Useful Links

An excellent ‘online glossary for BSL’ (British sign language). Look up a word or phrase, read the definition, compare it to similar words, and watch the sign in a video or image.

This is a site that produces word wheels (the ones you have to cut out and stick with a brass paper fastener). There are loads of pre-set ones that you can just download and print out, or you can make your own relatively easily. This site requires Flash, but is very slick!

Editor’s note
For an editable Word Wheel template try Marc Stewart’s excellent PPT version:
/resources/word-wheel-template-editable

This is a really useful video for L2 Reading for Pearson Functional Skills as it shows the ‘banker’ questions and guides learners (and tutors) to where the marks are. This can be used in class or for homework/self study.

A Functional Skills English project, hosted on Padlet. Students are challenged to host an industry award evening. They must source, decide upon and hire the venue; invite the guests as well as write a speech and report on the events of an incident-packed evening.

Formats of writing covered are: formal letter; report; speech; article & invitation.

Aimed at high Level 1 and Level 2 Functional English learners – Padlet allows for the resources to be accessed online or downloaded and offered as paper-based tasks.

A project-based reources hosted on Padlet. Aimed at constructions learners, it challenges them to host an awards night.  They must source, choose and hire a suitable venue as well as write a speech and report on the evening’s most notable events.

Writing skills covered: formal letter writing; report writing; speech and article writing & invitation writing.

Padlet allows access to the resources either directly on the site or downloaded for printing as paper-based task sheets.

A short project designed to encourage group work, negotiation and some creative thinking. Learners must invent and company and a product to market.
The three tasks explore persuasive language techniques through: advertising, accessing ‘crowd funding’ & speech writing.

Aimed at high Level 1 & Level 2 Functional English earners, but could be an ideal opportunity for peer-tutoring in mixed-ability groups.
Padlet allows access to the resources either directly on the site or downloaded for printing as paper-based task sheets.

Resource for writers looking to expand their knowledge of English writing in a professional setting.

Editor’s note
Includes useful reference material for teachers and Level 2+ English students.

Functional Skills text books are a rare commodity and this pair of Level 2 Functional English books fills a well-needed gap. They’ve been written with the Edexcel on-screen reading and writing assessments in mind, but are ideal for learners taking paper-based or online Functional Skills assessments from any awarding body.

A useful online learning styles quiz.
After 25 easy to answer questions you are given a VAK report (visual, auditory or kinaesthetic) accompanied by sensible suggestions for improving your study strategies and learning.
Generally the questions are easy to read, although Entry Level 1-2 learners may need some support.

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