Contextual Resources

A huge set of resources for E1-E2 reading, writing and SLC.

Can be used as revision, the core of two or more lessons (the writing tasks would make a good lesson on their own - there are four tasks, two for each level) or for assessment. Optional marks and detailed mapping is provided and many, but not all, questions are exam-style. 

This lesson is based around the story of Birkenhead resident Charlie Wright, who famously refused to leave his house when the local council decided to demolish the estate around it. Students have the opportunity to discuss themes of community, identity and change. Students watch a short documentary about Charlie from the BBC archives and answer comprehension questions. Charlie's story provides a context for a role play task whereby learners have to decide how best to regenerate Charlie's lost neighbourhood.

Black History Month slides for English Functional Skills. Covers a broad range of skills such as discussion points, comprehension, working out vocabulary from context and/or with a dictionary, language features, organisational features, fact and opinion, and punctuation. 

Editor's note

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.

Designed for Entry 3 – Level 2 Functional Skills English.
Students loved this lesson. Can be designed around other areas but covers:
Writing persuasively.
Fact and opinion.
Research write a factual article
Create a poster using appropriate language.

This is a selection of literacy tasks, based on the Poppy Appeal 2016 and John McCrae’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, covering aspects of speaking and listening, reading and writing.

Editor’s note: covers all aspects of L1-2 Functional English – also suitable for GCSE.

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.

A fabulous City and Guilds style E3 literacy assignment that covers all aspects of E3 speaking and listening, reading and writing (see Editor’s note below). Based on a real trip to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford it is written in a generic style and could be any local museum / art gallery.

A Trip to the Library Entry 1 assignment provides excellent practice for City and Guilds style assignments (see note below). Layout and questions are in exactly the same style as the ‘real thing’ – complete with assessment pack and a transcript for the listening tape.

Editor’s note (July 2021)

A Trip to the Library Entry 2 assignment provides excellent practice for City and Guilds style assignments (see note below). Layout and questions are in exactly the same style as the ‘real thing’ – complete with assessment pack and a transcript for the listening tape.

Editor’s note (July 2021)