ESL Teachers' Blog of Substance

Lesson about ESL Textbooks - Great for the First Week of Class

I posted a lesson about the various types of textbooks that are used in a typical ESL classroom.  The unit includes photos of a picture dictionary, workbook, reading book, lifeskills book, grammar book, writing book, listening book, and ESL newspaper.  If you look at the bottom of the page, you'll find a free downloadable worksheet, too.  The worksheet is posted in a pdf format and all you have to do is click on the link and then select print. This is a great lesson for the first week of class when you introduce students to your classroom rules and procedures.  I hope more and more teachers this year will turn to the Internet to find, develop, and share ESL resources.  The Internet is a convenient way to keep in touch with what's up and coming in our field.

ESL Lesson on American Political Parties

With the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week and the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul next week, this might be a good time to explain what political parties are to your intermediate ESL and ELL students.  I hope my short lesson on American political parties will help.  It identifies the two major parties and reviews a few basic facts.  I tried to be fair and non-biased in my simple explanations.  I hope that most teachers plan to watch both conventions.  Political conventions nowadays are much more polished and slick than when I was a young voter living on the south side of Chicago in the seventies.  I miss the homemade signs and hats of yesteryear.  Political conventions had more of a zoo-like atmosphere back then.

Temecula California Wine Country Tour

My friend and I went on a wine tasting jeep tour of Temecula, Califorina, during summer vacation.  It was a five hour tour of four wineries and vineyards.  Our guide was great and I'd recommend his company to anyone interested in learning about how wines are made or about the history and economy of Temecula.  He also recommeneded that we consider going on a hot air balloon ride.  Teachers, if you're in Southern California and want something new to do before the new school year starts, visit Sunrider Wine Tours and book a tour.  You might want to also stop by the children's museum.

Labor Day Unit for ESL Teachers

Labor Day is Monday, September 1, so if you're looking for holiday material, take a look at my three-page Labor Day unit.  It includes photos, a brief description about the holiday, and some free support material for ESL teachers and students. 

Summer Olympics for ESL Students

If you're teaching ESL this summer, I just want to remind you that I've posted a lesson about the Summer Olympics in China.  It's a three-page unit, and it includes support material such as worksheets, maps, a handwriting exercise, and a video presentation.