Quick PowerPoint lessons for ESOL / ESL/ IELTS - Quick Questions

Here's the first in a series of quick activities you can show on you IAWB or projector as part of a warm up, cool down or just a filler.

Can't be bothered to read the post download the lesson here.

Quick Questions

This is a pre intermediate - intermediate lesson and involves students answering questions as quick as they can. It should take about twenty minutes depending on the level of feedback and discussion after the main task.

1. ask students to write the numbers 1-30 (or less if you don't want to use all the slides). They are going to try and answer the questions they see on the screen as fast as they can.

2. Now run this powerpoint. Click the screen for the next question to appear. Allow students just enough time to read the question and write a brief answer.

3. When you've finished all the questions ask students to feedback their answers either to each other in pairs or groups or the whole class (I guess this depends on your class size).



Click here to download the 'Quick Questions' PowerPoint

Further ideas

This lesson works brilliantly in a computer room with all the students linked up to the same chat room and the questions either shown on interactive whiteboard or even just read out aloud- students can instantly see each other's answers and there's a great buzz as everyone fights to write what they want to say.

I originally designed this lesson for use with Nintendo DS machines as part of a Molenet project. By using the chatroom function, each student armed with their own Nintendo DS can read the questions and write in their answer. What they have written is instantly visible to the other students and the results were hilarious and genuine fun for the learners. For more on using the DS for teaching, check out my blog here. You can also visit the Molenet website where they have loads of ideas for students using mobile technology.

For more great powerpoint lessons go to http://www.englishlanguagespacestation.com/complete_PowerPoint_Lessons.htm

Using Google Maps for ESOL / ESL / IELTS

If you're ever in need of directions or need to know where the nearest pizza shop is, then you don't need to look further than Google Maps. It's a map of the entire world which can be viewed either as a traditional road map, a satellite snapshot or a hybrid of the two. There is also the new streetview which lets you zoom right into the street for a close up view of what it looks like at ground level.  Not only that but it's a great resource for ESOL / ESL/ IELTS students at whatever level.



 

I used this with a group of Pre- Intermediate learners (B1 / Entry 3) in a room where students had access to a computer each. There was also an Interactive Whiteboard that I used to display examples and Google Maps.

1. Ask students these questions and spark up genuine conversation with them about where they live and the area they live in. There might be some really bad (or good) areas around where you live which you could discuss as a group : 'Where do you live?' 'Where's that near? 'Is it a good area?' ' 'Do you like living there?

2.   Show google maps and the functionality on the whiteboard. Explain how students can use the search box to find streets, the zoom features, the buttons at the top to switch between satelitte and map. Ask someone to offer their street and then find it using the search box. Zoom in on where they live if they are happy with this.

3. Pass out the work sheet and have students search through google maps to find the answers - some of the answers they might need to look on the map for. My worksheet is only a suggestion, you might like to change it with places of interest in your country and area.

Street Name	Town	Postcode	Extra Question:
Tiger Lane.			What’s the name of the big park near here?
Gawber Road.			What’s opposite this road?
Jack Straw’s Lane			Which streets come off this?
Downing Street	London		Who lives in this street?
Daisy Street	Glasgow

Click here for the full worksheet

http://chrisspeck.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/maps-on-the-internet-e3.doc

4. Encourage students to help each other and discuss anything of interest they have found. Don't leave them alone to do - this might allow them chance to catch up on their email - worse, it might make them think you don't care what they're doing. Circulate round the room look at what they are doing, offering advise or help.

5. When students have finished, make sure they turn off their computer screens so they listen to you and each other, before running through the answers together.

For more on this and other lessons visit http://s132633050.websitehome.co.uk/Computer%20lessons.htm

How to make a song/poem cloze test for ESOL ESL or ESL students

1. find a song on youtube.com that your students might like


2. to get the lyrics, write the name of the song lyrics into google.com


3. Now you have the lyrics, copy and paste them into word. Make the font bigger and change it so it’s easy to read.


4. Now delete some words that are easy to hear and easy to spell, replace them with a line ______


5. Now delete some more difficult words that are still easy to hear. You should aim for about 15 depending on the song.


6. Now you have them all, add numbers to the lines ___1___ ____2____ etc.

Example #1 - Amazing Grace - Traditional Song (answers at bottom) - This isn't a great video



Amazing Grace, how sweet the ___1___
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am ___2___,
Was blind, but now I see.

It was Grace that ___3___my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first ____4___.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have ___5____ come;
It is Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me ___6___.

The Lord has ____7____ good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as ____8___endures.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a __ 9_____like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was___10___, but now I see.

Example #2 - Stop all the Clocks - W.H. Auden (answers at bottom)



Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy ___1___,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners ___2___.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is ___3___,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton ___4___.

He was my North, my South, my East and ___5___,
My working week and my Sunday ___6___,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my ___7___;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was ___8____.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every ___9____;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the __10__;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the __11__.
For nothing now can ever come to any __12__.

Amazing Grace

1. sound 2. found 3. taught 4. believed 5. already 6. home 7. promised 8. life  9. wretch 10. blind

 Stop all the clocks

1.  bone 2. come 3. dead 4. gloves 5. west 6. rest 7. song 8. wrong 9. one 10. son 11. would 12. good

 

Homework on the Internet for ESOL EFL and ESL students - Part 1 - Watching Films

Provided students have their own computer and the internet or access to one (via a library, internet cafe or study centre), homework set online can be great fun. Watching short films gives them access to language that they can use for loads of diferent activities.

What to watch? Where to watch it?

Youtube.com has endless things to watch and depending what topic or grammar you have covered there is always something you can direct students to.  I've made a quick list of some topics and films below, but a quick search will usually uncover something interesting for your students.

Topic or Grammar Area	Video and link
Restaurants	Mr Bean in the restaurant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jquWO-0VkII
Health	http://www.videojug.com/tag/health-and-wellbeing learn how to be healthy
Prepositions	Weird explanation http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6e9n5_english-grammar-prepositions-time
Cooking	Learn to cook something - http://www.videojug.com/tag/food-and-drink
History	www.history.com loads of films here

 Mr Bean is great for lower level students.

Monty Python is better for high level students L1/L2 or B1+

 Activities to do whilst/after watching

 1. Watch for general meaning. - ask students simply to watch the video so they can talk about it in the next class. This works best with something that will generate discussion. If its a comedy, ask students why it was or wasn't funny.

2. Watch for detail. Make a comprehension students can answer while they watch. It doesn't have to be too detailed.

3. Watch and learn. This works well with www.videojug.com . Ask students to learn how to cook something and explain it to other class members.

4. Watch and review. Ask students to point out things they liked or didn't like about a short film or sketch. You could even make a checklist to organise their ideas. e.g. What did you think of the actors? etc.

5. Watch and compare. Students watch two clips and decide which one is best and why.

6. Watching music videos.  See my other blog about this.

Great Video Websites

www.google.com - click on the 'video' link at the top to search through loads of vids.

www.youtube.com

www.videojug.com - Great educational site

http://www.dailymotion.com/us - funny stuff

www.history.com - history television shows and clips (short ads play first)