For English at Home we do not have a set syllabus or teaching method we enforce as our learners’ needs and abilities are extremely varied. We also like to give our teachers the freedom to use the style of teaching that works best for them and their learner.
However, if you are interested in reading a little more on different teaching approaches there are a number of resources below. These will hopefully expand your knowledge as well as giving you new ideas to try.
ESOL Learner Materials – All of the modules and resources for the Skills for Life course from Entry 1 to Level 2. Gives a great foundation to structure teaching around.
Education and Training Foundation – Great range of resources for continued professional development for teaching English, however you will need to create an account to access the resources even though they are free.
Teach with Trinity: Getting Started – Free course that takes around 3 hours. Gives a good grounding before getting started.
British Council Introduction Booklet for Teaching ESOL One to One – Well worth a read before starting to teach.
Making it Real: Teaching Pre-literate Adult Refugee Students – Excellent resource with ideas and activities for all the functional skills.
Language Experience Approach – A guide to how to use the language experience approach to improve reading and writing.
Language Support for Adult Refugees – Loads of resources around supporting refugees, including what may be most important to learn, using health services and some background of some of the most common languages.
Teaching Phonics – Look for the LNTE Phonics column. A great resource with ideas on how to teach phonics to ESOL learners as well as lots of practical activities.
Pronunciation Guide – Practical tips for teaching pronunciation.
Reading Strategies Guide – Theories and activities for teaching reading.
Role Play Guide – Simple guide about how to lead a role play, including an example of calling the landlord.
Sentences Structure Guide – Useful activities on structuring a sentence including substitution tables, dictation and jumbled sentences.
British Council – Error Correction – Ideas on how and when to correct learners.
British Council – Error Correction 2 – More ideas on how and when to correct learners.