See recommended links on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement here.
Featured Posts
Incorporate Authentic Material in Your Classroom
Using authentic material in your lessons can stimulate and capture the imaginations of your students. Original and native material such as newspapers, maps, brochures, menus and magazines are some ideas to bring real world language into the classroom.
Challenge Your Students with Task Based Lessons
Involving your students in real world tasks will help reinforce new skills and encourage the practical use of the language. Reading and comprehending a utility bill or a shopping receipt are some ways to motivate and enhance language learning.
Be a Guide on the Side, Not a Sage on the Stage
Student centred learning can go a long way in the classroom. Help stimulate student curiosity and encourage confidence by acting as a facilitator or guide and deliver lessons that reflect your interest in student experiences and learning skills.
Create an Enjoyable Learning Environment
Encouraging laughter and self-correction of mistakes in the classroom can help promote a positive learning environment that is safe and risk-free. Avoid criticism and judgement.
Remember the 80-20 Rule
Talking less and letting your students do 80% of it in class can reinforce speaking and listening skills in language learning. Encourage pair or group conversation after every lesson highlighting grammar points, new vocabulary and life/cultural experiences.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Black History Month
See recommended links on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement here.
Monday, December 1, 2025
December Themes and Topics
Be sure to take a peek at some of the suggested topics and themes for December here! The main theme of course will be the holiday season - decked out in colorful lights and cheery decorations! However, you may also want to discuss a bit about the history of December 25th and focus less on the commercial side of it. Depending on where you are, your students will most likely be surrounded by an abundance of holiday festivities, Christmas carols and red and green symbols in their community......so don't be afraid to get them all into the holiday spirit too - especially this year!
RECOMMENDED LINKS AROUND THE TOPIC CHRISTMAS FOR ESL STUDENTS:
ESL About: An easy reading on Christmas traditionsESL PDF: A vocabulary matching exercise on Christmas symbols (1)
ESL PDF: A vocabulary matching exercise on Christmas symbols (2)
ESL PDF: Intermediate vocabulary worksheet on Christmas words (1)
ESL PDF: Intermediate vocabulary worksheet on Christmas words (2)
Simple ESL: Easy Christmas word search puzzle
ESL-Galaxy: Christmas activities for beginners
Anglomaniacy: Christmas printable worksheets
Daily ESL: Christmas Day reading with listening
English Page: Christmas vocabulary fill in the blanks worksheet
Breaking News English: Christmas conversation and activity ideas
123 Listening: Christmas listening activities and follow up
EL Civics: A picture lesson with follow up activities about Christmas
BogglesWorld ESL: A collection of Christmas worksheets and activities
ESL-Lab: Reading: The Christmas Gift with listening and follow up activities
ITESLJ: Christmas conversation questions
Heads Up English: Conversation questions about Christmas
Many Things: The Origins of Christmas video
ESLFlow: Christmas activities and worksheets for all levels
ESOL Courses: A variety of online Christmas songs, lessons and activities
ESOL Courses: A variety of online quizzes and games on Christmas shopping
Teach-This: Christmas lessons and activities PDF
ESL Holiday Lessons: I Love Christmas Day reading and activities
ISL Collective: Over 600 Christmas exercise sheets: Donation site
Thursday, November 6, 2025
November 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!
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Teaching with Movies
Watching movies is one of the best ways to learn a new language. Not only can movies improve listening and comprehension skills, but they can help with vocabulary and pronunciation while keeping your ESL students entertained along the way!
Find recommended sites for teaching English with movies here!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
It's that special time of the year again when many Canadians celebrate THANKSGIVING (Oct 13) - 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 travelers, 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!
Friday, May 2, 2025
International Fatigue Syndrome Day
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!
RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS AROUND THE TOPIC OF SLEEP:
Conversation Questions:
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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!
RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS AROUND THE TOPIC OF EARTH DAY:
Bogglesworld ESL: A word building activity on the words Earth DayMy English Page: Reading comprehension activity on Earth Day
Earth Day: A reading on the history of the first Earth Day
History: Earth Day videos and articles
The Holiday Zone: Activities and worksheets on Earth Day
ESL Discussions: Discussion questions around the topic "Earth"
Ellii: Earth Day lesson plan with activities
ESL Holiday Lessons: Earth Day reading with follow up activities
Little Explorers: Quiz on Earth Day using first letters
English Exercises: Earth Day vocabulary activity
LHRIC: Earth Day fill in the blanks quiz
Teach-Nology: Earth Day worksheets and activities
ESL Flow: Environmental issues and problems lesson plans and worksheets
Breaking News English: Reading lessons around the topic of the environment
DLTK-Kids: Earth Day songs, poems and quotes
Friday, February 21, 2025
February is Black History Month
See recommended links on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement here.
Friday, January 17, 2025
Happy Lunar New Year!
RECOMMENDED ESL LINKS FOR TOPICS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR:
Enchanted Learning: The Chinese New Year vocabulary word list
Fact Monster: All about the Chinese zodiac
Youblisher: The Chinese New Year worksheets
Education World: The Chinese New Year reading with word bank
Chinese Parade: A reading on the lunar calendar
Chinese Parade: Chinese New Year traditions
ISL Collective: Chinese New Year worksheets and exercises
EC English: Reading and vocabulary lesson on the Chinese New Year
Elllo: Listening and comprehension questions on the Chinese New Year
Worksheets Plus: Reading and comprehension worksheets on the Chinese New Year
ESOL Courses: The Chinese zodiac signs and explanations
English Club: Chinese New Year reading and quick quiz online
Ellii: Chinese New Year lesson plans: membership site
British Council: Lunar New Year
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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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 travelers, 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!
October Suggested Topics and Themes
There is a lot to talk about in the month of October! It's Vegetarian Day on Oct 1st and a busy week next week with World Animal Day on Oct 4th, World Habitat Day on the 5th and World Egg Day on the 9th. But, the big topics this month will be Thanksgiving celebrated here in Canada and the U.K. on Monday, Oct 14th as well as Halloween on Oct 31st. Be sure to check out October ESL Planning Themes and
Topics here and follow ESL Made Easy for updated posts on recommended links to free ESL activities!















