
Thursday, November 30, 2017
December Topic: World Disability Day

Get your students talking about what a disability is with this free reading and conversation worksheet by ESL Made Easy here!
Watch, Listen and Read - OCT 2015 TED TALK on How New Technology Helps Blind People Explore the World here! Get your ESL students to watch the 10 min. video and then read the entire transcript. Create some questions and explore new vocabulary!
December Themes and Topics!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017
November Topic: Shop Til You Drop!
With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are getting in the spirit of shopping! It's a good time to get your ESL students talking about shopping and how it relates to CONSUMERISM. There is no shortage of vocabulary, expressions and phrases when it comes to teaching around the theme of SHOPPING (see recommended links) and all the linking topics including sales and discounts, types of stores, online shopping, as well as the countless number of products that society needs and of course wants. >>>
Have your students talk about the culture of shopping in their country and see if it compares to days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday (kick offs to the official start of the holiday shopping madness this Friday, November 24th and Monday, November 27th).
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping to our American neighbours! (see links to Thanksgiving worksheets and activities).**
WARM UP CONVERSATION QUESTIONS BY ESL Made Easy:
1. Do you like to shop and if so, what are some things you usually like to shop for besides the basics?2. How have shops and stores changed over the years? How does this compare to shops and stores in your home country?
3. Are you an online shopper and if so, what do you typically buy? How does this experience compare to shopping in a physical store?
4. How are the terms 'consumption' and 'consumerism' related? What role does consumerism play in the environment, the economy, and in our daily life? Do you think consumerism can affect our well being?
5. What are the differences between "needs" and "wants"? Do you think society's needs and wants have changed over the years? If so, what could be some of the reasons besides creative and sneaky marketing strategies?
6. How has the role of marketing and advertising influenced consumerism? Can you give any specific examples?
RECOMMENDED ESL LINKS AROUND THE TOPIC CONSUMERISM:
ESL Discussions: Discussion questions on "Consumerism"ITESLJ: Conversation questions on money and shopping
ESL Library: ESL Podcast: How Much Stuff Do We Need?
ESL Library: A reading and vocabulary lesson on consumerism
Breaking News English: Men Suffer from Shopping Too! - reading and activities
YouTube: The Story of Stuff - find matching comprehension worksheet here
Teaching English: Consumer - Society Lesson Plan
ESL Right Now: Consumerism-supermarket-psychology lesson plan
ESL Ect: Reading activities on Black Friday and Consumption
ESL Printables: Worksheets and on-line exercises on consumerism - membership site
ESL Video: 10 minute documentary on consumerism
ESL Holiday Lessons: Reading and activities on Buy Nothing Day
ESL Lab: Short video with 3 questions on Black Friday
YouTube: What is Black Friday All About! Watch and discuss
ESL Fast: Black Friday reading with follow up activities
ESL Library: Lesson Plan on Cyber Monday - membership site
English Blog: Reuters Video on Cyber Monday with full script
English Post: Reading on Black Friday and Cyber Monday with questions
Daily Infographic: Learn all about Cyber Monday - get your students to write summary sentences
Lyrics Mode: Shania Twain's Song with lyrics: "Ka-Ching"
Friday, November 17, 2017
November Topic: Universal Children's Day!

Watch YouTube video on Universal Children's Day with Micheal Jackson's song, Heal the World
CONVERSATION QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF CHILDREN BY ESL MADE EASY:
1. Does your country have a day to celebrate and honor children? If so, what are some of the events and traditions that happen?2. What are some of the basic rights that every child should have? How can we as parents, teachers, and citizens help to protect them?
3. What kind of risks do you think children in developing countries are currently facing? What about in developed countries such as Canada or the United States?
4. What are some free programs and services that help promote the welfare of children in your country? What about paid programs and services?
5. What are some things that children are expected to do at home and in school in your country? For example: In Canada, children are expected to clean their rooms and brush their teeth twice a day. Children are also expected to do their homework everyday.
Universal Children's Day Infographic - get your students to discuss or write some summary sentences.
PHAC-ASPC.GC: Children's Rights Activity Guide (Canada)
Monday, November 13, 2017
November Topic: World Kindness Day!
WATCH: Music video for the song "One Day" was produced by Life Vest Inside. It shows just how "kindness can be contagious".
November 13th is World Kindness Day. Created in 1997, this special day was developed by a group of humanitarians in Japan who felt that we needed a day to help us all focus on making the world a better place. The idea is that by performing local "random acts of kindness" such as holding the door open for a stranger, paying someone a compliment or donating items to a local charity, we can actually help make the world a better and kinder place.
WORLD KINDNESS DAY makes for an excellent discussion topic and also represents a great opportunity to become part of the solution. After discussing the topic, why not challenge your ESL students to perform their own "random acts of kindness" on November 13th? The next day have a follow up discussion about their experiences!
CONVERSATION QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF WORLD KINDNESS DAY BY ESL MADE EASY:
1. When was the last time you went out of your way to be really kind to someone? What did you do and how did it make you and the other person feel?2. When was the last time you felt someone went out of their way to be kind to you? What did they do?
3. What might cause some people to "pretend" to be a kind person?
4. Can being kind really make a difference in life? Explain.
5. What could be some negatives associated with being too kind a person?
6. What are some things that could affect someone's ability to be kind? (i.e. weather, money, health...etc)
RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS ON THE TOPIC OF WORLD KINDNESS DAY:
YouTube: Video of 24 Incredible Acts of KindnessPrintable Worksheets: World Kindness Day
Breaking News English: A short reading on a "kindness act" with activities
Random Acts of Kindness: Short motivational stories on acts - of kindness
(ACTIVITY SUGGESTION: Have your students read and discuss while looking at new vocabulary and expressions)
Quote Garden: Kindness Quotations
(ACTIVITY SUGGESTION: Get your students to discuss what each quote could mean)
World Kindness: Some random acts of kindness ideas
The Free Dictionary: Idioms and expressions using the word "kind"
Thursday, November 9, 2017
November Topic: Remembrance Day!

There are a number of key symbols associated with November 11th including the famous war poem from WW1 Flanders Fields Poem (video lesson), the Last Post call, and the Two Minutes of Silence.
CONVERSATION QUESTIONS THAT FOCUS ON PEACE BY ESL MADE EASY:
1. What do the words 'peace' and 'freedom' stand for? Which is more important to you?2. In what ways do countries try to achieve and maintain peace? What are some of the laws surrounding the concept of peace in your country?
3. What is your ideal vision of peace in the world? Do you think it is, or will ever be, achievable? Why or why not?
4. What are some characteristics of peaceful people? How can we teach our children to live peaceful lives? If the world was full of just peaceful people, what do you think it would be like?
CONVERSATION QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF REMEMBRANCE/VETERANS DAY:
Activity Village: Activity worksheets on Remembrance DayDLKT-Holidays: Remembrance/Veterans Day worksheets for beginners
Bogglesworld ESL: Remembrance/Veterans Day activity worksheets
Bridge Ontario: Flanders Field - poem - beginners - picture vocabulary
MrDonn.Org: What is Remembrance Day PowerPoint
Canadian Reader: A Poppy is for Remembering - full lesson
ISL Collective: 6 Remembrance Day worksheets and activities - donation site
Government of Canada: PDF version of Canada Remembers Times - articles
VA U.S. Government: The History of Veterans Day
Teachnology: Veteran's Day worksheets
Education World: Lesson ideas and activities for Veterans Day
Homeschooling: Printable Veterans Day activity worksheets
Little Red Poppy: Reading and follow up activities
ESLVideo: A Remembrance Day tribute by Bryan Adam with follow up questions
English Gateway: A short fill in the blank exercise on Remembrance Day collocations
ESL-Library: A free listening podcast - Remembrance Day
War Poetry: Remembrance and Peace Event Poems
Altius Directory: Remembrance Day activities (poems and quotes)
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