Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

Correct structure and punctuation is a key feature of Functional English writing and these two sets of matching cards make a good introduction to the topic and will also prompt discussion.
The first set focuses on conjunctions (in compound and complex sentences) and each sentence is split into three (two clause, one conjunction). They can be matched back together in various combinations. (10 sentences)
The second set focuses on a variety of structures and each sentence is split into two. (12 sentences)

[img_assist|nid=4771|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=69]Another great set of three comprehension resources from Australia. Each with a related, differentiated crossword puzzle. All based on the same Australian news article about the danger of swooping magpies.
The Satellite (Australia) September 13 2010
http://www.thesatellite.com.au/story/2010/09/13/steer-clear-of-swooping…

A starter activity for age 16+ . Guaranteed to engage and enthuse learners from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. Students should make a note of each of the new words and then decide which one (out of 9) has not been added to the Oxford English Dictionary.
It can prompt discussions on the words and learners can give their opinion on what they may mean.

From one of our Australian contributors, this makes a good end of term quiz and discussion prompt re. similarities to cockney rhyming slang, informal language, etc.

[img_assist|nid=4701|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=72|height=100]A wonderful set of three comprehension resources, each with a related, differentiated crossword puzzle. All based on the same Australian news article about the sudden popularity of Dunlop volley shoes / sandshoes (tennis shoes to us Brits!) in New York. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/volley-shoes-taking-a-bite-ou…

Useful set of verb cards for literacy and ESOL (includes regular and irregular examples in a wide range of tenses/moods, plus 1st-3rd person singular / plural cards). Pick and choose the ones you need according to level. Fully mapped.[img_assist|nid=4692|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=70|height=100]

This is a spelling game that allows the tutors to test the learners, the learners to test the tutors and then the learners to test each other. It is fun, competitive, supportive and covers the following areas:

• Spelling
• Skimming and scanning
• Speaking and listening
• Discussion/debating skills
• Writing complete sentences
• Decoding unfamiliar words

An outstanding set of resources. Developed to prompt discussion on knife crime with parents and children in a family learning setting, they are equally suitable in an FE setting – prompting discussion between students and tutors. The materials can be used to focus on knife crime but are also useful as part of wider discussion about criminal behaviour.

The resources include

Challenging multiple choice quiz of vocabulary “borrowed” from other languages such as French, Greek and Italian. Words and phrases include: fait accompli, deja vu, ad hoc, bric-a-brac and many more. Makes a good warm up and could be used with small groups or individually.

Two Tarsia puzzles based around formal and informal language. Guaranteed to prompt discussion as learners solve the puzzles. I suggest that the smaller one (16 piece triangle) is roughly at L1 and the larger on (24 piece hexagon) is at L2. I have duplicated some of my word choices from Imogen Stewart’s excellent ‘Little Britain’ (Language: formal, informal or slang?) resource which was also about formal and informal language (see link below). ‘Cheers’ has ‘regards’ as its synonym because of email sign offs – which I have found to be an interesting topic for discussion.