November Topic: Daylight Savings Time!

 

It's that time of the year again - Daylight Saving Time (DST) - officially ends this Sunday (Nov 5th), so get ready to turn those clocks "backwards"! DST was first introduced in the late 1800's before electricity and  modern lighting as a way to gain an extra hour of daylight and productivity. When the energy crisis hit in the 1970's, more and more countries began to practice DST and today it's observed by over 70 countries worldwide. Applauded for its role in energy conversation, but criticized for the way it disrupts daily life, DST makes for a great ESL discussion topic - one that can also provide a springboard for talking about "time".

CONVERSATION QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND TIME BY ESL MADE EASY:

1. What are some advantages and disadvantages associated with moving the clocks forward one hour in March and back one hour in November? What about for businesses?  Do you think this has changed since DST was first introduced?

2. Many countries have chosen not to switch to daylight saving time. What do you think their reasons might be? Does your country use daylight saving time? What have been the advantages and disadvantages?

3. Time plays a big role in our lives. What do these common time expressions mean; time on your hands, free time, make time, on time, in time, to pass the time, it's only a matter of time.

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS ON THE TOPIC OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND TIME:

EL Civics: Daylight Saving Time picture vocabulary and definitions
ESL Video: How to adjust to DST video and short quiz
English-Online: Easy reading with vocabulary on Daylight Saving Time
The Free Resource: Facts about Daylight Saving Time
EnglishBaby: Reading and listening lesson on Daylight Saving Time
Huffington Post: Daylight Saving Time Ends  **DOWNLOAD COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS BY ESL Made Easy**
National Geographic: A reading on the case against Daylight Saving Time
Bogglesworld ESL: Time worksheets
ESL Tower: Activities for telling time
Teach-This: Activities on time expressions and telling time
EZ Tales: Daylight Saving Time lesson plan  NEW!
Rachael's English Classes: Reading/follow up worksheet on Daylight Saving Time - NEW!
ITESLJ: Conversation questions about time
ESL Partyland: online quiz on time expressions
Daily Writing Tips: 15 time idioms and expressions

November Suggested Themes and Topics!

There's lots to talk about with your ESL students this month! Be sure to check out November's Themes and Topics here for your month's curriculum planning or if you just need a quick idea.

International observance and celebratory days that might provide some interesting springboard topics this month include World Vegan Day, World Tongue Twister Day, Remembrance/Veteran's Day, World Kindness Day, Say Hello Day, World Television Day and of course the biggie in the U.S. is American Thanksgiving! Be sure to check them all out and feel free to add any of your ideas and suggestions for this month too!

October Topic: Halloween!

Halloween, celebrated in many parts of the world, is an exciting time of the year and well known for traditional and festive activities such as trick-or-treating, costume parties and pumpkin carving. Halloween is a cultural celebration with an interesting history that dates back nearly 2,000 years. This time of the year not only provides ESL teachers with lots of fun activities, but it can also provide an opportunity for some very lively conversation around linking topics such as superstitions and fears! So, have fun with it!

CONVERSATION QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF HALLOWEEN BY ESL MADE EASY:

1. Is Halloween or a similar tradition celebrated in your country? If a similar tradition,  rather than Halloween itself, how is it different from Halloween in North America?

2. Why do you think the colors black and orange are used for Halloween?

3. On the eve of October 31st, most children go trick-or-treating door to door in their neighbourhood. What do you think might be some positive and negative aspects associated with this traditional activity?

4. Halloween is believed to be related to many superstitious stories and beliefs. Are you are a superstitious person? What are some common superstitions in your country?

5. What is your biggest fear now? Did you have any fears/phobias when you were a child? Has this changed?

RECOMMENDED LINKS ON THE TOPIC OF HALLOWEEN, SUPERSTITIONS & FEARS:

EL Civics: Halloween picture vocabulary lesson and follow up activities

ESL Library: Ten ideas for teaching Halloween 

English Club: PDF worksheet - Is Halloween Harmful? 

123 Listening: Halloween listening tests and activities 

English W Sheets: Halloween vocabulary matching worksheets

Breaking News English: 100 questions for Halloween 

Boggles World ESL: Halloween worksheets, puzzles and games

ESL Pod: ESL podcast: Halloween 

Heads Up English: Reading and comprehension: Holiday of the Dead 

Heads Up English: Listening and reading: Ghost Hunters 

One Stop English: Halloween and linking topic activities 

ESL Flow: Halloween lessons and worksheets

ESL Holiday Lessons: Halloween reading and follow up activities

Let's Talk English: 10 minute YouTube lesson on Halloween

ESL Video: short video on the History of Halloween with questions

History: Halloween by the Numbers" - an infographic

Canada-ESL: Halloween themed ESL activities

History: The History of Trick-or-Treating video

Anglomaniacy: Printable Halloween game and puzzle sheet

Apples 4 The Teacher: Halloween poems and rhymes

Online English Lessons: Halloween phrasal verbs, idioms and sayings

English Anyone: YouTube video on Halloween idioms

ITESLJ: Conversation questions on Halloween, Superstitions and Ghosts

Bogglesworld ESL: Superstitions and strange experiences activities

ISL Collective: 22 printable worksheets on superstitions - donation site

Elllo: Do You Believe in Ghosts? Short listening exercise with questions

Listen A Minute: Easy reading and listening activity about fear

Breaking News English: Reading on phobias/fears with follow up activities

ESOL Courses: Online listening and vocabulary activities about Halloween

5 Minute English: Short reading and comprehension activity on Halloween

English Club: Reading with questions on phobias

Feel free to add any of your favorite Halloween links you have used with your ESL students!

October Topic: World United Nations Day!

UNITED NATIONS DAY is coming up on October 24th. It's a day to celebrate the creation of the United Nations in 1945 and its work in preserving peace and order through international cooperation. Learn more about the United Nations and get your ESL students talking about this important organization and its involvement in world peace and human rights.

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS ON THE TOPIC OF THE UNITED NATIONS:

Listen A Minute: United Nations reading with follow-up activities
YouTube: A short video on How the U.N. works
The Guardian: The U.N. Headquarters - photos with captions
English Express: United Nation dictations - medium and slow
ESL Library: ESL Podcast on the United Nations
Heads Up English: Reading and comprehension lesson about the U.N.
Heads Up English: Listening follow up on reading comprehension activity - The U.N.
EL Civics: Picture and vocabulary lesson on the UN
Learning to Give: Complete lesson plan on the United Nations
ESL Discussions: United Nations discussion questions
Learn American English Online: Reading on the UN with follow up activities
English-Online: Reading with highlighted vocabulary on the UN
BBC News: Global Goals bu the U.N. - short video
ESL Holiday Lessons: United Nations Day reading and activities


*Follow up FUN TRIVIA online games and quizzes on the United Nations to do with your students!

October Topic: World Food Day!

WORLD FOOD DAY is recognized globally on Monday, October 16th and is intended to help raise awareness about hunger and poverty. It also commemorates the founding of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization back in 1945. This is a great discussion topic to use with your ESL students so set some time aside and get them talking about the importance of food and the challenges associated in its production and distribution around the world. 

 

WARM UP CONVERSATION QUESTIONS by ESL MADE EASY:

 1. Define the following words:  nutrition, hunger, starvation, malnourishment, and famine.
 

2. Are there any 'hunger' problems in your country? What are some programs and services available for those suffering from hunger and malnutrition?
 

3. What different hunger related social and economic issues might various countries face?

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS ON THE TOPIC OF WORLD FOOD DAY:

World Food Day: What is World Food Day?  

ESL Made Easy: Food theme links to activities and worksheets

English Online: World Hunger - easy reading with vocabulary
ESL-Bits: Wasted Food - Listening and Reading 
Pulitzer Centre: Lesson Plan on Food Insecurity 
PBS: 6 Resources to Teach World Food Day 

YouTube: World Food Day - 2017

WFP.ORG: Take the Hunger Quiz - online with answers
Grist: 10 Things to Know About Food on World Food Day 

ESL Holiday Lessons: World Food Day reading and activities

SlideShare: FOA of the United Nations - Slide Show on World Food Day

October Topic: Thanksgiving!

It's that special time of the year again when many Canadians celebrate THANKSGIVING - a time for giving thanks for the bountiful harvest and for all the other blessings in life. Even as Canadians take part in roasting turkeys and baking pumpkin pies, people in America are celebrating COLUMBUS DAY - a day for commemorating one of the first European travellers, Christopher Columbus, and his arrival to the New World in 1492. In other parts of the world, countries have been busy with their own HARVEST FESTIVALS  to celebrate all the successful harvests on their land. No matter what part of the world you're in, this time of the year provides ESL students with a bit of history and a lot of vocabulary!  >>>