Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating

‘Speaking, listening and communicating’ within Functional Skills English qualifications is non-written communication, normally conducted face-to-face, and can also include ‘virtual’ communication methods such as telephone or spoken web-based technologies. The terms ‘speaking, listening and communicating’ are intended to be interpreted in a broad, inclusive way and are not intended to create any unnecessary barriers to students with speech or hearing impairment.
 

This is a literacy resource based around a recent news story. There are a range of tasks relating to an anti-litter app called ‘littergram’ and legal challenges made to the use of its name, with the potential to extend tasks into other aspects of littering and how the litter problem might be resolved. A final extension task asks students to take their own photographs of local examples of litter as supporting evidence for a writing activity.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

Level 2 reading comprehension and writing activities based on three different texts (article, blog and cartoon).

  • Pack 1 – reading comprehension, Text B (blog post) and a discussion idea.
  • Pack 2 – reading comprehension, Text C (news article) and a writing idea. You need Text A (available separately – see below)

 

Note that Text A (which is carton based) can also be cut up and used as a sequencing activity for lower levels – not as easy as it looks!

Level
Level 2
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
Functional English - writing
Context
Sport and fitness
News, Politics & Government items

A mini-workscheme and accompanying worksheets for use with the Quick Reads book Ghost Dog by Brandon Robshaw.
Develops skills in reading, comprehension, word and text identification, discussion and writing.

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading

A Level 1 Reading, Speaking and Listening and Writing resource pack based on topical issues around social media.

Editor’s notes
With answers and curriculum mapping. Ideal for all ages, but especially 16-19 year olds.
9/3/16: Minor edit, missing quotation mark in title fixed on page 1.

Level
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

A resource pack to suit Functional Skills English at Levels 1 and 2, based on a BBC magazine article about the ET video game and the collapse of Atari. Reading tasks are supported by You-tube clips designed to prompt small group discussions. There is also a writing task.

Editor’s note
Includes curriculum mapping and answers.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
Context
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

Rugby themed task on reading (use of quotations and dialogue, facts versus opinions), researching and writing a short article. Topic links to ICT, suitable for use during e.g. Rugby World Cup, Six Nations Tournament or with any group keen on sport![img_assist|nid=5708|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=71]

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
Functional English - writing
General literacy / English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Entry 3 ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
General ICT resources
Functional Skills ICT: Using ICT
Context
Sport and fitness
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

A simplified and adapted version of Carrie Bray’s 2011 New Year’s Eve Functional English practice test (which is aimed at E3). This version is aimed at E2 and includes: reading comprehension questions based on New Year superstitions, a cloze exercise, form filling, writing task, and speakign & listening actvities. Great as an introductory topic to spring term sessions.

To find the original higher level resource scroll down to See also and select New Year’s Eve E3 English tasks.

Level
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
ESOL
General ESOL
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

A mini-workscheme and accompanying worksheets for use with the Quick Read (Chiller Livewire) book Crazy Jack by Brandon Robshaw.
Develops skills in reading, comprehension, discussion, word and text identification and writing.

Editor’s note
March 2016 minor edit to title – no other changes

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading

A railway safety PowerPoint to be used as a discussion on why we need to stay safe around railway lines. Can be used as a speaking and listening tool to form discussion points or as a reading comprehension.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
SLd/L1.1
SLd/E3.2
SLd/E2.2
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Context
Health and safety

Updated June 2017
New Entry 3 reading and writing tasks added. Available below as a separate PDF file. You will also need to download the L1-2 version as it uses the same text.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism