Learner-Recommended Resources
This page features resources for language learners that match your interests and learning style — it’s your learning, your way!
These apps, books, websites, and videos were handpicked by university-aged students of English in Japan based on what actually helped them improve their English skills.
Whether you’re looking for fun YouTube channels, effective vocabulary apps, or creative ways to practice pronunciation, there’s something here for every learner.
Click through the categories below to explore what worked for others — and what might work for you!
- 📱 Apps
- 📚 Books
- 🎙️ Podcasts
- 🌐 Websites
- 🎥 YouTube Channels
📱 Apps
Speaking
ELSA Speak – AI pronunciation trainer.
HelloTalk – Language exchange app for chatting with native and non-native speakers.
Listening
Apple Podcasts – For passive and active listening practice with transcripts.
LyricsTraining – Music-based listening and vocabulary quizzes.
Santa – AI TOEIC practice
TikTok/Instagram – Casual, fun exposure to English through social media.
“I often used HelloTalk. It’s an app that helps language learners connect with each other through chatting and voice messages. For example, if you’re a Japanese speaker who wants to learn English, you can match with English speakers who want to learn Japanese. You learn from each other while also teaching your own language. It’s also a good way to see how native English speakers actually use the language, including slang.”
– Student
“Lyricstraining is good for listening practice, and I also take notes on words I don’t understand and look them up later. Just learning vocabulary and doing listening practice can be boring, but with this, I actually enjoyed studying English. It’s also a fun way to discover Western music.”
– Student
“I found the app “Mikan” really useful. I used it to study TOEIC vocabulary. The app let me review the words over and over, and when I used the recommended mode, it would bring back words I hadn’t remembered well for a confirmation test—so it was easier to learn them. It also breaks each word into four stages, so I could check my understanding multiple times, which made it easier to remember. Another great feature is that it shows your streak of correct answers. I wanted to keep that number going, which really motivated me. I used to feel frustrated when I made mistakes, so I think it’s good that this app encourages you to get it right the first time.”
– Student
📚 Books
- 16000語レベル 最強ボキャブラリービルディング – Used daily by students for vocabulary building.
- DUO 3.0 – Vocabulary learning with example phrases.
“DUO is a vocabulary book that teaches words through useful phrases. It’s one of Tarosac’s recommended resources.
I also studied with this 16,000-word English vocabulary book every day to build my vocabulary.”– Student
🎙️ Podcasts
- BBC 6 Minute English – Regular episodes, transcripts, vocabulary guides on every topic under the sun – all for free!
🌐 Websites
Watch & Listen
BBC Learning English– Short videos, pronunciation, and news-based learning.
Elllo.org – Authentic audio for listening and speaking practice.
Read & Build Vocabulary
DMM英会話 – Articles and vocabulary practice from many genres organised by level.
News in Levels – Leveled news with vocab support.
NHK – Japan news in English
Reading and Writing Tools – Self study resources for academic reading, writing, and vocabulary.
Resource Hubs
i-ARC – Resource hub for (mostly) free speaking, listening, reading, writing tools managed by Kyoto University.
TUFS Language Modules – Multilingual English learning resource.
“I recommend BBC Learning English because it has lots of short videos and is easy to watch during my free time.There’s a wide range of video genres, so I can choose depending on what I’m interested in or what I want to learn.”
– Student
“I often listened to Elllo to improve my listening and speaking skills. It helped me learn natural English.
I think the audio on Elllo is different from Eiken exam recordings—it’s more similar to how native speakers actually talk. Since I wanted to improve my speaking, Elllo was very useful for me. I also recommend BBC Learning English because it has lots of short videos and is easy to watch during my free time.There’s a wide range of video genres, so I can choose depending on what I’m interested in or what I want to learn.”– Student
“I recommend News in Levels and DMM英会話 Daily News for improving English through reading and listening.
News in Levels is an app that provides news articles in English at three different difficulty levels. Each article includes audio and is based on a YouTube video, which makes it great for listening practice. DMM英会話 Daily News offers a wide range of articles organized by topic and level. It also includes discussion questions and vocabulary reflection activities, which help improve not only reading skills but also writing and speaking.”– Student
🎥 YouTube Channels
Learn English Naturally
English Addict with Mr Duncan – Everyday English with humor. Especially useful for idioms and expressions.
Real Life English – Improve listening skills and learn useful phrases.
Sakura English School – Beginners English channel.
Speak English With Vanessa – Practical, everyday English with clear explanations.
This is 英会話 – Casual conversation practice with bilingual subtitles. Great for shadowing and listening.
Culture, Comedy, & Daily Life
Adam Hattan – Family-friendly British travel vlogger. Lots of Disney content!
Jimmy O Yang – English language comedy
Kazu Languages – Learn not only natural English but also other languages and cultures.
タロサックの海外生活ダイアリーTAROSAC – English interviews with diverse people about varied topics.
Tam Kaur – Lifestyle influencer.
“I think the YouTube channel Adam Hattan was the most helpful for improving my listening skills this semester.
It’s not academic, but you can hear natural British English. His speech is very clear and easy to understand.
The content is all about Disney—he travels alone and introduces many things related to Disney in his videos.”– Student
“One of the most helpful resources I used this semester was the YouTube channel English Addict with Mr Duncan. His lessons are clear, funny, and focus on everyday English—not just grammar. I especially liked his videos about idioms and expressions, which helped me sound more natural when speaking. I watched one or two videos a week and practiced shadowing his pronunciation.
I also used the app ELSA Speak, which gives feedback on pronunciation. It helped me notice small mistakes and improve my accent. Both of these tools were great for independent practice outside the classroom.”– Student
“I recommend Tam Kaur. She is an English YouTuber. Her videos have subtitles in both English and Japanese, so it’s easy to learn English—and I really like her videos. Here’s how I study: First, I slow down the playback speed and do dictation. Then I return the video to the original speed and watch it with subtitles. Next, I do oral reading several times using my dictation notes. Finally, I try to read aloud at the same speed as her—this is what we call shadowing. It’s very helpful for improving speaking skills. Of course, it takes time, so I usually just use part of a video.”
– Student
Suggest a resource
