Free Online English Learning Resources

Canadian Content

• TVO (Ontario’s Public TV Channel) is on Youtube:
  • TVO Documentaries: http://www.youtube.com/@tvo
  • TVO Today (News): http://www.youtube.com/@tvotoday
  • TVO Kids (Children’s Programming): http://www.youtube.com/@TVOkids
• CBC (National Public Broadcaster)
  • On Youtube: CBC News: http://www.youtube.com/@CBCNews
  • Free App: https://gem.cbc.ca/
• PBS (United States Public Broadcaster) is on Youtube:
  • PBS: https://www.youtube.com/@PBS/videos
  • Nova PBS (nature documentaries): http://www.youtube.com/@novapbs
  • PBS Kids (Children’s Programming): https://www.youtube.com/@PBSKIDS
• National Film Board has many (mostly short) films online:
  • Home: https://www.nfb.ca/
  • Children’s section: https://www.nfb.ca/channels/cartoons_for_kids/
  • These classics are recognizable to most Canadians:
    • The Cat Came Back: https://www.nfb.ca/film/the-cat-came-back/ or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJl_4IsQJ2g
    • The Sweater: https://www.nfb.ca/film/sweater/
    • Log Driver’s Waltz: https://www.nfb.ca/film/log_drivers_waltz/ or https://youtu.be/Srp7k-9oCkw?si=FlmY–09kEkiy12e
• Heritage Minutes are one-minute-long history lessons about Canada: https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes
  • These classics are recognizable to most Canadians:
    • Nitro (1990): https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/nitro
    • Winnie (1990): https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/winnie
    • Nellie McClung (1991): https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/nellie-mcclung
    • Halifax Explosion (1991): https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/halifax-explosion
    • Wilder Penfield (1991): https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/wilder-penfield
    • Rural Teacher (1992): https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/rural-teacher
• History Bites are comic sketches/skits which imagine what it would be like if historic figures co-existed with modern television, and many are on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryBitesOfficial/videos

Free Open Online Courses

Coursera

• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
  • “English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level”
  • “English in the Workplace: Soft skills”
• University of Pennsylvania
  • “English for Career Development”
  • “English for Journalism”
  • “English for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics”
  • “English for Media Literacy”
• Rice University
  • “English and Academic Preparation – Pre-Collegiate”
• University of London
  • “Finding Your Professional Voice: Confidence & Impact”
• Georgia Institute of Technology
  • “Speak English Professionally: In Person, Online & On the Phone”
  • “Lesson | Small Talk & Conversational Vocabulary”
  • “Lesson | Express Yourself: Pronunciation”
  • “Lesson | Telephone Language”
• Lund University
  • “Writing in English at University”
• University of Washington
  • “Lesson | Business English Skills: How to Navigate Tone, Formality, and Directness in Emails”
  • “Lesson | Business English Skills: Introducing Yourself in Business Settings”
• Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (Mexico)
  • “Reading and Comprehension of Text in English”
  • “Reading and Comprehension of Text in English Module 2”
• Duke University
  • “English Composition I”
• Stanford University
  • “Writing in the Sciences”

edX (audit courses for free)

• University of Queensland
  • “English Grammar and Style”
  • “UQx: Academic English: How to Write an Essay”
• Harvard University
  • “HarvardX: Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking”
• Universitat Politècnica de València
  • “UPValenciaX: Upper-Intermediate English: Business and Modern Life”
  • “UPValenciaX: Upper-Intermediate English: Business and Industry”
  • “UPValenciaX: Upper-Intermediate English: Business and Technology”
  • “UPValenciaX: Upper-Intermediate English: Business and Globalization”
• University of Cape Town
  • “English For Tech Professionals”
• The TEFL Org
  • “TEFLx: The History of English to Global Language”

The Open University (UK)

• “A short introduction to the English language”
• “English: skills for learning”
• “Everyday English 1”
• “Everyday English 2”
• “English in the world today”

Other Resources

• BBC Learning English
• Voice of America Learning English
• Saylor Academy ESL Courses (free, online)

Other Resources and In-Person / Hybrid Classes

The first step for choosing a program, especially, community-funded programs is usually an assessment.

• Online self-assessments in English and French are available at https://www.clb-osa.ca/
• YMCA Assessment and Referral:
  • GTA (Toronto, incl. Scarborough and Etobicoke)
  • Three Rivers (Guelph, Waterloo, and area)
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford
  • Niagara Falls
• Grand Erie Learning Alternatives, Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational School, Brantford
• Achēv, CLARS Language Assessment Centre, Richmond Hill
• Immigrant Services of Guelph-Wellington
• Immigrant Services Kingston and Area (ISKA)
• Cross Cultural Learner Centre, London
• Achēv, CLARS Language Assessment Centre, Community Door, Sussex Centre
• New Canadians Centre Peterborough
• Thunder Bay Multicultural Association
• Language Assessment and Resource Centre, Greater Essex County District School Board Assessment Centre

School Boards and Settlement Agencies in Ontario

• Toronto District School Board Adult ESL Program, Email: adultesl@tdsb.on.ca, Phone: 416-338-4300
• Province of Ontario Adult learning: English as a second language