Textbook Series
Bilingual Picture Dictionaries for Afghans in English, Pashto, and Dari. Teacher's guide also available.
Downtown - five-level, integrated skills series designed to give adult learners the comprehensive language skills needed for success in everyday life.
English in Action - four-level, standards-based integrated language learning program that prepares adults for work and academic success.
Stand Out - six-level, standards-based ESL series for adult education, with a proven track record of successful results.
Foundations - all-skills, standards-based program for beginning-literacy and low-beginning learners of English. Its clear and easy-to-use format offers students an introduction to basic English for essential lifeskill situations and builds a language foundation for students’ future success at the Book 1 level of instruction.
Side by Side - all-skills program that integrates conversation practice, reading, writing, and listening—all in a light-hearted, fun, and easy-to-use format that has been embraced by students and teachers worldwide.
Future - six-level program continues to address the diverse needs of adult learners, equipping them with transferable academic, workplace, and English communication skills. A literacy workbook is also available for students with little background in literacy.
Word by Word Picture Dictionary - presents vocabulary in context through vibrant illustrations and easy to use lesson pages. Also available: Word by Word Basic.
Day by Day - offers beginning learners a comprehensive introduction to workplace communication. Through a dynamic all-skills approach, students learn the language they need to obtain employment and communicate effectively with supervisors, co-workers, and customers.
English for Workplace, Civics, and Academic Readiness - combined picture dictionary and workbook for beginning to low-intermediate learners that develops students’ vocabulary to meet the new integrated English literacy and civics curriculum goals of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It contains all multilevel workplace, civics, and academic content in the Word by Word vocabulary development program, including communicative picture dictionary lessons, skill-building exercises, new standards-based activities, and a complete audio program.
Oxford Picture Dictionary - fully integrated vocabulary development program, progressing from essential words to the more complex, delivered in short thematic units; contains realistic scenarios, modern artwork, story pages, and practice exercises that promote language skills. Monolingual (English only) or bilingual (Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Farsi, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese) editions available, as well as leveled workbooks (low beginning, high beginning, low intermediate) and other teacher resources.
Step Forward - standards-based, four-skills course that improves student outcomes by integrating language instruction into real-life contexts.
Wide Angle - six-level American English course that empowers adult learners to join any conversation, and say the right thing at the right time.
Cambridge (more programs available here)
Ventures - A six-level, standards based, integrated skills series for Adult Education, aligned to WIOA, NRS, English Language Proficiency, and College and Career Readiness standards.
Four Corners - four-level program (beginner to low intermediate) combines effective, communicative methodology with a practical, ‘can-do’ approach
Interchange - four-level course delivering a communicative approach, flexible unit structure, and easy to use digital support, giving teachers the tools they need, and empowering students to achieve their goals.
Passages - two-level, multi-skills course that will quickly and effectively move adult and young-adult learners of English from high-intermediate to the advanced level.
Touchstone - four-level series created based on a corpus (compilation) of real American English, so students learn to speak as Americans actually use English, rather than only textbook language.
Pronunciation Fun with Pictures - uses minimal pairs to help teachers lead pronunciation practice in class and helps students practice on their own. Suggested for use ten minutes per day (2 sounds).
The Immigrant Guide - a digest of the most common laws, systems and cultural norms for living and succeeding in the U.S. Available in 8 languages: English and Spanish (full color); and Arabic, Burmese, French, Karen, Nepali, and Somali (text only). Conversation supplement and workshop planner also available.
Confidence and Connections - has an Intro Level and 5 subsequent levels. There is one book for the Intro Level, and there are 2 books per level, LEFT and RIGHT, for the subsequent levels. Start with either L or R, complete both to finish a level.
Tried and True ESL Resources - adult ESL curricula designed for faith-based ESL programs. Books are designed to be low-cost. Sample lessons may be requested from the author.
Tried and True ESL Lessons: four-level curriculum for beginner through advanced students, designed for the faith-based ESL program. This series introduces relevant material practical for everyday life in an English speaking country, utilizing a functional approach. The integrated skills curriculum features vocabulary with photographic illustrations, speaking, listening, grammar, pronunciation, and communication practice activities around a specific topic. Each lesson also contains a brief biblical principle related to the content.
Tried and True Everyday English from Genesis - multi-level ESL text for high beginner and intermediate students. The exciting stories from the book of Genesis serve as the basis for the book, as a survey of Genesis reveals a number of relevant topics of interest to the modern-day immigrant experience. Tried and True Everyday English from Genesis, Book A utilizes a functional approach and features integrated skills of speaking, listening, grammar, pronunciation, and communication practice.
Adventures in English, Discoveries in English, and Exploring English - multi-level curricula for conversation skills with accompanying (separate) reading lessons based on Bible passages.
Literacy-Level Textbooks
Literacy Plus: Language, Lifeskills, Civics, by Joan Saslow - Written for adult beginning learners, Literacy Plus, by Joan Saslow, offers instruction in survival English and basic literacy at the same time. Literacy Plus A is for students who are pre-literate in their own language and know no English. Literacy Plus B is designed to follow Literacy Plus A, or for students who are literate in their own language but not in English. This comprehensive standards-based course helps students make daily progress on the path to literacy and oral communication.
Longman ESL Literacy, by Yvonne Wong Nishio - Updated and easy to use, Longman ESL Literacy, Third Edition, by Yvonne Wong Nishio, offers a basic introduction to English for students who are not ready for a Level 1 course. This new edition helps students acquire communication and literacy skills necessary to function in real-life situations. The Student Book features: Ten topically organized units, thorough integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, clear grammar and conversation models for basic communication, a Scope and Sequence that presents vocabulary, competencies, literacy skills, phonics, and grammar at a glance, easy-to-use classroom procedures for key exercises previously only in the Teacher’s Resource Book, and illustrations that provide a clear context for model conversations.
English Unlocked Phonics Workbooks from Minnesota Literacy: 4 levels of phonics workbooks designed for teaching reading to preliterate English learner adults. They focus on phonemic awareness (hearing and manipulating oral sounds), decoding (sounding out words), and letter formation (learning to write). Each can be purchased for download, with free samples of each available online.
Supplementary Materials
Pronunciation Contrasts in English , by Don L. F. Nilsen and Alleen Pace Nilsen - Includes concepts and patterns of English spelling, pronunciation, and meaning to ease the process of learning English for non-native students as well as their teachers; also includes sample activities that creatively and effectively engage students in grasping a particular concept and illustrative examples that show English is a systemic language. Part II: includes extensive lists of both vowel and consonant contrasts, each with phonetic diagrams and descriptions, minimal pairs (both isolated and in sentences), and specific languages for which the contrast may be problematic.
Clear Speech from the Start, by Judy Gilbert - provides easy-to-follow presentations, helpful rules, and extensive practice in pronunciation. Audio program is available for download at www.cambridge.org/clearspeech
Speaking Naturally, by Bruce Tillitt and Mary Newton Bruder - focuses on a language function-such as requesting information, thanking, complimenting, and inviting-while readings explain the cultural "rules" students need to know to communicate naturally and effectively. Structured exercises, as well as freer role plays, often involve pairs or small groups and encourage interaction in the classroom.
Fundamentals of English Grammar, by Betty Azar and Stacy Hagen - for lower-intermediate and intermediate English language learners; blends grammar instruction with communicative methods; with clear, user-friendly charts and engaging, interactive practice.
Keys to Teaching Grammar to English Language Learners, by Keith Folse - Written for classroom teachers (K-12, ESL, EFL), this book teaches the most common ESL grammar points in an accessible way through real ESL errors together with suggested teaching techniques. Relevant grammar terminology is explained.
Listening and Notetaking Skills - focused notetaking strategies to prepare students for success in their academic work.
The Article Book, by Tom Cole - A comprehensive guide and workbook for improving ESL/EFL students' understanding of English articles, The Article Book can be used as either a supplement to any ESL/EFL core text or as a self-study tool for intermediate through advanced learners. Cole involves students in "learning by doing" through an integrated approach to skill acquisition that includes other grammar structures, reading, vocabulary, and speaking. Each chapter of the book is organized into teachable units or lessons and includes presentation of a grammatical rule with examples, exercises, quizzes, and a comprehensive test. While the fifty rules (and fifteen exceptions) are taught to provide a logical framework for the text and serve as a handy reference, students will learn through guided practice instead of memorization.
A Year in the Life, by Edward J. Francis - The book follows Andre, a student from Switzerland, as he spends a year completing his English studies at a private language school in North America: from his arrival at the airport, to getting around the city, to attending school, to hanging out with his classmates. All of the situations and related language are real and directly relevant to adult ESL students. This book is a great text for advanced-level students, especially those who have come from abroad to study English in the United States.