June Topics and Themes for ESL Students

For many teachers and students, June marks the end of the school year, but for others, it's about getting ready for summer classes! There's still a lot to talk about with your ESL students so be sure to check out our June Topics and Themes and don't forget to follow ESL Made Easy for weekly posts. One topic that may not get a lot of attention is Father's Day (June 21st). Why not use the days ahead to talk about the history of Father's Day as well as the various roles fathers play in the family and in the community. 

Other noteworthy topics for this month are World Ocean Day, International Sushi Day, the start of Ramadan, the Summer Solstice, World Music Day, and International Anti-Drug Day. Stay tuned for related links to recommended ESL worksheets and activities!

Improve ESL Listening Skills

Whenever I stumble across a great website for ESL learners, I want to make sure you find it too! 

 

In a nutshell, ESLPOD is full of listening podcasts (for intermediate/advanced levels) with plenty of topics to choose from. ESLPOD is run by a team of experienced ESL teachers in the field and each podcast story has clear and easy explanations on topic-related words (there are plenty of cultural references too!) and expressions. There's a partial script for each podcast that students can follow and an option for slow or fast dialogue.

 

Be sure to visit their website here and get your ESL learners to improve their listening and vocabulary skills in a fun and informative way!

May Topic: Nurses

INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY is celebrated around the globe on May 12th. This date also recognizes the birthdate of the well-known historical figure, Florence Nightingale and her contributions to the nursing field.

Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the world, so get your ESL students talking about nurses' roles, their importance and overall achievements!

 

Download the ESL MADE EASY

"Let's Talk About......Florence Nightingale" worksheet.

Student-centred reading and conversation lesson plan!

Great for multi-level or one on one classes! 

 

 

See video for International Nurses Day here!



May Topic: Sleep!

May 12th is International Fatigue Syndrome Day. This day is set aside to recognize the fact that sometimes life can make us feel tired and worn-out. It is also a day to create an awareness on how sleeping problems and disorders can lead to serious health issues. Your ESL students might find this to be a familiar and interesting topic to discuss as they can talk about their own sleeping problems, habits and routines!  >>>

Download the ESL MADE EASY
"Let's Talk About......Sleep" worksheet.

Student-centred reading and conversation lesson plan!

Great for multi-level classes or one on one teaching!

Celebrating Mother's Day!

Sunday, May 8th marks a special appreciation day for mothers! Get your students talking about the roles of mothers in the family and in society as well as the modern history behind this well-known celebration.

Download the ESL Made Easy
"LET'S TALK ABOUT...Mother's Day" 
Student-centred reading and conversation lesson plan!
Great for multi-level classes or one on one teaching!

ESL Lesson Plans and Activities

ESL MADE EASY - Finding activities and worksheets for your ESL students couldn't be any easier today as the number of online resources available at our fingertips  continues to grow. Be sure to check out some of our Recommended Sites for ESL Skills on reading, writing, speaking and listening for your ESL students.  And if you are looking for helpful websites for useful vocabulary and activities on topics such as food or the environment, there are plenty of links that can be found on Recommended Sites for ESL Themes and Topics. For those seasoned teachers out there, let us know if you have any preferred sites, books or  classroom ideas that have been successful with your students too!

May Topics and Themes for ESL Students

Be sure to check out some of the suggested themes and topics for the month of May here. The main topic most of us will be talking about are mothers and their important role in the family and in society! And depending on where you live, you might want to get your students talking about birds as it's International Migratory Bird Day on May 9th. Other mentionables are International Nurses Day, Purple for Peace Day, Victoria Day (Canada), Memorial Day (U.S.A) and International Amnesty Day held on May 28th.

World Dance Day!

 

 
World Dance Day is April 29th. Founded in 1982 by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, this day has been set aside to help promote the art of dance around the world! For those in the arts community, it's also a time to celebrate dance as an important place in society as it transcends many political, ethnic and cultural barriers. 

 

Engage your ESL students by talking about the role of dance in their respective cultures and about how dance has become a universal language full of artistic and emotional expression!  

Download the ESL Made Easy "LET'S TALK ABOUT...DANCING" worksheet package (includes reading, worksheet and lesson plan guide). 

Designed for a multi-level intermediate/advanced class, a small group, or one on one instruction, this package can also be modified for high beginners. >>>

April Topic: Earth Day

Earth Day, not to be confused with Earth Hour, is an annual environmental event held on April 22nd. Worldwide celebrations and campaigns are held to honor our mother Earth and to create an awareness of key global issues our planet is facing today. Get your students to learn more about Earth Day here and have them talk about the world around them and what we can all do to help preserve and protect it for future generations!

See 2 Degree Celsius: A Critical Number for Climate Change video on here.

April Topic: Spring Cleaning!

SPRING CLEANING, is an annual ritual of deep cleaning that comes to us from several cultures; Chinese, Jewish and Iranian. The tradition of cleaning and refreshing one's home is tied to nature's springtime renewal. In Western culture, spring cleaning is not only a time to air out the home, but a time to clean, scrub and dust every corner of the house in order to get rid of all the germs and other toxins that build up during the winter. Your ESL students may enjoy learning about/reviewing the various verbs associated with cleaning. Talking about their own personal habits, routines or secrets for keeping their homes clean can help increase engagement and even make the conversation fun! >>>

April Topic: Spring Allergies

  Get Your Students Talking about Allergies!

Read the article, Allergy Season 2015: Hate Spring?  

Download the Conversation Plus worksheet by ESL Made Easy here. 


(See suggested worksheet activities for a multi-level class in RELATED ESL LINKS)

April Topic: World Health Day

World Health Day, celebrated every year on April 7th, was created to raise awareness about key global health issues.  This year's theme is BEAT DIABETES and raising awareness on the causes and effects of this disease worldwide. As a global issue, your ESL students may find this to be an especially interesting topic that can generate some lively discussion!

Watch short video on Diabetes here.