Education and teaching

Editor’s note (11/3/2015)
Now includes an E2-3 version.

Topical L1-2 Functional English reading and writing tasks based on publicity about the latest, terrible round of adult education cuts.

Two cleverly differentiated resources. One for L1-2, the other for E2-E3. Both consist of a reading comprehension and two writing tasks.

Based on an hilarious Comics Relief YouTube clip. A great way to get students to look at conversations in speaking and listening or to look at humour, irony and sarcasm.

You can vary the questions or just use them as a discussion prompt. I have found it works well with lower level learners and with higher ones as well. Even students who don’t like the shows or the people will have some comments

*A Yorkshire Yarn is a short documentary series exploring the English language learning experiences of three students at the University of Huddersfield. There are three episodes in the series.*

1 The Tales of a Trainee Tutor
http://www.youtube.com/user/ESOLRESOURCES#p/a/u/2/Itb9nc9rIMg

A flexible set of exercises based on common classroom items such as pens, pencils. folders, hole punch, etc. Can be used in a variety of ways – with or without learner support. Includes worksheets and flash / matching cards. Detailed preEntry mapping information. First used at the start of the academic year with a new preEntry class.

Set of speaking prompts / paired dialogue sheets and other related worksheets for Entry 1 ESOL. Students can practise reading the conversation in pairs, complete the missing speech bubbles and answer the comprehension questions. Based on a conversation between two male college students. With many photographs and picture prompts.

Stop FE/HE Education Cuts is a set of 6 photographs (taken in Hackney, March 2010). Each accompanied by questions to get learners thinking about the effects of proposed education cuts (spring 2010). Designed to accompany any of the 4 related resources on this topic (see below) and ideal for prompting discussion about the importance of education for all.
Contributed by Rebecca Galbraith, Rose Veitch and Rachel Emmett.

Written for a GCSE English class but is equally suitable for Level 2 Literacy. Various tasks based on a transcript of a speech about education cuts (in 2010).
Please also download the related PowerPoint (see below).
Contributed by Rebecca Galbraith, Rose Veitch and Rachel Emmett.

A super, and very topical (Spring 2010), practice Level 2 Literacy test based on a student union magazine article about education cuts.
12 multiple choice questions cover spelling, comprehension, grammar, tone, punctuation, etc. These are followed by 5 non-multiple choice questions which include a writing task, persuasive writing techniques, and summarising.
Please also download the related PowerPoint (see below).
Contributed by Rachel Emmett and Rose Veitch

A fabulous set of scaffolded reading/writing tasks – written for E2-E3 ESOL but absolutely ideal for Entry 2-3 (and higher) Functional English. The reading is based on three different topical texts on this emotive subject (spring 2010).
The writing involves writing a letter to your MP – a frame is provided for E2 writers. Get your college/students involved in this now!
With full details of relevant Functional English criteria.
Please also download the related PowerPoint (see below).

A super, and very topical (Spring 2010), practice Level 1 Literacy test based on a letter of protest written to the Prime Minister. 12 multiple choice questions cover spelling, comprehension, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing and purpose of text.
Please also download the related PowerPoint (see below).