ESL Teaching Resources
A free comprehensive collection of ESL teaching resources for English language teachers working abroad.
Explore lesson activities, lesson plans, classroom and teacher resources, theory and research, and additional resources.
Additional Resources
Teacher Resources1500 Words of "Globish"
[+-] Globish is a limited form of English designed for practical communication.
This pdf outlines the 1500 words of "Globish". These words, and their inflected forms, can be combined to express nearly any thought without overwhelming learners with the entire vocabulary of the English language.
41 Tips for Teachers
[+-] 41 useful tips for ESL teachers.
These tips cover professional development as well as practical advice for classroom teaching. It is useful for any teacher, whether new or experienced, to read over the suggestions and advice within.
75 ESL Teaching Ideas
[+-] 75 ideas and tips for teaching ESL.
Many useful tips for teachers approaching an ESL classroom. Tips range from classroom management ideas to specific lesson activities.
Adult Education ESL Teachers' Guide
[+-] Orientation, lessons, and tips for teaching ESL to adults.
Contains lessons and ideas for teaching beginner and intermediate adults, as well as non-literate ESL students.
Adult Education ESL Teachers' Guide (Print Version)
[+-] Orientation, lessons, and tips for teaching ESL to adults.
Link to pdf print version of the Adult Education ESL Teachers' Guide. It contains the information from the site, but in printable format. Contains lessons and ideas for teaching beginner and intermediate adults, as well as non-literate ESL students.
American English Idioms
[+-] Descriptions and explanations of some common American English Idioms.
Idioms are non-literal phrases or expressions, and as such can be very difficult to teach. Intermediate and advanced students are usually quite interested in learning the meaning and appropriate use of English expressions.
British Council EFL Teacher's Manual
[+-] Complete 143 page pdf of the British Council's manual for EFL teachers.
The British Council runs English language schools around the world. This lengthy manual is a worthwhile read for any prospective or current ESL/EFL teacher.
British Council Grammar Quizzes
[+-] Downloadable and printable grammar quizzes.
A variety of different grammar quizzes and activities to help students learn English grammar conventions and rules. Click on "attachment" after choosing a quiz to download the pdf.
British Council Pronunciation Quizzes
[+-] Downloadable and printable pronunciation quizzes.
A variety of different pronunciation quizzes and activities to help students recognize different English pronunciations and spellings. Click on "attachment" after choosing a quiz to download the pdf.
British Council Vocabulary Quizzes
[+-] Downloadable and printable vocabulary quizzes.
A variety of different vocabulary quizzes and activities to help students learn and practice English words and spellings. Click on "attachment" after choosing a quiz to download the pdf.
Choosing Props for ESL Lessons
[+-] Tips and recommendations for using props in ESL lessons.
Props can be incorporated into just about any lesson. They provide a useful connection to the real world and provide structure to speaking and writing lessons. This site gives tips for appropriate prop selection and use in the ESL classroom.
Custom Worksheets, Games, and Resources
[+-] Game, puzzle, and other printable resource creators.
Links to free, printable game and puzzle makers, plus other handouts and resources.
English Club - Articles
[+-] Articles on ESL teaching and learning.
ESL Club offers articles on various aspects of English language teaching. Articles can be of general interest to teachers, and some can be used in ESL reading classes with minor adaptation.
English Club - English for Young Learners
[+-] Lessons and activities for teaching very young ESL students.
ESL Club offers tips, strategies, and lesson ideas for teaching English to very young students, from babies and up!
English Club - ESL Exams
[+-] Descriptions and explanations of ESL tests and exams.
ESL Club offers explanations of the differences between and the purpose of tests such as the TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge ESOL, among many others.
English Club - Forums
[+-] Discussion forums for ESL teachers and students.
ESL Club offers discussion forums where ESL teachers and students can help one another with questions and difficulties. Vocabulary, grammar, creative writing, and travel advice are just some of the forums available.
English Club Activities and Games
[+-] Worksheets, flashcards, activities, and games for ESL classes.
A wide range of resources for ESL classes of any level. Topics include vocabulary, conversations, games, and grammar.
English Learning Software
[+-] ESL learning software for beginner and intermediate students.
Software to assist beginner and intermediate students. These programs can also be used by teachers to assist with tutoring or to be incorporated into lessons or units. NOTE: the software is not free.
ESL Kids Lab - Teaching Tips
[+-] Articles on teaching children.
Links to articles on many different aspects of teaching English to children, from one-on-one teaching, to large classes, to using games effectively. A good starting point for any new teacher.
ESL Language Tests
[+-] Downloadable English tests.
Downloadable and printable reading, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar tests. Also includes examples of placement tests and level-advancement tests for ESL students.
ESL Teaching Techniques and Strategies
[+-] Tips, techniques, and strategies for teaching ESL.
A variety of resources to help ESL teachers. From quick lesson starters to using computers in the classroom, and choosing appropriate materials to speaking activities, teachers of any ESL subject and level can find something useful here.
Free English Language Learning Resources
[+-] Scripts, stories, poems, worksheets, and other printable resources.
A wide range of printable materials for use in ESL classes. Resources include stories, posters, printable books, and many others.
Idiom Site
[+-] A large list of English idioms along with explanations.
As non-literal phrases and expressions, idioms are usually best taught in context with their common usage. Students typically have to memorize the meanings of idioms as they cannot be deduced from the words in the expression. Each idiom as a whole has a different meaning than its component parts.
Liz Regan's 20 ESL Teaching Tips
[+-] 20 classroom, lesson, and organizational tips for ESL teachers.
Tips for ESL teachers on everything from Eliciting and Error Correction, to Using Dictionaries.
Printable ESL Games
[+-] Printable card games, board games, and other games.
Games are great for ESL students of any age. Having fun is the best way to learn. Over 20 printable games of various types can be found on this site.
Printable Lesson Resources
[+-] Free printable worksheets and lesson resources for use with ESL classes.
Printable resources divided into the following categories: Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling, Reading, Speaking & Listening, and Research.
Pronunciation Handbook
[+-] The 4 best practices for teaching pronunciation.
Contains tips and suggestions for effectively teaching English pronunciation. Also includes a link to a full PDF manual on teaching pronunciation.
Sites for Teachers
[+-] Sites for Teachers contains a wide range of resources for language teachers.
Placement tests, lessons and exercises, games, images, and many more resources that can be used in an ESL classroom can be found on this site. There is also a club with forums and chat rooms for teachers to discuss lessons, activities, and teaching in general.
Teaching Tips
[+-] Hundreds of classroom-applicable tips for ESL teachers.
Includes lesson ideas, conversation starters, classroom management tools, and other tips and hints for language teachers.
The Grammar Slammer
[+-] Grammar checking software and tips to improve grammar.
This resource is helpful for ESL teachers and more advanced students. It can help identify common errors as well as give some explanations of the rules in play.
Time Savers for Teachers
[+-] Hundreds of printable resources for teachers.
Report cards, comments, certificates, awards, spelling lists, and lesson ideas are just some of the resources available on this site. All of them are printable, and many are customizable.
Tools for Teachers
[+-] Online resources and tools for teachers.
Sentence scrambles, graph makers, puzzle makers, worksheet generators, and a variety of other useful tools for teachers.
English Club - ESL World
[+-] Information on living and teaching in various countries around the world.
ESL Club offers information, tips, and job resources for countries around the world.
ESL Daily
[+-] This website features online ESL news from around the world.
Job postings and articles about teaching overseas. Updated daily, this site has links to news articles pertaining to ESL teachers and schools, as well as discussion forums.
ESL Job Opportunities
[+-] Resources and information on teaching around the world.
Information about the nuts and bolts of ESL teaching. Testimonials, accounts of experiences, tips for living and teaching abroad, as well as job and career listings make this a valuable resource for prospective and current ESL teachers.
ESL Teachers' Board
[+-] Job listings and resume postings for overseas teaching positions.
Teaching positions all over the world for TESOL graduates. Positions are throughout Asia, the Americas, and the rest of the world. Both paid and volunteer positions are listed.
Mark's ESL World
[+-] One-stop-shopping for ESL teaching and job resources.
Mark's ESL world contains job postings and discussion boards for new and experienced teachers. The forums are an excellent place to get advice and suggestions on teaching ESL as well as practical tips for living abroad.
World Teach
[+-] Teaching and volunteer opportunites worldwide.
World Teach offers job placement and volunteer opportunities in select countries worldwide on summer, semester, and year-long contracts.
Lonely Planet
[+-] Lonely Planet travel guides and travel information.
Lonely Planet's online guide to the world. Includes travel advice, detailed maps, travel news, message boards, health information and more. A valuable resource for any traveller.
About.com
[+-] Information on a wide array of ESL topics.
About.com provides a wealth of lesson plans, ideas, tips, and strategies, as well as classroom and language acquisition theory. Many of the sub-pages are categorized and linked to directly from the Oxford Seminars ESL Teaching Resources page.
Dave's ESL Cafe
[+-] Resources for ESL teachers and students around the world.
A website designed to connect ESL teachers with specific teaching positions around the world and to allow teachers to connect with one another through forums.
ESL Flow
[+-] Job searches, ESL lessons, activities, and games.
A huge number of lesson plans and activities as well as an ESL job search and links to teaching and educational theory.
MES-English Topsites
[+-] MES-English collection of top sites.
A wide range of ESL-related websites.
American Business English
[+-] Audio and written phrases and expressions common to American business English.
Not all phrases and expressions can be understood by learning the individual words. Idioms are phrases that have a specific meaning when taken as a whole. This site gives explanations of some of the more commonly spoken expressions in American business English.
Business and Special Purposes ESL Vocabulary
[+-] Lessons and activities for building and practicing specialized vocabulary.
This page contains activities and lessons to help students master business English, including vocabulary specific to advertising, banking, stocks, human resources, and the legal profession, among many others.
Business English Idioms
[+-] Idioms and expressions typically heard in a business English environment.
Idioms and expressions can be very hard to understand, so students must be taught the specific meaning and appropriate context and usage for each one they encounter. Business idioms are no different, but there are certain phrases that are more likely to arise in a business environment. ESL teachers of business students would be wise to become familiar with the more common business idioms.
Business English Lessons
[+-] Lessons and activities to practice business English.
Speaking and writing lessons gear toward business English students. The contexts and vocabulary are specific to business and the exercises are intended for adults who need to practice specific skills.
Business Idioms Blog
[+-] A frequently updated blog for teaching and learning common business idioms.
This blog contains reading passages and discussions containing common business English idioms and expressions. Teachers can use these in lessons, and students can check back frequently to help develop their own understanding of common idioms and expressions used in the business world.
English Club - Business English
[+-] Ideas and activities for teaching Business English.
ESL Club offers sample activities and lessons for teaching Business English. Specific skills such as resume writing and emails are covered, as well as vocabulary related to the business world.
English Club - English for Work
[+-] Vocabulary and activities to teach English specific to various fields of employment.
ESL Club offers lessons and activities to teach the language specific to particular work environments. English for cashiers, housekeepers, police, and tour guides are a few of the job categories covered.
Job and Career English Lessons
[+-] Lessons to teach English related to jobs and careers.
Lessons and activities for interview skills, formal greetings, workplace etiquette, and resume writing. Designed for adolescents and adults.
Public Health and Safety English Lessons
[+-] Lessons to teach health and safety vocabulary.
Useful for health care professionals and students interested in health and safety language, these lessons teach common health and safety vocabulary as well as the words and expressions associated with dangers and health risks.
Cecil College Career Resource Center
[+-] Career resource and job site for Cecil College students.
Cecil College in Maryland provides career counselling and resources for students, including prospective ESL teachers. Information and assistance with resume writing, job hunting, career development, and interview skills are provided at the Career Resource Center.
Global Student Experience
[+-] An opportunity for students to study abroad.
Global Student Experience has contacts in Spain, France, Italy, England, Australia, Argentina, and Mexico for students to travel and study abroad. While there, students may find supplementary work as ESL teachers or tutors.
20, 000 Jobs Resource
[+-] Over 300 websites
Over 300 websites include more than 20,000 ESL teaching jobs available monthly all around the world.
TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certification
Graduate Career Assistance
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Oxford Seminars
8447 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 401, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
244 5th Avenue, Suite J262, New York, NY 10001-7406
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