1. School-based Resources for ESOL
CELLA: A four-skill language proficiency assessment developed under contract by Educational Testing Service (ETS) that is designed to provide:
These resources can be found on the Florida Department of Education website.
Pasco County schools offer reading specialist who are trained in ESOL methods for ESOL students.
Flash Program: This program is to help assist students in adopting cultural traits and social patterns of those in their school and community. The most important goal is to promote cultural awareness and sensitivity among the students, teachers, community, and world.
These resources can be found on the Pasco County Schools website.
- Diagnostically useful information about students’ strengths and weaknesses in English.
- Information about the language proficiency levels of individual students that can be used in making decisions regarding placement into, or exit from English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs.
- Data useful for charting student progress over time and, for the newly arrived students; charting progress over the first year.
These resources can be found on the Florida Department of Education website.
Pasco County schools offer reading specialist who are trained in ESOL methods for ESOL students.
Flash Program: This program is to help assist students in adopting cultural traits and social patterns of those in their school and community. The most important goal is to promote cultural awareness and sensitivity among the students, teachers, community, and world.
These resources can be found on the Pasco County Schools website.
2. Commercial Resources for ESOL(Products)
Word Up is a quiz style board game for English students. Up to six students can play at a time, so this game would be useful for ESOL groups in schools or clubs. Word Up tests speaking, reading, and listening skills, vocabulary and spelling, and it even offers general history
Lucy Pollard's Guide to Teaching English is a useful tool for teachers new to teaching ESOL. This would be a good book for schools to have on hand for their newly hired teachers to use during their first year of teaching. It's decently priced and can be bought in hard copy or eBook.
Talking TEFL (DVD) is a one hour documentary that shows the different paths that teachers can take while teaching English. With in-depth teaching methodology and advice this DVD is good for schools or teachers to have on
hand to watch during the first years of teaching ESOL students.
Pronunciation Power is a CD-ROM that teaches the 52 sounds of English. It lets students hear words and teaches them how to pronounce each word. I would use this in the classroom for students who are having trouble with how words sound or how to say them.
ESL Library is a resource that offers ready to print flash cards and worksheets that can be put to use in the classroom. Students can use the flash cards to study or to expand vocabulary and grammar knowledge. As a teacher I would put to use the ready to print worksheets for extra practice.
Lucy Pollard's Guide to Teaching English is a useful tool for teachers new to teaching ESOL. This would be a good book for schools to have on hand for their newly hired teachers to use during their first year of teaching. It's decently priced and can be bought in hard copy or eBook.
Talking TEFL (DVD) is a one hour documentary that shows the different paths that teachers can take while teaching English. With in-depth teaching methodology and advice this DVD is good for schools or teachers to have on
hand to watch during the first years of teaching ESOL students.
Pronunciation Power is a CD-ROM that teaches the 52 sounds of English. It lets students hear words and teaches them how to pronounce each word. I would use this in the classroom for students who are having trouble with how words sound or how to say them.
ESL Library is a resource that offers ready to print flash cards and worksheets that can be put to use in the classroom. Students can use the flash cards to study or to expand vocabulary and grammar knowledge. As a teacher I would put to use the ready to print worksheets for extra practice.
3. Picture/Clipart Resources
Royalty Free Clip Art Collection offers clip art for multiple subjects. These could be used in Power Point presentations and can be placed in worksheets for students to use. The images will help students if/when they get confused. Images can use with vocabulary to show the students what the word means.
Clipart Etc offers over 2000 clipart images for teachers of language arts and literature. There are images of literary characters, these images could be used during reading to let students see a visual of what the characters are supposed to look like.
UVic's Language Teaching Clipart Gallery offers clipart for teaching pronouns and prepositions. These can be useful for lower level ESOL students when learning grammar and sentence structure.
Classroom Clipart has images for all subjects and areas of study. These images could be used when presenting vocabulary or geography, and some of the clipart feature sounds so students can hear a sound or a word that's being used.
Free Clipart is a great website that offers images for holidays, and many other subjects. I think the holiday images will be useful in a classroom, since there is always a holiday happening in schools. By using these images, students who don't understand what the holiday is might get a better idea from seeing pictures.
Clipart Etc offers over 2000 clipart images for teachers of language arts and literature. There are images of literary characters, these images could be used during reading to let students see a visual of what the characters are supposed to look like.
UVic's Language Teaching Clipart Gallery offers clipart for teaching pronouns and prepositions. These can be useful for lower level ESOL students when learning grammar and sentence structure.
Classroom Clipart has images for all subjects and areas of study. These images could be used when presenting vocabulary or geography, and some of the clipart feature sounds so students can hear a sound or a word that's being used.
Free Clipart is a great website that offers images for holidays, and many other subjects. I think the holiday images will be useful in a classroom, since there is always a holiday happening in schools. By using these images, students who don't understand what the holiday is might get a better idea from seeing pictures.
4. Resources for ESOL
Back and Forth by Adrian S. Palmer et al. is a complete package of photocopiable cooperative pair activities for language development. This activity packet would be good for students to engage with partners and encourage discussion between students.
The ELT Grammar Book by Michael Berman would be an asset for teachers in the classroom. This book explores areas of the language that teachers have found troublesome to understand, hard to explain, and challenging to demonstrate to students.
ESL Teacher's Activities Kit by Elizabeth Claire is a comprehensive ESOL teaching book. A straight forward book that offers activities that can be adapted for different languages and levels.
The Oxford Picture Dictionary: Monolingual Edition like pre-service teachers keep hearing, if a student sees a picture of a dog they know that it's a dog, but they may not know the word for it is dog. This dictionary shows images with words to help with vocabulary.
101 American Customs by Harry Collins and Joe Kohl can be used to teach students about American customs. It can answer questions like, what is sold at garage sales? Why does no one get wet at bridal/baby showers? It also goes over customs like shaking hands and what a bachelor party is.
The ELT Grammar Book by Michael Berman would be an asset for teachers in the classroom. This book explores areas of the language that teachers have found troublesome to understand, hard to explain, and challenging to demonstrate to students.
ESL Teacher's Activities Kit by Elizabeth Claire is a comprehensive ESOL teaching book. A straight forward book that offers activities that can be adapted for different languages and levels.
The Oxford Picture Dictionary: Monolingual Edition like pre-service teachers keep hearing, if a student sees a picture of a dog they know that it's a dog, but they may not know the word for it is dog. This dictionary shows images with words to help with vocabulary.
101 American Customs by Harry Collins and Joe Kohl can be used to teach students about American customs. It can answer questions like, what is sold at garage sales? Why does no one get wet at bridal/baby showers? It also goes over customs like shaking hands and what a bachelor party is.
5. Word & Language Games
The Hot Seat:
Words in Words:
Use the letters of a long word to spell smaller words
Be sure to follow up this game by having students make sentences with some of the words (5 seems to works well) and use the words in listening exercises in future classes.
This game is good tool for learning vocabulary words, and also promotes teamwork in the classroom.
- Break class into 4 or less teams
- Place a 'hot seat' in front of the class and facing away from the board
- Each team selects a leader
- One team is up at a time and their leader sits in the hot seat
- Write ten words on the board so the leader can't see them
- Team members take turns communicating their word to the leader without
saying the word with no spelling, writing, or drawing allowed - Team members can say 'pass' if their word is too difficult
- Each team has 1 minute to get as many words as possible
- Use simple words like animals or days of the week for weaker students
- Use the word 'pass' as one of the words on the board to challenge strong students
- This game can be challenging to explain so preparing directions in the student's native language can be helpful.
Words in Words:
Use the letters of a long word to spell smaller words
- Make sure each team has a dictionary
- Write a large word or phrase on the board
- Give teams 10 minutes to come up with as many words as possible by using the letters on the board
- When time is up, one leader from each team will say the team's words
- Each word is scored as follows:
- 1-letter words = 1 point
- 2-letter words = 3 points
- 3-letter words = 5 points
- 4-letter words = 8 points
- 5-letter words = 10 points
- 6-letter words = 12 points
- 7-letter words = 15 points
- 8 or more letter words = 20 points
- Have each student submit words one at a time and write them on the board, with no duplicate words allowed
- Words that every team has are omitted and have no point value
- Simply have teams hand in word sheets and tally scores
Be sure to follow up this game by having students make sentences with some of the words (5 seems to works well) and use the words in listening exercises in future classes.
This game is good tool for learning vocabulary words, and also promotes teamwork in the classroom.
6. Resources for Word & Language Games
The Grammar Gorillaz: Teaches students the parts of speech. Has beginner and advanced levels depending on the student's needs.
ESL Sequence: Students put sentences in the correct order. Helps ESOL students with listing items in order or putting a story together in the correct order.
TEFL Games: This website has many games that are designed for ESOL students. Some game options: Matching games, card games (with printable cards), and others for intermediate to advanced learners.
Many Things: For beginners - offers English vocabulary words with images. For students who need help expanding their vocabulary.
Free English: This website offers many online interactive games for ESOL students. Jellyfish From Space is good for using the correct prepositions.
ESL Sequence: Students put sentences in the correct order. Helps ESOL students with listing items in order or putting a story together in the correct order.
TEFL Games: This website has many games that are designed for ESOL students. Some game options: Matching games, card games (with printable cards), and others for intermediate to advanced learners.
Many Things: For beginners - offers English vocabulary words with images. For students who need help expanding their vocabulary.
Free English: This website offers many online interactive games for ESOL students. Jellyfish From Space is good for using the correct prepositions.
7. Useful ESOL Websites
ESL Lesson Plans & Resources This site acts as a directory for ESL websites all around the internet. The sites included offer lesson plans from all around the world, and multiple resources for ESL information and activities. This resource is good for teachers because it offers tons of lesson plans and material that can be used in the classroom.
Aardvark's English Forum offers a variety of resources for students and teachers like interactive activities, message boards, and an ELT (English Language Teaching) bookshop. The message boards are especially good for students and teacher because it is a place where they can speak with people about similar issues.
English Learner Online is a website that offers quizzes and tests for the ESOL students at all levels. Students can quiz themselves and get results right away. The results also offer an explanation for why the answer is correct.
Developing Teachers offers two free e-mail newsletters, a Weekly Teaching Tip, a Monthly Newsletter containing teaching themes, activities, lessons, links, jobs and computer/net links. A good resource for teachers to use to design classroom themes and activities.
TFL.Net has a worksheet wizard that designs worksheets that can be used in the classroom. It also offers worksheets that have already been created. The ESL activities are ones that are used around the world by English teachers.
Aardvark's English Forum offers a variety of resources for students and teachers like interactive activities, message boards, and an ELT (English Language Teaching) bookshop. The message boards are especially good for students and teacher because it is a place where they can speak with people about similar issues.
English Learner Online is a website that offers quizzes and tests for the ESOL students at all levels. Students can quiz themselves and get results right away. The results also offer an explanation for why the answer is correct.
Developing Teachers offers two free e-mail newsletters, a Weekly Teaching Tip, a Monthly Newsletter containing teaching themes, activities, lessons, links, jobs and computer/net links. A good resource for teachers to use to design classroom themes and activities.
TFL.Net has a worksheet wizard that designs worksheets that can be used in the classroom. It also offers worksheets that have already been created. The ESL activities are ones that are used around the world by English teachers.
8. Software
Tell Me More - Language Learning Software
Publisher: Auralog
Publication Date: July 2, 2004
Goals/Objectives: Tell me more offers 10 levels for users to work through while perfecting their English. Manufacturers claim the the product is fun and engaging for users and simple to use. Users are able to test their progress at any time during the course.
Tell Me More offers:
This software is very in depth and would be useful for schools to use in the media center for their ESOL students. Since the product is a bit pricey I wouldn't recommend it for classroom use, but think students would benefit from being able to go to the media center and utilize the software. Teachers and students can keep track of progress by printing out the progress chart and diary, and can study on their own because the software offers printouts, and mp3's that can be loaded onto any mp3 player.
Tell Me More also offers a 24/7 adviser for users to ask questions or get help when needed. It also has real news broadcasts once a week (30 minutes) that offer vocabulary, grammar, and video directly into the broadcasts. I think this is useful because it lets students learn about current events while broadening their vocabulary and perfecting their grammar.
Publisher: Auralog
Publication Date: July 2, 2004
Goals/Objectives: Tell me more offers 10 levels for users to work through while perfecting their English. Manufacturers claim the the product is fun and engaging for users and simple to use. Users are able to test their progress at any time during the course.
Tell Me More offers:
- Interactive dialogues with 550 sentences and 15,000 words.
- 8,000-Word glossary
- Grammar and conjugation - Grammar rules and 700 conjugated words using simple, animated explanations.
- Lesson report - A detailed account of your progress where you are able to play back your dialogues.
- Personalized learning paths
- The Progress Chart and Diary organize your study by selecting activities and proposing a study plan corresponding to your level and objectives, as well as your schedule
This software is very in depth and would be useful for schools to use in the media center for their ESOL students. Since the product is a bit pricey I wouldn't recommend it for classroom use, but think students would benefit from being able to go to the media center and utilize the software. Teachers and students can keep track of progress by printing out the progress chart and diary, and can study on their own because the software offers printouts, and mp3's that can be loaded onto any mp3 player.
Tell Me More also offers a 24/7 adviser for users to ask questions or get help when needed. It also has real news broadcasts once a week (30 minutes) that offer vocabulary, grammar, and video directly into the broadcasts. I think this is useful because it lets students learn about current events while broadening their vocabulary and perfecting their grammar.
9. Resources for Software
English Now! For Spanish Speakers: A program for learning grammar and providing vocabulary in context. The program is presented in Spanish (can be switched to English) and can be used as a tool to reinforce what students have learned in the classroom.
ESL Flow is a site that offers Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced programs and lessons for students and teachers. Some of the resources available are grammar, speaking, dialogues, readings handouts and lesson plans. The site offers a wide range of topics for study and the dialogues and speaking tools would be helpful to all students. The site also offers ESOL students tools like "giving directions" which tells them how to give directions in English.
The Learning Network is a site published by the New York Times and it uses current events to teach English as well as other subjects. Every day there is a new article/video and a lesson plan to go along with it. This is a good resource to use to get students involved in current events as well as expand their grammar and vocabulary knowledge.
ESL Mania offers classroom tools and tips for teaching ESOL students in a classroom environment. I especially found the area where teachers can share their experiences useful. Teachers can converse with each other and bounce ideas back and forth.
ESL Go offers a variety of tools Including role-plays, information gap activities, examination rubrics for ESL oral tests, and discussion questions. I found the role-plays and discussion questions to be the most useful. Students often have trouble interviewing each other and these questions could be helpful in starting lively discussions.
ESL Flow is a site that offers Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced programs and lessons for students and teachers. Some of the resources available are grammar, speaking, dialogues, readings handouts and lesson plans. The site offers a wide range of topics for study and the dialogues and speaking tools would be helpful to all students. The site also offers ESOL students tools like "giving directions" which tells them how to give directions in English.
The Learning Network is a site published by the New York Times and it uses current events to teach English as well as other subjects. Every day there is a new article/video and a lesson plan to go along with it. This is a good resource to use to get students involved in current events as well as expand their grammar and vocabulary knowledge.
ESL Mania offers classroom tools and tips for teaching ESOL students in a classroom environment. I especially found the area where teachers can share their experiences useful. Teachers can converse with each other and bounce ideas back and forth.
ESL Go offers a variety of tools Including role-plays, information gap activities, examination rubrics for ESL oral tests, and discussion questions. I found the role-plays and discussion questions to be the most useful. Students often have trouble interviewing each other and these questions could be helpful in starting lively discussions.
10. Other Resources
Common Errors in English Usage explains a number of common spelling and usage errors in English. The site was developed by Paul Brians and there is now a book based on the website.
Virtual Library of Lesson Plans from North Carolina Curriculum Guide lessons sorted by domain. This is good for teachers who want to focus on community connections, daily living skills, consumer education, world of work, health, housing, transportation/directions. These are all every day skills that students will need and this will help them to effectively communicate with people and peers.
Virtual Library of Lesson Plans from North Carolina Curriculum Guide lessons sorted by domain. This is good for teachers who want to focus on community connections, daily living skills, consumer education, world of work, health, housing, transportation/directions. These are all every day skills that students will need and this will help them to effectively communicate with people and peers.
