Reading Comprehension

Copy  and paste any online story in ESL Reader to get help with vocabulary. This site already includes Shakespeare's plays and other readings:

•  www.esldesk.com/reading/esl-reader

Reading tips and charts at EnglishLearnSite.com (all levels):

• www.englishlearnsite.com/category/reading/

Comprehension dialogues with quizzes (all levels):

• http://esl.about.com/od/readingcomprehensionquiz/a/d_list.htm

Main idea practice (beginner): 

• www.softschools.com/quizzes/language_arts/main_idea/quiz1510.html

200 easy short stories that you can read and listen to (beginner):

• eslyes.com/easyread/

Easy readings with audio, vocabulary exercises, and comprehension questions (beginner):

• www.rong-chang.com/nnse/

Hundreds of free short stories with audio, vocabulary exercises and more (beginner): 

• www.eslfast.com

​Children's picture books (beginner / intermediate):

• www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Children%27s_Picture_Books_%28Bookshelf%29

Short stories with audio, vocabulary exercises, and comprehension questions  (intermediate):

• http://www.rong-chang.com/qa2 

Identify main ideas (intermediate):

• www.internet4classrooms.com/skill_builders/main_idea_language_arts_sixth_6th_grade.htm

Topic and stated main idea practice by Janet Elder (intermediate):

• highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073123587/student_view0/chapter8/topic_and_stated_main_idea_multiple-choice_exercise.html

American stories in easy English (intermediate):

• www.manythings.org/voa/stories/

Read about the history of Plymouth, the first Pilgrim colony in the United States (intermediate):

• http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/interact/thanksgiving-interactive-you-are-historian 

Information and some games about the first Thanksgiving (intermediate):

• http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving

English Language Learning - listen and read (intermediate / advanced):

• esl-bits.net/

Implied main ideas Exercise 1 (advanced):

• highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073123587/student_view0/chapter10/implied_main_idea__exercise_1.html

Implied main ideas Exercise 2 (advanced):

• highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073123587/student_view0/chapter10/implied_main_idea__exercise_2.html

Read and listen to stories about famous scientists, writers, entertainers, and more (advanced):

• http://www.manythings.org/voa/people

Aesop's fables (advanced):

• http://www.umass.edu/aesop/index.php

Tales, legends, and other stories from different cultures: 

• www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Folklore_%28Bookshelf%29​

Challenging short stories about American folklore (advanced):

• http://www.americanfolklore.net/esl-reading.html#1 

​Free books with audio (advanced):

• http://www.okey-dokey.co.uk/listening/listen_and_read/audio_books.php

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Classic short stories:

• www.world-english.org/stories.htm
  

Famous short stories (advanced):

• www.feedbooks.com/books?category=FBFIC029000

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Short stories from around the world (advanced):

• www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Short_Stories_%28Bookshelf%29

Myths and fairytales (advanced):

• www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Children%27s_Myths%2C_Fairy_Tales%2C_etc._%28Bookshelf%29

News and Information

Breaking news in easy English (beginners to intermediate):

• ​http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com

The history of the United States at the Library of Congress website (high intermediate):

• http://www.americaslibrary.gov 

​Interesting information about the culture of the United States (advanced):

• www.livescience.com/28945-american-culture.html​

Citizenship exam preparation (high intermediate-advanced):

• https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/study-test

 
Information about preparing for a job interview (intermediate):

• http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~lfried/call/jobs.html

U.S. state facts, state symbols, and maps (intermediate-advanced):

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states

Important topics such as work, housing, school, and more ( high intermediate-advanced):

• http://www.cdlponline.org 

Interesting facts about science ( high intermediate-advanced):

• http://www.hightechscience.org/funfacts.htm

Interesting museums you can visit on your next trip to San Francisco:

• http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~lfried/call/museumssf.html

Reading Faster

Find out how fast you read:

• http://www.teacherjoe.us/TimedReadings.html

A speed reading test for more advanced readers:

• http://www.readingsoft.com 

Timed readings with comprehension questions (high intermediate-advanced):

• https://college.cengage.com/collegesurvival/watkins/learning_companion/1e/students/timed_reading.html 

Practice speed reading (intermediate to advanced):

•  http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/methods.html

​Eye Movement Practice helps to increase your reading rate (intermediate-advanced):

• http://www.eslus.com/LESSONS/READING/SPDREAD/1/INTRO1.HTM