Contextual Resources

Update 24/2/22: written by Sharon Roberts and Alexandra Bates, both of Essex ACL. 
This is a fun activity which encourages ESOL learners to engage with digital technology and transacting online. It provides opportunity to explore vocabulary related to shopping while also discussing the advantages of shopping for food online. It can be adapted to all levels and can be extended for a longer activity if required.

Editor's note

What is the International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination? Why is it important and what can we learn from it?
Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about the importance of racial equality while building their English skills.

Update 24/2/22: written by Paula Fulton and Alexandra Bates, both of Essex ACL. 
A fun activity for ESOL learners which draws on the popularity of the online word guessing game, Wordle.

Editor's note

A complete mini-lesson for ESOL or Functional English! Introductory PPT and a detailed and very useful lesson plan. A great way to integrate spelling strategies with basic ICT skills. Includes discussion about the 26 letters but 44 phonemes of the English language. 

An interactive onscreen exercise, created in Wordwall, to celebrate the successes of the GB curling teams in the Beijing Winter Olympics. Based on the Queen's congratulatory message of Feb 20, 2022. 12 multiple choice questions cover  purpose, style,  main points and detail, punctuation and vocabulary. Also makes a great discussion prompt. Written for Level 1 and beyond but many questions will be accessible to Entry Level 3.

A reading add-on quiz for our popular  Valentine's Day E1-L1 Functional English tasks  (Maggie Harnew, 2018). Select the correct answer(s) for each question. Uses a recipe text from the original resource. 12 quick questions covers purpose, main points and detail, abbreviations, recognising imperatives, comma use and vocabulary. Can be used independently of the original resource.

NEW 24/2/22  answer sheet now also  available - visit our ANSWER SHEETS page for more information.

A follow-on Valentine's Day resource from the E1-E3 worksheet of the same name. It continues the general problem solving of finding suitable meal deals for various couples and calculating how much they save by purchasing a Valentine's meal deal. For L2 learners it also delves into compound measures with challenging multiple questions on on unit prices (e.g. £/kg, £/litre).

A hastily put together resource for Valentine's Day 2022 (but can be used in any year!).  Although the covered subject content statements are all E1 or E2 - the problem solving element of some questions also makes this also suitable for E3, especially the final "Stretch" investigation. Questions are mapped but there is no answer sheet.

An Entry 3 mock exam paper that follows the format for City & Guilds.

Based on a leaflet about gardening.

Editor's note

A marvellous practice paper! Suitable for all E3 Functional English students - whether or not their awarding body is C&G.  Covers almost all aspects of E3 Functional English reading & almost all writing SCS (subject content statements). 

An interactive onscreen exercise, created in Wordwall, to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee whilst improving knowledge of advanced punctuation. Also makes a great discussion prompt. Written for Level 2 and beyond; also covers L1.18 (use  punctuation to aid understanding) but will be challenging for most L1 learners.

https://wordwall.net/resource/28470020/functional-skills-english/queens-accession-letter-of-feb-5