Other listening and/or speaking activity

A set of  Entry Level 1 Functional English tasks based on an article from Spring 2020 about finding wild plants in towns. Designed for a mixed ability class so that everyone could be working on the same theme. [An E2-3 version is also available]. Includes multiple choice comprehension questions; sentence writing, punctuation and alphabetical order questions; and speaking and listening activities.

Level
Entry Level 1
English
FE E1.1 Say the names of the letters of the alphabet
FE E1.4 Make requests & ask straightforward questions using appropriate terms & registers
FE E1.5 Respond to questions about specific information
FE E1.6 Make clear statements, communicate feelings & opinions on straightforward topics
FE E1.7 Understand & participate in simple discussions or exchanges with another person about a straightforward topic
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E1.11 Punctuate simple sentences with capital letter & full stop
FE E1.12 Use capital letter for pronoun ‘I’ and proper nouns
FE E1.13 Use lower-case letters when there is no reason to use capital letters
FE 1.14 Write letters of alphabet in sequence & in upper / lower case
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
Context
Science, Nature & Weather

Updated 11 Mar 21

Related 'Garden Birds' word search now added. This extra activity is based on the "Guide to the top 10 garden birds" poster that appears on page 2  of the Entry Level 1 resource.

Two reading comprehension exercises differentiated for EL1 and EL2/3 Functional Skills English. The Entry Level 1 version also includes speaking and listening activities.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E1.1 Say the names of the letters of the alphabet
FE E1.4 Make requests & ask straightforward questions using appropriate terms & registers
FE E1.5 Respond to questions about specific information
FE E1.6 Make clear statements, communicate feelings & opinions on straightforward topics
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E2.11 Read & understand sentences with more than one clause
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E1.7 Understand & participate in simple discussions or exchanges with another person about a straightforward topic
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
Context
Science, Nature & Weather
Mental health, awareness & psychology

This interesting report on an overseas sportsman in UK allows for work in ESOL. The report covers a footballer who wishes to live in Cardiff and previously moved from Birmingham to Moscow. The comprehension questions cover his career and the people that influence his life. A conversation between the journalist and player allows for forming questions and the last task is a writing opportunity.

Editor's note

Also suitable for Functional English - see the notes within the resource. I love the dialogue exercise. :)

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE L1.2 Make requests & ask relevant questions to obtain specific information
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE Writing composition
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Rs/L1.2a Use punctuation to help understanding
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
Context
Sport and fitness

Role play prompts to encourage learners to be assertive and say 'no' in situations they feel uncomfortable in.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
ESOL
ESOL Sd/E2.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Sd/E2.1b Take part in more formal interaction
ESOL Sd/E2.1c Express likes and dislikes, feelings, wishes and hopes
ESOL Sd/E2.1d Express views and opinions
ESOL Sd/E2.1e Relate to other speakers
ESOL Sd/E3.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Sd/E3.1b Take part in more formal interaction
ESOL Sd/E3.1c Express feelings, likes and dislikes
ESOL Sd/E3.1d Express views and opinions
ESOL Sd/E3.1g Relate to other speakers
Context
Independent living

This resource is based on the DfES ESOL Skills for Life recording 'Changes interview 1'. It gives exam practice questions (C&G style) in the first section and in the second section an activity to enable learners to tune in to the sounds of English. The first section can be completed in class and the second at home or the whole sheet can be given for homework. Listening development at home enables learners to listen as often as they wish and tune in until they hear the text more clearly.

Level
Level 1
English
FE E3.1 Identify & extract relevant information & detail in straightforward explanations
FE L1.1 Identify relevant information & lines of argument in explanations & presentations
ESOL
ESOL Lr/L1.1a Extract information from texts of varying genre, e.g. radio, TV
ESOL Lr/L1.2a Listen to explanation or narrative
ESOL Lr/L1.2d Listen for grammatical detail
ESOL Lr/L1.2e Listen for phonological detail
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

This resource is based on the DfES ESOL Skills for Life recording 'Phoning about symptoms'. It gives exam practice questions (C&G style) in the first section and in the second section an activity to enable learners to tune in to the sounds of English. The first section can be completed in class and the second at home or the whole sheet can be given for homework. Listening development at home enables learners to listen as often as they wish and tune in until they hear the text more clearly.

Level
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.1 Identify & extract relevant information & detail in straightforward explanations
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E3.2a Listen for detail in narratives & explanations
ESOL Lr/E3.2b Listen for detail face to face or on the phone
ESOL Lr/E3.2c Listen for detailed instructions
ESOL Lr/E3.2d Listen for grammatical detail
ESOL Lr/E3.2e Listen for phonological detail
Context
Health, Social care, Early years
Independent living

Suits ESOL students at Entry 3+.  It creates plenty of scope for  further work e.g.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.3f Give a short description
ESOL Sc/E3.4f Give a short description and make comparisons
ESOL Sc/L1.3e Describe and compare
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
General ESOL
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

This is a speaking and listening activity written in the style of the NCFE reformed Functional Skills assessment.  It is based on the 'Happy News: It's not all bad' reading resource previously published on skillsworkshop. Three task are covered: presentation (talk), Q&A session and a formal discussion. 

Editor's notes

Level
Level 1
English
FE SL&C Speaking
FE SL&C Active listening
FE SL&C Discussion
Context
News, Politics & Government items

This resource is based on the DfES ESOL Skills for Life E2 recording 'Asking where things are'. It gives exam practice questions (C&G style) in the first section and in the second section an activity to enable learners to tune in to the sounds of English. The first section can be completed in class and the second at home or the whole sheet can be given for homework. Listening development at home enables learners to listen as often as they wish and tune in until they hear the text more clearly.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.2 Identify & extract the main information from short statements & explanations
FE E2.1 Identify & extract main information & detail from short explanations
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail
ESOL Lr/E2.3c Listen for a specific purpose

A reading, writing, listening and discussion task. The topic is skills at risk and the older generation. Comprehension questions focus on the gist. The grammar focus is passive voice verbs. Learners will discuss and write sentences about their skills, and will write about traditional skills that are in danger of dying out.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL Sc/L1.3a Express statements of fact
ESOL Sc/L1.3b Give factual accounts
ESOL Sc/L2.4b Give factual accounts 
ESOL Lr/L1.2d Listen for grammatical detail
ESOL Lr/L2.2d Listen for grammatical detail
ESOL Rs/L2.1a Use implicit & explicit grammatical knowledge to help follow meaning and purpose of different texts
ESOL Ws/L2.1a Use a range of sentence structure which is fit for purpose
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Art Film Media Music Radio TV