Reading comprehension

Fraud and Scams in the UK 

This resource looks at phone and other types of scams and fraud.  It alerts the reader to the common tactics used by scammers and offers suggestions to avoid becoming a victim. The text is suitable for higher level E3 to L1-2 but the material is easily adapted for lower levels. Part of the Living in the UK series. 

Editor's notes

This activity uses the prologue of The Secret History (Donna Tartt, 1992) to examine structure, language features and basic inference skills.

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Cleverly constructed questions and clear layout creates a super, very accessible and useful resource. :)

I attach an annotated version of the resource ‘Education - a sorry story’.  I’ve found all the resources around this text / story really useful for my FS L2 classes and have led into good discussions and onto some useful comparisons with other related texts. 

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An ESOL E1-2 (Local Community) reading comprehension with related writing activities that links to ESOL E1 type assessments. This set of resources explores every day, local or community activities: in this case the local library or community hub. Use as a whole class resource and/or independent learning/homework. 

Finally, there is a list of suggestions for extension activities around using the library/hub in your local area.  

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This article looks at the gorgeous free growing wild bramble or blackberry.  It includes basic information (reading), spelling and grammar exercises and questions.

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Lovely information text that could also be useful for E3-L1 Functional Skills English. Also includes a short writing task and discussion points.  Part of Colleen's Living in the UK series. Look out for the Strawberries resource in the same series.

This article looks strawberries in the UK and how to grow your own.  It includes basic information (reading), spelling and grammar exercises and questions.

Editor's notes

Lovely information text that could also be useful for E3-L1 Functional Skills English. There are also speaking and listening tasks. Part of Colleen's Living in the UK series. Look out for the Blackberries resource in the same series.

The purpose of this resource is for learners to learn the vocabulary and phrases relating to using a pharmacy in the UK; practise listening for detail, reading and writing and roleplay scenarios. There are discussion points, flash cards and exercises.

Use as a teaching aid, as assessment material or homework etc.

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Reading comprehension based on the for countries of the UK.  

Includes basic information about each of the countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland which is followed by generic more detailed information about the NHS, education and working plus the emergency services. 

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Picture quiz and two sets of differentiated questions. Part of the Living in the UK series. 

A four-page resource that discusses some of the polite conventions in the UK.  Sensitively Written with ESOL learners in mind. Topics include: being polite, saying sorry and punctuality. Part of the Living in the UK series. 

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Although aimed at E1-E2 ESOL it would also be a useful quick starter in higher level classes. Includes exam style questions, cloze task, and discussion/role-play prompts.

Suitable for ESOL and Functional English this resource was created to encourage discussion and understanding about this sometimes difficult topic in a sympathetic way. Uses a fictional story about a girl called Amina who learns about British Values through her community - with reading questions and a discussion/presentation/writing task.

The tutor can use the suggested lesson tips or go their own way to suit their learners.

Editor's notes