Contextual Resources

Slides designed to support delivery of Gateway's EDSQ (Essential Digital Skills Qualification), unit 1, at Entry Level and Level 1, with embedded Functional Skills English activities at L1 and L2. This set of slides covers section 1 of the standards (Using Devices and Handling Information) and includes: using devices, finding & evaluating information, managing and storing information, and identifying and solving technical problems

Editor's notes

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

Reading, writing and discussion activities based on one of  the Edexcel exam contexts ('Learning to Drive').  PowerPoint includes chunked texts, key vocabulary tables, a video resource, and discussion and writing prompts. Resource lends itself well for additional reading comprehension prompts and explorative discussions. 

Editor's note

The reading focus is purpose, tone and organisational / formatting features. The final task is to write an online forum entry. 

[img_assist|nid=6104|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=71]A Powerpoint presentation designed to prompt discussion and accompanying reading comprehension to advise about avoiding scams.

Editor’s note
With curriculum mapping. Covers reading, writing and SL&C.

Budgeting Spreadsheet: Students enter amounts into a self calculating spreadsheet to work out a persons budget for the month.
This resource is best used around the topic of budgeting and bank accounts. I used it alongside the excellent Barclays Money Skills site.

Housework is a set of three related resources:
Housework is a very funny video (with a rather predictable ending!) accompanied by words and jolly music and designed to introduce, complement or summarise the two related resources below.
Although aimed at M8-E2, ESOL/Literacy groups of all levels will enjoy this video and it is bound to prompt disucssion. Supplied as a zipped WMV (Windows Media Video) file (6.8 MB). A big thank you must go to Janet Fletcher who co-authored this video!

Worried Wendy is a great way for Entry level learners to practise using the Yellow Pages. Each slide provides a separate task – ideal for paired work (see notes area of slide 1 for further teaching ideas).

Makes a great introduction to form filling and is ideal for group, team or individual work. 56 questions.

A short but very useful PPT that is bound to stimulate much discussion about the different ways we communicate.

Problems in the home PPT provides group spelling and vocabulary practice along with ideas for speaking practice. Look at the pictures, discuss what the people do (electricians, gas engineers, plumbers, etc.) and the problems they fix. Then type the correct spelling into the box (ideal with a cordless keyboard) before checking the correct spelling with a mouse click. Finish with some skimming and scanning practice using related information from the Yellow Pages.