Author: Denis

Meet DINGO: English Grammar You Can See and Hear

By , English teacher and creator of Hibiscus Teach.

100% grammar, with images, audio and a clear next step after each set.

I have created DINGO, my new English language app on Hibiscus Teach, to bring focused grammar practice together with visual situations and audio. You work through short challenges, see which grammar points need attention, and follow links to lessons that help you understand them.

The aim is simple: to help you notice how English works and know what to study next.

Denis and the blonde woman presenting Dingo, the smiling golden dingo mascot, together.

Why put grammar at the centre?

In my experience, many other language apps almost completely neglect explicit grammar teaching. You may spend a great deal of time choosing answers while receiving very little explanation of why a particular sentence works the way it does.

That is the gap I wanted to explore. My aim with DINGO is to make grammar the focus of every activity and connect that practice with useful explanations. The emphasis is 100% grammar: the structures, choices and small differences that shape what we mean.

How DINGO works

  1. Choose your level. Start at A1 or select a higher level, up to C2, according to the challenge you want.
  2. Complete a set of ten questions. Match each picture to the correct sentence, choosing from three possible answers. Look closely at the situation and use the available audio to listen as well as read.
  3. Review your results. Your answers highlight the grammar points that are worth another look.
  4. Follow the lesson links. At the end of each completed set, DINGO links the grammar behind your mistakes to relevant Hibiscus Teach grammar lessons, so you can review the explanation and practise further.

You do not have to stay at one level. I encourage you to explore all the levels from A1 to C2 if you wish, and to work at several levels at the same time. Even one mistake in ten questions, or in twenty questions across two sets, can make the activity worthwhile: it gives you something specific to understand and practise. VIP membership saves your scores and completed sets across those levels, so you can move between them and return to your recorded progress. It currently costs $3 a month and is free for my current students.

This connection matters to me. A mistake gives you a useful starting point: something specific to understand, a lesson to open and a reason to try again. You can move directly from the challenge to the material that helps you work on it.

Grammar you can see and hear

The visual and audio elements are central to my approach. A picture gives the language a situation. Spoken models let you hear the words, their rhythm and the way they fit together. The sentence choices draw your attention to the grammatical detail.

I want those elements to work together. An image can make you consider who is doing something, when it is happening or who an object belongs to. Listening adds the spoken form. Choosing the sentence asks you to connect that meaning with the structure of English.

My intention is to make grammar concrete, approachable and worth paying attention to.

I want grammar itself to be fun. With Dingo, I feel I have just about found the right combination: meaningful pictures, spoken examples, short challenges and a clear route from a mistake to an explanation. My aim is for learners to enjoy noticing how English works, feel curious about the choices they make and want to try again.

Why DINGO?

I chose DINGO after Australia’s native wild dog. Dingoes are intelligent and curious, with an independent nature, and their packs help care for the young. For me, those qualities make the dingo a fitting mascot for English learning: curiosity to explore, independence to choose your own path, and support when something is difficult. Our smiling DINGO gives that idea a friendly face and a playful invitation to keep learning, one challenge at a time.

Dingo, the smiling golden dingo mascot, ready to play.

My research idea, shaped by years of teaching

I have taught English full time since 2009. I also hold a Master’s in TEFL, during which I wrote my thesis on materials design.

That background shapes how I think about learning activities: what a task asks a learner to notice, how examples communicate meaning and what happens after an answer is given.

DINGO is my research idea, growing out of those academic interests and many years of teaching English. I want to explore how focused grammar challenges, meaningful images, audio and relevant follow-up lessons can work together in a practical learning tool.

That is the idea I am putting into practice: a clear grammar focus, an engaging way to work with language, and a useful connection between the answer you give and the lesson you need.

I see DINGO as a powerful grammar tool, not an all-in-one language-learning system. It can help you build your knowledge when you use it thoughtfully: look closely at your mistakes, follow the lesson links and practise what you have reviewed. I encourage you to use it alongside other language-learning habits, including regular reading, listening, speaking and writing. My aim is for DINGO to be a useful part of your wider English learning, supporting the work you do independently and with your teacher.

Try DINGO on Hibiscus Teach: choose your level, complete a set and see which grammar lessons are worth exploring next.

Hibiscusflix: Learn English with Movie Clips, Cartoons and TV Series

Hibiscusflix — English lessons with films, cartoons and TV series

By , British English teacher.

A ridiculous excuse. An awkward office conversation. A dramatic confrontation in which nobody says quite what they mean.

These are not just entertaining moments. They are opportunities to explore English: what people say, how they say it, and what they expect someone else to understand.

Hibiscusflix brings that idea to Hibiscus Teach, with lessons built around movie clips, cartoons and television series. You can explore the collection on the Hibiscusflix English video lessons page, then move from watching a scene to investigating its language and discussing its meaning.

The aim is simple: enjoy the scene, understand more of the English, and leave with something you can use.

Can you really learn English by watching movies and TV series?

Yes. Films and television can provide valuable listening practice, introduce useful expressions and show how language works within a situation. Facial expressions, gestures and tone give you clues that a written sentence alone cannot provide. British Council: how film can support English learning.

But I would make a distinction between watching something in English and working with it to develop your English.

Watching for pleasure has its place. For a focused learning session, however, give yourself something to do: identify why a character is annoyed, notice how someone avoids answering a question, or choose an expression to use in your own conversation.

That is the approach behind Hibiscusflix. The entertainment is the starting point, not the whole activity.

Why use short movie clips instead of full films?

For focused study, I prefer a short scene because it gives us something manageable to revisit.

You can watch once to understand the situation, return to a difficult exchange, and then discuss what happened without having to work through an entire episode. You can also concentrate on a small number of useful expressions rather than trying to collect every unfamiliar word.

A full film is excellent for an evening’s entertainment. A short clip gives us room to ask more precise questions:

Was that a genuine apology? Why did the other person take offence? How could the same message have been expressed more politely?

There is no need to turn every film you enjoy into homework. Choose one interesting scene and give it your attention.

What can you learn from English-language clips?

Listening beyond individual words

Understanding spoken English involves more than recognising vocabulary. Speed, unfamiliar sounds and background noise can all make listening difficult. It also helps to distinguish between following the overall message, listening for a particular detail and inferring something that has not been stated directly. British Council: five essential listening skills.

Try giving each replay a different purpose. First, identify the problem. Next, listen for the explanation. Finally, decide whether you believe it.

You are no longer asking only, “Which words did I hear?” You are asking, “What is happening here?”

Vocabulary with a purpose

In the Hibiscusflix lesson The Office 2, expressions such as make a fuss, take offence and get your own back help learners discuss overreactions and office pranks. The lesson also distinguishes between language spoken in the clips and additional vocabulary chosen to help you talk about them.

Take that approach into your own viewing. Instead of recording ten disconnected words, choose two or three expressions and write something personal:

“I try not to make a fuss about small mistakes, but I do expect people to take responsibility.”

Now the vocabulary belongs to a thought you might actually want to express.

Tone, intention and implied meaning

Consider the sentence “That was helpful.” Said warmly, it expresses appreciation. Said after someone makes a problem worse, it may communicate the opposite.

Film gives you access to the delivery, the facial expression and the other person’s reaction. These visual and spoken clues help you investigate meaning beyond the literal words. British Council: learning through film.

For your next clip, ask: What does this person want? Are they being sincere? What changes if I imagine the same words spoken differently?

Are cartoons good for adults learning English?

They certainly deserve a place in an adult lesson. I choose cartoon scenes for the conversations they can open up, not because animation is automatically easy.

The Hibiscusflix collection includes The Simpsons, Futurama and South Park, with lesson themes ranging from excuses and encouragement to advertising, delegation and polite refusals. Hibiscusflix is primarily for adults. Some lessons are labelled 13+, so check the individual age guidance and content notes.

A ridiculous situation can still lead to a worthwhile conversation. Would you accept that excuse? Which tasks would you let a robot do? When does persistence become pressure?

You do not have to choose between enjoying something funny and taking your English seriously.

Cartoons can also give teenagers a useful starting point for talking about friendship, school and everyday decisions. I might ask a learner to explain a character’s choice, suggest a better response or act out a short exchange using a new expression. My dedicated Teens page brings together content chosen for teenagers, so that is the place to start for age-appropriate cartoon lessons and other English practice. I also plan to add suitable film and TV-series clips there.

Which TV series are useful for learning English?

My starting point is not “Which series is the most popular?” but “What can we do with this particular scene?”

In Hibiscusflix, The Office provides workplace comedy, Ted Lasso introduces themes of confidence and curiosity, and Rome and Vikings offer material for discussing persuasion, power, trust and belief. The Movies section adds film scenes, Shakespeare and original science fiction.

Choose according to your interests and the kind of conversation you want to have. You might prefer explaining a joke, debating a character’s decision or considering how someone could resolve a disagreement.

There is no obligation to copy a character’s behaviour. Sometimes the most useful task is to explain exactly why their way of communicating went wrong.

Should you watch English movies with or without subtitles?

English subtitles can be useful support; turning them off is not automatically the better learning choice. In one study involving Spanish learners of English, watching a television episode with English subtitles produced greater improvement on the listening test than watching with Spanish subtitles or no subtitles. This was a particular study, not a guarantee of the same result for every learner. Read the study in PLOS ONE.

My suggestion is to use subtitles according to your purpose. Try a short scene without them when the dialogue feels manageable. Use English subtitles, where available, to check an unclear exchange. Then replay that exchange and listen for the words you have identified.

When a scene is too difficult, use more support or choose something more accessible. The goal is not to prove that you can struggle without help. It is to understand more.

How can you practise speaking with movie clips?

A clip becomes speaking practice when you respond to it. Film can provide a starting point for discussion, role-play, summaries and debate, not just listening exercises. British Council: using film in English lessons.

Here is a simple routine to try.

Watch for the situation. Identify who is involved, what they want and what goes wrong. Give yourself permission to miss a few words on the first viewing.

Notice something useful. Choose a small number of expressions, check their meaning and practise saying them. Pay attention to how you want to sound: sympathetic, doubtful, apologetic or firm.

Make it your conversation. Summarise the scene, defend a character’s decision or invent a more sensible response. Use at least one of your chosen expressions.

For example, after watching an awkward disagreement, try explaining your own boundary without starting another argument. After a disastrous excuse, offer a more convincing explanation.

The point is not to memorise the script. It is to use the scene as a reason to formulate your own ideas.

What makes Hibiscusflix more than a collection of videos?

The lesson activities provide a route through the material. For example, The Office 2 combines vocabulary, comprehension questions, speaking prompts and British-English listen-and-repeat practice, with guidance for studying independently or working with a tutor.

My aim is to keep the learning purposeful without burying the entertainment beneath a mountain of exercises. I want the questions to help you notice something, the vocabulary to help you express something, and the speaking tasks to give you something worth discussing.

Choose a scene that catches your interest. Watch it closely. Have an opinion. Try out the language.

Explore Hibiscusflix: English lessons with movie clips, cartoons and TV series.

Hibiscus Teach journal · The comparison guide

Best Sites for Free English Lessons: 13 Compared

Looking for the best free English learning websites? Start with the support you need: explanations, listening, vocabulary or speaking. This 2026 guide compares 13 options, with Hibiscus Teach as our recommended starting point for independent study that connects explanations, answer feedback and speaking.

By , British English teacher. Based on reviews checked .

Our verdict: Hibiscus Teach, 9.0/10

Choose Hibiscus Teach for a focused free lesson you can complete alone, then apply in your own words. Other sites can be useful companions: Cake for short speaking clips, ManyThings.org for listening and repetition, or Agendaweb for extra drills. The table explains the differences.

Our top 5 free English sites by study goal

For a quick shortlist, these five offer useful ongoing free material. They are chosen for different needs; see the complete table for the ratings and access limits.

  1. Hibiscus Teach, a complete study session: explanations, self-checks and personal speaking prompts in the selected public lessons.
  2. Cake, short speaking practice: clips and expression activities, with optional Plus features.
  3. EnglishClass101, an audio pathway: a free account with selected lessons and vocabulary, alongside paid upgrades.
  4. ManyThings.org, listening and repetition: free reading and sentence audio you can return to regularly.
  5. Agendaweb, extra exercises: a broad directory for practising a grammar or vocabulary topic you already know.

Compare all 13 English learning websites

Published by Hibiscus Teach. These are our editorial ratings for continuing free study support, drawn from the linked reviews. They are not an independent whole-course test or measured learning results. The four criteria have equal weight; paid tutoring is excluded.

Each competitor name links to its detailed comparison. Scores are unchanged from those reviews; the overall mean is rounded to one decimal. Equal scores indicate a tie. Some providers offer limited samples or trials, which are identified below.

Editorial scores out of 10 for continuing free study with explanations and speaking
Website and free offer Overall Free support Explanations Speaking Find your level
Hibiscus TeachOngoing free lessonsSelected lessons: no account neededOur recommended starting pointPublic lessons combine explanations, answer feedback and personal speaking practice.Example lesson 9.0 9 9 9 9
CakeLimited free planPlus is optionalFree clips and speaking activities; Plus adds content and removes restrictions.Official information 8.0 8 8 8 8
EnglishClass101Free accountSelected lessons; paid upgradesA genuine free account with selected lessons; fuller access requires an upgrade.Official information 8.0 8 8 7 9
ManyThings.orgOngoing free resourcesSampled public activities: no account neededFree audio, reading and sentence repetition; add your own speaking task.Official information 7.8 9 8 7 7
AgendawebOngoing free resourcesSampled public activities: no account neededBroad free exercise directory; learners assemble their own study route.Official information 7.5 9 8 6 7
EnglishGrammar.orgFree resources + ProSampled free drills: no account neededGrammar drills and printable practice; some exercises require Pro.Official information 7.5 8 8 5 9
FluentUPublic guides + app trialInteractive video access is trial-basedInteractive video learning with a trial; its public English blog is free.Official information 7.5 6 8 7 9
LingoDeerFree introductory materialRemaining course requires PremiumFree introductory material; the remaining structured course requires Premium.Official information 7.5 6 8 7 9
MosaLinguaPublic guides + app trialApp continues by subscriptionFree public study guides; its vocabulary app offers a subscription trial.Official information 7.5 7 8 7 8
Rosetta StoneLimited free practiceWider access requires a trial or paymentLimited free Sapphire practice and an introductory lesson; wider access is paid.Official information 7.5 7 8 7 8
PimsleurFree introductory sampleLibrary availability variesFree introductory audio lesson; continued course access usually requires payment.Official information 7.3 6 7 8 8
DropsLimited free planTime and topic restrictionsVisual vocabulary games; free sessions have time and topic limits.Official information 7.0 7 7 6 8
MondlyLimited free planFull library requires PremiumFree daily practice; the full library and AI conversations require Premium.Official information 7.0 7 7 6 8

What the ratings measure

We retained the same four parameters across the series: range of free learning support, explanations and practice, guided speaking application and finding level-appropriate material. The shorter table headings refer to these criteria.

Quality means support you can use: clear explanations, a sensible next activity, feedback and a reason to form your own answer. A large library is useful, but its size alone does not tell you how easily you can complete a productive session.

The evidence combines public access information and selected activities reviewed on 12 September 2026. Some reviews tested a particular public interaction; others relied on advertised features and access terms. Coverage therefore varies. Paid subscriptions and learning outcomes were not tested. The linked reviews explain their scope. Five indicates partial support for this goal, six restricted but useful support, seven good, eight strong and nine very strong. This publisher assessment was prepared with AI assistance.

Why Hibiscus Teach is our first choice

Its advantage in this comparison is the connection between understanding and using English. In a selected public lesson, you can read an explanation, check a language choice, answer a personal speaking prompt and compare your response with model support. You can pause and revisit the material at your own pace.

The Grammar hub, organised by level, provides a starting route. Choose a specific problem and complete one lesson before adding another resource. These free resources are separate from Hibiscus Teach’s paid tutoring and membership services.

The 9.0 score describes the study support reviewed. It does not mean that every Hibiscus Teach resource is better than every alternative, or that a free page can assess every sentence you produce.

Try the approach in one minute

This short illustration uses the contrast taught in Present Perfect vs Past Simple. It shows the explanation, practice and model support behind our recommendation.

Choose: Which sentence fits a finished time?
A. I have finished the report yesterday.
B. I finished the report yesterday.

Check the answer and explanation

B is correct. “Yesterday” places the event in a finished past time, so use the past simple. “I have finished the report” can report the result now, without a finished-time expression.

Speak for 20 seconds: name something you have done this week, then say when you did it. Alone, compare your answer with the model. With a tutor, add why it mattered.

See a possible spoken answer

“I’ve finished a report. I sent it yesterday.” The first sentence reports a result; the second gives a finished past time. Your own example can be different.

Choose a useful companion for your goal

More grammar practice

EnglishGrammar.org and Agendaweb are useful when you know the topic and want extra questions or worksheets. Use a Hibiscus Teach lesson to understand the point and practise a spoken answer, then add a short drill if that helps.

Listening, clips and pronunciation

ManyThings.org supplies listening and sentence repetition. Cake offers lively clips and speaking activities. Pimsleur’s introductory lesson lets you try an audio-led approach, including English pathways with first-language instructions. Continued access and library availability need checking.

Vocabulary habits and structured courses

Drops and MosaLingua may suit learners who enjoy vocabulary review. LingoDeer offers a sequential course in supported starting languages; Mondly provides daily practice. Rosetta Stone’s limited free practice introduces its wider approach, while FluentU offers a trial of interactive video learning. EnglishClass101 has a genuine free account alongside subscription tiers. A lower score here is about the stated free-study goal, not proof that a paid course lacks quality.

Choose quality free lessons for your level

Earlier beginner? Choose an easier topic through the Grammar hub’s level groups. The selected lessons above were checked for explanations, speaking guidance and model or answer support. They make the recommendation concrete; they are not evidence about every page on either website.

Study alone or with a top-rated tutor

You can use the selected lessons independently. For personal feedback, book a paid lesson with Denis M., a top-rated British English tutor. Check his current tutor profile and bring a question, a recording or a real conversation you want to practise.

Book a lesson with Denis

Questions about free English learning websites

Are all 13 websites completely free?

No. The table distinguishes public resources, free plans, introductory samples and trials. Paid products are separate. Check each provider’s current terms before signing up.

Which websites let me learn English without a paid subscription?

Hibiscus Teach’s selected public lessons, Agendaweb and ManyThings.org provide ongoing free resources. Cake and EnglishClass101 also have genuine free offers with limits, while EnglishGrammar.org provides free drills alongside Pro exercises. Choose a specific free activity and check what remains available after any trial ends.

Which free English learning website should a beginner choose?

Begin with material you can understand and a clear route through it. Use Hibiscus Teach’s free English level tests to find a starting point, then select an appropriate lesson from the Grammar hub. If English-only explanations are difficult, check a provider’s support for your first language before choosing a course.

Which sites help me practise English speaking?

Hibiscus Teach’s selected lessons include personal speaking prompts and model support. Cake offers short speaking activities; ManyThings.org is useful for listening and repetition before you create your own sentences. Human feedback is a separate benefit when you need someone to respond to what you actually said.

Can I learn English using free resources alone?

Free lessons can support substantial independent practice. Progress also depends on regular use, suitable material and feedback. A model answer helps you review a task; a tutor can respond to your particular mistakes and goals. Neither a website rating nor a subscription guarantees fluency.