ESL Teaching Resources
Lesson Activities | Lesson Plans | Classroom and Teacher Resources | Theory and Research | Additional ResourcesClassroom and Teacher Resources
Printable Flashcards and Images
Calendar Exercises
[+-] Activities and printable cards to teach dates and calendar vocabulary.
Lesson plans and printable cards usable to teach dates, months, and other calendar vocabulary. Includes questions to assess students' learning.
ESL Kids Lab - Flashcards
[+-] Printable, colour flashcards for beginner level lessons.
Flashcards to teach basic actions, greetings and goodbyes, objects, animals, weather, time, and many other topics.
Flash Card Exercises
[+-] Alphabet and numeric flash cards in a variety of fonts.
Flash cards with the letters A-Z and numbers 1-100 in a variety of fonts to teach letter and number recognition. Also includes exercises and an explanation of how to effectively use flash cards in lessons.
Free Phonics Materials
[+-] Printable flash cards and other materials for teaching phonics.
The lefthand sidebar contains links to printable resources for various phonics topics.
Free Printable Flash Cards
[+-] Over 1800 printable flash cards.
Flash cards are useful for teaching vocabulary in any ESL class.
Phonics Flash Cards
[+-] Flash cards to teach phonics and some sight words.
Flash cards and exercises to teach phonics as well as an explanation of how to use the cards in lessons and activities.
Printable Certificates and Awards
[+-] Printable certificates and awards for teachers to give to students.
Students enjoy rewards and recognition, what better way to give it than with a custom-made certificate? Certificates are printable and customizable for free.
Printable Reading and Colouring Books
[+-] Downloadable and printable colouring activities.
Reading and colouring books on a variety of topics for younger students. Site requires free signup to print images and books.
Sparkelbox - Hundreds of Printable Flashcards
[+-] Flashcards on a variety of themes, all downloadable and printable.
Flashcards are useful in phonics classes and are an excellent way to connect vocabulary to images. The downloadable flashcards through Sparklebox are full-colour and cover a wide range of topics.
Teaching with Pictures
[+-] Images for use in speaking and writing classes.
Images and pictures can provide good fuel and structure for discussions. Students can be asked questions about what they see, and they can also be asked to write about the images and contents of the picture.
Game Resources
PDF Idioms Crossword Puzzle
[+-] Printable crossword puzzle for students to practice the idioms they have learned.
Best used with intermediate or higher level students, this printable crossword puzzle is a good way to practice idioms that have been learned in class.
Worksheets
Dolch Site Word Printables and Worksheets
[+-] Flashcards and worksheets to teach sight-reading skills.
Images accompanied by correctly and incorrectly spelled words. Students must identify the correct spelling. Practicing identifying the correct spelling of common words helps develop sight reading skill. Site requires free signup to print images and worksheets.
Draw and Write Printable Activities
[+-] Printable story starters for students to draw and write.
Worksheets with story starters and sentence helpers. Students can illustrate their stories or draw pictures to use as inspiration while writing. Site requires free signup to print worksheets.
ESL Kids Lab - Phonics Worksheets
[+-] Phonics worksheets for young, low-level students.
Simple, printable, pdf worksheets to practice spelling and phonics for common nouns and verbs. Students can colour the worksheets. Site also contains an audio portion so students can hear the words being said.
ESL Kids Lab - Printables
[+-] Worksheets to practice everything from Animals to Weather.
These downloadable and printable worksheets can be used as warm-up activities, parts of a lesson, or homework assignments. They are mostly vocabulary practice, but can be incorporated into almost any lesson.
ESL Printables
[+-] Printable worksheets and lesson plans on a wide range of ESL topics.
A fully searchable and sortable database of teacher-uploaded lesson plans, worksheets, activities, flashcards, and games. Searches can be narrowed by age, level, and type of activity, as well as keyword searches.
Free ESL Worksheets
[+-] Free, printable worksheets on a variety of topics.
Printable worksheets for colouring, introductions, phonics, vocabulary, and other topics.
Free ESL Worksheets and Teaching Materials
[+-] Downloadable worksheets, games, and puzzles.
Links to a wide variety of activities, templates, and exercises on many different ESL topics, including articles for teachers and information on business and other specialized English.
Free Phonics Worksheets
[+-] Customizable phonics worksheets for beginner students.
Pre-made and customizable worksheets for use in phonics lessons with beginner students and those who are just learning to read English.
Free Printable Worksheets
[+-] Printable phonics, reading, writing, and spelling worksheets.
Free printable worksheets to practice reading, writing, spelling, and phonics. Also links to printable puzzles and games.
Magic Vocabulary
[+-] Printable worksheets and games to teach English vocabulary.
Worksheets and games to teach vocabulary for everything from Actions to Weather. Primarily aimed at children, but the worksheets can be adapted to any age.
Phonics Printables and Worksheets
[+-] Printable worksheets, flashcards, and games to practice phonics.
Worksheets and word lists to practice vowel and consonant phonemes, blends, and digraphs in phonics teaching. Site requires free signup to create worksheets.
Printable English Grammar Exercises
[+-] Printable grammar exercises and worksheets.
Printable exercises and worksheets for use in ESL grammar classes. Topics include parts of speech, tenses, as well as modals and conditionals.
Printable ESL Vocabulary Worksheets
[+-] Printable vocabulary worksheets on a wide variety of topics.
Vocabulary worksheets on topics ranging from Action Verbs to Weather and Seasons. Each topic contains handouts and puzzles to study and reinforce vocabulary.
Printable Quizzes
[+-] Downloadable and printable worksheets and quizzes.
Quizzes and worksheets that can be used as stand-alone activities or incorporated into a lesson. A wide variety of topics and levels are covered.
Quick Word Printouts
[+-] Customizable and printable language worksheets.
Puzzles, games, and other language worksheets to practice spelling and word recognition. Site requires free signup to create worksheets.
Reference Sheets for English Vocabulary
[+-] Worksheets and wordlists to build vocabulary.
A wide variety of resources to use in lessons to build vocabulary. Topics include idioms and expressions, visual dictionaries, phrasal verbs, as well as quizzes to test expressions and vocabulary usage.
School Express - Over 13000 Free Worksheets
[+-] Make a word or sentence worksheets, as well as spelling sheets, word searches, awards, quizzes and many more.
A wide variety of customizable and printable worksheets for use in any classroom. Spelling tests, vocabulary lists, and grammar quizzes and worksheets can be easily created on this site. A very handy site for teachers looking to create lesson activities, quizzes, or games for use in an ESL classroom.
Topic Worksheets
[+-] Worksheets and lesson-starters organized by topic.
PDF format downloadable and printable worksheets on a wide variety of topics. These can be used as homework assignments or incorporated into an in-class lesson.
Worksheets for Advanced Classes
[+-] Worksheets for grammar, vocabulary, spelling, reading, and speaking and listening classes.
A wide range of worksheets for use with beginner students. All common ESL subjects are included in the over 40 worksheets found on the site.
Worksheets for Beginner Classes
[+-] Worksheets for grammar, vocabulary, spelling, reading, and speaking and listening classes.
A wide range of worksheets for use with beginner students. All common ESL subjects are included, and well over 180 worksheets can be found on the site.
Worksheets for Intermediate Classes
[+-] Worksheets for grammar, vocabulary, spelling, reading, and speaking and listening classes.
A wide range of worksheets for use with beginner students. All common ESL subjects are included, and over 140 worksheets can be found on the site.
English Grammar Resources
Advanced English Grammar
[+-] English grammar explanations for advanced level grammar terms.
Explanations for advanced level grammar including further detail on conditional forms, adverb and adjective clauses, prepositional phrases, verb conjugation, and a variety of quizzes to text advance level English grammar knowledge.
Beginning English Grammar
[+-] English grammar explanations for beginner level grammatical terms.
Explanations for beginner level grammar including tenses, contractions, parts of speech, and other grammar, as well as some beginner grammar review quizzes.
Daily Grammar Glossary
[+-] Glossary of grammatical terms.
From Adjectives to Voice, the Daily Grammar Glossary gives definitions of some of the most common grammatical terms. A useful resource for students and teachers alike.
English Grammar Glossary
[+-] A glossary of common grammatical terms and parts of speech.
Information and descriptions of the eight main parts of speech, verb forms, tenses, and expressions. A useful reference site for both teachers and students.
English Grammar Structures
[+-] Explanation of common English grammar structures.
Explanation and dissection of some common English grammar constructions including tenses, adjectives of intensity, asking questions, giving advice, and other structures.
English Pronouns
[+-] A brief introduction and explanation of English pronouns.
The four types of pronoun (subject, object, possessive, and demonstrative) are outlined with examples of usage.
Grammar Explanations
[+-] Explanations of common grammatical terms and concepts.
Teaching grammar can be a daunting prospect for ESL teachers. This page contains definitions and explanations of common grammar. Each concept has a quiz at the end to test your knowledge. This site is useful for teachers and students alike!
Grammar Quizzes
[+-] Quizzes to test your knowledge of common English grammar.
This is a direct link to the grammar quizzes that accompany the English Grammar Explanations. Students and teachers can use these to test their knowledge and improve their English grammar skills.
Intermediate English Grammar
[+-] English grammar explanations for intermediate level grammar terms.
Explanations for intermediate level grammar including the correct use of adjectives and adverbs, action vs stative verbs, appropriate formatting of direct and indirect quotations, conditionals, and common English mistakes, as well as some intermediate grammar review quizzes.
Past Simple and Past Continuous
[+-] A brief introduction and explanation of the past simple and past continuous tenses.
The structure of the past past simple and past continuous tenses are outlined, along with common uses and examples.
Present Simple Tense
[+-] A brief introduction and explanation of the present simple tense.
The structure of the present simple tense is outlined, along with common uses and examples.
Present Tenses
[+-] A brief introduction and explanation of the present tenses in English.
The structure of the present tenses is outlined, along with common uses and examples.
The OWL at Purdue
[+-] Grammar and mechanics: information on the parts of speech.
Contains information on identifying and correctly using the parts of speech in the English language. Useful to any ESL teacher as a grammar resource.
Online Games and Quizzes
Advanced-Level Quizzes
[+-] Online quizzes and tests on a variety of ESL topics.
Online quizzes to practice a variety of advanced English. Some topics include personality adjectives, idiomatic phrases, English article usage, and listening comprehension.
Beginner-Level Quizzes
[+-] Online quizzes and tests on a variety of ESL topics.
Online quizzes to practice a variety of beginner English. Some topics include comparatives, countable/uncountable nouns, prepositions, pronouns, etc.
Daily Page for ESL Students
[+-] Brief homepage for ESL students, updated daily.
A handy starting point for ESL students. This page has daily quizzes, vocabulary, slang, listening, and pronunciation practice.
Dictionary Flash Cards
[+-] Online flashcard activity to test and improve vocabulary.
Generates a random vocabulary word with each touch of the button. If students don't understand a word, they can click on one of the dictionary links on the sidebar. Teachers can recommend a particular dictionary to suit their class, such as WordSmyth for Children.
English Club - Games
[+-] Games and activities that can be played online.
ESL Club offers a variety of games to practice English vocabulary and comprehension. Games can be played by students on their own, or the teacher can use them in the classroom with access to a computer and projector.
English Club - Quizzes
[+-] Online quizzes on everything from idioms and proverbs to vocabulary and grammar.
ESL Club offers online quizzes for students to practice and reinforce language they have learned. Quizzes are a great, informal way to assess student progress and are useful for students to gauge their progress and understanding.
English Grammar Quizzes
[+-] Online quizzes to practice and reinforce English grammar for all levels.
Quizzes to practice English grammar. Grammar skills for all levels are covered. Most are labelled by the appropriate level.
ESL Grammar Quizzes
[+-] A wide variety of online grammar quizzes for students.
Online quizzes on everything from Adjectives and Adverbs to Vocabulary. Over 250 quizzes in total.
ESL Student Quizzes and Activities
[+-] Online quizzes for students to test their ESL knowledge.
Specific topics such as Business English, Idioms, and Expressions, as well as a number of ESL grammar activities. Teachers can integrate these into a multimedia lesson, or students can explore on their own.
Free ESL Games
[+-] Online ESL flash games.
Online games to practice grammar and vocabulary, useful for students and teachers alike.
Intermediate-Level Quizzes
[+-] Online quizzes and tests on a variety of ESL topics.
Online quizzes to practice a variety of intermediate English. Some topics include adjectives + prepositions, adverbs, collocations, as well as specific vocabulary and expressions.
Internet TESL Journal Activities for Students
[+-] Online quizzes and puzzles for ESL students.
A variety of online grammar and vocabulary quizzes as well as podcasts and YouTube links to audio and video lessons for ESL students.
Prepositions and Phrasal Verbs
[+-] Online multiple-choice quizzes on prepositions and phrasal verbs.
Students read a passage and select the appropriate preposition or phrasal verb from a drop down list. The reading level required for the activities varies from intermediate to advanced.
Prepositions in English
[+-] Flash-based exercises to teach and practice correct use of prepositions.
Students can test their knowledge and listen to the phrases on the site. Activities to practice prepositions as well as other vocabulary.
Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Quizzes
[+-] Online quizzes and activities to practice advanced reading comprehension.
Quizzes to practice comprehension on such topics as medical vocabulary, computers and technology, presentations, business English, as well as general reading skills.
Reading Comprehension Tests
[+-] Reading comprehension tests for intermediate to advanced students.
Graded tests for business English as well as general reading comprehension. Students can do tests online and see their results as soon as they are finished.
Super Quiz Machine for ESL Students
[+-] Randomly generated 20-question vocabulary quizzes.
Drawn from a database of over 3000 questions, each quiz asks students 20 multiple-choice questions where they must insert appropriate vocabulary to create grammatically correct sentences.
Top 10 ESL Quizzes
[+-] Online quizzes for ESL students of all levels.
A variety of popular quizzes from About.com. Students can test their knowledge of such ESL skills as tenses, parts of speech, commonly confused words, and English grammar.
Topical Dictionary Flash Cards
[+-] Online flashcard activity, organized by topic, to test and improve vocabulary.
Identical to the Dictionary Flash Cards game above, but broken down by topic, from Adjectives and Colours to Transportation and Weather.
Vocabulary Quizzes and Tests for ESL Learners
[+-] Online quizzes for all levels to test and practice vocabulary.
A variety of multiple-choice quizzes that students can complete online for instant feedback. Some quiz topics include colloctations, confused words, idioms, the use of adjectives, prepositional phrases, and many others.
Reference
Dictionary.com
[+-] Online dictionary resource.
Dictionaries and thesauri are valuable resources for students and teachers alike.
Dictionary.com Word of the Day
[+-] Learn a new word every day!
Students and teachers can check back daily to see the word-of-the-day, or they can sign up to have it emailed to them.
English Idioms
[+-] English idioms explained.
A list of 170 English idioms and expressions, divided alphabetically with an explanation of meaning and usage.
Free Translations
[+-] A free, online, translation website.
Care should be taken when using translation websites, but they can be a useful resource for students and teachers.
Glossary of English Idioms
[+-] Online glossary of common (and uncommon) English idioms.
Nearly 500 idioms are explained, broken out alphabetically from A-G.
Irregular Verbs
[+-] Alphabetical list of irregular English verbs.
An A-Z list of irregular verbs along with definitions and explanations of usage. The list is also searchable.
Merriam-Webster
[+-] Merriam-Webster online dictionary and thesaurus.
Dictionaries and Thesauri are useful for teachers and students alike.
Merriam-Webster.com
[+-] Merriam-Webster's online dictionary and thesaurus resource.
Dictionaries and thesauri are useful for ESL students and teachers alike. It is good to check a variety of resources to compare the wording of definitions and to see what synonyms and antonyms each provides. Students should be shown how to appropriately use these resources, and how to effectively look up words they wish to know about.
Phrasal Verb Dictionary
[+-] Searchable dictionary of English phrasal verbs.
Students or teachers can enter a verb or preposition and the dictionary will list all of the phrasal verbs that contain those words. Each phrasal verb is defined. The page also contains an explanation of phrasal verbs and a quiz to test students knowledge.