The Best Free ESL Resources Online — A Teacher’s Honest Review

By Dr Ayobami Gideon Babalola • ESL & Teaching

In fifteen years of teaching English, I have spent a considerable number of hours searching the internet for resources — and an even more considerable number of hours discovering that what looked promising from a search result was, on closer inspection, poorly designed, overly complicated, or simply not suited to adult learners.

To save you that time, I have put together an honest, tested review of the free ESL resources I actually use and recommend. These are not comprehensive lists — they are personal endorsements from a teacher who has tried them in real classrooms with real learners.

For Lesson Planning

British Council — LearnEnglish | FREE

learnenglish.britishcouncil.org

An enormous library of free lesson materials, grammar explanations, vocabulary exercises, and skills practice. Reliable, well-graded, and usable across levels. The adult learner sections are particularly strong.

ISLCollective | FREE

islcollective.com

A teacher-generated resource sharing platform with thousands of free worksheets, PowerPoint presentations, and video lessons. Quality varies significantly — filter by rating and always preview before using. An excellent source of ready-made activities for specific topics.

ESL Library (Starter Plan) | FREE / Freemium

esllibrary.com

Professionally designed lesson plans for adults. The free tier is limited but genuinely high quality. If you teach business English or professional adults, this is worth exploring — the materials are polished and culturally appropriate.

For Vocabulary Teaching

Quizlet | FREE

quizlet.com

A digital flashcard platform that allows teachers to create vocabulary sets learners can study, practise, and test themselves on independently. Many ESL teachers have already created sets for common vocabulary topics — search before creating your own. Free version is fully functional.

Vocabulary.com | FREE

vocabulary.com

An intelligent vocabulary learning platform that adapts to each learner’s pace and memory. Excellent for self-study learners who want to practise vocabulary between classes. I recommend it to motivated adult learners as a homework platform.

For Listening & Pronunciation

BBC Learning English | FREE

bbc.co.uk/learningenglish

One of the highest-quality free resources available anywhere. Authentic British English content across all levels — news-based listening, pronunciation guides, grammar videos, and short drama series. Particularly excellent for intermediate learners wanting to develop listening with real-world English.

Forvo | FREE

forvo.com

A pronunciation dictionary where native speakers from around the world have recorded how words sound in natural speech. Invaluable for checking how a word is actually pronounced rather than how a phonetic guide suggests it should be. I use this regularly in lessons.

For Speaking Practice

Speeko (Free Plan) | FREE / Freemium

speeko.co

A public speaking and communication app with structured speaking practice activities. While not ESL-specific, the format of timed speaking challenges translates well to adult English learners who need structured speaking practice outside class.

Conversation Exchange | FREE

conversationexchange.com

Connects language learners worldwide for mutual language practice — an English learner can be paired with a speaker who wants to learn their native language. Excellent for motivated adult learners who want to practise beyond the classroom.

For Grammar Reference

Purdue OWL | FREE

owl.purdue.edu

Originally designed for academic writing, Purdue’s Online Writing Lab has exceptionally clear grammar explanations and usage guides. Best for teachers who want authoritative references for grammar points, and for advanced learners writing in formal English.

A Honest Note on Resource Use

The most important thing I can say about ESL resources — free or paid — is this: a resource is only as good as the teacher using it. A badly designed activity from a premium platform will not produce learning. A thoughtfully adapted free worksheet from ISLCollective, used in the right context at the right moment, can produce extraordinary results.

Use these resources as starting points. Adapt them. Contextualise them for your learners’ lives. Add your own instructions. Remove what does not fit. The best lesson materials in the world are the ones you have thought carefully about — and that thought is always free.

What is your most-used free ESL resource? Share it in the comments — I am always looking to discover new tools that other teachers love.

FREE RESOURCE

Download the 5-Day English Speaking Challenge Pack — designed and tested by Dr G for adult ESL beginners. Free at drgspeaks.jrzp.org/esl-teaching