Whether you’re looking for an online Speaking partner to prepare for your IELTS test, or whether you just want to work by yourself, there is plenty of help available online.
Here are some of the useful links I’ve found.
Please let me know in the comments if you find anything useful that you think I should add.
IELTS Speaking resources, links, apps, wordlists and podcasts
Find out how IELTS examiners rate your Speaking in their Band Descriptors.
Places to find IELTS Speaking Partners
*disclaimer – I haven’t ever tried to find an IELTS Speaking partner but I have seen positive reviews about the sites below – please let me know if you hear anything different!
IELTS Speaking on Skype (a Facebook group)
RhinoSpike is a language learning tool that connects you with native speakers to exchange foreign language audio files. Get any foreign language text read aloud for you by a native speaker!
Internations – a network of English speakers living abroad
Busuu – an online language exchange community
Verbling – connects language learners around the world
VoiceThread offers a natural online interaction that lends itself to students presenting & defending their work before experts and peers.
Bilingua language exchange – (formerly ‘Sharedtalk’)
epals – thanks to Nik Peachey for sharing this (he has lots of useful links on his site)
Pronunciation sites and apps
Interactive Phonemic Chart
My YouTube guide to getting started with the Phonemic Chart
Macmillan How to use the Phonemic Chart (YouTube)
English File pictures to help you learn the Phonemic Chart
Youglish – hear how things sound in natural speech and real contexts
Forvo – hear different accents pronouncing the word you need
Sounds: The Pronunciation App
British Council LearnEnglish Sounds Right
ELSA Speak: English Accent Coach
Pronunroid – a game to practice English phonetics
Say It: English Pronunciation – ‘Hear the Oxford model, see the soundwave, then record and compare your pronunciation’
Useful websites for Speaking
I thoroughly recommend Keith O’Hare’s IELTS Speaking Success website (and so much more – YouTube videos, Live Facebook Videos and best of all – online courses and lessons)
Find lots of cue cards and examples for each topic on IELTS Mentor
IELTS Buddy is another good place for cue cards.
British Council Speaking – pros and cons of mobile phones
British Council ESOL – everyday speaking practice
Scientific American A useful podcast with 1-minute IELTS-style articles
Ways to build your Vocabulary for Speaking
The Academic Word List (AWL) – PDF version and sublists
Academic Word List – with all forms (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)
Compact version of the Academic Word List – easy to print off and carry around!
Academic Word List Quizzes – old-fashioned website but the quizzes work!
Road to Grammar also has a nice quiz using words from the AWL.
Academic Word List Practice Exercises – another good place to practice.
Academic Phrase Bank – from Manchester University.
Phrasal Verbs and Formal synonyms
A-Z of formal and informal synonyms – the Plain English Campaign
My own list of irregular academic word forms with practice exercises
Help with grammar
- The well-known coursebook, English File, has its own site with lots of graded grammar practice
- This German site gives clear examples and useful exercises (it’s not in German though, don’t worry!)
- Confusing words, common errors (and LOTS more) on the same German site!
- Road to Grammar – another well-organised site with lots of practice of different language items. Click here for IELTS-specific practice.
- English Club has a great grammar section with lots of quizzes.
Collocations
List of collocations – 42 pages of academic collocations in a PDF
50 Useful Academic collocations
Collocation Checker – Just the word
SKELL – helps you find words that go together and synonyms
Collocations practice with different topics
Find the word you need with Netspeak – read the instructions first!
English Club has a fantastic A – Z of collocations!
