Apr 29 2008
The Best Resource Sites For ESL/EFL Teachers
(Note: The links have now changed to the Peace Corps Training Manuals I include on this list. The correct ones are now included)
Here’s another “The Best…” list, and this time it’s one that is specifically targeting ELL/ESL/EFL teachers.
And that’s why it’s called The Best Resource Sites For ESL/EFL Teachers.
Of course, strategies, resources and teaching tools that are effective with English Language Learners can be equally effective with native-English speakers. In fact, I’ll soon be sharing an article that the principal of our school and I co-wrote detailing how we think implementing English Language Learner teaching strategies school-wide helped us get out of Fourth Year Program Improvement Status.
I’ve been going through a stretch of finding it very difficult to rank sites in the recent lists I’ve put together. This one is no exception. I think all of them are excellent, and they offer different resources. Near the end of this post I share good sites that were recommended by other readers, too.
Here are my picks for The Best Resource Sites For ESL/EFL Teachers:
Even though it’s hard for me to rank the sites on this list, I have to say that one of my favorites is EFL Classroom 2.0. Begun by David Deubelbeiss, it’s an extraordinary collection of every imaginable ESL/EFL resource. David also has some strong feelings about ESL/EFL Teacher Resource sites that I generally share. I’d encourage you to read what he wrote.
I think the Peace Corps has developed some of the best materials on how to teach English Language Learners. Unfortunately, their website is usually not working so you can’t download them from there. Fortunately, the manuals are available elsewhere. The two best ones are TEFL/TESL: Teaching English As a Foreign or Second Language and Teaching English As A Foreign Language To Large, Multi-Level Classes.
There are many places that have teaching materials you can print-out. English Raven, though, I think offers particularly engaging materials and ideas about how to use them. Using their site has made me a better teacher.
The Internet TESL Journal may be the “grand-daddy” of ESL/EFL resource sites. It continues to provide a wealth of constantly updated materials.
Teaching English from the British Council is another “oldie” but “goodie” site (and it’s just been revamped). The countless resources, ideas, materials, and interactive online content make it an easy choice for this list.
The Ideas Index at Dave’s ESL Cafe has been a source of numerous lesson plans for me. They’re short, sweet, free and numerous!
All the sites on my list offer resources for free….except for one. Alta Books is THE place to find the publications and multimedia that are worth paying for.
These next two aren’t exactly websites. In fact, they’re listservs. I’ve learned a lot from them over the years, though probably haven’t contributed as much as I should have. The two are Teachers Of English As A Second Language (TESL) and the National Institute For Literacy (NIFL). Going to both of these links will offer you the chance to sign-up for their numerous “sub” lists.
Finally, I obviously think that the Web offers a lot of possibilities for English Language instruction and learning. In one of my previous lists, The Best Places To Learn Web 2.0 Basics — 2007, I highlighted three sites as the best for helping both beginners and more advanced technology users learn how to use all the Web tools that are constantly evolving. One was Sue Waters’ Mobile Technology In TAFE Wiki. Another was Vicki Davis’ Cool Cat Teacher Wiki. And the third great site was Russell Stannard’s Teacher Training Videos. Russell’s is particularly relevant to this list because he has a number of videos showing how these tools can be used in the ESL/EFL classroom.
(Editor’s Note: I should add The Tapestry For Teachers of English Language Learners. You can read my post about it here.)
Readers also had some other suggestions.
Chris Cotter suggested his own site, Heads Up English, as well as Breaking News English and ESL HQ.
Laura recommends One Stop English, Boggles World, and Nik Peachey’s fine blog. She also has nice words for this blog, too.
If you’re looking for more resources, you might want to look at the Teacher’s Page on my website.
And if you’ve found this post useful, you might want to consider subscribing to this blog for free.
8 responses so far
Create a free edublog to get your own comment avatar (and more!)
There are a lot of sites I use in both my adult and teenager esl classes which are not on your list, but one resource which I think definitely deserves a mention here is Mike Marzio’s Real English site. Whenever my students are in the doldrums and I have a motivation problem, a good quick fix is a real english video, especially the ones for beginners. These videos almost never fail in generating curiosity and interest, and they’re easy from my point of view for classroom exploitation. My younger students, from several different countries are already part of the “youtube culture” in their native languages, and they get excited when they watch authentic video which they can actually understand, with a little bit of help from yours truly,
Julie
A great site for ESL students is AIDtoCHILDREN.com.
AIDtoCHILDREN.com is a dual-purpose site for building an English
vocabulary and raising money for under privileged children in the most impoverished places around the world.
Check it out at http://www.aidtochildren.com
Julie,
Yes, I agree it’s a good site. In fact, your suggestion has made me think I should make a future list identifying the best online video sites for English Language Learners.
As you mentioned, I think there are a lot of great sites for students that are not here. This list was focused on sites that were specifically designed to support teacher preparation.
Larry
Larry,
Thank you for the kind words and reference.
Julie, I wholeheartedly agree about Real English. Well done and though dated — language never dates. I use this regularly and yes, especially with lower levels.
Is Aid the Children part of the Free Rice game? Seems like it….
I agree, great idea to list the best sites for students and ELLs. I really think the future should be more places where learners and teachers meet together online. There is a thin line between the two….
David
http://eflclassroom.ning.com
Larry,
I went to the daddy efl site to download the peacecorps manuals, no luck. I kept getting an error. Any help~suggestions would be great!! I would love to look at them!
Thanks!
Darce
Larry,
A list for video resources is a great idea! There’a a lot out there, but it takes quite a bit of searching to come across applicable/useful material.
Chris
Thanks, some classic sites there that I hadn’t been to for a while and a couple of new ones.
Tried to submit to the Dave’s list and got a message saying “Submissions will be accepted in 2008″. Is he semi-retired on a beach somewhere, I wonder…
Alex,
More than welcome to submit on “this Dave’s ” site.
I have been really frustrated by trying to get a good model of teacher sharing and resource storage. Finally it hit me — the answer was right there in front of me. Why not my own site?
On EFL Classroom 2.0 , members can now upload and share all they want. Simply hit the “SHARE” tab and then upload under the appropriate category. Find what you want and download. Leave comments about the resources. Share by hitting the other share button and send it to a friend directly! I’ll be putting up all my own games/resources there shortly, so check in…..I think this is a great model for sharing in the EFL / ESL /ESOL world and us not having to keep reinventing the wheel given how many new teachers constantly enter the profession…
Cheers,
Dave, not on the beach.