English practice can easily be integrated into your daily life. Here’s your new rule of thumb: If you really want to read or listen to something like the news or your favorite novel, do it in English. The more you want to access information, the more incentive there is to pick up a dictionary, translate a word, and commit it to memory.
The brilliance of this strategy is how easily English practice is integrated into your daily life. You can learn without setting aside time to study, benefit from genuine insights into a different culture, and your learning travels with you anywhere on your phone. Whether you’re on the bus, in line at the supermarket, or squeezing in a some cardio, all you need is a smartphone and some data.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of +40 really great free news sites, blogs, and podcasts that cover everything from fashion to science to world news (including our very own podcast, Talaera Talks!).
1. News
Follow these American sites on Twitter or Facebook right now to change up the language composition of your newsfeed. Temporarily unfollow news organizations in your first language, so that you are less tempted to get your information from an easily accessible source.
While some of these sites have paywalls, most of them operate on a metered model that allows you to read up to the first ten articles for free.
2. Education & General Interest
On the other hand, a 6-hour long documentary on the Amazon rainforest may be your honest idea of a good time. You don’t have to be enrolled in a formal institution to get an education. Learning is a lifelong endeavor. Since you already enjoy a challenge, switch over to listening to some of these English-language YouTube channels and podcasts.
- Talaera Talks (our own podcast!)
- TED Talks
- Radiolab
- StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Rationally Speaking
- The Podcast History of Our World
- Stuff You Should Know
- Veritaserum
3. Science & Technology
Perhaps you prefer reading about advancements in science over the latest political scandal. Maybe you’re a tech enthusiast eager to know which startups recently scored funding. If so, this is the section for you.
- TechCrunch
- Gizmodo
- WIRED
- CNET
- Digital Trends
- The Verge
- No Such Thing as a Fish (Podcast)
- The Infinite Monkey Cage (Podcast)
4. Business
If you’re a business-minded person, you need to absorb the kind of content that keeps your entrepreneurial spirit alive. There are several business blogs and news organizations with everything from stock quotes to interviews with industry leaders to keep the next generation of tycoons motivated.
**Talaera's learners have premium access to constantly-updated, interactive activities created from Bloomberg's articles. Learn more here.
5. Entertainment
If reading up on the latest celebrity gossip is your thing, no judgement. Turn that guilty pleasure into a productive pleasure by practicing your English while absorbing all the juicy details. Whenever someone tells you this junk will rot your brain, you can quickly shoot back that it’s the reason you speak four languages.
6. Lifestyle
There’s a lot to be thankful for when it comes to the internet. Instant communication, rapid money transfers, and online shopping to name a few. But it’s also a phenomenal resource for tips and tricks for living a comfortable lifestyle. You can find everything from articles on how to remove a tough stain to how to decorate your apartment on a budget.
So the next time you want to whip together dinner for a party of five, find the perfect office ensemble, or figure out how to move up in the workplace, consider these websites instead.
The fun comes from naturally discovering additional resources the more you read. As your reading and listening skills improve, your exposure to new ideas and perspectives grows as well. One of the links on this list may serve as a springboard towards other English-language blogs or YouTube channels that soon become favorites. It’s an effective way to turn that aimless scrolling into an hour of productive language learning.
If you're ready to take your professional English to a whole new level, check out all our business English programs or talk to sales (they will be your language consultants and will give you advice on how to maximize your English learning). It's the kind of training you look forward to, and you can choose to do it on your own with your teacher or in groups:
Remote. Flexible. Effective.
For any additional information or questions, you can also reach out at info@talaera.com.
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[Article Originally Published: Feb 21, 2017. Updated: Jan 12, 2021]
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