EFL Links (overview)
Whether you are an English-learner or EFL/ESL teacher, you should know that the World Wide Web is a remarkable resource! This section of EFLsuccess.com is here to link you to the help you need to successfully reach your language goals.
NOTES: Visiting websites can allow viruses into your computer. Be sure your anti-virus software is up to date! Since the web is constantly changing, it is impossible to keep up with broken links–if something doesn’t work, you might try to Google it! Also, many websites outside China do not always work inside China (where I used to teach); sorry if you can’t connect from your location.
This page replaced Krigline.com/link.htm. (In China, my old website had a mirror at www.krigline.com.cn, but it seems to have disappeared in 2018. If you are trying to reach a particular page, REMOVE “.cn” and be sure all letters are lower case, not capitals.)
Favorite Dictionaries:
- Longman English Dictionary
- Farlex Free Dictionary
- Princeton’s WordNetWeb dictionary
- UsingEnglish.com (ESL resources, including the definition of sayings)
- www.dictionary.net (you have to click above the box, not just press “enter”; but this dictionary also gives you quotes and sentences that use the searched-for word–very useful for foreign-language learners)
Links for students:
- Our new “Learner Links” page is still smaller than Krigline.com’s old “Learner Links” page; both link students & teachers to many sites
- Our old “Resources page” links you to helpful resources at the old site: Krigline.com.
- Successful Writing for the Real World (extra resources related to my writing textbook)
- MOVIES: Also look at the collection of links on the bottom of my “Movie Guides” overview page.
Links for teachers (plus those listed above “for students”):
- http://www.onestopenglish.com/teenagers/beyond/beyond-knowledge/ [I used these materials when I tutor high school students in China.]
- The Chinese agency which oversees Foreign Expert Affairs: http://www.safea.gov.cn/
- Foreign Language Teaching and Resource Press (my publisher; English home page)
- www.TESOL.org (I’m a member of this highly-regarded international organization for English teachers; the site doesn’t always work from inside China)
- Asia-TEFL (I’m also a member of this Asian teachers’ association) (www.asiatefl.org)
News & Internet:
(unfortunately, many news and “Google-related” sites are blocked in China)
- Google news page
- Google Search
- Google Translate
- Yahoo Home
- MSN news
- Xinhua news and China Daily: English-language news from a Chinese perspective. (Primary sources of English news in China, because they are never blocked!)
- China Today (www.chinatoday.com) is a huge site, with links to a wealth of articles about China from news outlets all over the English-speaking world, as well as lots of other information. It also has a large “Who’s who” section, so you can find out about some of China’s most important people.
- VOA news (read/listen/learn)
- US audio headlines (click “Listen Now”)
- CT Magazine
- World time clock and converter (www.timeanddate.com)
- memotome.com: A free service to remind you of birthdays and other events by email: www.memotome.com
- Focus on the Family’s English website and Chinese website offer excellent advice and features on family issues (www.focusonthefamily.com and www.focf.org)
Music♫
We like to work with instrumental music playing, but you’ll find all kinds of music (and more) at the following sites:
- http://streema.com/radios/play/83436 (Christian instrumental music–soft)
- http://streema.com/radios/search/?q=instrumental (instrumental–a variety to choose from)
- Michael Krigline’s music (founder and webmaster of EFLsuccess.com)
- Google Play (subscription needed, but many things are free)
- Live 365 Radio Tuner (replaced Boston Pete Radio)
- Light Praise (a favorite US music radio station)
- Keys for Kids (An American radio station for kids)
- A Christmas-music station (mostly without words, so it is easy to work/study with this on)
- Jim Brickman Music (a favorite US musician, who I learned about in China; you can also search for another favorite: Phil Keaggy)
- Old Time Radio: Free downloads in mp3 format of programs from the 1930s-80s. Non-native English speakers will have trouble listening “fast enough” but I love these old shows! (Use Explorer, not Firefox)
- BBN Radio: Follow the links on this site to hear music & interesting talk in English, Chinese, and many other languages.
China
Because we have spent over 15 years teaching in China, it should be no surprise that many of our resources were designed with Chinese students in mind. Here are some helpful resources about China.
- Our “Intro to China” page with links to info about China & it’s history; we also have lots of photos of China at Krigline.com
- Go-Kunming (website for expatriates in Kunming; www.gokunming.com/en/)
- The University of Akron (Ohio) has a great links/resources page for those interested in China and the Chinese language. It includes an insightful speech (video) by Dr. Shirk, University of California.
- Some sites for booking air tickets in China include:
- www.elong.com (in Chinese)
- www.elong.net (in English)
- www.cathaypacific.com (bilingual)
- www.kayak.com (English)
- Visit a friend’s website about Xiamen & Fujian: http://www.amoymagic.mts.cn (within China) http://www.amoymagic.com (outside China)
- Google “Flying Tigers” and you should be able to see some cool pictures and paintings of the Flying Tigers, US volunteers who helped China defeat the Japanese in World War 2. (These may not work in China: http://flyingtigersavg.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Tigers)
- The Cypress Leadership Institute looks like a wonderful avenue for positive change among China’s business leaders. Check it out.
- Chinese/Bilingual Art & Gift Ideas (www.newdaycreations.com/business/products_polyresin.html)
- Hearts and Hands sells many handicrafts that also help needy people in China (run by friends of ours in Kunming)
- Baojiayin is a Chinese website selling Christian books/items in China (www.baojiayin.com)
USA
There are LOTS of websites about America, but you may have missed these:
- The University of Akron (a public university where Michael taught in 2011, where Michael’s sister and our son Andrew graduated with a Bachelor’s degrees, and where Michael’s parents taught before retirement). Click here to see a video advertisement.
- Eastern University (where Michael earned his BA)
- Columbia International University (Vivian studied there, and Michael–and his sister and brother-in-law–earned Masters’ Degrees here)
- Agape English Language Institute (where Michael taught college ESL in the USA; consider this school if you want to study in America, but your English needs to improve first!)
- Columbia International Festival (Michael helped get this great annual event started)
- City of Columbia, SC, USA (Vivian’s hometown)
- North Canton, OH, USA (Michael’s hometown)
- TripBuzz helps you find interesting things to do if you visit an unfamiliar city–great if you are going to travel to the US or Canada. Unfortunately, it won’t help you in Hong Kong, where we live!
Cameras
Before I started using “only a mobile phone” to take pictures, every few years I seemed to be looking for a new camera; here are some website I’ve found helpful.
- Digital Photography review is very comprehensive and professional: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/. You’ll find some of the most in-depth reviews on the web, including “shutter lag” (the time between when you push the button and when the camera takes a photo–this is what I hate most about digital cameras). (I posted a review of the Canon A630 on that website)
- One of best things about this UK website is a shutter lag comparison chart (but you can also navigate to good reviews, an advice section and more). http://www.cameras.co.uk
- Additional sites with insightful reviews: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm, www.steves-digicams.com, www.epinions.com/Digital_Cameras (years ago, I even posted a review on that website)
- I’ve posted lots of photos from China, the USA and elsewhere on my old website: http://www.krigline.com/photos.htm. That page also lists the cameras we’ve used over the years. Slowly, I’m moving those photos to wp.krigline.com/photos-overview/
Family and Personal (links we like; maybe you will too!)
- Michael Krigline’s website (which will eventually replace www.krigline.com); Current update blog
- Vivian Krigline’s web (scrapbook) pages: http://www.scrapbookflair.com/china_doll.
- Unsplash.com is my favorite place to find free images online.
- Deviant Art has some interesting art; favorites include Eikonik
- The Jian Hua Foundation (Since 1981, this Hong Kong charity has been helping professionals like us to “network” as they work in China.)
- These websites explain some of the basic ideas of Christianity in a simple, understandable way:
- Steps to Peace with God
- The Four Spiritual Principles
Other helpful links:
- Do you work overseas but want to use the same US phone number on each visit? TING mobile costs just $10/month (2023) if you don’t use it. If you wish, switch to a different plan while visiting the US. See details online: {Click Here}
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