comprehension tests
  • Speaking: Pronunciation drills and conversation practice
  • Reading: Timed reading comprehension exercises
  • Writing: Essay writing practice with feedback

Online Classes​

Find the right learning environment with these online platforms offering various teaching styles and formats.

One-on-One Tutoring 👤​

  • Preply - Connect with professional tutors for personalized English lessons tailored to your needs.
  • iTalki - Find language exchange partners and professional teachers for one-on-one lessons.
  • Verbling - Book lessons with experienced teachers, featuring integrated video chat and lesson materials.

Group Classes 👥​

  • Lingoda - Live group classes with native speakers, flexible scheduling, and structured curriculum.
  • English Central - Video-based English lessons with pronunciation feedback.

FAQ or Common Questions​

Answers to frequently asked questions about English learning, curated from popular discussion forums.

Contribute​

This awesome list is maintained with ❤️ for the English learning community.