Knowing where to start can be difficult when you have a new learner. This section has been created to give you a few ideas and to provide resources for learners with a very basic knowledge of English.

The English Hub for Refugees

One of the websites we would highly recommend visiting is by the University of Kent. This has some fantastic resources from very basic English such as numbers and the alphabet. The ideas can be used to create a lesson or set as work for the learner to do between sessions.

Absolute Beginners

Excellent resource from One Stop English which has 20 topics for absolute beginners. It covers topics such as name, cost and giving your phone number.

ESOl Literacies – Alphabet, Numbers and Phonics

An SQA comprehensive module covering basic literacy and numeracy skills. Includes printable worksheets.

ESOL Courses

This website has a free course online for beginners and starts with the basics.

English my Way (padlet)

This padlet compiled by Rachel Oner has all of the materials which were previously on the English My Way website. Some excellent resources all with teaching notes to accompany them.

Minnesota University

A great range of activities for teaching a pre-literate student. There are loads of ideas you can use straight away, most with very little preparation.

Below are a few videos one of our LASSN volunteers produced to cover some basic topics.

Colours

Numbers 1-10

Fruit

Vegetables

Simple Greeting.

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening.