Embedded learning links

This free Functional Skills English workbook explores the topical question: Should shops be allowed to refuse cash? Learners begin by reading a balanced information article before completing a range of reading activities and a practical transactional-writing task in which learners write a formal email to a supermarket manager.
Reading skills covered include:
• Retrieval questions
• Fact, opinion and bias
• Purpose, audience and language analysis
• Comparing contrasting viewpoints

Bring Functional Skills Maths into a familiar real-life setting with this print-and-go café maths challenge. Learners work with realistic menus, prices, customer orders and special offers while developing confidence with everyday money calculations.

Activities include:

I am absolutely fascinated by this blog written by Lauren Piovesan, the founder of ESL Reads. Despite spending two decades simplifying texts - a task that I enjoy and sometimes find a challenge - I've never really analysed what I'm doing.

Although written for EAL (English as an Additional Language) teachers this is a useful guide for both experienced and new teachers of ESOL, adult literacy (Functional Skills English) and indeed vocational subjects. 

Language feature spotting in songs - Eurovision through the ages edition! 8 songs that have all won Eurovision and use various language features. Suitable for L1 and L2.

Editor's note

Very topical and jolly 3 minute video.  Lyrics appear clearly, word by word, on screen. Covers rhetorical questions, simile, repetition and more. Teachers will probably want to watch in advance and formulate their own question prompts. PS. Some of these songs made me feel old!

English for Swimming is a huge 88 page resource pack created in Australia for CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities. The pack covers almost every aspect of SLC and reading that you could think of,  along with links to supplementary materials, including videos. There is a particular emphasis on vocabulary,  conversation activities and reading comprehension, with some wonderful texts (see Image of contents page).

Editor's note

Updated February 2025 A fun quiz for St David's Day (or any other day you feel like making Welsh cakes!) made in Edpuzzle. There's slightly more emphasis on maths than English but it's also very useful for improving listening, memory and general observation skills.

Link updated 7/3/22 A huge collection of links to texts and videos that can be used to support English learning in Further Education (Functional English and/or GCSE.) Neatly categorised by vocational area (I counted at least 20 areas!). You are invited to add what you can. Compiled and created by Hollie Barnes and at least 10 contributors.

Vocational areas include:

A Functional Skills English project, hosted on Padlet. Students are challenged to host an industry award evening. They must source, decide upon and hire the venue; invite the guests as well as write a speech and report on the events of an incident-packed evening.

Formats of writing covered are: formal letter; report; speech; article & invitation.

Aimed at high Level 1 and Level 2 Functional English learners – Padlet allows for the resources to be accessed online or downloaded and offered as paper-based tasks.

A project-based reources hosted on Padlet. Aimed at constructions learners, it challenges them to host an awards night.  They must source, choose and hire a suitable venue as well as write a speech and report on the evening’s most notable events.

Writing skills covered: formal letter writing; report writing; speech and article writing & invitation writing.

Padlet allows access to the resources either directly on the site or downloaded for printing as paper-based task sheets.

This is where the following guide can help. From explaining the key elements of your CV and learning how to explain a gap on your CV, to demonstrating a step-by-step guide on how to write a competent CV, this valuable resource will equip you with all you need to know in order to successfully represent yourself via your CV thereby substantially improving your employability prospects.