Ask Us English Learning Resources Guide

Audio Visual

Film Collections

Practice your English comprehension skills while watching films from the UNB Libraries' electronic and DVD film collections:

• Films on Demand
• Kanopy
• NFB Campus (National Film Board of Canada)
• Theatre in Video

Search films in UNB WorldCat catalogue by title, author (i.e., director), or subject/keyword(s). Limit "Format" in the left hand column of search results to available "Video" options (eVideo, DVD, etc.).

Audio Files in UNB Libraries' Databases

Interested in improving your pronunciation and listening comprehension? A few electronic library resources provide audio files along with text files for your convenience.

Feel free to submit any file type and web content into text-to-speech software in order to hear content read aloud. See the Text-to-Speech tab in this guide for free software suggestions.

English Tests Prep

UNB Libraries' CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment) prep materials

Read this information about CAEL and find free sample tests.

• The CAEL assessment: test taker's preparation guide
  HWK-STACKS PE1128 .F747 2003 and HWK-MEDIA PE1128 .F747 2003 Disc

UNB Libraries' IELTS (International English Language Testing System) prep materials

Read this information about IELTS and find free sample tests.

• IELTS Preparation and Practice: Reading and Writing
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .P425 1997
• IELTS Preparation and Practice: Reading and Writing Academic Module
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .S2355 1998

UNB Libraries' MTELP (Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency) prep materials

Read this information about MTELP and find free sample questions.

• Barron's How to Prepare for the Michigan Test Battery: Covers All 3 Tests in the Michigan Test Battery, Aural Comprehension, English Proficiency, Composition
  HIL-REF PE1128 .S49 1982
• Melab Strategy: Winning Multiple Choice Strategies for the Michigan English Language Arts Battery
  HIL-REFDSK PE1128 .M37 2015

UNB Libraries' TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) prep materials

Try these free sample questions from TOEFL.

Print Books

• Barron's Practice Exercises for the Test of English As a Foreign Language, TOEFL
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .S524 1989
• Cracking the TOEFL
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .C67 1998 and HIL-CIRCDSK PE1128 .C67 1998 CD 1-2
• Cracking the TOEFL CBT
  HIL-REFDSK PE1128 .C67 2003
• Essential Words for the TOEFL, Test of English As a Foreign Language
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .M3544 2004
• Grammar for the TOEFL Test
  HIL-REF PE1128 .B69 2002
• How to Prepare for the TOEFL Test: Test of English As a Foreign Language
  HIL-REF PE1128 .S5 2001
  HIL-REF PE1128 .S5 2006
• Longman Complete Course for the TOEFL Test: Preparation for the Computer and Paper Tests
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .P435 2001 and HIL-CIRCDSK PE1128 .P435 2001 CD
  HIL-REF PE1128 .P435 2001
  HIL-STACKS PE2808 .P45 1991
• Peterson's TOEFL Success
  HWK-STACKS PE1128 .R6345 1996
• Practice Exercises for the TOEFL Test: Test of English As a Foreign Language
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .S524 2003 and HIL-CIRCDSK PE1128 .S524 2003 CD 1-5
• The Best Test Preparation for the TOEFL (test of English As a Foreign Language)
  HIL-REF PE1128 .F5748 1997
• TOEFL Exam Essentials
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .M747 2004
• TOEFL Reading and Writing Workout
  HIL-REFDSK PE1128 .T637 2014

eBooks

• Nova's Practice Tests for the TOEFL iBT
• Speaking and Writing Strategies for the TOEFL iBT
• 500 Words, Phrases, Idioms for the TOEFL iBT Plus Typing Strategies

Audiobooks

• Longman Complete Course for the TOEFL Test: Preparation for the Computer and Paper Tests
  HIL-CIRCDSK PE1128 .P435 2001 CD

General English Language Test Prep

• 100 Clear Grammar Tests: Reproducible Grammar Tests for Beginning to Intermediate ESL/EFL Classes
  HIL-STACKS PE1128 .A2 F646 2000
  HIL-REF PE1128 .A2 F646 2000

Free Online Resources

Free internet resources for students of English as a foreign language

These resources are freely available to anyone and do not require proxy authentication.

• Academic Phrasebank from the University of Manchester
  (http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/)
  This is a great resource for academic writers with phrase suggestions for how to introduce your work, refer to sources, describe methods, report results, discuss findings, and write conclusions.
• Tests and exercises for ESL students
  (http://www.english-test.net/)
  In this resource, you will find worksheets and exercises that will help you with English grammar, synonyms, business English, common errors in English usage, and idiomatic expressions. The materials are organized according to elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels.
• A World of ESL Resources
  (http://www.eslresources.ca)
  Find free reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and listening materials as well as links to dictionaries.
• OEDb Open Education Database
  (http://www.oedb.org/ilibrarian/50_essential_resources_for_esl_students)
  Use this resource to find free grammar guides, pronunciation and spelling exercises, vocabulary practice and writing activities, quizzes and worksheets, podcasts and YouTube channels related to English language acquisition.
• StudentGuide.org
  (http://www.studentguide.org/43-excellent-esl-resources-for-students/)
  In this resource, you will find a wealth of materials for learning English vocabulary and grammar, listening and reading comprehension, business English help, and writing practice.
• Rong-Chang Li’s site
  (http://www.rong-chang.com/)
  Find free listening comprehension and speaking exercises as well as reading practice materials.
• Activities for ESL students by The Internet TEST Journal
  (http://a4esl.org/)
  Find activities for English learners, such as quizzes, tests, exercises, and puzzles.
• Listening and oral practice – Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/)
  Try these listening exercises and quizzes to improve your oral comprehension.

New Brunswick Public Libraries also offer free online language learning tools to anyone with a library card. Get free access to Rosetta Stone that delivers interactive instruction in thirty different languages and more advanced lessons for a core set of languages that include English and French.

Academic Services

Writing & Study Skills Centre

Students of English as a foreign language at UNB can seek free help to improve all aspects of their academic writing from the UNB Writing Centres located on both the Fredericton and Saint John campuses.

Writing Centre consultants help students improve their own writing abilities through individual tutoring sessions that focus on academic assignments, including such topics as clarifying ideas, making an outline, developing a thesis statement, thinking critically, structuring an argument, and effective editing. The goal is to help students improve the clarity of their own thought and expression.

Learn more about the services offered by the Writing Centre in Fredericton and in Saint John.

STU students can seek help from the STU Writing Centre.

International Student Services at UNB and STU

The International Student Advisor's Office offers advice and support on a wide range of topics to facilitate your transition as an international student in Fredericton.

See the International Student Services website for assistance at UNB SJ.

See the International Students website for assistance at STU.

Text-to-Speech

Free Text-to-Speech Readers

Interested in improving your pronunciation and listening comprehension? Use text-to-speech software to hear text files and web content read aloud.

• NaturalReader for Windows and Mac
• NVDA screen recorder for Windows
• Text2Speech online text-to-speech converter
• Ultra Hal TTS Reader Read for Windows

Learn how to activate the text-to-speech recognition feature on your Mac here.