Online Reading: Match Your Level and Interests

The Internet has wonderful resources for all types of online reading. These suggestions can help you find reading that isn't too hard.

(Don't give up if you find that an interesting article is difficult! There are tools to help you read it. Check out online dictionaries-- especially learners' dictionaries. 

You can even use translation software. Try reading the article in English, first. Make it a game to see how much you can understand before you get it translated! Then see the translation, if you need to-- and then try in English again.)

Online Reading for Beginners or Intermediates 

These websites have various topics, but all use fairly simple English. Many also have audio recordings, (They will open in a new window so you won't lose your place here.)

• Newsela has a large variety of interesting news articles written at several levels. Choose the level that is best for you, from the easiest to the original article (with the most detail.). The site requires signing up, but then you have access to so many excellent news & history articles.

• Other news sites for English learners also offer several reading levels. (Some offer audio as well). There's a list near the end of Understanding the News in English.

• CLILstore has material at several levels, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (advanced.) (It's not actually a store. It's a free source of language stories and articles. Many have videos.) They also provide one-click translation. 

Be sure to write 'English' in the search bar-- they have a huge number of selections in many languages.  Many also have comprehension exercises. That way you can check how well you understood what you read.

• The British Council magazine has short articles with audio and exercises on many different topics. It's for Intermediate students up.
  

• ESL mini-readings about daily life lead to discussion questions and ideas for follow-up research online. You can listen to many of them as you read. Some have links to quizzes, vocabulary, or pronunciation practice as well.

• English Online has articles on history, geography, and science simplified for English learners. Each article has a vocabulary list at the end. There are several hundred topics.

• Kid’s health with easy readings (and audio recordings) about all kinds of health issues. Articles are also available in Spanish.
  

Audio recordings let you listen while you read. You not only hear how to pronounce the words, but you get the message two ways, with both eyes and ears. (This will also help you recognize the words you learn when you hear them again in a lecture or in conversation.)

For More Advanced ESL Online Reading

If your English level is high intermediate or advanced, you have even more online reading options. Try English-language journals in your professional field. Or check out blogs or magazines on subjects that interest you.

Are you fascinated by fashion or cooking, politics, biology research, or science fiction? You could subscribe to a magazine in any of these fields, or find them in a public library, or read articles online.

• Smithsonianmag.com is the famous museum's online magazine. It has fascinating articles on science, American (& world) history, and culture. Some are quite long, but they also have many short news updates. 

Some excellent websites with more advanced readings are

• Many Books.net has the complete text of many classic books and short stories, some with audio.

• Extraordinary people has inspiring true stories about  people who have fought for justice and the environment. Others have found creative ways to meet unmet needs. Scroll down the linked page to find a list of the stories, with a quick summary of what each person did and why it matters.

• This I Believe has essays & audio from famous (and ordinary) people about what's important in life. So many of these are worth reading!

If you don’t know where to start, go to “explore” and try the 1950s essays by Albert Einstein, Roger Hammerstein, and Jackie Robinson. (Click on the picture to find the essay along with the audio recording.)

In “Featured Essays” try “My Parents as Friends,” or “Here Comes (the Real) Santa Claus.” In “Special Features,” you might read “Recovering the Hope of Children” (in “Hope for the Future.”) Or try “There is Such a Thing as Truth” (in “A Roadmap for Life.”)

Finding Information Online in English

Online reading-- a world of information

When you're looking for information for your personal or professional needs, check out English-language sites too.

Some may be too difficult for you right now, but others will be simpler. Some will even have a translation button.

You can also copy and paste brief sections you want translated into Google Translate. It’s not perfect, but it can give you an idea of the meaning of parts you don’t understand.)

Try ordering English books online, or learn about them online and see if they are available at a library.

For more information, see Easy Reading: Books for ESL Beginners and Finding English Reading Materials.

More English Reading (On or Offline) 

Interested in a variety of online articles to read to improve your English? Every month I add descriptions & links to 2-3 great articles on a new topic. 

Where to find the English reading materials you're looking for...

Practice listening & reading comprehension with exercises based on various reading sources and talks. Many include the same kinds of questions you will find on exams like the TOEFL & IELTS.

Home>  ESL Reading Hints > Online Reading.

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