1. BBC Learning English
BBC is probably one of the first places that comes to your mind when you think of learning English. It’s an institution with traditions in teaching English, and you are right if you think that their site – BBC Learning English – is a good starting point. The site offers a huge selection of learning material for learners of all levels. I especially like their great resources for advanced learners because while you can find a gazillion of sites to cover the basics, good advanced stuff is harder to find.
2. British Council
The language courses of the British Council are very popular worldwide, and their site doesn’t disappoint either. It does have resources for all levels, but similarly to BBC Learning English, it’s a good choice for more advanced learners. It’s the definitive guide for the IELTS test. Of course, even if your level of English isn’t that high, there is still a lot to check there.
3. English Grammar
English grammar has a special place in the heart of English learners, so I decided to include a site specialized in grammar only. English Grammar is one of the best grammar resources online. It offers sections of grammar areas, such as prepositions, spelling, essay writing, etc. The best is that the site gets regularly updated with new cool stuff.
4. Learn American English Online
English became a world language because of the rise of the US in the 20th century, but ironically most of the resources you can find teach British English. While British and American English do share a common root, they are very different. If you are interested in learning American English, check Learn American English Online.
The site has seven levels (blue, red, yellow, green, purple, orange, and violet), so even if you are new to English, you are welcome (the blue level is for you). What I really like about this site is that it offers dictation – something you typically don’t find too often included in the curriculum.
5. FredisaLearns
While some of the other sites do have sections for kids, if you want a dedicated resource developed especially for kids, you can try FredisaLearns. It offers games, lessons, videos, quizzes, and other stuff for kids of any age and of various proficiency level. For young kids you definitely need somebody to teach them, but for older kids you can leave them to enjoy the site on their own.
Conclusion
As I mentioned, there are hundreds of sites to learn English for free. Some of them are universal, while others are targeted at a particular area of the language. I tried to include sites of both groups, but there are many more that didn’t make the list. If the sites I picked don’t appeal to you, rest assured there are many, many more sites to explore – you just need the time and desire to learn.
