Teaching resources

Resources for Teachers

Dated February 2021

The teaching group has collected various materials you may find helpful.

If you have any extra resources to add to the list below, or if you have any problems with any of the links, please contact Nicki on nicki.harrison@SWVG-refugees.org.uk.

Teaching online

Different platforms to connect with students

• Zoom
• Google Meet
• FaceTime – if student has iPhone
• WhatsApp video call

Useful teaching aids

• Drawing pad
• Whiteboard
• Flash cards
• Pictures

Learning to read

• Turning Pages reading scheme from The Shannon Trust: https://www.shannontrust.org.uk/turning-pages

Useful Teaching Books

• English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy. Useful English grammar books for teachers, including exercises https://www.cambridge.org/gb/cambridgeenglish/catalog/grammar-vocabulary-and-pronunciation/english-grammar-use-5th-edition
• English for Everyone, Dorling Kindersley, including free online audio exercises: https://www.dkefe.com/en/
• Ship or Sheep: An intermediate pronunciation course, by Ann Baker: https://www.cambridge.org/gb/cambridgeenglish/catalog/grammar-vocabulary-and-pronunciation/ship-or-sheep-3rd-edition/ship-or-sheep-intermediate-pronunciation-course-3rd-edition-students-book
• Longman Photo Dictionary: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Longman-Photo-Dictionary-by-LONGMAN/9781408261958

Graded Readers

Books with language graded for vocabulary, complexity of grammar structures and also by the number of words, beginners to advanced.

• OxfordBookworms: https://elt.oup.com/catalogue/items/global/graded_readers/oxford_bookworms_library/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
• Cambridge University Press: http://www.cambridge.org/elt/readers
• Penguin Readers: http://www.penguinreaders.com
• Black Cat: http://www.blackcat-cideb.com

Other resources

• Easy to use online picture dictionary, featuring over 100 languages: https://babadada.com/
• Real everyday household items: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/teaching-resources/teaching-secondary/activities/pre-intermediate-a2/realia
• Newspapers, magazines, leaflets, menus, maps, brochures, theatre programmes, documents (e.g. driving licence), tickets and receipts, train timetables, adverts, coupons, food packaging etc.
• Role play: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/blog/esl-one-to-one-speaking-activities
• Online dictionaries
  • https://www.wordreference.com/
  • https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
• Online vocabulary practice: Make your own personalised flashcards. https://quizlet.com/
• Learn English through music: https://lyricstraining.com/app?nr=1&~channel=web&~feature=redirect&~campaign=none&ref=https%3A%2F%2Flyricstraining.com%2F
• Volunteer online teachers for refugees: https://www.refunet.co.uk/

Websites

Please note, some of the websites below require you to sign up or pay a fee to access all the content on the site, but there are many free resources without signing up or paying for anything.

General

• British Council resources: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english
• BBC Learning English resources split by level and skill: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/
• British Council resources for teaching beginners: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/teaching-resources/teaching-secondary/activities/beginner-a1
• BBC Learning English videos teaching a range of skills e.g. grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary: https://www.youtube.com/user/bbclearningenglish
• Trinity College resources: https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/english-language/ESOL-skills-for-life/ESOL-Skills-for-Life-levels
• Cambridge English online resources: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/

Syllabus/lesson plan resources

• British Council practical resources and lesson plans for primary, secondary and adult learners at different levels: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-levels/find-resources-for-your-level
• Lesson plans categorised by beginner, elementary, intermediate, upper intermediate, advanced. You have to pay to access some of the content but there are lots of free lesson plans too: https://teflhandbook.com/efl-esl-lesson-plans/
• Worksheets, good for practising specific grammar concepts: https://busyteacher.org/

Reading resources

• Texts and comprehension questions adapted to learner level: https://lingua.com/english/reading/
• Topical news articles categorised by level: https://breakingnewsenglish.com/

Video / audio resources

• BBC Learning English videos teaching a range of skills (e.g. grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary): https://www.youtube.com/user/bbclearningenglish
• British Council podcasts: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english/audio-series/podcasts
• English listening lesson library. Audio and video clips with transcripts and comprehension questions. https://elllo.org/
• Audio English lessons: https://esl.culips.com/
• Learn English through story. Stories with subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoIdrULeenCQ_d1_-ayFuTA/videos
• 6 minute English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english
• Radio 4 in 4: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p025ht2f

Teaching beginners and low-level learners

• Resources for teaching adults with low levels of English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/emw/unit-1/session-1/activity-2
• Lesson plans for teaching beginners: https://www.onestopenglish.com/esol/absolute-beginners-unit-1/552774.article
• More beginners resources:
  • https://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/beginners.html
  • https://www.thoughtco.com/beginner-english-20-point-program-1212145
  • https://www.audioenglish.org/english-learning/efl_basic_for_beginners.htm

Teaching grammar

• British Council grammar lessons: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar
• BBC Learning English grammar lessons: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/basic-grammar
• Beginners and elementary grammar: https://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/easy-english-grammar.html
• Other resources: https://www.eslcafe.com/resources/grammar-lessons

Preparing students for the IELTs exam

• IELTs official website: https://www.ielts.org/ and sample tests https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-questions
• IELTs more practice tests
  • https://www.ielts-exam.net/
  • https://ielts-up.com/
  • https://ieltstrainingonline.com/
  • https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/
• IELTs useful vocabulary, by topic: https://www.ieltsspeaking.co.uk/ielts-vocabulary/

Other exam resources

• Cambridge Assessment tests: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/
• ESOL resources: https://www.skillsworkshop.org/esol

Preparing for Trinity College ESOL exams

• Trinity College ESOL Skills for Life: https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/english-language/ESOL-skills-for-life
• Trinity College ESOL exam resources: https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/english-language/ESOL-skills-for-life/ESOL-Skills-for-life-Entry-level-1-resources

Medical English/OET preparation

• Information about the OET exam and some resources: https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/
• Resources and links for medical English: https://learnenglishforhealthcare.com/
• British Council medical English lessons:
  • https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/vocabulary/b1-b2-vocabulary/health
  • https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/print-make/flashcards/health-flashcards

UK culture lessons

• Different topics and levels: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/topic/british-culture
• Different topics and levels: https://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/life-in-the-uk.html

Worksheets on various topics

• https://en.islcollective.com/
• https://www.tefl.net/esl-worksheets/
• https://www.onestopenglish.com/adults/skills
• https://busyteacher.org/-worksheets
• https://www.teach-this.com/

Online games

• https://www.gamestolearnenglish.com/
• https://www.galacticphonics.com/

TED talks

• 5 minute educational talks: https://www.ted.com/watch/ted-ed
• https://www.ted.com/talks
• Ideas for teachers: https://ed.ted.com/educator?user_by_click=educator

Additional links from Jane W

Links from this course I attended just before lockdown at St Andrew’s and then online: Education and Training Foundation New to ESOL programme of webinars, hosted by Learning Unlimited.

• https://esol.excellencegateway.org.uk/esol-refugees
• https://esol.excellencegateway.org.uk/new-esol-listening-resources
• https://esol.excellencegateway.org.uk/learners-new-esol
• https://esol.excellencegateway.org.uk/learners-new-esol-phonics-pack
• https://www.learningunlimited.co/projects

In no special order, tips I gleaned from co-participants on the course

• agendaweb.org
• First Resort & First Resort Extra – Gatehouse
• englishmyway.co.uk
• talk-english.co.uk teachabcenglish.com
• www.liveworksheets.com – Interactive worksheets Liveworksheets transforms your traditional printable worksheets into self-correcting interactive exercises that the students can do online and send to the teacher.
• steppingstonescic.org.uk – Stepping Stones is an innovative ESOL course, designed for existing staff or volunteers, to deliver much-needed basic English language provision to mums new to English, along with their babies, (albeit) in settings such as children’s centres, schools, libraries, cultural and community centres.
• https://www.gamestolearnenglish.com
• https://rewordify.com/
• https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk
• en.diglin.eu (phonics; pic dictionary)
• writeandimprove.com
• esolcourses.com – avoid copying ads by mistake when reproducing
• macmillaneducationapps.com – pronunciation app good for student independent use
• https://esoluk.co.uk/NIACE_pack/Citizenship_materials.pdf

Jane Waller 24.11.20