Easy Reader Biographies

Take an historical journey into the lives of ten fascinating people with set of easy-to-read biographies. Meet Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Mother Teresa, and others who have helped shape key periods in U.S. History. Texts use repeated sentence patterns and familiar language to aid comprehension. Discussion questions included.

Courtesy of www.newreaderspress.com

You can in find Easy Reader Biographies such as Rosa Parks in the Newton Free Library’s Literacy Collection:  LIT E P237.BA

The Idiom Book: 1010 Idioms in 101 Two-Page Photocopiable Lessons

by Hal NiergarthPrimary Category: Idioms (see also Vocabulary) Language Level: High Intermediate, Advanced Education Sector: High School, Pre-University (Intensive type programs), University (Credit ESL courses), Adult Education Publication Date: 2007 Photocopiable

Man, you really are in a funk, aren’t you? Come on! It’ll do you good to get your mind off your troubles . . . peppered with natural-sounding dialogues that use idioms like they’re really used on the TV, in the movies, in business, and on the street, this massive collection of 1010 idioms brings you instant photocopiable lessons!The 1010 idioms are spread across 101 two-page lessons. Each lesson is divided into four sections, A through D. Section A presents the idioms for the lesson in the context of a conversation; section B uses the same idioms in an example written message, combined with a fill-in-the-blank activity; section C provides a matching exercise focused on the meanings of the idioms; lastly, section D has learners rewrite standard, boring sentences using the new idioms from the lesson.SAMPLE TOPICS (Idioms are grouped under themes inclusive of the below): Getting There is Half the Fun, Cutting Corners, Possible Business Merger, Big Guns, Long Time No See, Roughing It, Taking a Chance on Love, Neighbors, Politics, Basketball Win, Talk Show, Energy Crisis, Organic or Processed?, Dirty Tricks, Who’s Paying?, Speeding Ticket, Office Squabble, Keep Your Shirt On, Setting up Shop, and Mending Fences. Audio CDs contain recordings of all the dialogs. Courtesy of www.altaesl.com You can find The Idiom Book in the Newton Free Library’s Literacy Collection:  LIT 428.4 N55I

12 American Voices

An Authentic Listening and Integrated-Skills Textbook

Intermediate to Advanced Level

Maurice Cogan Hauck, Kenneth MacDougall, and David Isay

Designed for intermediate to advanced, non-native speakers of English,12 American Voices presents a series of entertaining and culturally rich radio documentaries by award-winning producer David Isay. These stories, which were first broadcast on National Public Radio, focus on a range of individuals living and working in contemporary America, from an immigrant Chinese restaurant owner in New York City to an African-American waitress who helped integrate a Southern lunch counter, from the owner of a pawnshop-wedding chapel to a retired couple who have become disk jockeys. As students listen to these stories, they hear a variety of regional and ethnic “Englishes” and are introduced to some corners of American culture that are rarely seen in the media.In addition to transcripts of the documentaries, the book includes thought-provoking exercises that encourage students to analyze the language in the stories and to respond in both oral and written form. A CD of the broadcasts is included.

Courtesy of Delta Systems Co., Inc.

You can find 12 American Voices in the Newton Free Library’s Literacy Collection:  LIT 428.3 HAUCK

Listening: A Powerful ESL Editing Tool

by Mary Jo Moore

I have been teaching a high-intermediate to advanced ESL writing class for about five years. During the first year or so, I tried to persuade my students that peer editing in the form of reading each other’s writing was a very good thing . . . but they were skeptical. So I developed a form of “guided group editing” in which I presented small groups with copies of one group member’s writing along with a suggested list of editing points specific to that piece of writing. These small peer editing groups looked wonderful from a distance, and for a brief but golden moment, I thought I had stumbled upon the Holy Grail of ESL writing activities. Eventually, however, my students let me know, gently but firmly, that they had been suffering through “guided group editing” to please me, but had not felt it was particularly helpful to them. For one thing, most of my students felt vulnerable about letting their classmates see their writing. And guided group editing was more or less walking all over their vulnerability with muddy boots. So I let group editing go and began to focus on self-editing.But ESL students need help to self-edit. During a year or two of trying various ways of helping my students self-edit, I began to realize that they didn’t seem to mind if other people heard their writing as long as they didn’t actually see it. It’s so simple. “Read aloud to someone or to yourself,” I might hear myself say. “See if you like the way your writing sounds. Your ears have been listening to English for quite a while now. Maybe it’s time to trust them.” “Read aloud with a pencil in your hand,” I might also hear myself say. It is quite common for the ESL writer reading aloud to use her pencil before she gets to the end of her first sentence. “I’ve got to fix that,” I hear my students say. “I’ve got to come back to that later.” Since she is the one brandishing the pencil, the writer is in charge whether she is reading to someone else or to herself. Reading aloud to another person does seem to heighten the power of listening, maybe because two people are involved in the editing process instead of one. But it is also productive to read one’s writing aloud to oneself. Either way, listening has become the editing tool of choice in my class and the first line of defense.In-Class Office I have begun to set up an “office” in the corner of the room when we have writing and editing sessions. My office consists of two chairs (or desk-chair combinations) facing each other. A student can come over and read his writing to me, or he can come over to ask a specific question or two about his writing. When you’re listening to the writing but can’t see it, you are limited to checking pronunciation and responding to content and perhaps occasionally an aberrant verb tense or word choice. This is wonderfully different from a student’s writing a rough draft and then handing it to me to fix. It’s very important, I think, to keep the student in charge at this stage, and the fact that the teacher is simply listening (without seeing) or responding only to specific questions the student has asked about grammar, punctuation, or vocabulary helps keep the power in the hands of the writer. I would recommend that ESL teachers not worry about whether the editing that results from listening to student writing or responding only to specific questions about the writing is totally accurate or wholly comprehensive. It’s a viable goal, particularly at the rough draft stage, simply to observe and rejoice that the process of editing is actually going on. Since every language has its own set of pronunciation issues for the learner of English, and our students tend to come from all over the world, a difficult sound for one might not be difficult for another. So whether they are reading their writing aloud to the teacher or to another student, getting help with mispronounced words is likely to be part of the process. When they read to me, I record any words they mispronounce on a Post-it and then go over these words with them. I also give them the Post-it so they can practice the words later. In this way, reading one’s writing aloud to someone else becomes a way to get a pronunciation check, which helps motivate the use of listening as an editing tool. Everyone seems to feel positive about pronunciation checks. Writing offers ESL students an opportunity to look at and listen to their own grammar. And editing becomes a second chance to get it right. Whether our students edit a little or a lot, when they listen to their own writing they are involved in a process that conjoins written and spoken English. Listening as an editing tool blurs the distinction between pronunciation and grammar, rendering it a welcome alternative to the unnatural but inevitable separation of pronunciation and grammar that accompanies textbook learning. Someone wise once said, “Writing is rewriting.” Well, editing encourages rewriting to happen. And listening encourages editing to happen. Listening not only bypasses the vulnerability that seems to be rampant when ESL students peer edit each other with their eyes. It also activates the passive knowledge their ears have accumulated over the many years they’ve been listening to English. All this listening can’t help but deepen the language learner’s awareness of his or her own pronunciation. And becoming a better “pronouncer” of English is what our students seem to want more than anything else. Thus listening is quite possibly an ESL student’s most powerful editing tool. Mary Jo Moore is on the faculty of the Framingham Adult ESL Program where she teaches a high-intermediate to advanced ESL class with an ephasis on writing. She can be reached at mjmoore16@hotmail.com

Originally published in: Field Notes, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Winter/Spring 2005) Publisher: SABES/World Education, Boston, MA, Copyright 2005. Posted on SABES Web site: June 2005

English No Problem

Literacy – High Intermediate

English—No Problem! is a breakthrough alternative to traditional ESL instruction that enables students to learn through a unique problem-solving approach.

No Problem for Students: Theme-based units offer a series of learning activities taken from real-life situations, like voting for the first time.

No Problem for Teachers: Suitable for new and experienced teachers, the lessons enable students to work independently or in groups. Step-by-step instructions, large print and graphic elements, such as maps, charts, and graphs, make it easy to plan and execute class activities or realign lesson structures.

Works in Multilevel Classrooms!

Everyday English language problems are expandable with built-in flexibility for multilevel instruction. Students with limited English language skills and vocabulary can participate in lesson activities, as long as a student knows the English vocabulary word for one item. Students generally work on these with a partner or in groups. The tasks and projects provided at the end of each lesson, and the projects given at the end of each unit, allow students with higher language levels to take on the more involved tasks (note taking, reading additional materials, and presenting the results back to the class), while students with lower levels can contribute to the discussion of ideas and other activities as their language abilities allow.

Works well for Open Entry-Open Exit programs!

Each unit is self-contained. The grammar in each lesson is a function of the types of conversation activities included in the lesson, so it’s not crucial for students to know previously taught grammar to participate in the lesson.

Built upon national and state standards!

The series fully integrates national and state standards and frameworks for adult education and ESL, including the SCANS, EFF, CASAS, BEST, EFF, NRS, and SPLs.

Uses abundant, real language!

Activities are designed to get students moving within the classroom and talking with each other. Because there is no need for students to memorize dialogues, students express and defend ideas, ask and answer questions, report information to the class, and use purposeful real-life language!

A variety of activities in the photocopy masters are practice activities that students try on their own at home. It also includes an Oral Evaluation Matrix – which gives a way of measuring and reporting student progress in oral language skills.

How it works:

1 – In each Unit Opener, a problem or situation is presented that relates to three common settings: home, work and/or school, and community. Through a series of questions about the picture, students discuss the issue and begin to relate the issue to their own life. The teacher introduces key vocabulary for the unit, and students set learning goals.

2 – Each lesson encourages students to think about how the issue affects him or her and uses a reading passage, a listening prompt, or a graphic prompt to begin the discussion in a more focused context. Through the lesson and discussion of the issue, students learn grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, language, culture, and content.

3 – At the end of each unit, students have an opportunity to apply what they have learned, and include activities and examples of real-life documents, like forms or paychecks.

At the end of each unit, students complete a group project that demonstrates problem-solving skills used to solve the posed problem/situation.

Courtesy of New Readers Press

You can find English No Problem in the Newton Free Library’s Literacy Collection:  LIT 428.4 English

Computers in Writing: Practical Suggestions for Software, Web Sites, and Hardware

by Mary Ann Sliwa

Fall 2004 issue

There are many ways that computers can help in the writing process. I have used the following resources with a wide range of students and hope you will find my annotations helpful if you choose to explore them. Story Webs Looking for a moderately priced software tool? My all-time favorite for doing story Webs is Inspiration. It is a wonderful visual tool. Students love this! Depending on the students’ level, you can stay with text, use clip art pictures of many subjects, use it as a vocabulary family exercise, or teach science (the characteristics of the three states of matter, for instance). Before purchasing, you can see samples at: Language arts ideas and demo: www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration/using_insp/index.cfm?fuseaction=langarts Product information: www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration Kidspiration (K-5): www.inspiration.com/productinfo/kidspiration Parts of an Essay For the more advanced students (GED or TOEFL level) who may still need repetition on the basics of topic sentences, there are well-presented exercises at www.vuw.ac.nz/llc/academic-writing/tsent1.html and the table of contents is at www.vuw.ac.nz/llc/academic-writing. Creative Ideas What if everything were yellow? What if the sky turned red at night? Try these exercises at www.teachersdesk.org/writwhatif.html and many other creative teaching ideas at www.teachersdesk.org/lessons.html. Sources for Illustrations: Microsoft A big hit with all different levels of students (and staff) is the free clip art gallery at office.microsoft.com/clipart For example, our Intermediate ESL class read Jane Eyre in their easy readers series. They thought of one image that the novel brought to mind, found in clip art gallery , of a young girl weeping, and wrapped their own words around it. For example, they wrapped the sentence, “When I think of Jane Eyre, I think of sadness,” behind it. MSPaint Paint is a fun program present on most Microsoft products (Start > Programs > Accessories > Paint). Just remember to go to the Image menu first and under Attributes choose inches and look at the size of your picture before you begin to illustrate your writing. If you do this afterwards, it crops out part of your picture or prints it on 15 different sheets. One huge hit with all levels of students is making a cartoon easily with your drawing toolbar (View > Toolbars. Make sure there is a check in front of drawing). On the Drawing toolbar, click Autoshapes > Callouts to get the cartoon balloon and double-click to type your text. Hardware AlphaSmarts are handy and cheap word processors. They are easy to carry around and almost indestructible. www.alphasmart.com Learning to Type Mavis Beacon is a great typing tutorial. The software runs about $30, available in Staples, Best Buy, Office Max, but I have had students get it for under $10 on eBay. Mary Ann Sliwa has been teaching adults for over thirteen years. She loves teaching writing, in ESOL, computer, TOEFL, and GED classes. She can be reached at: masliwa@comcast.net

Originally published in: Field Notes, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Fall 2004) Publisher: SABES/World Education, Boston, MA, Copyright 2004. Posted on SABES Web site: November 2004

Free Internet Videos for ESOL Self-Instruction

	by Lynne Weintraub
	Summer 2004 issue

Can ESOL students extend their classroom learning effectively using a lab or home computer? Can wait-listed or homebound students be referred to effective Internet sites for ESOL self-instruction? I believe that it’s possible, but you can spend weeks searching for a few well-designed sites.In compiling a list of suggested links for my program, I look for sites that present everyday American English, include interactive practice exercises, and feature topics relevant to adult learners. To me, the most important criteria is use of multimedia technology to provide audio and video content, so students can learn by listening, and through visual cues, rather than through print alone. Effective video instruction does exist on the web, but so far such sites are few and far between. Below is a short list of sites that do a fairly good job of it. It should be noted that students will require a fast connection and a good deal of computer memory to access the videos smoothly. English for All myefa.org/login.cfm English for All has five exciting video sequences about workplace situations. After watching a video segment from the story, learners practice vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, and “life skills” based on the segment. There’s a simple way to get a native language translation of any word in the lesson. You can also print out video scripts and exercises. Real English www.real-english.com Real English uses authentic videos (of interviews with ordinary English speakers on the street) to teach basic listening, vocabulary, and grammar skills in a meaningful context. Each interview video is accompanied by a series of related short audio or video segments that are used in matching, sentence completion/construction, and other exercises. The registration process for this site is a bit cumbersome, but the quality of the videos and exercises make it worth the trouble. The California Distance Learning Project www.cdlponline.org The California Distance Learning Project has news stories (some recent, some not), and information about a wide variety of topics that learners can hear on audio, and sometimes see as video recordings, while they read along. After they listen to/read each story they can try a variety of reading comprehension and vocabulary exercises. Learning Resources literacynet.org/cnnsf The Learning Resources site uses video or audio clips of CNN news broadcasts along with the written story (you can choose to read the original story or a simpler, “abridged” version) to teach reading and listening comprehension. Each news story has vocabulary and comprehension exercises to go along with it. Learners can also write down their thoughts on the issue and send them in to share with other readers online. (Recommended for advanced levels.) Sounds of English www.soundsofenglish.org The Sounds of English site offers pronunciation instruction. It explains how each sound is made and offers audio and video examples with exercises. Lynne Weintraub coordinates the Jones Library ESL Center in Amherst, MA, and is the author of Citizenship: Passing the Test (New Readers Press). She maintains a list of self-access ESOL Internet links at www.joneslibrary.org/esl/adult.html and a citizenship educator resource page at users.crocker.com/~lynnew/. As a member of the LINKS Core Knowledge Group, she also nominates and reviews sites for the NIFL ESL Special Collection.

Originally published in: Field Notes, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Summer 2004) Publisher: SABES/World Education, Boston, MA, Copyright 2004. Posted on SABES Web site: July 2004

WorldView Series

WorldView Series by Michael Rost Primary Category: Courses/Series Integrated Skills Language Level: Beginner, High Beginner, Low Intermediate, Intermediate, High Intermediate Education Sector: Pre-University (Intensive type programs), Adult Education Publication Date: 2005   From Oprah Winfrey’s astounding achievements and Britney Spears’ debatable charisma to city comparisons across the world, personality questionnaires, Harry Potter potions, and balancing work and play, this full-color series tackles dozens of contemporary, trendy topics via fabulous, full-color “views!” Ideal for situations in which the classroom might be the only place students interact in English, the trademark two-page lessons are closely linked through seven sections: Getting Started, Listening/Reading, Grammar Focus, Pronunciation, Speaking, Writing, and Conversation to Go. The approach follows a simple and proven MAP: Motivate learning through stimulating content, Anchor language production with strong presentations, and Personalize learning through engaging speaking activities. Each student book contains 28, four-page units, seven review units, four World of Music units, a grammar reference section, vocabulary list, and an audio CD to extend listening and pronunciation practice outside of class.Companion Website: download even more activities! Level 1 (Beginning): present continuous, modals, simple past, imperatives, prepositional phrases, comparatives/superlatives, present continuous. Level 2 (High-Beginning): review of simple present, simple past, future with be going to, present perfect, past continuous, present perfect. Level 3 (Low-Intermediate): simple past vs. present continuous, modal verbs, present perfect, future real conditional, passive. Level 4 (Intermediate): real conditional, modals, present perfect and present perfect continuous, past perfect, indirect statements, connectors, tag questions, past perfect and past perfect continuous, real and unreal conditional, past modals. Courtesy of Alta Book Center Find WorldView in the Newton Free Library’s Literacy Collection: LIT 428 ROST

Interchange

Interchange Series, Third Edition by Jack C. RichardsPrimary Category: Courses/Series Integrated Skills Language Level: Beginner, High Beginner, Low Intermediate, Intermediate Education Sector: High School, Pre-University (Intensive type programs), Adult Education Publication Date: 2005

Whether it’s the environment, your fitness routine, an addiction to Star Wars, or the differences Lady Diana made, there is something for everyone to “interchange” in this third edition of the best-selling program! Fresh, new high-interest topics are just the beginning of what makes this series sizzling hot! The third edition offers real-world information, beautiful illustrations and photos, two conversations in every one of the 16 units of each book, tons of listening and discussion tasks, expanded writing guidance, and comprehensive grammar practice. The student audio material contains all the student book recordings except Part B in the Conversation exercises. KEY TO THE LEVELS Intro Level: The alphabet, colors, time, transportation, health, locations. Possessive adjectives, plurals, present continuous, present, future, prepositions, past. Level 1: Introductions, shopping, likes/dislikes, past experiences, future plans. Present, present continuous, adverbs, past, present perfect, comparatives, future. Level 2: Memories, lifestyle changes, going places, making requests, interpreting body language. Past vs. present perfect, two-part verbs, infinitives, conditionals, passive, past continuous, modals, adverbs. Level 3: Giving opinions, expressing emotions, describing problems. Gerund phrases, past perfect, past participles, infinitive clauses, past and passive modals, complex noun phrases, review of present perfect, future perfect. Courtesy of Alta Book Center Find Interchange in the Newton Free Library’s Literacy Collection:  LIT 428.4 RICHARDS

Heartfelt Idioms for the ESOL Class

Follow your heart

Heart as big as all outdoors

Cold hands, warm heart

From the bottom of my heart

Peg o’ my heart

Heart-to-heart talk

Wear your heart on your

sleeve

Listen to your heart

Get to the heart of the matter

My heart goes out to you

Heartbreak

Heartache

Heartless

Heartburn

Heartland

Heartfelt

Heart attack

Sacred heart

Cold heart

Heavy heart

Broken heart

Bleeding heart

Dear heart

Heart of gold

Child at heart

Have a heart

Young at heart

Wild at heart

Know by heart

Play by heart

Full of heart

Light at heart

Idea for the Classroom

After discussing heart idioms in English,

have students talk about idioms in their

countries that contain the word “heart.”

Compare similarities and differences

among idioms.

 This article first appeared in Field Notes, a publication of SABES.