Craig's TESOL Blog

Language Learning and Teaching

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Curriculum Design Using Web-based Resources for TESOL learning

Over the years I find beginner TESOL teachers are often stuck when asked to prepare or present a series of classes for beginner students. Generally an ELICOS college or a major language school has set and prescribed texts/course books and a rigorous Curriculum that is audited and reviewed. However, a large segment of the TESOL market includes teaching in under resourced market segments. These might be situations like: Teaching English overseas (EFL) with low budgets; Providing private one-on-one/small group classes; or Teaching in Community Support/Voluntary contexts etc.

Below is a range of Websites and Online Resources that can be used by a TESOL teacher to beef-up a curriculum and/or provide some ideas to teach more effectively. Most are free, some require a small subscription fee.

 

ACADEMIC – Griffith University – English HELP has collated a large database of Academic English sites from a range of providers: https://www2.griffith.edu.au/international/englishhelp

ALL SKILLS- Breaking News English – Mini Lessons –https://breakingnewsenglish.com/mini_lessons.html

ALL SKILLS- Oxford Online – Free Lessons –https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/freeenglishlessons

AUSTRALIAN SLANG – Aussie English Sitehttp://www.theaussieenglishpodcast.com/category/podcastepisodes/

CHINESE– Low Level Mandarin Speakers Audio-Lingual –http://www.pimsleur.com/learnenglishformandarinchinesespeakers

GRAMMAR– Cambridge Phrasal Verbs Machine https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/phrasalverbsmachine/id593374912?mt=8

GRAMMAR– Scott’s English – TOEIC activites http://answers.scottsenglish.com/categories/toeictest

IELTS RESOURCES– Free IELTS Materials – https://icte.uq.edu.au/testing/prepareielts

LISTENING – BBC – 6 minute English http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6minuteenglish

LISTENING– BBC – English for Work http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/englishatwork

LISTENING – Spelling/Listening Activity –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXk9PQAdeaw

LISTENING –  Short 1-minute listening and quizzes – http://elllo.org/

MIND MAPPING – Note Taking App – http://mindmapfree.com/

READING – News Dictation and Lesson  – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6832D1096B2CE3DB

READING– Tiny Texts –https://tinytexts.wordpress.com/

READING – Level-Specific-Reading –http://www.readitenglish.com/

SPEAKING – English Club https://www.englishclub.com/speaking/

SPEAKING – Pronunciation Lessons (British English) –https://www.qietesol.net/blog

SPEAKING– Rachel’s English http://rachelsenglish.com/

TEST – Oxford Online – Level Test https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/englishleveltest

WRITING – Ultimate Spell-checker! https://www.grammarly.com/

 

There are literally thousands more free sites out there for TESOL teachers – Hopefully these will get you started!

 

References

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About Me

This blog makes up part of my ‘community of practice’ as an Adult and Vocational Education professional (Bates, 2014) and is a lifelong learning reflective practice tool (Rushton & Suter, 2012, p.20)

I have recently completed a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education and Training with CSU and have been a TESOL teacher for 20 years. After just under 5 years teaching in South Korea I moved to the Gold Coast and entered the ELICOS industry (ELICOS stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students). After a couple of years teaching ELICOS I got into ELICOS management as a Director of Studies/Academic Manager for two different colleges based on the Gold Coast. After that, approximately 7 years ago, I ventured into the Vocational Education and Training Industry as a trainer of TESOL.

These days I train online Certificate IV and Diploma of TESOL as well as teach ELICOS a couple of days a week to maintain my industry currency. I aim to use this blog to record ideas and knowledge I glean in relation to learning and teaching technologies. I aim to use this subject and the ideas of my fellow students to enhance the online learning platforms that we are currently using to train TESOL students as well as to present ideas to my TESOL students for teaching English as Second/Foreign language online.

If you would like to network professionally please find my LinkedIn Profile Here.

References:

Bates, T. (2014). The Role of Communities of Practice in a Digital Age. Online Learning and Distance Education Resources.    Retrieved from https://www.tonybates.ca/2014/10/01/the-role-of-communities-of-practice-in-a-digital-age/ 

Rushton, I. & Suter, M. (2012). Reflective Practice for Teaching in Lifelong Learning. Open University Press. Maidenhead, Berkshire.

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