Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

Displaying 1 - 10 of 61 resources:

Reading and related activities focusing on a simplified version of a BBC news article reporting the results of the 2021 Australian Census. Ideal for practising reading strategies including:  relating images to text, using headings, skimming, scanning and using context to predict. My (Australian) students found it challenging but were engaged in the content. Lots of possible ways it could lead into other written and oral activities. Numbers and a graph involved so can also be used to revise numeracy concepts such as percentages and extracting information from graphs.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
FE READING main points & detail
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
Maths
General numeracy / maths
ESOL
ESOL Reading (R)
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

Video task and reading comprehension based on the style of Entry ESOL reading exams. Taken from BBC Newsround website.

Editor’s note
Questions suitable for mixed ability classes from E2-L1 and make good discussion prompts for further work.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ESOL
General ESOL
Context
News, Politics & Government items

A text based around Ramadan to practise E3 -L1 English reading in detail / skimming & scanning for information.
There is also a related form filling exercise (E2-E3), dictionary work, and a discussion prompt (all levels)

The letter-writing task focuses on charity, so it could also tie in to employability qualifications if you are teaching community project modules or similar.

Editor’s note
With answers and curriculum mapping

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Form filling
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community

This is a literacy resource based around a recent news story. There are a range of tasks relating to an anti-litter app called ‘littergram’ and legal challenges made to the use of its name, with the potential to extend tasks into other aspects of littering and how the litter problem might be resolved. A final extension task asks students to take their own photographs of local examples of litter as supporting evidence for a writing activity.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

A Level 1 Reading, Speaking and Listening and Writing resource pack based on topical issues around social media.

Editor’s notes
With answers and curriculum mapping. Ideal for all ages, but especially 16-19 year olds.
9/3/16: Minor edit, missing quotation mark in title fixed on page 1.

Level
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

Two differentiated functional English tasks that involves a number of reading and writing skills (with a bit of maths thrown in!). Learners can personalise this by using names of their own friends and family. For both versions you will need copies of the current Argos book or access to the web site.

Entry 2 version includes: using a catalogue or web site, writing a list & a gift tag, budgeting, writing a note. You will need one gift tag per learner.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Context
Independent living

Rugby themed task on reading (use of quotations and dialogue, facts versus opinions), researching and writing a short article. Topic links to ICT, suitable for use during e.g. Rugby World Cup, Six Nations Tournament or with any group keen on sport![img_assist|nid=5708|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=71]

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
Functional English - writing
General literacy / English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Entry 3 ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
General ICT resources
Functional Skills ICT: Using ICT
Context
Sport and fitness
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

A simplified and adapted version of Carrie Bray’s 2011 New Year’s Eve Functional English practice test (which is aimed at E3). This version is aimed at E2 and includes: reading comprehension questions based on New Year superstitions, a cloze exercise, form filling, writing task, and speakign & listening actvities. Great as an introductory topic to spring term sessions.

To find the original higher level resource scroll down to See also and select New Year’s Eve E3 English tasks.

Level
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
ESOL
General ESOL
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

Updated June 2017
New Entry 3 reading and writing tasks added. Available below as a separate PDF file. You will also need to download the L1-2 version as it uses the same text.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism