Blog: Free and Low-Cost ESOL Resource Websites for Teachers and Volunteers

Our guidance for volunteers who teach English to young people and adults aims to provide support on how to identify and access suitable resources to support teaching.

In this blog we set out guidance for volunteers who teach English to young people and adults. Our guidance provides support for volunteers on how you can identify and access suitable resources to support your teaching. We provide a list of issues for you to consider as you review resources, and we provide information, including topics covered, costs and format, for each resource we have identified. This guidance is designed to support ESOL teachers and tutors working in a range of contexts, with children, young people and adults.

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How to find quality and impactful ESOL resources

When reviewing resources, here are some of the issues to consider:

  1. Is the resource pedagogically sound? For example, does it use tasks and activities which research has proven to be effective?
  2. Is the resource aligned with the learning objectives for the activity and/or lesson?
  3. Is the resource written in language at an appropriate level for your learners so that it provides good support while also setting challenges to extend learning?
  4. Is the resource accessible to your learners? For example, does it contain good-quality, clear visuals, such as pictures, diagrams, maps, and photographs to illustrate written text and to help your learners, especially those who have reading difficulties, understand?
  5. Is the resource of a high quality? For example, is it factually accurate and free of spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors?
  6. Is the resource user friendly? For example, are the instructions clear and concise?
  7. Is the resource engaging? For example, does it use multimedia, including audio and video, and interactive materials, where appropriate?
  8. Does the resource refer to and build on familiar contexts and the lived worlds of ESOL learners, to help them access new content and contexts? In addition, is the resource culturally sensitive and free of damaging tropes and stereotypes?
  9. Is the resource relevant to your learners’ needs, i.e. does it include language learning for the situations your learners find themselves in, for example the language they will need for job searches and interviews?
  10. Does the resource celebrate diversity and inclusion? For example, does the resource contain references to a wide range of people from different backgrounds, who speak different languages, and affirm the positive impact this has on the community?
  11. Does the resource create opportunities for ESOL learners to use the language they already know, as they increase and practise their use of English?
  12. Can the resource be accessed, downloaded and/or copied easily? Can it be edited or adapted if required?
  13. Does the resource include guidance or tips for teachers on how best to use it?
  14. Is the resource focused on a specific group, e.g. adults or teenagers, to make it more specialised and impactful?
  15. Has the resource been evaluated and recognised? For example, larger resource packages may have received external accreditation or an award from an external provider.

ESOL resources, lesson plans and worksheets for teachers and volunteers

  1. BBC Learn English
  2. National Association of Teaching and Community Language to Adults (NATECLA)
  3. English My Way
  4. Online Centres Network
  5. ESOL courses
  1. BBC Skillswise: For Adults
  2. Skills Workshop
  3. Waltham Forest ESOL advice service
  4. One Stop English
  5. Language Support for Adult Refugees: a Council of Europe toolkit.

1. BBC Learn English

Type of resource:

Teaching resource and tutor guidance.

  • The sessions are divided into four units;
  • Each unit is divided into sessions, called learning circles;
  • A trainer describes and demonstrates what a learning circle is in a short video for the tutor;
  • Each session has three or four activities;
  • There is a ‘Download Centre’ in each activity where videos/flashcards, etc. can be downloaded from a list;
  • Tabs at the top of the webpage provide resources for teaching grammar and vocabulary.

Theme/topics:

General English, everyday themes.

Format:

A range of online teaching resources within each session:  Story/scenario, videos, transcripts, quizzes, news, podcasts, worksheets, stories for children, classic dramas to practise functional English.

ESOL level and age range:

All ages: Adults and children.

Cost and registration:

Free. Registration is required.

2. National Association of Teaching and Community Language to Adults (NATECLA)

Type of resource:

  • A range of classroom activities, including games and storyboards;
  • A guide to working with beginner learners for volunteers, with definitions and guidance on dealing with challenges facing beginner learners;
  • Links to useful websites for ESOL teachers;
  • A list of useful items for creating a teacher’s toolbox.

Theme/topics:

  • Interviews, spelling games, trips to practise English, among other themes;
  • Guidance on modifying language for beginners.

Format:

  • PowerPoint presentations;
  • Videos;
  • Downloadable guidance.

ESOL level and age range:

Adults and teenagers.

Cost and registration:

Free.

3. English My Way

Type of resource:

  • Designed in 10 topic areas, delivered in approx. eight hours per topic;
  • Supported by Topic Packs which have themed lesson plans and activities including audio, video and text-based activities. Tutor guidance notes provide advice on session planning and teaching;
  • The first 12 hours of the programme are aimed at identifying a learner’s strengths;
  • The last eight hours are aimed at assessing a learner’s skills in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing in English.

Theme/topics:

Everyday themes: e.g. all about me, healthcare, employability.

Format:

  • Printable resources;
  • Videos.

ESOL level and age range:

Adult learners with little or no English.

Cost and registration:

Free. Registration is required.

4. Online Centres Network

Type of resource:

  • A network made up of organisations that teach digital skills alongside teaching English;
  • Access/links to a number of ESOL teaching English sites;
  • The main home page has a menu to access information about the Network and a short video explaining its work and concepts.

Theme/topics:

A wide range of topics, including language for greetings, for everyday tasks such as shopping, and for job interviews.

Format:

A range of resources, including videos and downloadable worksheets.

ESOL level and age range:

Adults and young adults.

Cost and registration:

Free. Registration is required.

5. ESOL Courses

Type of resource:

Free online digital resources including:

  • Quizzes;
  • Games;
  • Interactive listening lessons;
  • Reading exercises.

The webpage is divided into sections for listening, reading, vocabulary, grammar etc.

Different aspects of literacy are covered within each section. For example, 'reading: reading for pleasure' and 'writing: different genres'.

Theme/topics:

  • English for work;
  • Life in the UK.

Format:

Click on topic sections to access lessons.

  • Multiple choice answers;
  • Vocabulary sheets;
  • Audio;
  • Videos.

ESOL level and age range:

Adults who know what they want to access. From beginner to advanced.

Cost and registration:

Free.

6. BBC Skillswise: For Adults

Type of resource:

  • This online platform covers reading, writing, spelling, and grammar;
  • Each section has lessons, fact sheets, videos;
  • There are tips for tutors.

Theme/topics:

Topics cover a range including types of reading strategies, communication skills and job skills.

Format:

Downloadable resources, including worksheets. Videos.

ESOL level and age range:

Adults.

Cost and registration:

Free.

7. Skills Workshop

Type of resource:

  • Downloadable and printable English resources for listening, speaking, reading, writing and general ESOL;
  • Teacher guidance;
  • There is a resource index to show all resources and who contributed to them;
  • ESOL resources are categorised by level;
  • It links to other ESOL sites and resources.

Theme/topics:

A range of topics including language for work, and a travel theme.

Format:

A range of resource types, including for assessment, reading, and writing. There are tutor answer sheets.

ESOL level and age range:

From entry level through a range of levels, including GCSE.

Cost and registration:

Free, but requires a log in. An optional donation is encouraged.

8. Waltham Forest ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Advice Service

Type of resource:

  • The website has information about this service and includes a range of website links including to the British Council and Cambridge Learning English;
  • Resources include quizzes, exercises for grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening.

Theme/topics:

Personal stories, language for work and bank accounts. Sport and animals, among others.

Format:

Online activities and lessons, including articles, cloze procedures and bilingual quizzes.

ESOL level and age range:

Adults and teens. Levels 1-6.

Cost and registration:

Free.

9. One Stop English

Type of resource:

  • Online teaching resources and lesson plans;
  • Teaching guidance, and CPD;
  • Resources including videos, games and interactive resources for literacy development, exam preparation, among others.

Theme/topics:

Uses authentic content on topics including business news, health and travel.

Format:

  • Audio;
  • Printable worksheets;
  • Lesson plans;
  • Games;
  • Flashcards;
  • Videos.

ESOL level and age range:

  • Adults;
  • Teenagers;
  • Children;
  • (CLIL);
  • ESOL- mainly beginner.

Cost and registration:

Not quite free, but reasonably priced at £21 for an annual subscription.

10. Language Support for Adult Refugees: a Council of Europe toolkit

Type of resource:

  • A toolkit of information and resources for teaching adult refugees;
  • Information on cultural and language awareness and language learning;
  • Guidance on finding out about refugees’ language needs and planning language support;
  • Resources available in English and six additional languages.

Theme/topics:

A range of learning activities, including on learning vocabulary, language and learning, and real-life communication.

Format:

Downloadable PDFs or Word files, from the website.

ESOL level and age range:

Adult refugees.

Cost and registration:

Free.

If you offer free/low-cost resources to support ESOL teachers and would like them included on this page, please contact info@bell-foundation.org.uk

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