ESL Teaching Resources

The alphabet is a fundamental building block of the English language. All writing must begin here, so ESL teachers must consider creative ways to teach the English alphabet. This site contains some lessons you can use in your beginner writing classes as you teach the alphabet.

ESL lessons to teach speaking, writing, and reading skills. Teaching stress and intonation, paragraph writing, and reading context clues are a few of the topics covered by these lessons.

Regularly updated, this site contains lesson plans designed around current events. Each topic is selected to elicit discussion and opinions from the students. These can be used for reading, writing, speaking, and listening lessons.

Downloadable plans using Powerpoint, audio, video, and computer-assisted learning in the classroom.

The lessons are broken down in to Parts of Speech, Parts of the Sentence, and Mechanics. Between these three categories, most common aspects of English grammar are covered.

Grammar exercises, activities, and lesson plans for beginner, intermediate, and advanced ESL students.

These lessons are separated by U.S. school grade, but can be adapted to the appropriate ESL level. Introductory grammar (capitalization rules), through reading and conversation lessons can be found here.

Reading comprehension lessons, tips, and skills for beginner, intermediate, and advanced ESL students.

Conversation and speaking lessons and lesson ideas for beginner, intermediate, and advanced ESL students.

Pronunciation and speaking lessons, drills, and practice for beginner, intermediate, and advanced ESL students.

Writing workshops, lessons, and lesson ideas for beginner, intermediate, and advanced ESL students.

There is a featured lesson which changes periodically. Other lessons on the site span a wide range of topics and interests, so there should be something to engage almost any class.

A new complete lesson every month to teach various ESL skills. Can be used as a starting point for future lessons.

Lessons to teach, practice, and review grammatical structures and terminology for students from beginner through advanced levels. Each lesson description is labelled with a recommended level.

Grammar, writing, and the parts of speech are important aspects of language for most ESL programs. This site offers some lesson suggestions and ideas to help teach certain grammar concepts.

A large collection of lesson plans, teaching tips, and activities compiled by the Internet TESL Journal. Lessons are organized by topic, so some care should be taken to properly assess the appropriate level for lessons.

A large collection of ESL lessons revolving around and utilizing websites. Lessons are in PDF format and organized by level. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) to view PDFs.

Although not designed for ESL students, these lessons can be adapted for ESL classes. The site also contains sub-categories for Grammar, Reading and Writing, and Spelling and Vocabulary.

Reading and writing lessons designed for native speakers in kindergarten through grade 5, suitable for intermediate to advanced ESL students.

Handouts, worksheets, lesson plans, and other activities for beginner through advanced ESL classes. These materials cover pronunciation, phonics, reading comprehension, listening, and writing skills.

Pronunciation and fluency lessons for students above the beginner levels. Aspects of pronunciation such as accent, timing, and stress patterns are covered in these lessons.

Lessons and tips for teaching vocabulary-based lessons on opposites, phrasal verbs, everyday expressions, and the uses of common, versatile words such as 'like'.

A variety of lesson discussion topics and speaking/conversation lesson plans. Lessons cover many different aspects of spoken communication, from telephone conversations to small talk to controversial discussion topics.

Projects are an engaging way to teach target language skills. Some can be done in one lesson while others are meant to be split over several class sessions.

Although aimed at native English speaking students, these reading comprehension lessons can be adapted to suit ESL classes with some minor adjustments depending on the students' level.

Free registration to the site is necessary to print the lesson plans.

Several ideas and tips for using storytelling in lessons. Stories are a great way to practice writing and speaking in an ESL class.

Vocabulary is the foundation of all language. Whatever level students are, there are always new words, terms, and phrases to be learned. These lessons introduce and reinforce vocabulary in a range of lesson activities designed to make learning engaging and interesting.

Although aimed at native English speaking students, these lessons are easily adaptable to ESL classes. The wide age range represented (K-adult) allows for a great deal of flexibility when it comes to using any of these lessons with a particular group of ESL students. Teachers should look closely at the language involved and the subject matter before deciding to use any given lesson with their own students.

These short lessons can be built around or used as part of a longer lesson on a related topic. While labelled 'beginner', many are suitable even for intermediate level classes.

A variety of lesson plans for beginner level ESL classes. Lessons cover grammar, asking questions, short writing assignments, and vocabulary building, among other skills.

Lesson activities and plans for teaching pronunciation and speaking skills to ESL beginners. Topics include word stress, social language, and pronunciation guides.

ESL Kids Lab contains beginner level lessons to teach greetings, basic conversation skills, as well as to build vocabulary.

Flash based video and slide show lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and other aspects of English, aimed at beginner level students.

Flash based video and slide show lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and other aspects of English, aimed at high-beginner level students.

Phonics is a popular way to teach reading to native English speakers and as such it is very adaptable to teach phonemic awareness and reading skills to ESL students.

Games and activities to teach and practice proper English spelling. These lessons move beyond the standard "memorize and recite" spelling lessons that are found in many classrooms. By making spelling interesting and fun, students are more likely to retain what they have learned.

Although designed for native English speaking students, these story-telling lessons are suitable for high-beginner and intermediate ESL classes. Some lessons require additional books and materials, so teachers should ensure all resources are available before beginning.

Flash based video and slide show lessons on travel, weather, grammar, and other topics, aimed at low-intermediate level students.

A variety of lesson plans for intermediate level ESL classes. Lessons cover conversation skills, grammar, newspaper reading and writing, questioning, and many other skills. Some lessons include a multimedia component.

Lesson activities and plans for teaching pronunciation and speaking skills to intermediate level ESL students. Lessons on English stress patterns, accent reduction, and some for English specific to the medical profession (English for Special Purposes).

Although these lessons are aimed at native English speaking students, they can be adapted to suit high-beginner through intermediate and above ESL students. Some of the lessons make use of supplementary texts, so teachers should ensure that all materials are available before deciding to use a particular lesson.

A variety of lesson plans for advanced level ESL classes. Lessons cover conversation, debate, writing, and many other skills. Some lessons include a multimedia component.

Lesson activities and plans for teaching pronunciation and speaking skills to advanced ESL learners. There are lessons on business jargon, accents, as well as some common speaking scenarios.

Although aimed at adolescent native English speakers, these lessons can be adapted for advanced ESL students.

Lessons on various aspects of the writing process, including lessons on sequencing, using figurative language, as well as proofreading and editing.