Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

Displaying 1 - 10 of 40 resources:

These three simple resources are aimed for teaching the layout features and conventions of informal and formal letter writing.  There are three templates: 

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
T Levels - embedded maths or English
English
FE E3.20 Use appropriate format & structure inc. appropriate use of headings & bullet points
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
GCSE Writing AO5(b) Organise information using structural and grammatical features
TL - Create texts for different purposes and audiences
ESOL
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Employment skills & Public services

Learners use a gap-fill to complete positive and negative restaurant reviews.
I designed this resource to encourage learners to use a thesaurus to help improve their vocabulary and use more interesting adjectives.

I’ve used it with Entry level and Level 1/2 learners.

Editor's note

Fully mapped to the new 2018 Functional English content which comes into effect September 2019.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E2.17 Communicate information using words & phrases appropriate to audience & purpose
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
FE E2.19 Write in compound sentences, using common conjunctions to connect clauses
FE E3.22 Use language appropriate for purpose & audience
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

How to format and plan a formal letter or email for English functional skills.
Word document / template.

Editor’s note
Two very useful editable Word documents – one for a letter, one for an email.
[5/12/17] Minor edits to the formal letter template

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.1
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing

Two PowerPoint resources for discussion that can feed into Level 1 or 2 Functional Skills for English, Speaking & Listening.

Editor’s note
Also covers research, reading and writing. Great for prompting discussion among 14-19 year olds.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Use appropriate language and strategies
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

I’m using this activity to give learners a writing frame for a piece of creative writing. I want them to really think about purpose of text when they are creating it, so they have to pick the format, style and tone of their work and plan it out.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.7
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
Wt/L2.1
Wt/L1.6
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Wt/E3.4
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
GCSE Writing AO5(a) Use tone, style and register for different forms, purposes & audiences

A resource based on a current (Jan 2016) Huffington Post news report about a piece of homework that was sent home for a child to learn which contained incorrect spellings.
Learners are to identify and correct the errors, write a full explanation of their thoughts on the matter and write an appropriate email to the head teacher.

Editor’s note
A wonderful, real-life and very functional task!

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.7
Wt/L1.6
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Education and teaching

Students are to plan and advertise a Christmas fete.
The resource covers writing lists and sentences, proof reading and using basic adjectives.
Students could use the Internet to find some ideas for Christmas stalls.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/E2.1
Wt/E1.1
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community

This is used to practise writing sentences in a format that is similar to those used for E2 Functional Skills writing assessments.
It includes a checklist for sentences and a reminder to use conjuntions. I use it after teaching the basics of sentences and conjunctions in order to give an opportunity to practise for the writing assessment. Three different tasks (note, email, complaint) plus a blank for your own task ideas.

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Ws/E3.1
Ws/E2.3
Ws/E2.1

A set of cards including birthday, get well, good luck and new baby aimed at E1/ E2 learners. Print them off and fold in half as practise for writing short messages. It may help to elicit suitable phrases from students and discuss suitable layout for their text inside the card.

I also recommend bringing in some sample envelopes to help learners recognise how to lay out a name and address.

Ideal for Entry Functional English writing.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Adult Literacy: Writing
Context
Independent living

I developed this simple resource initially as a speaking and listening exercise but quickly discovered I could extend it into a writing activity. The questions are designed not to be too personal. I have used it several times and it has worked well with learners from Entry 1 to Level 2. I particularly like the fact that learners have produced some really excellent writing, which is usually what they find the most difficult.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Plan, compose and draft
Adult Literacy: Speaking & Listening
ESOL
General ESOL