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There must have been many questions asking about learning English language from the best resources. Especially non-native speakers wonder which one is better and preferable.

Since MSM (mainstream media) in non-native speaking countries uses local English, it's quite difficult for non-native speakers to learn International English. It is worth nothing that many consider MSM as the most authentic source. But, it's not.

I seek your opinion on providing some standard books available to download here. It could be free or priced depending on the sources or agreement we manage.

We may ask the publishers to provide free downloads in the interest of the users worldwide (anyway, almost all books are available to download from other links as nothing is impossible on the Internet!).

At least some links -readily available?

Something is better than nothing. At least we can provide some link readily available? Say --

English Grammar Guide - EduFind (BBC links it).

I would be happy seeing these links on a common page or maybe, we can come up with some structured page easy to navigate and browse by the new users. For instance,

Under the page of Adjective

Adjective order
Adjective placement
and so on...

Let us unite and provide the links that most of us agree (say -- BBC, Cambridge, Swan, Oxford etc. As natives, you may know better) and provide the links to the new users here. This way, ELL will become a complete guide to the language. Said that, if you are here, you don't need to go anywhere for anything including genuine sources.

I know that there are exceptions and it requires in-depth knowledge of the language. But the users (especially new) on ELL are in need to learn the 'normal' things first, and then exceptions or what we may say core English. Once they are thorough with the basics, they'd learn further as on ELU.

For this, we may have 'English Guide for Basic Knowledge' under which, we may start putting chapters, or directly downloadable books, or simple links to concerned topics but everything in a structured way as I said in my example of adjectives.

The best benefit of this initiative is on this site, I find users from all across the world and each one of us knows at least 2-3 genuine sources of learning the language. Why not (especially seniors here) benefit the new users or the community here?

Just seeking an opinion. Your comment/answers are welcomed.

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    Could you tell us what 'MSM' is?
    – user230
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:13
  • Oh. It's main stream media. @snailboat
    – Maulik V
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:29
  • It's interesting that you think of "basics" as "the 'normal' things", and "exceptions" as "core English", and advanced English as (or on) ELU.
    – Damkerng T.
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:31
  • Yes. Basic/normal things to learn the usage of 'inasmuch' and 'core English' as history or etymology behind it. So, I'd like to have a page on uses of such things here on ELL! @DamkerngT.
    – Maulik V
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:42
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    I don't understand how this might be different from our resources thread with a different sort of index.
    – ColleenV
    Sep 28, 2015 at 13:54

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Would it be useful to have these in tag wikis instead? That way it is community-editable but still goes through peer review (unless you have the reputation), whereas here on meta, either you can edit it, or you can't, and while there is some peer review in that the post owner gets notified, it's probably not fair to leave it to them to rollback any changes made that are unsuitable.

Also, in having them in tag wikis, you're able to make detailed reference to issues that arise repeatedly and either link to great answers, or quote parts of texts that address them.

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  • Creating 'tags' would typically address 'every aspect' of the topic. It may then become complex. I want plain reference, one click reference (say, page about adjective which includes general things about adjective) to most of the grammar topics.
    – Maulik V
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:31
  • That's what I mean, though. We have the adjective tag. You click on it, and then there's a whole section that people don't always look at - which we can use to create a wonderful resource.
    – jimsug
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:32
  • But that makes 50X7 entries. People, as you said, are not tend to visit them all. But the presentation like this is more likely to be referred and used. Are you getting me?
    – Maulik V
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:45
  • I understand, but there's no reason we can't have something like that in the adjective tag, with a precis of the sub-topics, and a link to off-site resources. I'm not sure where you're proposing that we put these. In a meta post, somewhere?
    – jimsug
    Sep 28, 2015 at 6:46
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    Consider the tag wiki for 'tense', for instance. If we needed to, we could include links to off-site resources, or just improve what we already have.
    – jimsug
    Sep 28, 2015 at 7:09
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    I like the idea of improving the tag wikis. If a learner doesn't have a specific question about for example, past perfect tense, it would be great to encourage them to click on the tag and browse the questions and answers. I think if the tag wikis had information in them beyond a description of what they're used for, it would make the tags much more useful and encourage searching the site. We would have to get the word out somehow that the tags are more than just a way to categorize your question though.
    – ColleenV
    Sep 28, 2015 at 14:28
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    Could use a community promotion ad to advertise them.
    – jimsug
    Sep 28, 2015 at 20:15
  • We should probably come up with a list of tags to focus on. Our most popular tag is grammar, which I think wouldn't be the best place to start.
    – ColleenV
    Sep 28, 2015 at 21:28
  • Also, if we were closing as too broad, and one or more relevant tags have good wikis, that would be a good opportunity to promote them.
    – jimsug
    Sep 28, 2015 at 21:42
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    Why does it have to be one or the other? We can have a Meta thread that indexes and explains relevant terms and links to the appropriate tag wikis.
    – choster
    Oct 1, 2015 at 20:34

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