Frequently Asked Questions General Questions What is English Club?
Who is English Club for?
Is English Club free?
Who started and/or runs English Club?
When did English Club start?
Where does English Club come from?
Does English Club use British or American English?
How big is English Club?
How many hits does English Club get?
How often is English Club updated?
What's your policy on spam?
Does English Club keep my email address private?
What other sites does English Club operate?
How can I contact English Club?
How can I pay an invoice or make other payments? More Questions About... What is English Club?
English Club is a "web club" for anyone learning or teaching English as a second or foreign language. It is a site where learners come to: Teachers also use it as a resource for ESL lesson plans and ESL jobs. TOP Who is English Club for?
The vast majority of our visitors and members are learners and teachers of English from almost every country in the world. Many language schools and universities around the world link to English Club for its solid content. English Club is specially designed for the learning of English as a second language, so most of our student visitors are non-native speakers, whereas our teacher visitors may be native or non-native speakers. TOP Is English Club free of charge?
Yes, access to all parts of English Club is entirely free of charge. This is thanks mainly to our advertisers and sponsors who pay for their banners to be placed on English Club pages. A large part of our technical, maintenance and editorial costs is paid for from sponsorship sales. By visiting our sponsors, you are helping to keep access to your club free of charge. TOP Who started and/or owns English Club?
English Club was founded and is owned by Josef Essberger, a British-born native-speaker who has taught English in Europe and Asia since 1990. He founded English Club for ESL learners and teachers in 1997, and the following year founded TEFL.NET, a site dedicated to English teachers. With a background in publishing and photography, Josef is the author of several articles, short stories and books, including a travel guide entitled Monopoly London. TOP When did English Club start?
English Club was founded on 7th July 1997. That means it was one of the earliest sites dedicated to ESL on the Internet. It started as just a few pages, but soon expanded to be one of the largest ESL sites with over 7,000 pages at the beginning of the 21st century. TOP Where does English Club come from?
English Club is a British site based in Cambridge, England. TOP How big is English Club?
The site is constantly expanding because new pages are added daily. From just a few pages in 1997 the site has grown considerably, with over 10,000 pages today and more being added all the time. TOP Does English Club use British or American English?
English Club is a British site based in Cambridge, England. English Club is written mainly in British English, taking the The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English as a reference. But we have pages about other varieties of English such as American or Canadian. Don't be surprised if you see a word that you think is wrongly spelled! Some words are spelled differently in British English and American English. "Colour", for example, is British English. In American English it is "color". We try to make this clear when it is important. As a reference for American English we use Webster's New World College Dictionary. TOP How many "hits" does English Club get?
Our stats record over 700,000 user sessions per month and over 4 million pageviews per month. TOP How often is English Club updated?
Constantly. English Club is updated 24 hours a day. Editorial updates and new pages are added daily. For a list of the most important new pages and updates please click here. TOP What other sites does English Club operate?
English Club operates several ESL sites, including EasyEnglish.com, TEFL.NET (a site dedicated to teachers), and eslAdmin.com (for school administrators). TOP What's your policy on spam?
We don't like it! And we don't tolerate it. For example, we send the English Club ESL Progress! Magazine only to people who have subscribed to it. And we make it easy for you to unsubscribe too. What's more, we don't allow people to use an English Club email address to send spam or bulk mail. If you believe you are being sent bulk email from an English Club address, please contact us with full details, if possible adding the offending email. TOP Does English Club keep my email address private?
We have a very strict policy on privacy on the Internet. In plain English, that means we don't give or sell or rent your name or email address to anybody without your specific permission (though we might reveal it if required to do so by the police or other government agency in the event of a criminal investigation). For full details, please read our Privacy Policy Statement. If you post your email address on our message boards or send a letter to Postbag, you should be aware that your email address is then publicly available. TOP How do I contact English Club?
You can contact English Club easily. Please see our contact page for details. TOP How can I pay an invoice or make other payments?
Please see our payment options page for details. TOP Can I join English Club? How?
How can I update my info?
How can I change my email address?
How many members does English Club have?
Where are they?
Who are they?
How do I finish my membership? Can I join English Club? If so, how?
Yes! You can join over 70,000 other English Club members around the world. Please click here for details. How can I update my subscription details?
At the bottom of all emails is a link that says: "Click here to change or remove your subscription". If you click on this link, you will come to a page where you can change details such as your country and interests. How can I change my email address?
At the bottom of all emails is a link that says: "Click here to change or remove your subscription". If you click on this link, you will come to a page where you can change your email address. How many members does English Club have?
English Club has over 70,000 members. Where are they?
English Club members are located literally all over the world. Who are they?
English Club members are mostly ESL learners and teachers. Some schools are also members, as well as other people who are just interested in English. How do I finish my membership?
At the bottom of all emails is a link that says: "Click here to change or remove your subscription". If you click on this link, you will come to a page where you can unsubscribe. TOP Can I subscribe to an English Club email newsletter?
Is it free?
My email program can't read HTML.
I am not receiving ESL Progress! Why?
Can I submit an article?
How do I stop receiving the magazine? Can I subscribe to an English Club email newsletter?
When you join English Club, you automatically receive our monthly email newsletter, ESL Progress. Is it free?
Yes! My email program can't read HTML.
English Club sends the ESL Progress newsletter in HTML format. This allows us to use colour and pictures, and gives you a generally more useful newsletter. However, a few older email programs are not able to read HTML and prefer plain text. For this reason, we also send you a note in plain text. If your email program cannot "see" the HTML, it will show you the plain text note, giving you a link to a page on English Club where you can read the latest newsletter online, through your browser. I am not receiving ESL Progress. Why?
There are several possible reasons why you are not receiving ESL Progress after subscribing to it. You may have entered the wrong email address when you subscribed. Or you may have changed your email address but not updated it for ESL Progress. In both cases you will need to join English Club again. There may be a problem with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), in which case you should contact your ISP. Another possible reason is that you used your work or office email address when you joined English Club. Some offices "filter" email to prevent employees receiving personal email. In this case, you should join English Club again, using a private email address. If you have an email program with a safelist or whitelist (list of email addresses you want to receive email from) you should make sure you add "englishclub.com" to it. Can I submit an article?
We welcome articles for possible publication in ESL Progress. Articles should focus on an aspect of learning English and be about 700 words long. If we use your article, we will quote your name, and your email address or web page if you wish. You can submit articles here. How do I stop receiving the newsletter?
At the bottom of every newsletter you receive is a link that says: "Click here to change or remove your subscription". If you click on this link, you will come to a page where you can unsubscribe. TOP What are the 7 Secrets?
How do I get 7 Secrets?
Are they free?
I subscribed to 7 Secrets but didn't receive them.
I didn't receive Secret #3
How do I change my email address?
How do I stop receiving 7 Secrets? What are the 7 Secrets?
Thousands of ESL learners around the world have subscribed free to English Club's 7 Secrets for ESL Learners. And they were glad they did so. 7 Secrets for ESL Learners comes to you by email. You receive one secret a day for one week. In the first week you will learn seven of the best ways to improve your English fast. After that you receive weekly tips on learning English, always around the number 7, for example, "The 7 Colours of the Rainbow", "7 Ways to Say OUGH", or "7 Countries for Study Abroad". You will receive these emails for one year. How do I get 7 Secrets?
To subscribe immediately to 7 Secrets for ESL Learners, just go to 7 Secrets. Are they free?
Yes! I subscribed to 7 Secrets but didn't receive them.
There are several possible reasons why you are not receiving 7 Secrets for ESL Learners after subscribing to it. You may have entered the wrong email address when you subscribed. In that case you will need to subscribe to 7 Secrets again. There may be a problem with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), in which case you should contact your ISP. Another possible reason is that you used your work or office email address when you subscribed to 7 Secrets. Some offices "filter" email to prevent employees receiving personal email. In this case, you should subscribe to 7 Secrets again, using a private email address. If you have an email program with a whitelist (list of email addresses you want to receive email from) you should make sure you add "English Club" to it. I didn't receive Secret #3. Please send it again.
If you started to receive 7 Secrets, but didn't receive one or two of them, don't worry! After 14 days you will receive an email with ALL the 7 Secrets in one. Usually, when you don't receive one or two copies of your 7 Secrets, the problem is with your email service or Internet Service Provider (ISP), in which case you should contact them direct. The system for sending 7 Secrets to you is automated and we cannot send you an individual secret. Just wait for them all to come at the end of 14 days. Another possible reason is that you clicked on the link at the very bottom of one of the 7 Secrets and then unsubscribed yourself by mistake. If you unsubscribe yourself, you will not receive any more 7 Secrets. How do I change my name or email address?
To change your name or email address, just click on the link at the end of any 7 Secrets email. You will come to a page where you can click "Change Details". (Do not click "Unsubscribe"!) On the next page you can enter a new email address and/or name. If you change your name, be sure to put your first name first and your last (family) name last! (For example, put James Bond, not Bond James.) The automatic system uses your first name to say hello. If you write it the wrong way, you will receive emails saying something like "Dear Bond" instead of "Dear James". :-( How do I stop receiving 7 Secrets?
To stop receiving 7 Secrets, click on the link at the very bottom of any 7 Secrets email. You will come to a page where you can click "Unsubscribe". If you click this, you will unsubscribe yourself and not receive any more 7 Secrets. So be careful! Do not click "Unsubscribe" if you really want to keep receiving 7 Secrets. Your name and email address will be removed from the list immediately! TOP What are English Club ebooks?
Are they free?
Are they guaranteed?
What are the system requirements for ebooks?
How long to download?
I really want to buy your ebooks, but I don't have a credit card.
I bought an ebook but cannot download it.
I downloaded an ebook but cannot open it. What are English Club ebooks?
eBook means "electronic book". English Club ebooks are "virtual" books that you can download and read on your computer to help you in learning English. Are they free?
No, but they are very low-cost. Are they guaranteed?
Yes. All English Club ebooks have a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are not happy with your ebook for any reason, we will refund your money without question within 30 days of purchase. What are the system requirements for ebooks?
The system requirements vary according to the ebook, but you can read most of our ebooks on almost any PC. Please check the system requirements before buying. They are shown on the page for each ebook. How long to download?
You can download any ebook very quickly, usually in under 2 minutes. I really want to buy your ebooks, but I don't have a credit cad.
Mmm. The cost of our ebooks is very low, and if we accepted payment by other methods the cost would have to be higher - probably a lot higher. We are very sorry, but the only way that we can distribute ebooks worldwide at an acceptable price is by accepting payment by credit card. I bought an ebook but cannot download it.
If for any reason you had trouble in downloading your ebook, please contact us and tell us the name of the ebook and the transaction number that you received when you bought it. We will then send you your ebook by email. I downloaded an ebook but cannot open it.
If you have any trouble opening your ebook, just contact us and tell us the name of the ebook, the transaction number that you received when you bought it, and your computer system (Windows, Mac etc) and browser (Internet Explorer 6, Netscape 5 etc). If necessary, we will send you another copy of your ebook by email. TOP Can we add our Site to the English Club ESL links directory?
Can we link to English Club?
Can we advertise on English Club? Can we add our site to the English Club ESL links directory?
Yes. We welcome links that are ESL related. We add them free to our links directory. You can add your site here. Can we link to English Club?
Yes. To link to the English Club home page, the url is: http://www.English Club. You can also link to any other page you wish. You can find more details about linking here. Can we advertise on English Club?
Yes. If you are involved in English language training, then English Club is an ideal medium for you to reach hundreds of thousands of ESL learners around the world. You can also target teachers through the English Club teacher sections. Advertising on English Club is perfect for language schools, ELT publishers, teacher training bodies and travel organizations. Many of our advertisers buy banner advertising, while some prefer promotional text links. Please click here to learn more about the many advertising opportunities at English Club. TOP How can I use English Club to improve my English?
Does English Club offer any language courses?
I have a question about grammar.
How can I listen to English with English Club?
How can I chat in English?
I want to find a pen pal to exchange emails in English.
Where can I discuss things in English?
I don't know my level in English. Can you tell me?
I want to read the latest news in English.
I need help with pronunciation.
I'd like to play some games to improve my English.
Can I do some ESL quizzes for fun?
Can English Club help me find a school?
How can I use English Club to improve my English?
English Club has many pages designed to help you improve your English. English Club is like a Self Access Centre - it lets you work in your own way and at your own time. You can choose the method that you like best. If you like to "study", you can look at the lessons in areas like Grammar, Vocabulary and Pronunciation, or the four skills, Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing. If you prefer a "fun" method, you can try areas such as Games, Quizzes and Jokes. For a really "interactive" approach, try communicating in English through the Forums, Chat Room or Pen pals. You can even post a question about English at the 24-hour Help Desk. There are other areas too, for information or special interests, such as ESL Resources, Business Englishand Young Learners. You can also find lots of information on ESL Exams and other ESL web sites, or even find a school where you can study abroad. Does English Club offer any language courses?
English Club is an ESL resource site, with many pages and lessons that can help you improve your English. But these are not complete "language courses" as such. If you are looking for a language course at a school, or perhaps online, you could check out our English Schools Worldwide directory. I have a question about grammar. Can you help me?
You can ask a grammar question on our 24-hour Help Desk. How can I listen to English with English Club?
You can find listening resources such as Listen to Radio and Listen to Poetry in English Listening. How can I chat in English?
You can chat in English night or day in the English Club ESL Chat Room. I want to find a pen pal to exchange emails in English.
Good idea! You'll find plenty of other learners and teachers who want to hear from you by email at Pen Pals. You can also post your own name and address if you want. Where can I discuss things in English?
You can discuss anything you want in English in the English Club ESL Forums. I don't know my level in English. Can you tell me?
You can get a good idea of your level in English by doing the written comprehension test. I want to read the latest news in English.
You'll find all the latest stories from newspapers and magazines around the world here. These stories are live, updated every 15 minutes. You can also listen to the weekly news here. I need help with pronunciation.
You can find some good pages about pronunciation, including word stress, sentence stress and linking, here. If you really want to make a lot of progress in pronunciation, check out this pronunciation software. I'd like to play some games to improve my English.
Games are an excellent way to make progress in English. Look for games in English Club ESL Games. Can I do some ESL quizzes for fun?
Certainly! Check out English Club ESL Quizzes for plenty of interactive quizzes. Can English Club help me find a school?
If you're looking for a school almost anywhere in the world, try looking in English Schools Worldwide. TOP May I copy and use any material that I find on English Club?
Can English Club help me find a job?
I'd like to set up a chat session with a teacher and students from another school.
I'd like to find pen pals for my students.
I need some ideas for lesson plans urgently.
I need some authentic reading material for my students.
I'd like to discuss some teaching issues with other teachers.
How do I submit a lesson plan?
Can I submit an article for ESL Progress! magazine?
I want to learn more about TEFL qualifications.
I'm looking for ESL software, games and other resources.
I'd like to become an English Club Help Desk Teacher. May I copy and use any material that I find on English Club?
You may print and distribute any material that you find on English Club for non-commercial educational purposes provided that you do not modify its content and provided that the source is clearly cited. Can English Club help me find a job?
Yes. We have a section for teaching jobs. I need some ideas for lesson plans urgently.
You can find many ideas for lessons, including games, activities and worksheets, graded by level, at ESL Lesson Plans. I need some authentic reading material for my students.
You can find the latest English language stories from newspapers and magazines around the world here. These stories are live, updated every fifteen minutes. I'd like to set up a chat session with a teacher and students from another school.
Good idea! You can run chat sessions in the ESL Chat Room. But first, you probably want to contact other teachers, maybe in another country, who want to do the same. You will need to synchronize your chat session so that both school log on at the same time. You can find other teachers to do this here. I'd like to find pen pals for my students.
Another excellent idea! You can find other teachers looking for exchange pen pals here. I'd like to discuss some teaching issues with other teachers.
Check out the Teacher Forums, where you can read and write messages. How do I submit a lesson plan?
If you have a good lesson plan that you'd like to share with other teachers, please submit it here. Can I submit an article for ESL Progress! magazine?
We welcome articles for possible publication in ESL Progress! Articles should focus on an aspect of learning English and be about 700 words long. If we use your article, we will quote your name, and your email address or web page if you wish. You can submit articles here. I want to learn more about TEFL qualifications.
You'll find details about various TEFL courses and qualifications under Teacher Qualifications. I'm looking for ESL software, games and other teaching aids.
You may find what you need here. I'd like to become an English Club Help Desk Teacher.
If you would like to be a volunteer Teacher on the ESL Help Desk, please contact us. TOP Can English Club help us find students?
Can English Club help us find teachers?
We have a school to sell. Can English Club help?
Can we link our Self Access Centre to English Club?
We like to use the English Club Chat Room, but can't access it with all our computers.
Can we get a site license for your pronunciation software?
Can we advertise our school on English Club? Can English Club help us find students?
Yes. You can add a free listing in English Schools Worldwide for students who want to learn English. Can English Club help us find teachers?
Yes. We have an ESL Jobs section for this. You have two options. You can browse the jobs wanted page where teachers leave their CVs and resumes, or you can post your own job announcement. We have a school to sell. Can English Club help?
Yes. Please contact us for details. All enquiries are treated in total confidence. Can we link our Self Access Centre to English Club?
Yes. Many schools and universities build links to English Club into their courses and learning resources. You can link from your own intranet or web site direct to any pages you wish. For example, you could link to English Grammar as a general link, or to English Verb Tenses as a more specific link, or to Present Perfect Tense as a very specific link. Our students like using the English Club Chat Room, but we can't access it with all our computers.
For security reasons, the server only allows for two connections from a single IP address. If you find that you cannot connect enough computers at one time, your computer wizard may be able to adjust your network settings to compensate. Can we get a site license for your pronunciation software?
Yes. You can obtain a site license allowing you to use the software on many computers from a single server. You can find full details and an order form here. Can we advertise our school on English Club?
Yes. You can place your banner in various locations within English Club. Please click here for more details. TOP |