Etymonline basically serves as a historical dictionary. For each entry you will find several meanings and explanations including the date used for the old word, the origin language and its meanings. You can also read about the different words that share the same origin and then click through them to read their entries.

Etymonline is an English-only website. Still, it is interesting to see how different languages gave birth to English words we have today. This tool is useful for anyone who is interested where a name, place, or any word came about.

Features:

• Free and simple etymology dictionary.
• Know the origin language, date used, variations, and synonyms.
• Uses various legit sources.
• Similar Tools: Behind the Name or read 3 Sites to Check Where Your Last Name Came From.

Check out Etymonline @ http://www.etymonline.com

At the same time, the child is introduced to the main phonetic patterns of written English. All of this is done with the help of creatively crafted media. It happens to be easier for a child to learn stuff when he is shown “pictures, presentations and sound clips”.

The website is very user-friendly, so just choose the type of “quiz” you want your child to take and click it. After that, the quiz is very simple and your child has to choose the corresponding word with the image and vice versa. It will then play the words, and your child has to recognize those words.

After the quiz is finished, it will show you how many correct answers your child gave, which can be reviewed again. Currently, there are only 14 presentations to choose from. However, the website plans to take the number to 50 soon.

Features

• Free and easy to use.
• A colorful and user-friendly design appeals to the children.
• Interactive presentations and quiz make learning effective.
• Similar tools: Alphabetimals, Funnix, MeeGenius, StoryLineOnline, ePubBud, Librophile, AudioOwl and BooksInMyPhone.

Check out Reading Bear @ www.readingbear.org (via The Next Web) (By Hammad from TechnicallyDigital)

SpeakingPal English Tutor is a useful app for iOS and Android devices which can help users improve their English. All you have to do is launch the app and engage in conversation with the video character in the application, which is normally less than 2 minutes long. It will instantly give you feedback on the sentences you spoke. Feedback is given on each and every sentence you speak. Once you are done, you can share the recordings and scores with your friends.

The application is available on Android and iOS devices, and can be downloaded from the respective app stores.

Features

• Free and easy to use
• User friendly design
• Get instant feedback on how well you spoke
• Share recording and scores with friends
• Similar tools: Map Your Voice, Wordstash, MyIntercambio, Howjsay, VocabSushi, and Memorista.
• Also read related article: Speech Accents Archive of non-native English Speakers.

Check out SpeakingPal English Tutor @ http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speakingpal-english-tutor/id437219346?ls=1&mt=8 and https://market.android.com/details?id=com.speakingpal.speechtrainer.sp (By Hammad from TechnicallyDigital)

The site is full of all things spelling. There are basic spelling courses where they show the word, ask you to understand and memorize it and then spell it. There are also spelling games, word lists, spelling dictionaries and much more.

The site also teaches the difference between British and American spelling, which I think even the educated ones among us need to brush up on. Prices start at $15 per year for a single student, which should be affordable for the majority of users.

Features

• Online spelling course.
• Useful for students suffering with dyslexia.
• Games, word lists, interactive material available.
• Prices start at $15 per year.

Check out Spellzone @ www.spellzone.com (By Abhijeet from GT Mobiles)

efTwo is a browser extension for Google Chrome. It lets you easily search a webpage for words and their inflections. After the extension is installed, press the ‘F’ key twice and a searching box will appear on top of the webpage. Type in a few letters and relevant words will appear. You can also search for specific words, ignoring their inflections.

The properties of the extension can be controlled through its options. Here you can choose to view webpage markers for easy word searching, remember search terms, and modify a number of other options.

Features:

• A user-friendly browser extension.
• Compatible with Google Chrome.
• Lets you finds words and their inflections on webpages.
• Lets you find particular words as well.
• Lets you modify a number of the extension’s options.

Check out efTwo @ https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ccaikggmppdolhcehimngikgiafmdcep (By Umar from AllThatIsApple)

Netspeak has four main functions. First, you can find the most appropriate word suggestions in a phrase by putting a “?” in place of a word on your query. You can also type in “*” in place of a word to find the most appropriate one, two, or three-word suggestions. Another expression that you can use is the square brackets “[, ]”  for checking which of two or more words are commonly used. Finally, you can type the tilde sign “~” to find the best synonyms that are commonly written. Keep in mind that you may also combine different symbols within a query when using Netspeak.

Features:

• Online dictionary for searching for common language usage.
• Finds the most appropriate single or variable number of word suggestions.
• Finds the most common option among words.
• Suggests the best order of words.
• Finds the most commonly used synonyms.
• Displays frequency on how often the words are used relative to the other results.
• Displays examples on some of the search results.
• Similar Tools: Voxy, MyInterCambio, PhraseUp, Phrays, Exemplar, Artwiculate, VocabSushi and WordSpy.

• Also read: 30+ Online Resources to Expand your English Vocabulary.

Check out NetSpeak @ www.netspeak.org/#page=home

PhraseUp will then show you a number of words that completes your sentence. You can click on any of those words to see a definition and even examples of how the word could be used in a sentence. It works for idioms and proverbs, as well as for regular every day sentences. It can also work as an adjective finder by presenting words that describe your noun. The tool has a dead simple interface with a great functionality.

Features:

• Find words to complete your phrases and sentences.
• Displays multiple options along with definitions and examples.
• No registration required.
• Similar tools: Phrays, Exemplar, Artwiculate, VocabSushi and WordSpy.

Visit PhraseUp @ www.phraseup.com

Map Your Voice is a simple web app that lets people listen to various English accents from around the world. A Google map is your navigational tool. The red and green dots on the map indicate a recording. The red dots indicate people reading a list of six words whereas a green dot indicates someone reading a children’s story titled “Mr. Tickle”. Click on either dot to get the recording started. A small window on the map will display the details of the recording; meanwhile the recording can be played in the small audio player located in the site’s right pane.

Like the site’s other visitors you can also record your voice and specify which part of the world you are from. Your dot will then be visible on the Google map.

Features:

• A user friendly website.
• Lets you listen to English accents of people across the world.
• The location of the accent is displayed on a Google map.
• You can record your own voice to represent your region’s accent.
• Also read related article: Speech Accents Archive of non-native English Speakers.

Check out Map Your Voice @ www.bl.uk/evolvingenglish/maplisten.html (by MOin from ThumbPress)

Once you have signed up and logged in, just key in a word to know its definition, hear an audio pronunciation, and toggle synonyms. You can also get tweets for the word you entered or see an example of how it is used in a sentence from an online article.

In the right sidebar you can find the most popular word lists which include the 100 most common SAT words, World Capitals, Vocabulary From Jeopardy, and more. All this is easily laid out for you to help you absorb the words quicker.

Word Stash is a nifty tool for students who do not only need to look up a word, but also need to set up a word list that they can focus on.

Features:

• Learn and increase your vocabulary vocabulary the fun way.
• Change the interface themes.
• Add words in the list manager.
• Browse through popular word lists.
• View recently stashed words.
• Similar Tools: MyIntercambio, Howjsay, VocabSushi, and Memorista.

Check out Wordstash @ www.wordstash.com

Once you have signed up and logged into Voxy, you can read half-English and half-Spanish headlines in your account dashboard. You can then proceed to read the news articles in Spanish and English texts. Add English words to your word bank where you can hear the pronunciation and get the right translation.

You can also read different stories, play games, and read about “life skills” – a course based on every day, real life situations.

Voxy also delivers their lessons via SMS or email, which is a great way to learn on the go. This app is most helpful for Spanish speaking students who want to learn English as a second language.

http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/wp-admin/edit.php

Features:

• Learn ESL using real-life examples.
• Lessons sent to you via SMS and e-mail.
• Save words in your word bank.
• Answer quizzes and see how you do.
• Play games and learn at the same time.
• Available in Spanish and English.
• Similar Tools: MyIntercambio, Anki’s Flash Card System, LyricsTraining.

Check out Voxy @ www.voxy.com