dictionary

Dictionary and thesaurus skills

A PPT guide on how to use a dictionary and thesaurus tools, with a link to a handy YouTube video. Plus a separate 1 page handout that summarises the information in the PPT.

Editor's notes

Aimed at Entry Level (note thesaurus use is not expected until L2 but widening vocabulary is a useful skill at any level). Finishes with a quick, 4-question quiz that is easy to adapt and contextualise for your own learners.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E2.4a Use simplified dictionary to find word meanings
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words

Unscramblerer dictionary - Word of the Day and other resources

I like this - it's very well executed - even though I'm not sure exactly how it could be used within a Functional Skills English classroom. I receive many suggested links and mostly ignore them (due to them not being free or not being useful for Functional Skills). However, I always have a soft spot for "Words of the Day" as they can make great warm up activties at almost any level.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Travel and Transport - E3 ESOL tasks

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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