Do you love helping people learn English? The huge reach of the Internet combined with new apps makes it possible to help more people than ever. I’ve created this guide to the best online English teaching tools based on my experience as an ESL teacher. Each tool listed includes screenshots, reviews, and links to help you get started.

When it comes to teaching English as a second language, I’m always looking for new ways to help my students learn and memorize new vocabulary and phrases. Online English teaching apps and programs can be a fun and engaging way for your students to practice their English skills. Here are some of my favorite online English teaching apps and programs to try out today!

Uses of English Teaching Apps

Today there are apps for just about everything. If used correctly, apps can help enrich the learning experience for ESL students of all ages and levels, in the classroom and at home! In this post, we’ll be looking at several different apps, but they fall into two main categories:

• There are apps that can help with aspects of actually teaching the language, such as the organization or creation of lesson plans, producing quizzes and making flashcards. You can also find apps that are skill-focused. Some apps are designed to help with listening comprehension and speaking, for example, while others focus on grammar.
• A growing number of apps connect students with native English speakers all over the world for one-on-one tutoring sessions. While these apps are great for students, they also give you, the expert ESL teacher, a chance to develop a work-from-home career or to generate additional income.

These convenient, easy-to-access apps can be incorporated into every aspect of your teaching career!

10 English Teaching Apps for the 21st-century ESL Teacher

Staying Organized and On Track

ClassDojo

This app makes classroom management, communication with students and parents outside of school hours, and keeping track of student progress a breeze! You can set up each of your classes to have a private, online classroom community, furthering a positive classroom culture. It also gives you the chance to reward students for a job well done with points and digital stickers.

For example, if a shy ESL student finally speaks up in class, you can give her a point for “participation” on the app. Students can drop questions into the online community or add thoughts and comments related to class discussions and activities, to continue using English even after your class has ended. The app also includes a private messaging feature that allows you to connect with parents.

Compatibility: Android and iOS

Price: Free

Creating Study Material and Lesson Plans

Study Flash

Digital flashcards. Need I say more? Select from several of the pre-made decks or create your own set of cards based on vocabulary you’ve covered in class or even grammar rules. The cards can include pictures, audio and text.

For example, after a lesson on a group of nouns or the various verb tenses, you can create cards to help students study the new vocabulary or review the rules. One card might say “Past Tense” and on the other side have an explanation of the tense. You can export the cards or share the content between app users.

You might spend the first few moments of class doing some vocabulary drills, or you can advise your students to use the app to review vocabulary at home. Either way, this is one app you should seriously consider adding to your teacher toolbox.

Compatibility: iOS

Cost: $1.99

FluentU

If you’re looking for creative ways to teach English, then you’ll love using FluentU in your classroom! FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

It’s got a huge collection of authentic English videos that people in the English-speaking world actually watch regularly. There are tons of great choices there when you’re looking for songs for in-class activities.

You’ll find music videos, musical numbers from cinema and theater, kids’ singalongs, commercial jingles and much, much more.

On FluentU, all the videos are sorted by skill level and are carefully annotated for students.

Words come with example sentences and definitions. Students will be able to add them to their own vocabulary lists, and even see how the words are used in other videos.

For example, if a student taps on the word “searching,” they’ll see this:

Plus, these great videos are all accompanied by interactive features and active learning tools for students, like multimedia flashcards and fun games like “fill in the blank.”

It’s perfect for in-class activities, group projects and solo homework assignments. Not to mention, it’s guaranteed to get your students excited about learning English!

Sign up for a free trial and bring FluentU to your classroom today.

Memrise

This app is great for teaching vocabulary and phrases. You can use this app in the classroom or instruct students to use it at home to review material covered in class. Select from a number of free courses that offer phrases and vocabulary lists on different topics.

Perhaps after a lesson on English idioms, you can create a set of cards to help students study and memorize the new phrases and their meanings. Or you might create a word list of verbs or nouns, using English and your students’ native language. Students can go at their own pace or work based on what you assign them.

Compatibility: Android and iOS

Cost: Free

Kahoot!

Kahoot! is changing the way students learn. This is a game-based learning app that can be customized for language learning. You can use this app to design games based on material you’ve covered in class during previous lessons. The game’s format is multiple choice. You create the number of questions and the questions themselves. You can include videos, images or diagrams.

After a unit on the future tense, for example, you might play a game of Kahoot! with questions regarding the correct usage of the future tense, or perhaps after an ESL literature unit, you can test your students’ knowledge by designing questions based on the texts they’ve read. Students can work in teams or individually and race to answer the questions first.

In the classroom, you can project the game onto the wall or board at the front of the room. Students can then use their own mobile devices as game controllers to select their answers. This app certainly leads to hours of fun and learning!

Compatibility: Android and iOS

Cost: Free

Culips

Culips is a great resource for teachers who want to include some listening-based lessons in their curriculum or want to incorporate listening into homework assignments. Culips offers various podcasts or episodes that feature everyday English. Culips caters to all levels of ESL learners and includes interesting and intelligent topics.

Perhaps you’re doing a lesson on idioms. You could start your lesson by having students listen to a short Culips podcast from your phone. Another option might be to have your students listen to one of Culips’ “Chatterbox” episodes followed by some listening comprehension questions and discussion. The possibilities and topics are endless.

Compatability: Android and iOS

Cost: Free, with additional material available through membership

Tutoring

If you work in a traditional brick-and-mortar school and want to supplement your income or you want to work from home, the following apps are a great way to get started. In fact, depending on your level of commitment, why not download them all?

If you’re a classroom teacher, you can recommend these apps to your students who need a little extra tutoring or one-on-one speaking practice.

Cambly

Cambly connects English learners from all over the world with private, native-English-speaking tutors. Teachers can pick their hours and designate their specialization, such as “IELTS practice” or “Intermediate Level Tutoring” in their profile. Cambly is convenient and super easy to use. You don’t need to have any teaching experience and downloading the app is free. Teachers are paid $10.20 per hour.

Compatibility: Android and iOS

Cost: Free to download, students pay for services

NiceTalk

NiceTalk is China’s first mobile language learning platform. It’s another hassle-free app for English teachers looking to connect with students in a classroom-free environment. All you need is some free time and a friendly, open attitude. Students can practice speaking at the touch of a button, anytime, anywhere. Teachers have complete control of their schedules and get paid by the minute ($10 per hour).

Compatibility: Android and iOS (not in the iTunes store, but you can download the app from the site)

Cost: Free to download, students pay for services

Conclusion

If you are quitting your job to teach English online, then you are likely looking at which apps would be best for language learning. We all know that the best way to learn a new language is in-person through immersion. However, if you are just starting to learn, or are already fluent in another language but want to increase your knowledge of English, online apps will make this happen exponentially faster.