A reading practise exercise in the style of formal reading exams. Read about unusual hobbies and then choose multiple choice, true/false, and other questions to check a range of reading skills including tone, layout features, vocabulary and general comprehension.
Editor's notes
Written for E3 ESOL but also provides useful and relevant practice for E3-L1 Functional Skills English. Includes a proof reading question on grammar, spelling and punctuation. Interesting article on ghost hunting and keeping ants!
Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.15 Infer from images meanings not explicit in the accompanying text
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rs/E3.2a Recognise function of CLs, full stops, commas, question- exclamation- and speech marks, bullet points /numbering
ESOL Rs/L1.1a Use implicit & explicit grammatical knowledge to predict meaning & check for sense
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Rt/E3.5a Locate organisational features, such as contents, index, menus
ESOL Rt/E3.7a Scan different parts of texts to locate information
Reading activities to practise reading skills and prepare for exams. The first activity is 3 reading texts and exam style questions focussing on purpose, tone, features and other skills. The second activity asks students to select the correct word practising spelling, grammar and vocabulary skills. All activities are along the theme of hobbies and free time activities. Help to prepare for Entry 3 reading exams.
Editor's notes
Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/E3.5a Use variety of reading strategies to read/understand unfamiliar words
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
ESOL Rt/E3.2a Distinguish between different purposes of texts at this level
ESOL Rt/E3.5a Locate organisational features, such as contents, index, menus
ESOL Rt/E3.6a Skim read key textual features (title, heading and illustrations) for different purposes
ESOL Rt/E3.7a Scan different parts of texts to locate information
ESOL Rt/E3.8a Read every word to obtain specific information
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes
ESOL Ww/E3.1a Apply spelling knowledge to a wide range of common & special-interest words
ESOL Ww/E3.1b Apply knowledge of strategies to aid with spelling
A poem on the theme of holidays. Can be used as a reading and punctuation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion around traditional British holidays, ways to spend leisure time or enjoying new experiences by using different senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch).
Editor's notes
Super for many levels and situations - includes suggested questions and discussion prompts.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FE SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Rw/E2.3a Use context & range of phonic / graphic knowledge to decode words
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.1a Read and understand technical vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.2a Use reference material to find the meanings of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
Update 24/2/22: written by Paula Fulton and Alexandra Bates, both of Essex ACL.
A fun activity for ESOL learners which draws on the popularity of the online word guessing game, Wordle.
Editor's note
A complete mini-lesson for ESOL or Functional English! Introductory PPT and a detailed and very useful lesson plan. A great way to integrate spelling strategies with basic ICT skills. Includes discussion about the 26 letters but 44 phonemes of the English language.
Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Ww/E3.1a Apply spelling knowledge to a wide range of common & special-interest words
ESOL Ww/E3.1b Apply knowledge of strategies to aid with spelling
ESOL Ww/L1.1a Apply knowledge about vocabulary to aid accurate spelling
ESOL Ww/L1.1b Use strategies to aid accurate spelling
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Using ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
A reading and spelling add-on quiz for our popular Valentine's Day E1-L1 Functional English tasks (Maggie Harnew, 2018). Select the correct answer(s) for each question. Uses two texts (an email and a menu). 12 questions covers purpose, main points and detail, using a key and irregular plurals. Can be used independently of the original resource.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
A reading and spelling add-on quiz for our popular Barry New Sports Centre E2 Functional English mock assessment (Sharon Kitching, Nov 2021) . Select the correct answer(s) for each question. Covers purpose, form, organisational features - plus 5 questions on regular and irregular plurals. Can be used independently of the original resource.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
An interactive add-on exercise, created in Wordwall, for our St Dwynwen's Day E3-L1 reading resource. Sort each sentence into the correct group (simple, compound or complex). All sentences are taken form or are adapted from the original resource.
Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E2.19 Write in compound sentences, using common conjunctions to connect clauses
FE L1.25 Write consistently & accurately in complex sentences, using paragraphs where appropriate
A quick interactive add-on exercise, created in Wordwall, for the popular New Year 2022 (Warmest New Year's Day) reading resource. Match the organisational and textual features to the correct places on the text.
Why do we need hobbies and interests? What impact do they have on our mental health? Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about the importance of individual and group hobbies and interests while building their English skills.
Editor's note
Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics
FE L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence
FE L2.5 Communicate information/ideas/opinions clearly/effectively with further detail/development if required
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
