Vocabulary Resources
This page provides some resources that our instructors and students recommend to build vocabulary knowledge. Having a large vocabulary is crucial for all language skills, as Dr. Paul Nation explains in this lecture.
Academic Word List and Academic Vocabulary Use
Academic Word List Core vocabulary for academic discourse.
AWL Exercises Pre-made exercises and study plans for the Academic Word List.
AWL Exercises Pre-made exercises and study plans for the Academic Word List.
Academic Phrasebank This resource was originally set up for English writing but can be adapted for presentations and academic speech as well.
COCA This resource can be used to for a variety of language learning activities. Use the KWIC function to see how collocations are used.
Language and Word Games
Merriam-Webster Quizzes & Games Because not all vocab-building has to be boring! There are a number of games on the website to choose from.
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day Read online, subscribe to daily e-mails, or listen/subscribe to podcasts. Word of the Day includes the definition, a discussion about how the word relates to similar words (and how to use them), and a real-world example of the word in context.
Quizlet Used by millions of students and educators worldwide, this platform offers interactive tools like flashcards, practice tests, and study games to make learning more engaging and effective. It supports a wide range of subjects and is widely used for memorization, test prep, and collaborative learning.
7 Steps to Learn English This site has an amazing collection of resources for vocabulary, grammar, and expressions. The phrasal verb collection is a great place to start, they are organized by topic, base verb, or alphabetically.
Wordle Poplar five-letter word game posted daily by New York Times. If you get stuck or addicted, see also this unlimited version and hints here.
Phrases, Idioms, and Expressions
Colwords A curated collection of words to add "color" to your vocabulary.
Prepositions & Phrasal Verbs Online tutorials with dictionaries and self-quizzes for using the right preposition with various verbs. Includes a dictionary of phrasal verbs that explains variations in meaning as well as possible variations in word order.
In the Loop In the Loop is a reference guide to American English idioms, offered as free book in several formats (PDF, ebook). The book provides some classroom activities, but it will also be an excellent self-study tool for advanced students because it provides definitions for hundreds of idioms along with information about the history, culture, values, and beliefs these idioms reflect.
Other Idioms Very nice site with idioms organized alphabetically as well as by topics such as Animal, Fish, Heart. There are also quizzes.
Youglish This resource mines youtube for the use of words and phrases. You can hear them used in context. This resource can also be used for pronunciation.
Other Idioms Very nice site with idioms organized alphabetically as well as by topics such as Animal, Fish, Heart. There are also quizzes.
Youglish This resource mines youtube for the use of words and phrases. You can hear them used in context. This resource can also be used for pronunciation.