ESOL Resources

Phonics worksheet focusing on the /i:/ sound (with an “ee” spelling) using high frequency words for low level ESOL literacy learners.

Editor’s note
Includes ‘read & spelling, spelling (in various stages) and matching words written in uppercase and lowercase.

I have been covering how to make an appointment with the GP and taking part in a role play with the GP with my ESOL group, so I have prepared these materials.

My courses are not accredited, so I don’t know how this fits into the ESOL SFL criteria and my classes are, inevitably, a mix of Pre-Entry and E1 learners. Hope it might be useful.

Write or match the correct word under each picture.
Milk, bread, oil, tea, eggs, potatoes, bananas, and biscuits.

One of the Level 2 Functional English Writing exam papers asked students to write a speech.

I found a speech online and showed them how to use repeated words, emphasis, subheadings and to think about their audience. I then used the Drink Aware website to create this resource to enable students to practise speech writing.

This resource could also be used to practise writing letters or emails to colleagues to encourage them to think about drink driving, and to practise other aspects of writing styles for Level 2 exams.

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.

Editor’s note
Updated Sept 17. Errors corrected and minor layout changes.

A handout and exercise sheets for using direct and reported speech. Gives several example of each and the exercises work by switching the same message between direct and reported speech.

I have used this as a speaking/listing exercise as well as writing for grammar/punctuation. Target group is really L1 /L2 but can work well with high E3 too.

Intro to using a thesaurus to find synonyms and antonyms.

This worksheet was created to encourage students to recognize the features of written instructions (numbered lists to show the chronological order of the steps – use of imperative verbs) and explanations (headings written as questions which the text answers).

Editor’s note
Functional English mapping has been added.

Used with an Entry Level 1 ESOL group.
1) Bring in some real objects such as a long red wool scarf, a green plastic bag, a small silver mobile phone. Discuss the word order used to describe them. Learners can describe their own bags, phones, and clothes as necessary and write some examples on the table.
2) Put the adjectives in order in the example sentences and check as a group.

Students fill in the blanks using the words given, and then they can use them in their own sentences. Very common words that I notice my students have trouble with.