Classroom Tools
What can you do with a computer & projector in your ESL classroom?
Classroom Video/Image Tools
Image Search Options
Search results return only images
Search for specific images or browse by category by selecting the "Explore" option.
New York Times Picture Prompts
How to access this free resource and use them in the classroom
IN PERSON TEACHERS: All ALP Smartboards have a built-in Image Search option.
See this page (under Tech Support) to learn more.
Classroom Games
Supplemental Resources
Download and edit worksheets, or just pull them up in class and use them on the projector.
Watch videos or play interactive games as a class.
iSLCollective
Worksheets and paper activities
E-mail required for a free account to download
Search using a variety of filters (such as ESL level, adult learners, grammar rules, vocabulary categories, and more.
Literacy Minnesota
https://www.literacymn.org/educator-resources
Learn a wide variety of teaching techniques and get inspiration from an experienced community learning center.
FluentU Blog for ESL Teachers
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/
Content ideas, inspiration, and supplements. No full lesson plans, but often good embedded grammar lessons.
FluentU Business English Blog for professional and academic skills
Voice of America
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/
News and special interest articles using a base vocabulary of 1500 words. Intended for ESL learners.
Simple Wikipedia
Articles try to use the 1,000 most common English words.
NY Times Learning Network
https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning
Great resource for the "Tell Me About This Picture" exercise
Ted Talks
Inspiring and thought-provoking videos for ESL 4-6
Game-Based Learning
Game Based Learning Ideas
Here are a few fun games you can play with your classes to increase conversation and help lighten the mood!
Connect 4
Connect 4 is an easy way to practice vocabulary. Set up a board with pictures of all of the vocabulary words you have been practicing. The goal of the game is to get four words correct In a row. Pair students together and have them play against each other to see who can get four in a row without getting blocked!
Bingo
Bingo Is a classic vocabulary practice. Bingo Baker Is an online bingo card maker that will create differentiated cards for your students. It will even create ONLINE bingo cards for online classes.
Story Telling
Start by giving the students a prompt. This can be a photo or a written prompt, depending on the age and ability level.
Have students create a story from the prompt, with each student writing one sentence at a time.
Have them continue to add to the story one sentence at a time as time allows.
You can also put them in smaller groups if you have the ability and numbers to do so online.
Scavenger Hunt
Give students a letter, category, or color of something to find in their surroundings. (For example, something that starts with the letter “P” or “something that is sticky.”)
Set a timer and have them go find and bring back that thing.
Students then take turns presenting their items to the class.
Charades
Have one student act out a word or phrase – you can assign them one, assign a category, or let them choose.
The other students then guess the word or phrase the student is acting out.
The one who guesses correctly first, then gets to act it out.
It’s recommended to set a time limit for both the acting part and the game overall.
Last Letter, First Letter
Start with a word and then pass to a student, who has to say a new word, that starts with the last letter of the word you selected.
For example: The first word is Pillow and then the next word could be wish. Followed by another word that starts with H.
Continue around the class until someone makes a mistake.
To add a challenge, make it so that no word can be repeated.
Tic Tac Talk
Just like Tic Tac Toe, the goal Is to get three in a row! Students must answer the questions in the box to win the box. Change up the pairs when at all possible for maximum practice!