Contextual Resources

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.

Short simplified text about Accession Day 2022 when the Queen marks 70 years as monarch and also remembers the death of her father, King George). Differentiated reading questions are followed by writing tasks (alphabetical order (2 levels), punctuation, regular plurals and a final composition questions (2 levels).

Editor's note

As this resource has a short shelf life there will be no separate answer/mapping sheet but all questions are mapped and have suggested marks.

A worksheet to help  learners prepare for the Speaking and Listening exams, which specifically focuses on ways to reduce anxiety about speaking in public. The worksheet includes embedded YouTube video links which learners watch and make notes from. This was made for L1 and L2 learners but can be adapted for other levels. 

25/1/2022 15:55 updated: ambiguity removed from Q12 (purpose of commas) & answer sheet now available

St Dwynwen's Day is celebrated every year on January 25 and is often referred to as the "Welsh St Valentine's Day".  Learn more about the history of Dwynwen whilst consolidating many aspects of Functional English reading including: purpose, style, identifying meaning, vocabulary and dictionary work, organisational features, main points and detail, and using punctuation to aid understanding. 

Two pages of extra questions for our very popular "John's Crazy Socks" resource by Eleanor Kliffen (Jan 2018). Ideal for homework or stretch & challenge.  Questions are mixed levels with a focus on *parts of speech, punctuation and grammar (tense).  Language features are also touched upon. 

Editor's note

Although parts of speech are not specifically covered in the FS Content descriptors, a basic knowledge of nouns, verbs and subjects can be very useful when teaching sentence structure.

Two sets of differentiated texts and reading questions based on a news article about a local radio station (Bromyard FM). The subject matter still relevant even if the lockdown is (hopefully!) a thing of the past.

Editor's note

The E1 version has simplified vocabulary and sentence structure and has 4 multiple choice questions that cover all three E1 reading criteria. The E2-E3 version has a longer more complex text with six questions (not multiple choice) mostly covering 'main points and ideas'.

Topical form filling practice. Encourage your learners to enter the Platinum Pudding Competition to celebrate the Queen's 70th year on the throne. In addition to requiring personal information, it also provide practice writing compound sentences. Adapted and simplified from the official form on the Fortnum and Mason web site.

Editor's note

Look out for more Platinum Jubilee resources in the near future. 

Use the family tree to help write simple and compound sentences about your family. Written for E1-2 ESOL  but also suitable for E1-2 Functional English.

Editor's notes

A lovely way to reinforce sentence structure and basic punctuation, and (for ESOL) teach key family words such as cousin, grandmother, nephew, etc. Worksheet with detailed mapping and sample answers available in a  separate document.

NEW 8/2/22  answer sheet now also  available - visit our ANSWER SHEETS page for more information.
New 27/1/2022  A related interactive Wordwall activity (organisational and textual features) is now available to accompany this resource. 

A hastily put-together New Year resource based on a short Guardian article about the record breaking temperatures experienced in the UK on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.