May Topic: 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!

FIND RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR YOUR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

May: Teaching Themes and Topics

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!

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 that might give your students plenty to talk about are World Press Freedom Day, International Nurses Day, Purple for Peace Day, Victoria Day (Canada), Memorial Day (U.S.A) and International Amnesty Day held on May 28th.


 



            

April Topic: 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). 

FIND RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR YOUR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

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.

FIND RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR YOUR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

April Topic: International Pink Day

 

 

WARM-UP QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF BULLYING:

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word bullying?

2. What are some types of bullying among children? adults? seniors?

3. Is the issue of bullying a concern in your home country? If so, what have been some programs and services for the prevention of bullying?

4. Why do some people bully each other?

5. What effects can bullying have on someone?



RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR YOUR ESL STUDENTS

ESL Holiday Lessons: Lesson plan on Anti-Bullying Day
Listen A Minute: Reading and activities on bullying
ESL Discussion: Conversation questions on the topic of bullying
Kids Are Worth It: Bully Handout PDF
Kids Are Worth It: Tips of Cyberbullying
Stop A Bully: Canadian Bullying Statistics
Breaking News English: Bullied Kids Risk of Mental Health Problems Higher
British Council Learn English: Reading activity on bullying
Film-English: Short video with follow up activities on the topic of bullying
EFL Lecturer: Online Cyber Bullying lesson and activities
Breaking News English: Lady Gaga Launches Anti-Bullying Foundation
Absolute English: A lesson plan on Cyber Bullying PDF
ISL Collective: 34 worksheets on the topic of bullying  donation site
Heads Up English: Mini lesson on bullying PDF
YouTube: The story of Pink Shirt Day in Canada

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!

FIND RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR YOUR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

April: Teaching Topics and Themes for Your ESL Students!

It's April and for many of those living in the North, it means warmers temperatures and spring birds and flowers! Get your students starting the month off with a joke or two on April 1st as it's April Fool's Day across the globe.  There's plenty of spring topics to keep your students busy starting with spring cleaning, spring allergies, spring flowers and spring weather. Get them busy learning more about International Pink Day on April 13th and World Earth Day on April 22nd, too!

Find more ideas on teaching topics this month here!

Happy Easter!

There's plenty of Easter vocabulary and traditions for your ESL students to learn about this week - starting with Good Friday on Friday, March 25th and Easter Sunday on March 27th. Have your students learn more about this religious celebration as well as the commercial side of Easter including the Easter bunny, chocolate goodies and the joys of Easter egg hunting!

Find recommended links for your ESL students here!

March Topic: Spring!

The Spring Equinox has arrived (March 20/21st) to those living in the Northern Hemisphere and with it comes the joys of warmer weather (we hope!), chirping birds and colorful spring flowers! Make this a time to teach or review spring season vocabulary words and phrases with your ESL students!

WARM-UP CONVERSATION QUESTIONS AROUND THE TOPIC OF SEASONS BY ESL MADE EASY:

1. Does your home country recognize the spring/autumn equinox at this time of the year? Describe the changes.
2. What is your favourite season? Why? Has your preference changed over the years?
3. Do you think people are affected emotionally, mentally, or physically with the early signs of spring? Explain.

4. What are some things in people's lives that change       

according to seasons?

Find recommended links for your ESL students here!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

March 17th is St. Patrick's Day so get ready to get your green on! For those with an Irish background, it can be both a religious and cultural celebration full of festive parties, parades and food. Get your ESL students to learn more about the history, customs and traditions of St. Patrick's Day as it marks the feast day of the Apostle of Ireland, St. Patrick and the rich Irish culture too.

FIND RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR YOUR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

March Topic: Plumbing in our Lives!

March 11th is World Plumbing Day! If you take some time to explore the importance of plumbing and the impact this industry has had around the word, I think you might be amazed at what a great teaching topic it can be for the ESL classroom!

 

 

 

WARM-UP CONVERSATION QUESTIONS AROUND THE TOPIC OF PLUMBING by ESL Made Easy:

1. Name some different types of plumbing systems you might find in a typical home of a developed country. How do these systems compare to those found in your home country?

2. Do you think people take plumbing for granted? Explain.

3. What are some of the health consequences of inadequate plumbing? What about where plumbing is completely non-existent?

4. In what ways has plumbing systems changed over the years? Have these changes affected the way we use water?

 

FIND RECOMMENDED TOPICS FOR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

Celebrating International Women's Day!

International Women's Day  is March 8th! This year's theme, Pledge for Parity, encourages pledging towards women and girls worldwide to help them achieve their ambitions and to lessen the gap between gender inequality. Various events and traditions will be taking place to honour and celebrate women's rights and achievements worldwide. Take the time to explore this global event with your ESL students and get them talking about the progress made, as well as the struggles that many women still face today.

See YouTube video - International Women's Day 2016
 

Find recommended links for your ESL students here!