Subscription Databases and E-books
- Little Pim
Little Pim is a language-learning software program designed especially for children ages 0-6. Its "Entertainment Immersion Method" combines animation and real kids to teach simple words and phrases for everyday activities. Little Pim offers language learning for Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew, English (ESL), German, Arabic, and Russian. Little Pim is powered by Mango Languages, an online language learning program for grown-ups.
- Mango Languages
Mango is an online language learning system that teaches real conversation skills for practical communication. Choose from 37 languages, 16 English as a second language experiences, and different levels of fluency. Every lesson incorporates four conversational components (Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Grammar and Culture), each of which is critical to one’s ability to communicate in a foreign language. In addition there are critical thinking and memory exercises. As you listen to and repeat after native speakers, you’ll learn how those pieces can be rearranged and combined to make new thoughts, new conversations, and even more practical communication. Minimum Requirements: Internet Explorer 6 or higher, Firefox, Safari or Opera; Adobe Flash Player 9. Also available as a mobile app for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android. To use the app users must create a free profile.
- Oxford Reference Online
This resource contains over 170 Oxford reference titles and includes bilingual dictionaries.
- World Book Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos
A Spanish-language encyclopedia optimal for beginning Spanish. Includes informative articles, maps, photos, learning activities and news from Spanish language newspapers. The bilingual features allow users to switch between Spanish and English content.
Websites Selected by Librarians
- BBC Languages
Provides free learning of seven major languages like French and Spanish with free audio and video programs. Also offers a section called “Quick Fixes” (essential phrases) in 36 languages from Basque to Ukrainian.
- Livemocha
A social-networking site, which offers structured lessons for beginner and intermediate language learners. Users get started by clicking on the language they speak and the language they want to learn and then connect with a worldwide community of native speakers to practice reading, writing, and speaking exercises.
- Language Learning Library
A basic guide to learning foreign languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
- WordReference Dictionaries
Provides free online bilingual dictionaries.
- Google Translate
Translate text, webpages and documents by entering text or a webpage URL, or by uploading a document.
- Activities for ESL Students
Quizzes, tests, exercises and puzzles to help you learn English as a Second Language.
- U.S.A Learns
A free web site funded by the U.S. Department of Education to learn English. Improve basic reading, writing, speaking and life skills.
- Learn American English Online
A website for ESL students to improve their English vocabulary and grammar. Learn from seven levels of instruction (in order: blue, red, yellow, green, purple, orange, and violet).
- La Mansión del Inglés
A language learning website aimed at Spanish speakers who want to learn English.
- Santa Clara County 2-1-1
A listing of services and programs throughout Santa Clara County that offer language instructions and ESL.
- ESL (English as a Second Language) Class Search
Sponsored by the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations and Immigrant Relations and Integration Services (IRIS), this search tool accesses a database of ESL courses and providers within the county.
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