Civics It Up!
This site is an instructional tool for teachers of Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) activities. The purpose of the site is to help teachers plan and implement instructional units and lessons that integrate language learning with rights and responsibilities of citizenship, civic participation, and workforce preparation.
Free Online ESL Training
Alison offers free professional development and courses in a variety of academic topics, including teacher training in ESOL. Click on this link to sign up with Alison and to log in to this 3-hour course.
EL/Civics Gateways for Teachers
The EL/Civics Gateways for Teachers is a collaborative professional development web site for adult English Language and EL/Civics programs and teachers. The purpose of the site is to help teachers plan and implement lessons supporting students in their efforts to integrate into their communities and make successful transitions to work and education.
The Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center offers many ESOL and EL/Civics links on its resource page.
Click here for IEL/Civics Education and here for ESOL
Easy World of English: EWE
Easy World of English (EWE) has been designed to help students and teachers alike.
For Students
Flexible online English language program that allows students to learn at their own pace.
Extensive multi-level, reading, writing, grammar, and listening exercises to enable students to improve their English language skills.
For Teachers
A resource to enable your students to further enhance their English language skills.
Reading, writing and listening activities developed for beginners, intermediate, and advanced English learners
Click on image or click on this link to enter the site.
Effective Teaching Strategies in an Adult ESL Classroom
This is part 1 of a 4 part video illustrating effective teaching strategies in an adult ESL classroom. The teacher uses pictures and text, and real fruits and vegetables to teach basic vocabulary and language structures. She connects classroom and community by having students go on a site visit to a local farm to practice the language they are learning. Students later visit a grocery store where they ask questions. Back in the classroom they compare prices and do further language work. Heide Spruck Wrigley narrates and highlights effective instructional strategies and promising practices, including “bringing the outside in.”
The Reading Demonstration
Heide Wrigley shows how to use materials from the everyday lives of learners to allow students to demonstrate what they can do with print.
MLoTS Project
Media Library of Teaching Skills for adult learning and literacy 
In March, 2007, the MLoTS project created a space for adult educators to share examples of promising practices, and they continue to update their site with new videos of adult practitioners in action. The videos are freely available as a resource for new instructors and for program training. MLoTS includes videos for instruction in both ABE and ESOL.
Contact information is available on the site.
Online ESOL Training At the Minnesota Literacy Council
The Minnesota Literacy Council’s Online training courses are available to individuals who live out of the state. While you must sign up and log in to take these courses, you will not receive a certificate of completion. (Read the Out of State User’s Policy here.) A description of each course sits below. Courses are self-directed and include videos and opportunities for chatting online:
This course will provide you with a basic understanding of the U.S. citizenship application process and appropriate teaching strategies for preparing ABE/ESL student immigrants to pass their citizenship interview.
This online course will introduce you to the basics for a volunteer position in the Adult ESL Classroom.
Teaching literacy level students is a rewarding experience, but many instructors lack confidence in their ability to teach literacy level adults. In this course you will learn about the needs of literacy level students and effective teaching strategies.
Any class with more than one student is multilevel, whether the source of the “multi” is educational, generational, or cultural. One key in these circumstances is to develop realistic expectations. Another key is to use a number of “multi” strategies. This course will help you find those keys
Online ESOL Training Videos
Sixteen online videos demonstrating ESOL tutoring techniques were taped by Literacy Du Page, a literacy organization in Illinois. You can scroll down this post and click on the titles or directly on the videos. Real Tutors/Real Learners will take you to the Literacy Du Page link.
- First Meeting ESL 1 Learner: (9:58 min) This discussion with a level one ESL learner includes an initial introduction; goal setting; a quick check of words and numbers; a quick check of reading and writing; and wrap-up, next meeting, and homework.
- First Meeting ESL 2 Learner, Part One: (9:08 min) This discussion with a level 2 ESL learner allows for fuller conversation, but objectives similar to the above video are followed.
- First Meeting ESL 2 Learner, Part Two: (3:30 min) In this video the student is asked to write and practice homework.
- ESL 1: Experience Story (5:53 min ) Step One, The tutor writes the story after an initial discussion; he reads the story back and asks for any changes; the learner reads the story; and shows editing and correction.
- ESL 2: Experience Story (10:00 min) The lesson opens with the learner’s homework assignment, life experience writing; note how the tutor encourages the student to self correct spelling, grammar, and verb tenses. She also prepares the student for homework.
- Alphabet Activities (6:43 min) Reviewing the alphabet with basic and low level ESL learners is essential. Drilling is important for learners who have no knowledge of the alphabet.
- Basic Reading and Writing Techniques: Part 1, Alphabet Study (9:34 min) Basic literacy tutoring techniques, not just for ESOL students. These alphabet study techniques are especially suitable for basic learners. It includes a review of the previous lesson, new words and rhyming words, writing the words, and find sounds in an experience story.
- Basic Reading and Writing Techniques: Part 2, Word Study(9:45 min) Basic literacy tutoring techniques, not just for ESOL students. In this video the tutor transitions from alphabet study to word study using an experience story. The student reads the story silently, then discusses unknown words. He then reads the story out loud, adds to the story, and practices spell tracing.
- Basic Reading and Writing Techniques: Part 3, Reading a Map (5:54 min) Basic literacy tutoring techniques, not just for ESOL students. The tutor uses an atlas and a map to prepare the learner for his upcoming vacation. They practice writing place names and reading directions.
- Sight Words From Family Photos (8:51 min) This video shows speaking and practicing the sounds of a new language using familiar subjects, such as photos of family and friends. The tutor and student create the sight words and then practice with them.
- Practice With Picture Cards, Part 1 (9:45 min) The learner, who does the family shopping and cooking, practices word activities and identify food groups using images from the newspaper. The learner uses her cards to identify the foods.
- Practice With Picture Cards, Part 2 (1:14 min) In this video the tutor sets up the next lesson.
- Job Hunt, Reading and Writing Techniques (9:06 min) The lesson resulted from a discussion about the student’s desire to find a new job. He has picked up application materials, which he will fill out, and he will practice a role play in a job interview.
- Reading and Writing Practice Using a New Address (9:37 min) Survival skills start with the ability to provide a name, address, and other vital information. The student repeatedly practices writing his address until he has learned the information.
- Using Post-Its (7:49 min) Using visual reminders is useful with students who are practicing English. They label the parts of the computer, using the post-its to work on spelling and pronunciation.
- Role Play: Doctor Call (8:24 min) Role play provides vocabulary practice based on the learner’s immediate needs, in this instance the student’s need to take her son to the doctor.
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