Recent Changes

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A speaking and listening activity designed to practise asking where food items are in a supermarket. Also involves practise with the numbers 1 to 8.
The sheet is repeated five times – with food items in different positions (numbered supermarket aisles) on each sheet.

Linked to Cambridge Pre-entry ESOL Activities 7a Excuse me …

Level
M8
Entry Level 1
English
SLlr/E2.6 Respond to straightforward questions
Adult Lit SLc/E1.4 Make statements of fact clearly
AL SLc/E1.3
Pre-entry
pre-Entry SLlr/M8.1 Listen and respond to familiar people in simple/personal contexts
pre-Entry SLlr/M8.2 Listen to & answer simple questions about personal details/experiences/events & narratives
pre-Entry SLc/M8.2 Ask questions using key words, signs, symbols to obtain information
pre-Entry SLc/M8.3 Use growing vocabulary to convey meaning to the listener (beyond that of purely personal significance)
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E1.4b Give personal information
ESOL Sc/E1.4a Make simple statements of fact
ESOL Sc/E1.3b Ask for information
ESOL Sc/E1.3a  Ask for personal details
ESOL Lr/E1.4b Recognise different question words
ESOL Lr/E1.2b Listen for detail & respond, in a face-to-face situation
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service
Independent living
Catering Food Nutrition

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21/9/24 Apologies the wrong PDF was attached. The correct one is now available!

Role play prompts for higher beginners to E3. 

  1. Peter needs to take his son to the  hospital; he asks his manager for time off work
  2. A doctor at the hospital speaks to Peter's son

Editor's note

Another very useful set of  role play prompts from Jenny. Visit her page to find further sets

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
ESOL
ESOL Sd/E2.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Sd/E2.1b Take part in more formal interaction
ESOL Sd/E2.1c Express likes and dislikes, feelings, wishes and hopes
ESOL Sd/E2.1d Express views and opinions
ESOL Sd/E2.1e Relate to other speakers
ESOL Sd/E3.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Sd/E3.1b Take part in more formal interaction
ESOL Sd/E3.1c Express feelings, likes and dislikes
ESOL Sd/E3.1d Express views and opinions
ESOL Sd/E3.1g Relate to other speakers
ESOL Sd/E3.1e Make suggestions, give advice
ESOL Sd/E3.1f Make arrangements or plans with other people
ESOL Sd/E3.2a Ask about people's feelings and opinion
Context
Employment skills & Public services
Health, Social care, Early years

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This resource is based on the DfES ESOL Skills for Life E2 recording 'Asking where things are'. It gives exam practice questions (C&G style) in the first section and in the second section an activity to enable learners to tune in to the sounds of English. The first section can be completed in class and the second at home or the whole sheet can be given for homework. Listening development at home enables learners to listen as often as they wish and tune in until they hear the text more clearly.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FS Eng E1.2 Identify & extract the main information from short statements & explanations
FS Eng E2.1 Identify & extract main information & detail from short explanations
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail in narratives and explanations
ESOL Lr/E2.3c Listen for a specific purpose

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A lesson to help ESOL Entry 3 students understand how to plan a text and use paragraphs for the writing exam (Ascentis exam board). 

Includes: 

  • A PowerPoint
  • Links to videos 
  • Practice writing exam questions 
  • Revision of complex sentences

Editor's notes

Super pre-exam preparation and practice. Although written for Ascentis, easily be adapted to suit other awarding bodies. In addition to the paragraph and planning guidance, the coverage of complex sentences is excellent.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
ESOL
ESOL Wt/E3.1a Recognise the process of planning and drafting
ESOL Wt/E3.1b Make notes as part of the planning process
ESOL Wt/E3.2a Structure main points in short paragraphs
ESOL Ws/L1.1a Write using complex sentences

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Various activities to practise travel and transport themes and ideas. Read about a journey to college, answer comprehension questions and exam style questions,  form questions, use adverbs of frequency and conjunctions, along with speaking, listening  and writing practice - all on the subject of a journey to college. 

Editor's notes

Engaging and relevant! Written for E3 ESOL but the reading text and several of the exercises (for example: conjunctions) also provide useful and relevant practice for E2-L1 Functional Skills English. 

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E2.19 Write in compound sentences, using common conjunctions to connect clauses
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
FE E3.21 Use compound sentences & paragraphs where appropriate
FS Eng E3.1 Identify & extract relevant information & detail in straightforward explanations
FE E3.3 Communicate information & opinions clearly on a range of topics
ESOL
ESOL Rt/E3.7a Scan different parts of texts to locate information
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Wt/E3.3a Show sequence through the use of discourse markers and conjunctions
ESOL Wt/E3.1a Recognise the process of planning and drafting
ESOL Ws/E3.2a Use basic sentence grammar accurately
ESOL Lr/E3.2a Listen for detail in narratives & explanations
ESOL Sc/E3.4c Give an account/narrate events in the past
Context
Motor vehicles & Transport
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Education and teaching

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Good PowerPoint with clear explanations and good points for discussion.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Wt/E3.2
Adult Lit Wt/L1.3 Present information in a logical sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate

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A set of 9 email templates / writing frames for all levels.
Long ones, short ones, plain ones, shaded ones, some with proof reading tips, one with a focus on using conjunctions. Pick and choose to suit your learners.

With a useful Functional English mapping chart listing all the coverage and range writing statements for each level from E1 – L2.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional Skills English - writing
ESOL
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)

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Cleverly uses bricks as a visual extended metaphor to explain the rules of paragraphing. I.e. brick = paragraph, pile of bricks = paragraphs that are related but have no cohesive devices to link them, brick wall with cement = cohesive devices and finally, whole house = well structured text.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Wt/E3.2
Adult Lit Wt/L1.3 Present information in a logical sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
Adult Lit Wt/L2.3 Present information and ideas in a logical or persuasive sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate

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Writing a recount task sheet with definitions, notes on purpose, and planning steps.
Written for learners on the autistic spectrum (who often find it particularly difficult to infer meaning that is not explicitly stated) but suitable for all.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Wt/L2.1
Wt/E3.2
Wt/E3.3
Adult Lit Wt/L1.3 Present information in a logical sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
Adult Lit Wt/L2.3 Present information and ideas in a logical or persuasive sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
General
Autistic spectrum support

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Major update 21/5/26 Use subordinating conjunctions to extend simple sentences, with a "stretch" extension activity. A straightforward single page resource - ideal for revision or homework.

Editor's note

I first wrote this resource in 2004. Now updated to reflect the Reformed Functional Skills content. 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.25 Write consistently & accurately in complex sentences, using paragraphs where appropriate
FS Eng L2.28 Construct complex sentences consistently & accurately, using paragraphs where appropriate
Adult Lit Ws/L1.1 Write in complete sentences
Adult Lit Ws/L2.1 Construct complex sentences
Functional Skills English
ESOL
ESOL Ws/L1.1a Write using complex sentences
ESOL Ws/L2.1a Use a range of sentence structure which is fit for purpose