Contextual Resources

Written in and inspired by the July 22 heatwave where temperatures in the UK exceeded 40 degrees! 

Three texts about hot weather and its effects on the body. Questions start at Entry Level 1 and progress to Level 2. L1-2 Learners will still need to access the Entry Level texts as the final questions involve comparing two or more texts. 

A set of five texts about screen time, physical and sedentary activity, and sleep for Children under age 5. The texts can be used in various combinations for Functional Skills (FS) speaking, listening and communicating; reading and writing activities. Teachers can pick and choose their own texts and create related DARTs (directed activities related to text) and questions to suit. There will also be pre-prepared resources on skillsworkshop. See "See also" for links.

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.

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).