ESL Teaching Toolbox
Visual Aids
Magazine Picture Files
Look for pictures from a variety of cultures and geographical settings.
Divide the pictures into categories such as people, clothing,
home, occupations, sports, food, geographical features.
Use the picture file to:
Illustrate the meanings of vocabulary items.
Structure simple conversations around the pictures using different question types.
Set the scene for dialogue or role-play.
Use as writing prompts: write captions or descriptions.
Dictionary
Suggestions:
New Readers Press Dictionary (for adult learners)
Oxford Picture Dictionary (illustrated)
Beginner’s Dictionary of American English (illustrated, for ELL)
Internet Picture Dictionary http://www.pdictionary.com
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary http://www.meriamwebster.com/
Realia
(objects or activities used to relate classroom teaching to real life)
Use real objects to liven up lessons and bring in the real world.
Suggestions: real or plastic fruit and vegetables, food
packaging, medicine containers, toolbox with tools,
first-aid kit, kitchen equipment.
Real objects are especially useful for concrete nouns.
Use in Total Physical Response activities.
Maps
Include world, national, state, local maps. Practice locating places,
pronouncing names, asking for and giving directions, descriptions.
Calendars
Practice names of days, months, dates.
Talk about routines, habits, seasons, time frames (last week, next month).
Practice making appointments and issuing invitations.
Money
Include a selection of coins and bills.
Use for learning values, making change, as props in shopping dialogues.
Clock
An old clock whose hands you can manipulate is useful for learning to tell time.
Samples of Everyday Text
Collect samples of real-life print materials such as menus, forms, bills,
brochures, empty food packaging, job applications, magazines of
interest to the learner, grocery store ads.
Newspaper advertisements often have color pictures and prices to
match the words.
Activities
Games
Use commercial games the way they are supposed to be played, or make up your
own rules. Use the tiles as building blocks for words.
Commercial games: Scrabble, Boggle, Smart Mouth, Bananagrams
Make your own vocabulary flashcards and use them for Memory/Concentration or
Go Fish games.
Make your own bingo games to practice listening and reading skills.
Play guessing games such as Twenty Questions, I-Spy, or Hangman.
Other Strategies
Back-Up Plans
Sometimes lessons finish early, students are tired or sick, or you have misjudged
your content and moved on. Have a few ideas to fill in for these occasions.
Have a newspaper handy for a variety of activities.
Have the student select a magazine picture to describe, or create a story.
Freewrite. Have the learner select a topic, or suggest one; respond to an article in
the newspaper. You write also.
Try some of the Fun Activities. See the additional handout.
Adapted from Assembling an ESL Teaching Toolbox,
produced by ProLiteracy Worldwide for use on www.thinkfinity.org