Ontario’s Directory of Best Practices – Resources for Language Training

ABC Life Literacy Canada has developed a workbook called ABC Internet Matters. This is an excellent introduction to the Internet and computers. It would be effective with Stage 1 learners. The workbook can be downloaded for free with sign-in.

This resource takes a considered approach to the topic of Blended Learning. It is organized in categories for the diverse needs of readers.  For an organization moving to an e-learning model, it could inform planning, development and funding application rationales.

Note: Read the "Tips for Using This Bibliography" before starting.

All ESL

21 languages available

Alone in Canada is a 65-page book designed to address mental health needs of newcomers who are alone in Canada and may be struggling with settlement. There are 21 chapters written at an intermediate level; the content is accessible and a comfortable length for the low-intermediate learner. The topics cover a variety of issues, including thinking about the past, present and future, coping with stress, learning the unwritten rules of Canadian manners, developing a routine and celebrating achievements. The chapters contain quotes from newcomers, tips and short exercises to help the reader individualize and apply the content.

Although intended for individuals who are on their own, the content may be helpful to all newcomers who are facing challenges adjusting to life in Canada. In addition, instructors and administrators may find it a useful resource for professional development. The chapters can easily be used or adapted for classroom use.

Articles with information about finding a job, living in Canada, banking, and studying.

Bow Valley College (Alberta) has developed a series of graded audiobooks for Literacy learners, with seven levels to meet the different stages of reading development.  Level A books present a single sentence per page and large images;  Level G books contain images and paragraphs with more complex language and concepts.   You will find two versions of each reader along with information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary. The Audio Book has a preview of the contents. The printable PDF has print settings beside each reader. There are a total of 40 audio books to choose from, with five to seven readers at each level.

Free access:

https://globalaccess.bowvalleycollege.ca/esl-literacy-readers#section-1264

BBC Learning English is a department of the BBC World Service devoted to English language teaching. The service provides free resources and activities for teachers and students, primarily through its website.

The Best of the Reader site contains a series of e-books for low-level ESL and literacy learners. The books can be used in class or for independent study. Users have permission to download, print and distribute the material found on the website. Each e-reader has 8 to 10 stories with activities and an answer key. The list of e-readers includes a Teachers’ Guide, and calendar of special days and holidays for the year, and specific work-related titles such as People and Jobs.

Free access:
http://www.bestofthereader.ca/

This 250-page guide is referenced to CLBs (1–3) and has instructions for adapting units and lessons to PBLA. It contains teaching strategies and language goals for English learners. The teacher’s guide and student materials contain background information, lesson plans and learner activities. Skill building (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and language building (grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary) activities are provided. The objective is to assist learners with trauma to see themselves as belonging to the wider community.

Free access:
http://cmascanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1467063427_01_beyond_trauma_complete_1.pdf

This site is managed by Cristina, an English teacher in Spain. She compiles a considerable number of resources related to the use of technology in English language teaching. Her topics include the standard listening, reading, writing, speaking, pronunciation, and grammar, but also include quizzes, lesson plans, tech tips and how to teach with songs.  Her section on functional language provides tips on how to apologize, express an opinion, and indicate a preference. 

The Book of Idioms from A to Z lists a broad range of familiar idioms in one place. It is hosted on the Easy Pace Learning website, where additional free downloads include grammar lessons, exercises and dictionaries.

This website contains helpful information for citing and referencing sources in academic writing, according to the APA Style, 7th Edition, the most recent edition.  The site includes information on how to format, properly cite and do references. You'll also find  How-to Resources and Frequently Asked Questions.

Free access:
http://bowvalleycollege.libguides.com/apa-style

Briding Two Worlds is a resource to address issues of trauma in learners. It was written for elementary and secondary educators but is insightful and informative for teachers of adult learners as well.  Bridging Two Worlds offers curriculum development and instructional ideas that address educational gaps as well as cultural and experiential differences that may interfere with learner progress. Particularly interesting: Signs of distress and ways to respond (pages 218- 220).

The book contains 3 sections. The first deals with issues that relate to school-based learning and teaching to provide educators with an awareness of how trauma and interrupted schooling may affect human development and learning. The second section focuses on educator competency and includes 30 sample lessons  for teacher training. The final section is devoted to student learning outcomes for life/work development for elementary and secondary grade levels, but teachers may find several lessons adaptable for adult settings.

Free access:

https://ceric.ca/resource/bridging-two-worlds-supporting-newcomer-refugee-youth/

This 6-module curriculum, produced by Literacy Link Eastern Ontario, provides the Essential Skills training required to work as a call centre operator.

Free access:
http://en.copian.ca/library/learning/lleo/call_centre/call_centre_learner/call_centre_learner.pdf

Cambridge English Language Learning - Our flexible professional learning and development services support teachers to build their knowledge, skills and confidence. They have been developed by experts in teacher training and development and have a practical focus to help teachers improve their students’ learning and outcomes.  Purchase necessary.

The Can Do Statements for Employment are intended for immigrants seeking employment, employment counsellors, and employers. The Can Do Statements are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB); they have been simplified and given a narrower focus to support their use in an employment context. The statements cover CLB levels 4–10, and offer an overview of each level from a workplace perspective. They provide examples of English-language tasks in a variety of workplace-related contexts:

You need to "Add to Cart" in order to download, which means registering to order.

One of the videos in this collection is specifically designed to introduce newcomers to Canada’s tax system — “New to Canada? Learn about Taxes.” The remaining videos look at more mainstream topics such as how to file tax returns, tax issues in common-law relationships, the underground economy and taxes for separated or divorced persons.

“New to Canada? Learn about Taxes.” Video:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/cra-multimedia-library/individuals-video-gallery/transcript-new-canada-learn-about-taxes.html

Free access:

The Canadian Encyclopedia is not intended as an ESL resource, or a citizenship resource; however, it is an interesting, up-to-date and comprehensive compendium that can be used by students and educators for research or personal interest. It is written at a level that is accessible to Stage 2 learners.

The Encyclopedia is provided in both English and French, and contains 14,000 articles in each language. The topics include Canadian history, politics, popular culture, science, the arts and sports. Audio and video features are embedded in the online documents, and include the well-known Heritage Minutes. The closed captioning feature can be used for accurate English subtitles of the Heritage videos. There is an extensive list of interactive resources in an alphabetical list, organized as collections, exhibits, timelines and teaching resources.

The teaching resources include several study guides and short quizzes, which cover issues such as Black History, the War of 1812, Critical Thinking and Compiling a Bibliography. The website also provides a link to the Canadian Citizenship Challenge, an online quiz that simulates the citizenship test. It references the Discover Canada citizenship resource. The quiz can be completed by a student individually or teachers can register their students to complete the challenge as a team.

CareerWise offers a curated selection of relevant and thought-provoking articles on education, skills, counselling, employment and the workforce from a variety of publications. It also features original perspectives and timely analysis from recognized experts and community voices, as well as round-ups of popular resources and events. New articles are added daily.

Our popular weekly newsletter, CareerWise Weekly, sends the best of the website directly to subscribers’ inboxes every Tuesday.

The Centre for Canadian  Language Benchmarks acts as a repository for all things CLB that have been funded, produced and shared to ensure national consistency in language delivery.

It supports the following areas:

• CLB
• PBLA
• Language learners
• Immigration or citizenship
• Language teachers
• Volunteers working with refugees
• Language assessors
• Literacy
• TESL training
• Employers, counsellors and workers
• Regulatory bodies

Note: The site is updated to reflect the changing needs of the language community.

Most resources are free access:
www.language.ca

For reference use, this link at the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks provides an overview that relates the CLBs to immigration and citizenship. There are also links for details on language proof for citizenship and the CLB 4 competency framework for listening and speaking, in addition to various government information pages for settlement, education, training and employment.

Free access: http://www.language.ca/resourcesexpertise/for-immigration-or-citizenship/

Scroll down to find a free sample lesson plan (to download) for Multilevel (Literacy -CLB1) and  CLB 1 - 4. Each lesson contains a module with instructions and handouts.  There are downloadable exemplars for Reading and Writing for Foundation, CLB 1-4.

To obtain other resources you must order and lessons will be emailed to you.

Free access:

http://www.language.ca/publications/english-publications-downloadable/

Scroll down to find free sample lesson plans for Stage 2. There are also several free sample lessons for Essential Skills (CLB 7+) as well as reading and writing exemplars.  For the downloadable lessons, you will need to "Add to Cart". The PDF lessons must be ordered and will  be emailed to you.

Free access:

http://www.language.ca/publications/english-publications-downloadable/

Lessons may be adaptable for literacy classrooms, this resource was developed by the Toronto Catholic District School Board and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (now IRCC) as a companion to Discover Canada, the federal government’s citizenship test study guide. It is intended for program planning and instructional use. The chapters are theme-based with a planning framework for CLB 1–8. It provides reproducible activities, recommended resources and teaching strategies. There are seven chapters covering:

1. Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
2. Who We Are
3. Canada’s History
4. Canada’s Government
5. Elections
6. Canadian Symbols
7. Canada’s Regions and Economy

There is an informative list of suggested resources including books and online materials, including a virtual Charter of Rights and Freedoms, with translations in 23 languages:
http://www.charterofrights.ca/en/27_08_01

Free access:
http://atwork.settlement.org/downloads/atwork/Citizenship%20Resource/Citizenship%20Resource.pdf

A colourful, interactive website that helps participants prepare for the Canadian citizenship test. Participants are invited to earn badges as they complete each section on the benefits of citizenship. The site is linked to the online Discover Canada study guide. Participants also have the option of listening to the study guide on Sound Cloud.

Free access to the study guide:
https://soundcloud.com/citizenshipcounts/sets/discover-canada-study-guide

The test preparation section contains flash cards for practice, in addition to online quizzes. There are two options for the quizzes: a 30-minute timed quiz with 20 questions, simulating the real citizenship test, plus a random quiz with no time limit.

Free access:
http://citizenshipcounts.ca/

CLB Bootcamp is a 10-hour self-study course divided into three modules:

1. CLB Basics covers an introduction to the Canadian Language Benchmarks. It includes the theoretical framework, the revised CLB document and the CLB ESL for Adult Literacy Learners document.
2. Planning and the CLB provides instruction in needs assessment, and how to use a task-based approach to planning modules and lessons.
3. Assessment and the CLB covers on-going learner assessment and provides an introduction to Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA).

Free access (through the CCLB E-learning Portal): http://learning.language.ca

This resource is intended to be used in conjunction with two key documents:

• the Canadian Language Benchmarks: ESL for Adult Literacy Learners (ALL), which supports instructors working with adult ESL learners who have literacy needs; and
• the Canadian Language Benchmarks: ESL for Adults, which is the national standard for English as a second language for adult immigrants (including those with literacy needs) living, working and studying in Canada.

The purpose of this Support Kit is to show instructors how the CLB and ALL documents are used for planning and assessing ESL learners with literacy needs in CLB-referenced classrooms. To download you need to "Add to Cart" and register. The PDF will be emailed to you.

The Kit includes:

• Orientations to the CLB: ESL for ALL and the CLB: ESL for Adults documents;
• Information and examples for planning literacy instruction, including needs;
• Assessment and goal-setting, module/unit planning and lesson planning;
• Information and examples on assessing ESL Literacy learners’ progress in a way that is compatible with Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA);
• Suggestions for supporting ESL Literacy learners in multi-level literacy classes and mainstream ESL classes;
• Ideas for using the Continuum of Literacy Skills found in the CLB: ESL for ALL document; and
• Sample resources for literacy instruction and assessment.” (www.language.ca)

This valuable resource from the University of British Columbia's Linguistics Dept. provides a very viewer-friendly overview of the IPA.  It includes  three introductory videos on articulatory phonetics; an explanation of the IPA;  an introduction to the sounds of the world's languages; as well as a "Pronunciation Station".  The use of ultrasound technology allows you to view what is happening with throat, lips, tongue etc. while specific phonemes are being produced by native speakers of various target languages.

Colorín Colorado is a website containing ESL resources for educators. families and students prepared by the Washington Public Broadcasting station in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.  While some sections of the site target educators in American K-12 classrooms specifically, there are a considerable number of resources here for TESL Ontario teachers.  For example, the video section contains professional development webcasts; and the resource library  contains toolkits, guides and research reports.

This document was the result of a team project from Norquest College’s School of Intercultural Communication. It was written to help newcomers understand the communication context in Canadian workplaces.

The general learning outcomes include:

• Understanding Canadian safety policy specific to the workplace
• Practice pronunciation clarity for the workplace
• Learn about working in a multicultural organization
• Expand industry-specific and idiomatic vocabulary

Free access:

This site offers CLB-aligned activities and information about legal issues, including many related to employment rights. It includes a broad range of downloadable booklets about a variety of legal topics written in clear language. One series has been especially developed for ESL teachers and learners.

Twenty-six activity kits with classroom materials for teachers and learners in Adult ESL and Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) classes, based on topics from CLEO's tenants' and workers' rights series.

Designed to teach newcomers about their legal rights and to be used along with the relevant CLEO publications, the materials are intended for learners and levels ranging from Canadian Language Benchmarks 1 to 6+.

Creately is a platform for creating colourful graphic organizers, Venn diagrams, storyboards, and flow charts. Diagrams may be useful for organizing lesson plans, classroom activities, and presentations.  For intermediate and advanced learners, there is an effective essay sequence planner and organizer. Free templates are simply designed and easy to populate.

The resources from this website below will be useful to instructors and learners in understanding culture. English Language Lessons (Canadian point of view).  Below are two examples:

• Polite English: What Not to Say to People
• Cultural Differences:  An Intro for ESL Students

On this website, you'll find a colourful,  animated program to learn keyboarding skills. The instructions are easy to follow, at the bottom of the screen. The narrator is a cartoon goat with a Scottish accent, who may be difficult to understand but can be ignored.  Just focus on the instructions and illustrations.

This is a 10 minute excerpt from a lecture given by David Crystal, world renowned expert on world Englishes.  In the video, he explains what happens when languages come into contact (e.g. through empire-building, migration, commerce and globalization). He describes how, just as English has taken words from other languages and made them its own, other languages have incorporated English words into their lexicons while maintaining their own grammatical integrity.  This is a useful orientation for teachers who want to understand the origins of pidgins, creoles and varieties of English, and/or the reflexive relationship between language and culture.

https://dialogues.ojs.chass.ncsu.edu/index.php/dialogues

This open access journal, published by North Carolina State University, seeks to build connections between universities, community colleges, adult education programs, TESOL programs, and K-12 programs.  Articles are intended to be accessible to a diverse audience including teachers, scholars and the general public.  Recent article topics include vocabulary instruction, code-switching, digital storytelling, and academic writing.

This playlist produced and compiled by the University of Oregon's Centre for Applied Second Language Studies consists of sixteen short instructional videos that prepare students to participate in digital discourse.  The playlist covers themes such as using hashtags, creating memes, game design and connecting with other language learners through MMOGs.  These 1-2 minute videos would make good minds-on activities as part of a larger 'social media' theme

From the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks, the topic of  this sample CLB Literacy -2  module  is weather.  Scroll down to find and download Digital Literacy Lesson Plan Sample. It provides lesson planning for using a website to check weather, also includes 4 pages of handouts and suggestions for 9 activities.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb5jNH9sU42Hcml9w0AgE4WZTjaSdG5cN

This website is a great resource for teachers and students alike to understand phonemic differences within different dialects of English.  The clickable accent chart allows you to hear a multitude of words pronounced by English speakers in various regions of Canada, the U.S., England, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland, as well as by speakers of world Englishes from countries such as India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Trinidad and more.  The clickable accent map will open links to ultrasound  video recordings of speech samples from various regions around the world.

The Easy Reading Career Planning Series includes Work and You Book 1 and Work and You Book 2 workbooks, plus guidelines for teachers, tutors and career advisors.

Additional topics: job profiles, dictionary, find a job, keep your job

The titles are focused on Alberta but the core information is quite useful and could be adapted.

Free access:https://alis.alberta.ca/tools-and-resources/content/products/easy-reading-work-and-you-book-1-make-some-job-choices/

Edmodo is an educational platform and global network that permits teachers to share content, distribute assignments and assessments, as well as manage communication with learners and others, and connect with other educators globally. Edmodo is integrated with Google Apps for Education and Microsoft OneNote and Office. Instructors can form groups, assign homework, schedule quizzes and manage learner progress with the platform.

Free access:
https://www.edmodo.com/teachers

The English Language Learning (ELL) Training Network was developed by CEIIA, Bow Valley College’s Centre for Excellence in Immigrant and Intercultural Advancement. Designed for ELL practitioners, the Network provides information, resources and tools for instructors, a resource finder, PD workshops and webinars, network for professional learning, blog posts and social media links.

ELLLO - English Listening Lesson Library Online.  ELLLO has over 3,000 free listening lessons for all levels! Most lessons have audio or video, a transcript, vocab support and interactive quizzes.

The English Listening Lessons and Library Online (elllo) site offers audio and video lessons with some printable worksheets. There is a wide variety of topics, including renting a new apartment, paying rent and missing home. Non-CLB. Many Canadian references.

Free access:
http://www.elllo.org/english/1351.htm

ELT Journal | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

This YouTube video help students to learn English.

ESL Quizzes where you can test your knowledge of English with a quiz and have fun at the same time! There are quizzes for all levels - on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and more. You can do all quizzes online on phone, tablet or desktop. And most of them can also be printed on paper to be done offline, perhaps as homework or in the classroom.

These online activities focus on English vocabulary and grammar exercises for the hospitality industry in the categories of food & beverage, hotel, travel/tourism, politeness training. While individual files are free to download, there is a fee option that allows you to download a topic file.

This resource contains 4 modules on issues of workplace safety for newcomers, designed for blended learning and has an accompanying moodle class.  It is not aligned with CLBs, but would be suitable for Stage 2 learners.  An Alberta-based resource by AWES developed in 2017, the document has Alberta-specific references and may need adaptation. It is a well-developed resource that covers federal and local laws, protective equipment, hazards and hazardous materials information (WHMIS). It also covers intercultural competence, and power dynamics in the workplace, including how to refuse unsafe work. The language is clear and the text is easy to navigate. Lessons include   video, case studies, pre-reading and vocabulary building activities.

This simple website is designed for those who are having difficulty understanding numbers.  The lessons contain practice with two figure numbers  to nine figure numbers, as well as practice with telephone numbers, months and dates, decimals and percentages and more.

eNunciate is a project created by Department of Linguistics at the University of British Columbia.  The site will be useful for teachers interested in a review of the International Phonetic Alphabet. The Pronunciation Station will allow allow them to see videos using ultrasound to demonstrate both consonant and vowel production. The site also consists of self-directed modules for learning articulatory phonetics of Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, German, French and Spanish; as well as a collection of research and case studies on ultrasound based pronunciation instruction.

Directory for ESL students to search for ESL programs.

Free ESL Fun Games, Interactive Grammar & Vocabulary Games for Classrooms.  This site is dedicated to helping teachers by providing Fun esl games for Classrooms, Powerpoint Game & Templates, Printable Board Games, Interactive Games for Classrooms, Games for ESL Kids & Adults, Grammar Games, Vocabulary Games, Reading Games, featuring Snakes & Ladders, Hangman & Wheel Games. ESL Online Games.

Listening Lab for students

ESL Lounge is complete with ESL Games, lessons plans and other support materials for teachers.  Some free lessons.

Photocopy-ready lesson plans with illustrations, target vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and speaking exercises. The audio CD is included.

Free access:
http://www.eslresources.com/Body-and-Ailments-Health-and-Pharmacy-audio-CD-included.html

This is a 240-page e-book that provides lessons in reading, document use and math. The lessons are built on real-life examples and follow four individuals in the workplace in Ontario. The organization and layout is appealing to a reader. The four individuals work in four different jobs. Instructors and students can decide which worker to learn about. There is self-assessment as well as critical thinking questions embedded in the modules.

The ESL legal conversation examples on this page will let you see how legal words are used in natural conversation. By studying them you will be better prepared for if you ever need to talk about this topic.

SPEAKING: The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks has provided several exemplars for speaking (from the CLB Support Kit). The webpage contains a series of short videos that demonstrate students speaking at CLB 1-12.  It is also available in a PDF version.

Eye on Literacy wordless picture books are designed by two Canadian educators for literacy learners with limited formal education. The books contain high quality visuals to build on the oral language skills of adult second language literacy learners with limited schooling, to help create learner-generated texts. The site states: "Moving the learner from oral language to print through visuals creates an environment where, together, the teacher and learner can build meaningful contexts and decoding skills. The emphasis is on oral language which becomes the stepping stone to the reading and writing process."

Each book comes with assessments with audio. Yearly subscriptions $45 or books can be purchased individually.

This federal government website contains useful information for newcomers pertaining to understanding the financial world in Canada.  The agency's mandate is consumer protection; it promotes   financial education and consumer rights and responsibilities

The website contains news bulletins on changes to laws and important consumer issues.  Learners can also access information on financial topics including: managing your money (includes a budget calculator), understanding credit cards, and protecting yourself from frauds and scams.  Suitable for higher level learners.

This 58-page guide is designed to assist newcomers with settlement information on arrival, and contains lots of useful information. Written in clear language for intermediate English readers, there are 10 chapters covering health, housing, employment, education, citizenship, legal services and consumer information. There is also practical information on the weather, finding healthcare, cell phone services and recreation suggestions, plus links to community services and organizations.

Free access:
http://settlement.org/downloads/First_Days_Guide_EN.pdf

This guide for newcomers to Canada, prepared by the city of Vancouver, attempts to introduce newcomers in simple language to the First Peoples in Canada and their relationship with Canadian government, while also presenting ways to learn more about First Nations people in Vancouver specifically.  It is written with the assumption that newcomers have limited opportunities to meet Indigenous people, and thus have limited awareness of their diverse culture and history.  It provides hyperlinks to many useful online resources which could supplement a classroom unit on First Nations peoples or assist a student with an independent study project.

This online game is sponsored by the United Nations World Health Organization. Learners can choose from 60 levels of vocabulary. By selecting the correct meaning for the selected word, 10 grains of rice are donated to a country in need.

There is built-in audio to hear the correct pronunciation of the word as well. If a learner makes an error, the word is added back into rotation. Learners can play individually or teams can be set up for competition. It is a free log-in system.

• A Beginning Look at Canada: Now in its fourth edition, this text is for post-literacy to high-beginner ESL students who wish to learn about Canada while improving their reading skills.
• Canadian Concepts: This six-level communicative course integrates real-life skills with essential language, vocabulary and Canadian cultural information:
• Canadian Language Basics: These three volumes correspond to former LINC 2–4 levels:
• English Language Learning: Vocabulary is clearly presented and contextualized on left-hand pages with practice activities on facing right-hand pages
• Interchange: A four-level American English course that delivers a communicative approach, flexible unit structure and easy-to-use digital support: Cambridge. The Round: Independent online publisher. Resources tend to be very inexpensive. Recommended:

These books are now out of print but may be available through used booksellers:

• Being Canadian
• Canadian Crossroads
• ELSA Survival Guide
• Take Part
• TESL Talk series
• Whaddaya Say: Guided Practice in Relaxed Speech

For more advanced learners, this multimedia website provides grammar explanations and practice.  The site also has presentations, handouts, videos, a MOOC, a Twitter workout, and more.

Guided Pathways: Integrating Essential Skills is a five-year project funded by the Government of Canada. An online training workshop designed to equip career development practitioners with tools to assess client needs and provide more effective pathways to gainful employment will be delivered to 900 career development practitioners across Canada.

Health Talk: A Health Literacy Curriculum for English Language Learners is published by the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. The lessons are suitable for CLB 1–2. There are nine health-related modules that include medical emergencies, filling out forms and navigating the hospital. There are some references to Alberta.

Free access:
http://library.copian.ca/series/health-talk-health-literacy-curriculum-english-language-learner

These easy-to-read activity booklets, written by Joan Acosta and Bev Burke,  have been designed for adult English learners build their own literacy skills while building the habit of reading with with young children. The first book is for reading with babies, the second is for toddlers, and the third is for reading with preschoolers. The booklets can be read online or downloaded and printed.

Free access.

http://www.helpingchildrenlearn.ca/

This free online book includes many strategies useful for English learners who are new to Canadian academic environments. Topics include oral presentations, group work, strategies for multiple-choice exams, strategies for written exams, active listening, active reading, reading at an academic level and more.  An excellent resource for ESL for Academic Purposes instructors and learners.

Human Rights 101 is an e-learning opportunity through the Ontario Human Rights Commission. There are video tutorials on human rights and responsibilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code. (CLB 4+)

This website offers academic English learners practice and preparation materials for the IELTS  exam.  The materials are designed for test-takers entering undergraduate or post-graduate programs.The practice reading tests containing authentic materials from journals, newspapers and books. The tests also provide  practice reading and interpreting diagrams, illustrations and graphs. A glossary is provided.  Marking sheets are included as well. There is a computer simulated IELTS reading test available for free.  The website also offers practice activities for academic listening, speaking and writing.

Free access:

https://www.ieltsessentials.com/prepare/free-practice-tests/academic-reading

This 366-page textbook is available as a downloadable PDF or as an e-text for use in the classroom (or with a tutor). The chapters integrate the four main language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), with some essential skills and intercultural skills.  For CLB levels 5–6, designed to be used by an instructor.

Features of the text:

• Key scenes are acted out by 9 individuals of varying ages, different genders and race/ethnicities, with different accents: should appeal to a wide range of learners
• Audio and video activities
• Interactive text: underlined vocabulary and idioms linked with definitions, interactive activities can be submitted for marking with immediate feedback
• Themed grammar activities
• Tasks and rubrics align with CLB document for instructor’s use or self-assessment
• Extension activities provide practice in community settings
• Navigation bar allows learners to download/print individual activities, link to social media, easily access the table of contents and answer keys, change settings and translate (linking to Google Translate)
• Chapter vocabulary lists and glossary provided
• Instructor guide available

TESL Ontario Blog – Aboriginal Lessons:

This TESL Ontario blog introduces instructors to a variety of methods for teaching Indigenous history and culture. It provides links for Talking Circles, land acknowledgement (CLB 5–8) and a lesson plan for the Ojibwa language.
http://blog.teslontario.org/aboriginal-lessons/

Strong Nations – Indigenous literature and lesson plans:
http://www.strongnations.com/

Best of the Reader – Canada’s Indigenous Peoples:
http://www.bestofthereader.ca/Ebooks/Canada's_Aboriginal_People.pdf

“When I Was Eight” – YouTube video based on the book by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margret Pokiak-Fenton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBrkJn3NeI

Alberta Learning Information Services (ALIS) has occupational videos available. The videos have information related to career planning, education, jobs and the workplace. It could be used for listening activities or independent learning.

This is a sharing website for instructor-made materials: a variety of resources including printable worksheets, PowerPoints and videos. Registration required.

Free access:
https://en.islcollective.com/

The links on this site include a wide selection of activities for low-level learners in CLB 1–5. Activities are categorized into 11 themes: people, work, everyday activities, home, our community, our world, food, health, getting around, communication and the basics.  Suitable for Stage I & II learners.

Kahoot! is an engaging interactive quiz game app that is suited to classroom use. Instructors create multiple-choice questions, which can be displayed on a screen or interactive whiteboard. Learners play against each other or on teams using their own device. The games can be enhanced with the use of images, YouTube videos or gifs. Games can also connect with other classrooms, schools or countries, and can use screen sharing tools, such as Google Hangouts. Kahoot! can be used to introduce, review and reinforce lessons and put students’ cell phones to good use in the classroom. It can be used as well as a survey vehicle.

Instructions, suggestions and sample lessons are available in the Teacher’s Guide: https://files.getkahoot.com/academy/Kahoot_Academy_Guide_1st_Ed_-_September_2016.pdf

Free access:
https://getkahoot.com/

The Khan Academy is an American non-profit educational organization that provides free lessons, courses and practice for students on a variety of topics.  Additional resources are available for educators.  Their "A Brief Introduction to Grammar" course teaches parts of speech, punctuation, syntax and style through videos (with transcripts) and knowledge assessment challenges.  This course would be a useful supplement to in-class teaching, and could be recommended to students for independent learning.

This is a fast-paced and challenging vocabulary-building game, suitable for intermediate and higher level learners.  There are a range of categories from food, Vikings, and astronomy. A commercial version is available.

There is a workbook and an online course for newcomers hoping to find a job in food processing occupations.  The course provides instruction in job skills, job-specific language, vocabulary and pronunciation, Canadian workplace culture, workplace documents, and health and safety. This is a joint-project of the Alberta government and Alberta Workforce Essential Skills (AWES); it is open to all newcomers to Canada.

The resource includes information and techniques for incorporating Essential Skill into activities.

Free access:
http://www.itsessential.ca/itsessential/itsessential_files/doc_viewer_dex.asp?doc_id=355&page_i=413

Literacy, Stages 1 & 2 are developed through the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership. There are currently 13 workbooks. Each workbook covers Lit-CLB 1, CLB 2-3 and CLB 4-5.

Topics include:

• Physical Activity
• Dental Health
• Mental Health
• Canada’s Food Guide
• Reading Food Labels
• Diabetes Prevention and more

This site is an online picture dictionary with images, audio and text and activities.

Topics: the body, food, the house, numbers, etc.

Free access:
http://www.languageguide.org/english/vocabulary/

Larry Ferlazzo is a well-known American high school English teacher-blogger whose website offers numerous resources and reference materials that are useful to teachers who work in adult settings.   He offers: English themes for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, bilingual exercises, and academic reading and writing.

Learning for Life, is an excellent step-by-step manual for delivering literacy classes. Topics include:

• Program considerations
• Classroom strategies
• ESL Literacy levels (4)
• Materials
• Teaching ideas
• Literature review of ESL Literacy
• Annotated bibliography
• Webliography (30% links no longer available)

There is a strong need for program administrators and instructors to have professional development opportunities available to meet the needs of Literacy learner.

This resource book contains curriculum for financial literacy with well-presented teaching guidelines.Resource for Literacy Learners on the topics: Economy, Employment, Personal Management from 2002.

Alberta LINC 5 Curriculum Linking Canadian Language Benchmarks to Essential Skills with an Implementation Guide for Instructors. Resource from 2008.

Lesson plans and resources are for LINC 1–4 classrooms to encourage participation in online learning opportunities.

Free access:
https://settlementatwork.org/resources/linc-1-4-classroom-activities

Lingthusiasm is an outstanding podcast about linguistics in general.  You can choose episodes by topics such as phonetics, morphology, phonology, syntax and more!  For example, in Episode 13: What Does it Mean to Sound Black?, the host Gretchen McCulloch interviews Dr. Nicole Holliday, an Assistant Professor of linguistics at Pomona College about her work on the speech of American black/biracial young men, prosody and intonation, and what it means to sound black.

Created by Bow Valley College of Calgary, the podcasts are on a variety of topics including health, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, housing, consumer matters and money. Short podcasts with transcripts and activities. Does not reference CLB. Three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Free access:
http://esl.bowvalleycollege.ca/listen/mp3/

ManyThings is an interesting Things for ESL/EFL Students (Fun English Study)

MemRise is a "platform that leverages memory techniques, deep understanding of neuroscience and novel approaches to second language acquisition to make learning a language dramatically easier and faster."

The NFB website provides a large variety of Canadian films, documentaries, animation, plus an educational site with prepared lessons (suitable for higher level students).  You'll find material covering Canadian culture, history, music,  personal stories, famous musicians, etc.

Free access:

https://www.nfb.ca/

This site has been developed by Norquest College in Alberta. It includes videos, activities and guides that can help prepare professional immigrants for interviews.

Free access:
https://www.norquest.ca/norquest-centres/centre-for-intercultural-education/projects/completed-projects/navigating-the-interview.aspx#deliverables_1

This is an American news website is designed for mainstream classrooms, but is adaptable for English learners (5 reading levels) and set for designed for distance learning; it allows teachers to assign online learning activities to classes. The content includes news stories and articles about law, science, sports, opinion and arts and culture. Support for educators is offered.  Teachers without a subscription may access news stories only.

OLAs were developed for the tourism sector through the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks. They align a benchmark with an Essential Skills Profile and National Occupational Standard.

Downloadable OLAs include:

• Bartender
• Event coordinator
• Food service counter attendant
• Food beverage server
• Counsellor

A resource from ABC Money Matters (TD Bank sponsored), this 2-page lesson plan clearly explains the basics of online banking for learners at intermediate or advanced levels.  Suggested classroom activities include setting a strong password.

The Online Learner CLB Assessment is a tool that provides learners with a means to gauge their language proficiency by assessing reading and listening skills and assigning an unofficial CLB level. The tool creates an approximate benchmark range following the assessment.  (The page also contains a breakdown of each CLB). The results are intended for personal information only. Teachers may find this tool useful as a classroom activity or an individual activity for a learner who is anxious to determine her/his progress in reading and listening. There is no cost for the assessment.

Instructor-recommended websites that focus on building reading skills:

$ AceReader: Designed for mainstream learners but is also successfully used by English-language learners. More than 1,000 reading comprehension tests that are themed and levelled. Each time a test is taken, learners’ speed and comprehension scores are logged. Learners can monitor their own progress, and instructors can track their results. https://www.acereader.com/education

Breaking News English (British): The lessons are based on world current events, produced twice weekly, with levels ranging from 0–7. The 0 level corresponds to CEFR2 (the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, high basic level). The lessons include a downloadable PDF, a two-page mini lesson and podcasts delivered in British or American accents. The online activities provide a variety of skills practice: reading at different speeds, grammar activities and vocabulary flashcards, gap fill and matching games.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

English Zone Reading (American): This site offers basic reading activities with text in three levels: easy, intermediate and advanced. Topics range from animals, to clothing labels, map reading and health problems. Each reading comes with a quiz with a drop-down menu. The website also contains activities for grammar, idioms, verbs and spelling, plus teacher resources. http://www.english-zone.com/reading/

The text is written at an advanced level. The document contains seven chapters that cover what’s needed for arrival in Ontario, Canada’s history, geography and levels of government, plus healthcare and education systems, and programs and services for newcomers. There are brief review questions at the end of the chapters, and spaces for personal notes and to-do lists.

Free access:
http://settlement.org/downloads/ontario_day_to_day/English_Anglais/OD2D_Workbook_(En).pdf

This link provides access to academic resources for both teachers and students including grammar practice, workplace writing, and information on academic integrity.  Recommended for CLB 6+.

Established in 1992, Oxford Seminars is the leading provider of teacher training certification courses all across Canada and the US.  Join our over 70,000 graduates and get TESOL/TESL certified with Oxford Seminars and begin your exciting adventure teaching English abroad.

The Canadian Centre for Language Benchmarks (CCLB) has developed several modules for CLB 1-2, CLB 3-4, and CLB 5-6. The packages include lesson plans, skill-building activities, skill-using and assessment tasks. Each module contains listening texts in separate audio files.  Module packages for Literacy (CLB 1L and CLB 2L) have also been developed for three topics.

Bow Valley College and Conestoga College have developed tools for creating PBLA rubrics.

Many teachers have found Conestoga's LINC Assessment Generating Tool helpful. The tool includes a complete list of competency statements, indicators and profiles of ability, all in one place.  Also included  - a guide to question levels by CLB, features of communication, and sample assessment tasks for instructional reference. You must have a Tutela account to access this resource.

Bow Valley College has developed clear, easy-to-use assessments and templates for Portfolio-Based language Assessment (PBLA). Their toolbox contains:

• Tool 1: Assessment Templates
• Tool 2: Instructor Administered Templates
• Tool 3: Learner Reflections
• Tool 4: Self-Assessments

This 66-page workbook is intended for internationally trained individuals who have arrived in Canada or are considering moving to the country. It is designed to help with research before or upon arrival. The chapters provide concise information, and lots of space for note taking with headings and guiding questions to assist the newcomer.

There are five sections, written at an intermediate level, that cover the following topics:

1. Living in Canada: links to provincial and territorial governments and immigrant-serving organizations, housing, finding a school, important documents and money.
2. Improving your English or French: government-funded classes.
3. Finding a job: information on regulated and non-regulated professions, skills and training information, starting one’s own business.
4. Work-related documents: gathering, sending, translating papers.
5. Educational and academic credentials: educational upgrading or completing a training program.

Free access: www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/pub/workbook-national.pdf

Learn English with EF podEnglish, bite-sized 5 minute English lessons. Perfect for beginners, intermediate and advanced students, these video lessons are as good as having an English teacher in your pocket! Created by EF, the world's largest language school with over 400 schools in 50 countries worldwide.

This web resource is maintained by teachers in the LINC ASSIST Community Services Centre, in Edmonton, Alberta.  Its purpose is  to provide resources and an implementation guide for teachers using PBLA in their own LINC classrooms. The site is easy to navigate.

The "PBLA" section will take you to resources and examples of how to implement PBLA. "Teaching Resources" links to a variety of theme and skill-based resources.  Some resources are Alberta-based and designed for ASSIST settings.  Also note, Word docs on the website cannot be viewed on mobile devices.

Pragmatic Language Tips:

• Social Language Tips (Overview)
• Teaching Pragmatics:  The chapters included here allow teachers to see how other teachers approach the teaching of pragmatics and to appreciate the diversity and creativity of their endeavors.

Video on how to pronounce words.

A popular platform among instructors, Quizlet can be used to create classroom games, learning interactions and content reviews. It can also be used individually as a study aid by students.

https://nflrc.hawaii.edu/rfl/

This open access journal is published twice yearly by the University of Hawaii.  Issues as far back as 1983 are available  for free online.  Recent article topics include: Constructing Diagnostic Reading Instruments, Lexical profiling and Teaching Vocabulary.

PBLA modules have been added to the OCBSB's Real World Assessment Task Bank. The bank contains 300  "real world" assessments for use by ESL and LINC instructors.  The bank also contains 16 modules built around 8  topics. The modules cover CLB 1 and CLB 1L  up to CLB 7. Each module includes integrated vocabulary, skill-building, skill-using and assessment tasks for each skill. Students may be assessed using either the skill-using or the formal assessment task.

Search by CLB level (Literacy Foundation to CLB 7), skill (Listening, Speaking, Reading or Writing) and theme.  The site is password protected. (use password: instructor):

Access Forward: Free training modules for people with disabilities:
http://accessforward.ca/

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Housing for Newcomers PDF available in eight languages:
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/consumers/home-buying/newcomers

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Government of Canada:
http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

The Canadian Consumer Handbook provides information on identity theft, credit reporting and consumer complaints:
http://www.consumerhandbook.ca/en/

CLEO Resources and Publications: Ontario laws related to housing, family law, criminal, employment. Posters and documents in several languages:
http://www.cleo.on.ca/en/resources-and-publications/resources-and-publications

Consumer Protection Ontario:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/consumer-protection-ontario

Get Cyber Safe, Government of Canada, provides information on how to keep safe online:
https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/index-en.aspx

Human Rights Commission of Ontario: Video lessons on rights and responsibilities related to housing:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning/human-rights-and-rental-housing

Human Rights Legal Support Centre, Province of Ontario, provides information in 10 languages:
http://www.hrlsc.on.ca/en/welcome

Job Bank, Government of Canada. Extensive searchable database:
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home-eng.do?lang=eng

Legal Aid Ontario: 1-800-668-8258

Legal Line provides easy to understand explanations on many federal and provincial laws, on many topics, and in 65 languages:
http://www.legalline.ca/answers/

Ontario Labour Market: Job trends and outlooks:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/job-trends-and-outlook

Settlement.org Guides are available in 10 languages:

1. Daily Life
http://settlement.org/ontario/daily-life/

2. Find Services Near Me
http://settlement.org/findhelp/ontario/

3. My First Days
http://settlement.org/firstdays/

Settlement.org: Housing information in 30 languages:
http://settlement.org/ontario/housing/

The Tenant Survival Manual is produced by the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations and is available in 13 languages:

https://www.torontotenants.org/resources/tenant-survival-manual

Google‘s G Suite is a set of digital tools to help instructors interact, collaborate, prepare and store materials. The Suite differs from a personal account because it allows instructors to share school-wide and with the class, providing shared access to Drive, Calendars and Docs, with enhanced security. There are 11 Google tools, including Gmail, Drive, Vault, Docs, Sheets, Forms, Websites and Hangouts. The Classroom tool allows instructors to create, share, grade assignments and communicate with learners. The website is a site-builder for instructors or students to create their own website or class website. The Vault is a space to archive emails and chats.

G Suite is free for schools and includes support. There is no advertising and your data belongs to you.

Free access:
https://www.google.com/edu/products/productivity-tools/

The TESL Journal Archives contain a treasure trove of links to a wide variety of resources.  The links are separated into groups for students and teachers. You'll find games, podcasts, quizzes, pronunciation guides, speaking, spelling, and professional development materials.  (Be aware that there are several broken links.)

Free access:

http://iteslj.org/

Making It Clear presents concise guidelines for teaching pronunciation to CLB levels. (No activities provided.) It contains a list of recommended resources.

There is a collection on Tutela that focuses on mental health. While the full collection has not been reviewed, they may provide a starting point for developing curriculum.

Free to join. Free access nationally. Must register then search Tutela Collections.

Register at:
https://tutela.ca/

The goal of this resource (developed by BC TEAL and CLB aligned), is to support male students to discuss men's health issues and address barriers to physical and mental wellness in a safe environment.

The resource aims to draw on the knowledge and experiences of refugee men to facilitate access to health services, and address stigma around mental health issues, feelings of isolation, and cultural differences around expectations of men in home countries and Canada.

The document has four sections: Pathways to Wellness, Addressing Health Issues, Connecting to Community, Building Relationships. It includes a teacher's guide, lesson plans with clear illustrations. Lesson plan topics include: mental health, nutrition, talking to a doctor, male roles, and fatherhood.

This curriculum has been developed by the Prince Edward Learning Centre and Literacy Link Eastern Ontario. It is ideal for learners planning to work in retail, such as in a grocery or clothing store. The 7-module course covers the Essential Skills, including language, needed in retail occupations.

Produced by NorQuest College for small, multilevel settings with CLB 2-4 learners. This resource can be used in other settings. Detailed lesson plans for CLB 2 and 4. Financial literacy in two units, covering money, spending and banking.

Free access:
http://www.englishandliteracy.ca/asset_library/page/rsbj/Rurallinc_CLB_2_4.pdf

The Settlement.org website provides information to newly arrived immigrants and refugees in Ontario. It lists common questions and answers with relevant links. The main headings are “First Days” and “Services Near Me.” Information is presented in Q & A format at an intermediate level of English. Topics covered include immigration and citizenship, housing, health, education, legal services, community and daily life. Information includes getting a driver’s licence, finding a doctor and dentist, the Canada Child Benefit, Employment Standards information, a guide to elementary and secondary schools.

The website information has been translated into 40 languages, plus there is a forum where users can have their specific questions answered. There is also a sidebar listing events by date.

This is a digital app that makes use of learners' cell phones (or other devices) for formative assessment through quizzes, multiple choice, T/F, polls, a "space game" and out-of-the-door “exit ticket” reviews. Games can be played individually or in teams. The app shows results in real time, charting answers of individual student results for each question, as well as a detailed chart of learner results for further review. Instructors can create rooms/groups students and classes for up to 150 students.

Free access:
https://www.socrative.com/

For a limited time, teachers and students will have free access to Spelling City. (Use code: VSCFree90. ) This website provides interactive vocabulary and spelling activities for English learners and mainstream students.  Spelling City allows teachers to create and customize their own spelling/vocabulary lists for classes, which are turned into enjoyable learning activities for student practice. The activities were designed to meet the needs of all learners, including those with learning challenges. The website also has pre-set  lists and games that students can also access.  Premium accounts can be purchased schools.  Free basic memberships with limited access are also available.

This British storytelling website contains audio and text for each story. The intended audience is children; however, the stories are universal and applicable to English learners of all ages. The site includes myths and tales from around the world, plus audio chapter books including the Wizard of Oz and Sherlock Holmes.  Suitable for intermediate and higher level students.

Talk English is a website intended for students wanting to build skills independently outside the formal classroom.   The target skills are expressive language specifically speaking: vocabulary, pronunciation and writing; grammar, sentence structure; as well as receptive language- specifically listening exercises, note-taking and reading comprehension. The strength is that the lessons are in different format options: 1)written content on screen,  2) video lessons and 3) three-part lessons where the student listens to the dialogue, takes a quiz and then reads the dialogue transcript. There is also content related to business English and conversational English, referencing socio-cultural competency. The gap in this tool is that there is not any specific resources for teachers with regards to professional development as the content is video based and has built in assessment.

Canadian College of Educators

The following 20-hour online courses, that are offered by Canadian College of Educators, are designed for teachers seeking an additional qualification in teaching preparation for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS):

Teaching TOEFL Preparation Certificate: The course is divided into 4 modules. The modules include: an Introduction to the TOEFL test and other language proficiency tests, TOEFL Language Skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing), TOEFL Building Skills (grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and supporting skills), and Lesson Development for teaching TOEFL preparation.

https://canadiancollegeofeducators.ca/teaching-toefl-preparation-certificate/

Certificate in Teaching IELTS Preparation: Instructors will learn about the structure of the General Training and Academic tests and explore methodologies, strategies, tips, techniques, and resources for teaching or tutoring IELTS preparation. The course is divided into 4 modules and each module has an online test at the end. The modules include: an Introduction to the IELTS and other language proficiency tests, IELTS Language Skills, the General and Academic tests, and Lesson Development for teaching IELTS preparation.

https://canadiancollegeofeducators.ca/certificate-in-teaching-ielts-preparation/

This website contains a range of resources to aid in delivering instruction to children and adults who have had their formal education interrupted. Includes teaching resources and essential learning indicators for language, literacy and numeracy.

Resources for more intensive intervention:

• Young Complex English Language Learners (ELLs) Toolkit
• Complex English Language Learners (CELLS) Toolkit

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) posts engaging talks on scientific, academic and cultural issues to its website. Speakers from around the world deliver talks in a lecture-style format.  New lectures are posted on a weekly basis. The lectures range from 5 to 18 minutes and longer,  and have transcripts and subtitles available in more than 100 languages. Learners can use the talks for independent study. Instructors can use the search feature to find talks on appropriate themes, and build lessons around talks to target specific language skills and academic skills, such as note taking.

TEDEd: Instructors can open an account and develop their own lesson plans or access lessons developed by other teachers.  Learn English with TED Talks: TED Talks/National Geographic Curriculum for English Learners. The integrated skills curriculum for adult learners is called Keynote. It is divided into 6 levels. The content integrates TED Talks and National Geographic photos into lesson plans.  Also available: National Geographic English learning textbooks on a variety of topics including Grammar, Pronunciation, and Business English.   There is a cost.

http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/

TESL E-J The Electronic Journal For English as a Second Language

This resource informs practitioners, administrators and assessors of the priorities in each level of government. Managers and administrators would find it useful in short- and long-term planning.

This event occurs at the yearly provincial TESL conference and is open to managers and administrators.

Free access:
http://www.teslontario.net/publication/annual-panel

"The Conversation" is a Canadian newsletter and website that provides daily articles written by researchers on a number of topical themes.  Its tagline is "Academic Rigour, Journalistic Flair" and it prides itself on presenting academic research in a very reader-friendly style for the general public.   It is both a source of professional reading, and also research articles for an advanced or EAP class.  It includes the following sections: Arts, Business+Economy, Culture+Society, Education, Environment+Energy, Health, Politics, and Science+Tech.  The Education section is particularly relevant.  A key word search (learning English, English language etc.) in the search bar will return a significant number of articles of great interest including  this one which provides sound tracks of various non-native speakers with accompanying rankings (how difficult to understand they are) by ESL teachers.