This guidance provides support for volunteers on how you can identify and access suitable resources to support your teaching with young people and adults. Below you’ll find a list of considerations to keep in mind when reviewing the suitability of a resource, as well as details on the topics covered, cost, and format for each resource.
This guidance is designed to support ESOL teachers and tutors working in a range of contexts with young people and adults.
How to find quality and impactful ESOL resources
When reviewing resources, here are some issues to consider:
- Is the resource pedagogically sound? For example, does it use tasks and activities which research has proven to be effective?
- Is the resource aligned with the learning objectives for the activity and/or lesson?
- 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?
- 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? Does the material contain visual glossaries to enable meaning making?
- Is the resource of a high quality? For example, is it factually accurate and free of spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors?
- Is the resource user friendly? For example, are the instructions clear and concise?
- Is the resource engaging? For example, does it use multimedia, including audio and video, and interactive materials, where appropriate?
- 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? Is the resource culturally sensitive and free of damaging tropes and stereotypes?
- Does the resource make the ‘hidden curriculum’ visible, by familiarising learners with idiomatic language, and providing contextual and cultural knowledge often implicit in key texts? For example, does it help learners to understand references to English cultural life by providing visuals or simple explanations, or limit the use of idiomatic or colloquial language, such as ‘pop on your coat’?
- Is the resource relevant to your learners’ needs, e.g. 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?
- 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?
- Does the resource create opportunities for ESOL learners to use the language they already know, as they increase and practise their use of English?
- Can the resource be accessed, downloaded, and/or copied easily? Can it be edited or adapted if required?
- Does the resource include guidance or tips for teachers on how best to use it?
- Is the resource focused on a specific group, e.g. adults or teenagers, to make it more specialised and impactful?
- 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. 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
2. 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.
3. 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:
- 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
4. 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
- Worksheets
- Videos
ESOL level and age range: Adults
Cost and registration: Free
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The Bell Foundation ESOL tutor resource pack
Type of resource:
- Designed to support tutors working in the secure estate and in community rehabilitation/probation settings.
- The resources combine language learning with embedded wider capabilities in numeracy, digital, health, financial and civic (including elements of personal and social development), designed to make learning engaging and relevant to life in prison and in the community.
- Includes activities for all levels across speaking, reading, listening, and writing competencies.
Theme/topics:
- A range of topics including on aspects of civic life such as teamwork.
Format: Downloadable PDFs or Word files from the website.
ESOL level and age range: Adults.
Cost and registration: Free