Contextual Resources

I have been covering how to make an appointment with the GP and taking part in a role play with the GP with my ESOL group, so I have prepared these materials.

My courses are not accredited, so I don’t know how this fits into the ESOL SFL criteria and my classes are, inevitably, a mix of Pre-Entry and E1 learners. Hope it might be useful.

This is a series of short job ads for a hotel (+ one for a school caretaker). Simple language and uncluttered layout..
Good for introduction to language of employment. I have used these with E1 to E3 and they work well as a differentiated resource

Higher levels can gauge implict information, especially for the school caretaker advert in writing covering application letters to include attributes such as working with children, being trustworthy and reliable etc)

Entry level Functional Skills Maths (with some English too!). A multi skill resource on the theme of a maternity ward.
Ideal for Health & Social Care or Childcare students.
Editor’s note
Two versions available: E1-E2 and E2-E3.
With detailed Functional Maths mapping and teaching tips

This resource helps learners hear rhymes and recognise corresponding letters/digraphs, rimes and onsets etc. Take simple limericks and poems and get your learners to put them together.

I created my own limericks to match work we had been doing on long vowel sounds (it is not that difficult to do once you get started). Well-known poems and nursery rhymes also proved particularly popular as many knew them already by heart from childhood and some were doing them now with their children.

Listening activities are few and far between but this fabulous set is ideal for, and fully mapped, to Entry 1 and 2 Functional English learners.
Based on four everyday listening events

• An announcement in a station
• A notice in a waiting room
• A news report
• A telephone conversation

Each provides practice listening for gist and detail in short explanations. The ‘waiting room’ PDF also provides practice with listening to instructions.

Each document includes.

A dialogue (between the pharmacist and the customer) ordering exercise followed by paired speaking and listening practice. Easily adapted to many situations.

A great set of functional English tasks based on an ‘agony aunt’ letter from someone who wants to lose weight (tutors should therefore use their discretion before using this resource).
Reading comprehension, discussion and a scaffolded writing task (with writing frame). Ideal for (and fully mapped to) E1-2 Functional English.

A board game that can be used to encourage speaking skills at many levels (ESOL or Literacy). With teaching ideas and curriculum links.

Select words from drop down menus to complete sentences; and construct complete sentences to match pictures.

Use independently or with SfL learner materials ESOL E1 unit 5 (Health) and audio CDs (ESOL Entry 1A tracks 42-45).

Interactive Word worksheet to be completed on-screen. Drag correct instructions to each picture using mouse or keyboard.

Use independently or with SfL learner materials ESOL E1 unit 5 (Health) and audio CDs.