General ESOL

ESOL resources that cover a range of skills (often at several levels) from two or more of the following areas: speaking, listening, reading, writing.

Adult ESOL core curriculum (DfES, 2001)

Since the demise of the Excellence Gateway (EG) on September 30 2023 there is no official Government backed website where the old Skills for Life core curricula are available. The EG has (partially) migrated to the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) at https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/ but there is no sign of these classic documents. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Listen and respond (Lr)
ESOL Speaking (S)
ESOL Reading (R)
ESOL Writing (W)
Adult ESOL Curriculum

ESOL Entry 1/2/3 describing people lessons

A couple of lessons on describing people for Entry 1-3 ESOL learners. 

Includes: 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E1.3b Ask for information
ESOL Sc/E1.4a Make simple statements of fact
ESOL Lr/E1.2e Listen & extract key information
ESOL Rt/E1.1b Obtain information from texts
ESOL Rs/E1.1a Read and recognise simple sentence structures:
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
ESOL Wt/E1.1a Compose very simple text to communicate ideas or basic information
ESOL Ww/E1.1a Use and spell correctly some personal key words and familiar words
ESOL Sc/E2.2d Ask for factual information (present, past, future)
ESOL Sc/E2.2f Ask for descriptions of people, places and things
ESOL Sc/E2.3f Give a short description
ESOL Sd/E2.1d Express views and opinions
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail in narratives and explanations
ESOL Lr/E2.3c Listen for a specific purpose
ESOL Lr/E2.5b Respond to requests for information
ESOL Rt/E2.1b Use reading strategies to obtain information from texts
ESOL Rw/E2.2a Recognise a range of familiar words
ESOL Wt/E2.1a Compose simple text, selecting appropriate format for the genre and purpose
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Sc/E3.3d Ask for descriptions of people, places & things
ESOL Sc/E3.4f Give a short description and make comparisons
ESOL Lr/E3.2a Listen for detail in narratives & explanations
ESOL Rt/E3.8a Read every word to obtain specific information
General ESOL

ESOL Entry 1 and 2 adjectives lesson

A lesson on adjectives for Entry 1/2 ESOL learners. 

Includes: 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives

Free Life in the UK practice test

Free online practice test for ESOL learners preparing for settlement or British citizenship
Level
Level 1
Level 2
ESOL
General ESOL

Free Life in the UK study guide

Free study material for ESOL learners preparing for settlement or British citizenship.
Level
Level 1
Level 2
ESOL
General ESOL

ESOL idioms lesson

A lesson for ESOL learners on common British idioms. Suitable for E2/E3 learners.

Includes: 

  • A PowerPoint 
  • A board game
  • A crossword 
  • Cards to cut up for them to match in small groups 
  • A worksheet where they write the meanings of idioms and draw a picture to illustrate them

Editor's notes

Super set of resources - PPT easily adapted to suit your own learners, and the extra games and puzzles really help reinforcement and consolidation.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Speak to communicate (Sc)
ESOL Writing (W)
ESOL Listen for detail

Adult Literacy and Numeracy Tutor Manual: From Research to Practice

The astounding Adult Literacy and Numeracy Tutor Manual: From Research to Practice has recently been released as a joint venture between Libraries Tasmania and TasTAFE (Tasmanian Technical and Further Education) and was designed to help tutors build learner confidence, independence, and opportunity.

It's an immense tome and has been split into three downloadable PDFs. Although written for the Australian many resources and much of the information is suitable for all branches of English teaching. 

Level
M8
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional Skills English
Maths
Functional Maths
ESOL
General ESOL

Worksheetzone

Worksheetzone is an all-in-one teaching and learning support platform designed to make education more accessible, engaging, and effective for everyone. It offers thousands of free printable resources covering a wide range of subjects and grade levels, helping educators save time in lesson planning and giving parents and teachers valuable tools to support learning at home. With high-quality worksheets, activities, and educational materials, Worksheetzone empowers both teachers and students to create meaningful learning experiences anytime, anywhere.

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional Skills English
Maths
Functional Maths
ESOL
General ESOL

Living in the UK - Sarcasm

A look at the use of sarcasm in Britain.  Many people, especially where English is not their first language, struggle to understand this uniquely British method of communication.  

The resource contains many examples and explanations with a number of varied activities. This resource is useful for general English and ESOL learners.  It includes a discussion, examples and activities. 

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FS Eng READING main points & detail
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
ESOL: Identify feelings & points of view
General
Study Skills and General Teaching

Living in the UK - Understanding Idioms

A PowerPoint with an introduction to idioms, followed one idiom per slide. Covers 10 common idioms with images, an example and simple explanation.  Perfect for whole class learning, discussion and embedding knowledge for all levels, and especially for ESOL. 

In addition there are several game suggestions in the slide notes and a separate set of match cards. Use together or on their own. 

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional Skills English reading
General literacy / English
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Listen and respond (Lr)
ESOL Speaking (S)
ESOL Extract main points & ideas
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