6 – Online English Learning - University English - Guides & Tutorials at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Online English Learning

In this section, you will find resources to help you improve your English proficiency, academic English and study skills.

Online Self-Access English Learning

Academic English

IELTS

NetLanguages: IELTS Preparation
NetLanguages IELTS Preparation course introduces different components of both the Academic and General Training versions of the IELTS exam. The course contains 30 hours of study materials, exam technique, and a complete IELTS practice test, covering all listening, reading, speaking, writing parts.
The ELC's IELTS Online Practice Materials
Format: Website
Provider: PolyU
Topics: Listening, reading, speaking, writing
Estimated effort: 15+ minutes per activity
** Free online access **

Speaking and Pronunciation

Writing

Practical Writing
Format: Self-paced online course (Desktop and iPad only)
Provider: Clarity English
Topics: Essays (for and against); essays (descriptive); plagiarism; reports; note-taking
Estimated effort: 30+ minutes per module, 30+ minutes per quiz
– Log in with PolyU NetID. Requires Adobe Flash. –
ICOSA Writing
Format: Website
Provider: CityU, EdU, HKBU, LU and PolyU
Topics: Academic style, accuracy, citing, genre, organisation, sentence structure, vocabulary
Estimated effort: 15+ minutes per module
** Free online access **
Literacy in the Disciplines (LID)
- Argumentative essay genre guide
- Argumentative essay genre checklist
- Printable materials & interactive activities

Reading and Vocabulary

Active Reading
Format: Online practice materials (Desktop and iPad only)
Provider: Clarity English
Levels: Six levels, from elementary to advanced
Topics: Dictionary skills, scanning, skimming, signpost words, vocabulary strategies
Estimated effort: 15+ minutes per module
– Log in with PolyU NetID. Requires Adobe Flash. –
IdiomsTube
Format: Online practice materials
Provider: PolyU
Topics: English idioms
Estimated effort: 5+ minutes per video
– Access by creating free account. –
ICOSA Reading
Format: Website
Provider: CityU, EdU, HKBU, LU and PolyU
Topics: Reading comprehension, connotation, finding information, inferencing, language in context
Estimated effort: 15+ minutes per activity
** Free online access **
ICOSA Vocabulary Explore colloquial usage/slang, using context, idioms, phrasal verbs, subject vocabulary, and more.
ELC Reading This website designed by the PolyU English Language Centre links to free online resources to help with reading, including a clear summary of reading strategies and reading skills you should know. Also links to useful tools to help you analyse and meet your learning needs.
ELC Vocabulary This website designed by the PolyU English Language Centre links to free online resources to help with developing your vocabulary, including a clear summary of vocabulary strategies you should know. Also links to useful tools to help you analyse and meet your learning needs.

Listening

ICOSA Listening
Format: Website
Provider: CityU, EdU, HKBU, LU and PolyU
Topics: Listening comprehension, plus conversation markers, English accents, independent learning, note-taking
Estimated effort: 15+ minutes per activity
** Free online access **
IELTS Online Practice Materials Listening
Format: Website
Provider: PolyU
Topics: Listening, exercises and tests
Estimated effort: 15+ minutes per activity
** Free online access **
Audio Books
Format: Online Mp3
Provider: Various
Topics: Audio recordings of novels and poems, including well-known classics
Estimated effort: Varies
** Free online access **
ELC Listening This website designed by the PolyU English Language Centre links to free online resources to practise and improve your listening skills. It contains a clear summary of effective listening strategies. Also links to useful tools to help you analyse and meet your learning needs.

Grammar

Upgrading Your Grammar (PolyU MOOC)
Format: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
Provider: PolyU
Topics: Parts of speech; using tenses; sentence structure; grammar for presentations
Estimated effort: 2-hour course
ICOSA Grammar
Format: Website
Provider: CityU, EdU, HKBU, LU and PolyU
Topics: Adjectives, adverbs, articles... quantifiers, sentence structure, tense, verbs & more
Estimated effort: 10+ minutes per activity
** Free online access**
ELC Grammar Excercises
Format: Website
Provider: English Language Centre, PolyU
Topics: Adjective order, countable nouns, passive voice, that-clauses, subject-verb agreement & more
Estimated effort: 5+ minutes per activity
** Free online access**

Campus Resources