Educational Tools · Free online tool
Oxford's iSpeaker (Legacy)
Here is the Oxford's iSpeaker online tool that you can use for free to practice your English Speaking and pronounciation
Oxford iSpeaker help
Contents
1 What is the Oxford iSpeaker?
2 Sounds
3 Exercise
4 Conversations
5 Exam Speaking
6 Browser Compatibility
1 What is the Oxford iWriter?
The Oxford iSpeaker will help you improve your speaking ability in English. It is an interactive tool designed for learners of English who want to speak more accurately and fluently in a variety of situations. It is divided into four sections, each with a focus on a different element of spoken English.
In Sounds, you can learn and practise the individual vowel and consonant sounds that make up English words. The Exercises section provides practice in many aspects of pronunciation, such as sounds and spelling, word stress and syllables. In Conversations, you can learn and practise useful phrases that are often used in everyday English. The Exam Speaking section contains a range of tasks that typically appear in English speaking exams.
When selecting activities in Sounds, Exercises and Conversations, you can choose to focus on British or American English.
This is one of Oxford Learner's Dictionaries premium features. It is also available on DVD included in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th Edition. If you don't have one of those, you can visit this website to use Oxford iSpeaker.
2 Sounds
Choose Sounds to view the menu of different sounds that you can practise. All the consonants, vowels and diphthongs used in English are listed here.
If you select the Information icon to the right of each sound, you will see a list of some words that contain the sound.
To open, just select Go in the British or American column to the right of the sound you are interested in. For some sounds, Go is only displayed in one column because of the differences between British and American English.
In the Watch section, you can watch a video showing how to pronounce the sound and some words that contain the sound.
The Practise section includes several shorter videos, which show the pronunciation of the sound and the words separately. You can use the Record and Play buttons next to the videos to record and listen to yourself repeating the sound and the words. Next to each video, you can read the relevant written forms and phonetic transcriptions.
In the Review section, you can assess your own pronunciation of the sound.
3 My Exercise
Choose Exercises to view the menu of different types of exercise that are available. Eight types of exercise are included in this section:
If you select the Information icon 
to the right of each exercise title, you will see a brief description of the exercise.
To open, just select Go in the British or American column to the right of the exercise you are interested in.
When the page opens, you will see instructions for the exercise you have selected. If you are using the iSpeaker on a smartphone, tap the three horizontal bars in the top left to hide or show the instructions.
The exercise appears in the Practise section. Your session will end when you select Quit or, in the timed activities, when the timer runs out. The Review section will open at the end of your session to show your score. You can open the Review section at any time and see your score without ending the activity.
Dictation
The exercises in Dictation include words that are commonly misspelled in English.
In each exercise, select the speaker icon to listen to a word or sentence, and type the word, missing word or sentence in the space provided.
In Words, listen and type the single word you hear. In Missing words, look at the gapped sentence, listen to the complete sentence and type the missing word you hear. In Sentences, listen to a sentence and type everything you hear. Random includes a selection of questions from the other three exercises.
Press the Submit button to find out whether your answer is correct or incorrect. You must spell everything correctly. In Sentences, you do not need to use a capital letter at the start of each sentence or a full stop at the end. If your answer is incorrect, the correct answer will be displayed below. Use the Next button to move to the next question or to skip a question. If you choose to skip a question, it will count as an incorrect answer. When you want to stop, select Quit to see your score for the session.
Match-up
The exercises in Match-up include words that contain similar sounds or letter combinations.
In each exercise, look at the group of six words or phonetic transcriptions on the right. Select each of the speaker icons on the left to listen to words or sentences. Rearrange the words or phonetic transcriptions so that they are next to the corresponding speaker icons.
In Similar sounds, match the words you see to the words you hear. In Reading phonetics, match the phonetic transcriptions you see to the words you hear. In Comprehension, match the words you see to the sentences you hear - each sentence contains one of the words. Random includes a selection of questions from the other three exercises.
Once you have finished rearranging a group of words or phonetic transcriptions, press the Submit button to find out which of your answers are correct and which are incorrect. Use the Next button to move to the next question or to skip a question. If you choose to skip a question, the six items in that question will count as incorrect answers. When you want to stop, select Quit to see your score for the session.
Reordering
The exercises in Reordering include words that commonly feature in academic writing and phrasal verbs.
In Words, select the speaker icon to listen to a word and rearrange the letters to form the word you hear. In Sentences, select the speaker icon to listen to a sentence and rearrange the words to form the sentence you hear. Random includes a selection of questions from the other two exercises.
Press the Submit button to find out whether or not your answer is correct. You have five minutes to form as many correct words or sentences as possible. The timer will begin when you start rearranging the first set of letters or words, and your score will be displayed when the timer runs out. Use the Next button to move to the next question or to skip a question. If you choose to skip a question, it will count as an incorrect answer. If you want to stop before the timer runs out, select Quit to see your score for the session.
Sounds and Spelling
The exercises in Sounds and Spelling include words that contain vowel sounds that are spelled in different ways in English.
Choose the sound that you would like to practise from the Sounds and Spelling menu on the home page. Random includes a selection of questions from each of the other exercises. In each exercise, select the speaker icon to listen to a word containing the sound you have chosen. Choose the correct spelling of the sound from the options below.
Press the Submit button to find out whether your answer is correct or incorrect. Use the Next button to move to the next question or to skip a question. If you choose to skip a question, it will count as an incorrect answer. When you want to stop, select Quit to see your score for the session.
Sorting
The exercises in Sorting include words that contain similar sounds, or that have similar word stress patterns or numbers of syllables.
In each exercise, move the words you see in the table into the correct column, according to the categories given at the top of the columns.
In Similar sounds, the words should be categorized according to the sounds they contain. In Word stress, the categories show word stress patterns. In Syllables, you should categorize the words according to the number of syllables they have. Random includes a selection of questions from the other three exercises.
Once you have finished moving the words between the columns, press the Submit button to find out which of your answers are correct and which are incorrect. Use the Next button to move to the next question or to skip a question. If you choose to skip a question, the ten items in that question will count as incorrect answers. When you want to stop, select Quit to see your score for the session.
Odd One Out
The exercises in Odd One Out include words that rhyme, or that have similar word stress patterns or numbers of syllables.
In each exercise, look at the four words and choose the word that is different from the other words in the group.
In Word stress, the odd one out has a different word stress pattern. In Rhyming words, the odd one out ends in a different sound. In Syllables, the odd one out has a different number of syllables. Random includes a selection of questions from the other three exercises.
Press the Submit button to find out whether your answer is correct or incorrect. Use the Next button to move to the next question or to skip a question. If you choose to skip a question, it will count as an incorrect answer. When you want to stop, select Quit to see your score for the session.
Snap!
The exercises in Snap! include pairs of words that are spelled differently but sound similar or have the same pronunciation.
In Reading phonetics, look at the phonetic transcription and the written form of the word. Select Yes if they match or No if not. In Homophones, look at the two words and select Yes if the pronunciation is the same or No if it is different. Random includes a selection of questions from the other two exercises.
You have two minutes to answer as many questions as possible. The timer will begin when you open the exercise, and your score will be displayed when the timer runs out. Use the Next button to move to the next question or to skip a question. If you choose to skip a question, it will count as an incorrect answer. If you want to stop before the timer runs out, select Quit to see your score for the session.
Memory Match
The exercises in Memory Match include pairs of words that end in the same sound, or that are spelled differently but have the same pronunciation.
Turn over two cards at a time to reveal two words. If the words match, the cards remain visible. If not, the cards turn over again.
In Rhyming words, find pairs of words that end in the same sound (for example, ache and fake). In Homophones, find pairs of words that are spelled differently but have the same pronunciation (for example, higher and hire). Random includes a selection of questions from the other two exercises.
You have five minutes to complete the game. Try to reveal all eight pairs of words before the timer runs out. The timer will begin when you turn over the first pair. If you want to stop before the timer runs out, select Quit.
4 Conversations
Choose Conversations to view the menu of different types of conversational language you can practise.
If you select the Information icon to the right of each language function, a panel containing a brief description of the type of conversational language included will be displayed.
To open, just select Go in the British or American column to the right of the language function you are interested in.
When the page for the language function you have selected opens, you will see expandable Useful Language lists. These lists contain phrases and expressions that are relevant to the language function that you have chosen. Select the speaker icons to listen to each phrase or expression. If you are using the iSpeaker on a smartphone, tap the three horizontal bars in the top left to hide or show the Useful Language lists.
In the Watch section, you can watch a video showing the language in context. You will see two or three people having a conversation at work, at home or out and about.
The Study section includes a transcript of the video. You can highlight the language that relates to particular language functions by checking the relevant boxes in the grey bar at the bottom of the Study section.
In the Practise section, you can read and listen to gapped versions of the conversation and provide the key language yourself. Use the Play and Record buttons to listen to the lines spoken by one speaker in the conversation, and record and listen to yourself taking the other role. You can find the language that you should use to fill the gaps in the dialogue in the Useful Language lists. You can then carry out the same activity, playing the part of the other speaker. You can also write your own conversation in the box at the bottom of the Practise section, and then record and listen to yourself.
In the Review section, you can assess your own performance.
5 Exam Speaking
Choose Exam Speaking to view the menu of different types of speaking tasks you can practise.
If you point to the Information icon to the right of each speaking task, you will see a brief description of the usual requirements for each task type.
To open, just select the speaking task title.
When the page for the speaking task you have selected opens, you will see expandable Useful Language lists. These lists contain phrases and expressions that are relevant to the type of speaking exam that you have chosen. Select the speaker icons to listen to each phrase or expression. This panel also contains two expandable lists of Tips, which provide advice for each type of speaking exam. If you are using the iSpeaker on a smartphone, tap the three horizontal bars in the top left to hide or show these lists.
The Task section contains instructions for the speaking task shown in the video in the Watch section. It also contains any relevant pictures.
In the Watch section, you can see a short film of a speaking exam involving the type of task that you have selected.
The Study section contains a transcript of the video. You can highlight the language that relates to particular functions by checking the relevant boxes in the grey bar at the bottom of this section.
In the Practise section, you are given instructions for similar tasks. You can use the Record and Play buttons to record and listen to yourself carrying out these tasks. Before you start, you can write notes in the box at the bottom of the Practise section.
In the Review section, you can see the language functions that are relevant to this type of speaking exam, and assess whether or not you have learned to use a range of expressions for each one.
6 Browser Compatibility
Oxford iSpeaker can run on the latest version of the following browsers:
- Chromium browsers (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, ...)
- Firefox
- Safari (macOS, iOS, iPadOS)
About Oxford's iSpeaker Tool
The Oxford iSpeaker: Your Gateway to Mastering Spoken English
Embark on a journey to refine your spoken English with the Oxford iSpeaker. This interactive tool is a treasure trove for those eager to speak English with more precision and fluidity. Tailored for varied scenarios, it offers four distinct sections, each honing a different facet of spoken English.
Mastering the Basics: Sounds
Dive into the world of English phonetics with the Sounds section. Here, explore the nuances of vowel and consonant sounds forming the backbone of English words. A treasure trove of practice opportunities awaits, from learning the sounds to mastering their pronunciation.
Practice Makes Perfect: Exercises
The Exercises area is a comprehensive practice field. Tackle everything from sound-spelling correlations to word stress and syllables. Whether it's mastering pronunciation or understanding English rhythm, this section is your reliable coach.
Real-World Conversations
The Conversations section is your guide to everyday English. Learn phrases and expressions commonly used in daily life. It's like having a conversation coach, helping you navigate through various everyday scenarios with ease.
Exam Preparation: Exam Speaking
For those facing English speaking exams, the Exam Speaking section is invaluable. It presents tasks often encountered in exams, offering a practical, exam-focused practice environment.
Tailored Learning Experience
Choose between British or American English across the Sounds, Exercises, and Conversations sections to align your learning with your preference or requirement.
Access and Availability
This feature is part of the premium offerings of Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. It's also accessible via DVD in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th Edition. Alternatively, explore it online for a comprehensive learning experience.
Detailed Exploration of Sounds
The Sounds section lists all English consonants, vowels, and diphthongs. Each sound comes with an information icon, offering examples of words containing the sound. Select your preferred accent (British or American) to begin your practice.
Interactive Video Learning
Watch videos demonstrating pronunciation, then practice with separate videos for sounds and words. Record and play back your efforts, comparing them with the standard pronunciation. Review your progress and refine your skills.
My Exercise: A Suite of Activities
The Exercises section offers eight varied activities, each designed to strengthen a different aspect of English pronunciation and understanding. From Dictation to Memory Match, each exercise includes clear instructions and interactive components, making learning both effective and engaging.
Conversational Mastery
In the Conversations section, familiarize yourself with functional language across various settings. Watch videos to see the language in action, study transcripts, and then practice and record yourself in simulated conversations. Review your performance to measure progress.
Ace Your Exams with Exam Speaking
The Exam Speaking section is tailored for those preparing for speaking exams. It includes useful language lists, tips, task instructions, and practice opportunities. Record and review your responses to gauge your readiness for the exam.
In summary, the Oxford iSpeaker is a comprehensive tool for anyone looking to improve their spoken English. With its focus on sounds, exercises, conversational practice, and exam preparation, it offers a well-rounded approach to mastering the language. Whether you're a beginner or advanced learner, this tool provides valuable resources to enhance your speaking skills in both American and British English.
