Contextual Resources

Why are names important? What can we learn from them?

Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about the importance of names while building their English skills. (For example: vocabulary, sentence structure, punctuation, research, discussion and a mini writing task).

Editor's notes

Ideal as an ice breaker at the start of the year - although the wealth of material, discussion points and links mean it could easily fill an entire lesson! Topics covered include:

Why might we decide to go to university as a mature student? Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about their career choices (in this case, applying for a university level course) while building their Functional English skills.

Editor's note

What is International Men's day? 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 gender equality while building their English skills.

Editor's note

Social Media - AI behind the scenes slides exploring: how many people use social media and the algorithms running behind the scenes; the fact that we are being 'watched' and the concept that 'if you're not paying for the product, then YOU are the product'. Slides also explore DeepMind, Google Autocomplete and the idea that smartphones are making us dumber. 

One of a series of lessons, exploring  the relationship between textual features; comparing information and ideas, analysing a range of straightforward and complex texts on a range of topics;  organising own writing to convey clear meaning, establishing cohesion and communicating ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and effectively with a particular focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar; demonstrating role as an active participant in group discussions through val

Does the UK have a littering problem, and how is this impacting our environment? Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about the environment and the impact of littering while building their English skills.

Editor's note

What is Anime, why is it so popular and what can we learn from it? Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about Anime, review writing and similarities between popular culture from other countries, and what's distributed in the West, while building their English skills.

Editor's note

Slide set that explores  the use of facial recognition and AI algorithms to look for suspects and find missing people.  Resource includes reading for meaning, and encouraging 'the questioning reader'.  The resource provides video and text stimuli, encourages learner discussion, and challenges them with a report writing task about bias in facial recognition algorithms.  

Editor's note

Why might we start our own business and how confident are we as a nation? Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about their career choices (in this case, running their own business) while building their English skills.

Editor's note

Slides (with short texts. images and videos) that explore the connection between stress and social media, social media addiction and the life we portray via social media.  This resource combines reading, writing and speaking and listening tasks to expand key vocabulary and encourage deeper critical thinking.  Maths skills are embedded through the reading and interpretation of line graphs.

Editor's note