English Language Learners (ELL)

Description of ELL Levels | Teaching Tips for the ELL Levels | Great ELL Websites | Translation Websites

Activities: K-2 | 3-5 | 6-8 | 9-12

Description of ELL Levels
In the spring of 2003, our district had a workshop where we went over the levels of English proficiency. Below are the Minnesota Department of Education’s general descriptions of ELL levels as stated in the English Language Proficiency Standards:

Beginning: Beginners range from having no English to demonstrating a minimal understanding and use of English. Their comprehension is limited to simple language containing mostly high frequency vocabulary and simple grammatical patterns. These learners derive a great deal all of meaning from the context and nonverbal cues that accompany any English input, and benefit from repetition, rephrasing, and a slower rate of speech. They can express basic personal needs, and tend to communicate about very familiar topics based on personal experience. Errors are frequent, expected, and characteristic of language production at this stage.

Intermediate: Intermediate level learners can comprehend short conversations and simple written narratives in familiar contexts. A limited vocabulary range necessitates frequent repetition and rephrasing for these learners’ understanding; they frequently use contextual and visual cues to derive meaning and also rely on guessing. Their production is characterized by simple, common vocabulary and verb tenses, and simple syntax. Many errors occur, some of which interfere with meaning.

Advanced: Advanced level learners can understand much of the speech delivered in authentic settings with some repetition or rephrasing. Understanding grammatically complex structures proves problematic, but, with support, these learners are able to access some academic context. Their productive vocabulary, with some circumlocutions, is adequate to accomplish many tasks. They can produce many of the basic and most frequently used grammatical structures, but their errors may become more abundant as they venture into less familiar topics and as they test hypotheses or take risks with more complex language structures.

Transitional: Transitional learners still benefit from ELL support, but they understand most standard speech and writing. These learners are approaching fluency in speaking and writing in the content areas. They demonstrate an increasing ability to successfully use language to convey their intended message.

Teaching Tips for the ELL Levels

Beginning

Intermediate

Repetition

Rephrasing

Listening Activities

Understand through the use of physical actions and objects

Model grammar through speech

Communicate through drawing and sketches

Develop conversation skills

Let them make guesses

Give simple reading and writing assignments

Use visual cues

Instead of correcting errors, model how to state it correctly

Focus on phonics and word attack skills

Develop vocabulary

Work on handwriting

Ask questions that allow simple responses

Continue to develop conversation skills

Advanced

Transitional

Give reading and writing lessons

Focus on study skills

Develop vocabulary

Paragraph writing

Develop grammar skills

Allow them to take risks

Ask more in-depth questions that allow for longer responses

Continue to develop conversation skills

Lessons should be similar to those of native speakers

Give more time for lessons

Ask 'why' questions

Encourage discussion on topics of discussion

Great ELL Web sites

Activities for ESL Students

Caroline's ESL Web Site

Dave’s ESL Café

EFL Games

EFL/ESL Lessons and Lesson Plans

English Club.com

EnlishLearner.com

ESL Resource Center

Fake Out-a great activity for vocabulary development

Games and Activities for the English as a Second Language Classroom

HOUSTON'S RANDOM ESL IDEA GENERATOR!

Interesting Things for ESL Students

John’s ESL Community

Karin's ESL PartyLand Teachers

Literacy Resources for Learners of English as a Second Language (ESL/EFL)

Taiwan Teacher

The EFL Playhouse

The Internet TESL Journal

Here are some great translation Web sites

FreeTranslation.com

AltaVista Translation Services

Paralink

K-2 Activities

Title:	Concentration
Resource:
Topic(s):	Grammar Phonics Vocabulary Development
Description:	Use words that the students have been working with to play concentration. Grammar – Use the game to work on synonyms and antonyms. Phonics – Have words with similar sounds and students tell the letters that make that wound. Vocabulary Development – Have a word on one card and the definition on the other card.

Title:	Open Door Slowly
Resource:	Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from more info
Topic(s):	Grammar
Description:	This is an activity that focuses on adverbs. The students act it out in front of the class. It is a great activity that gets students moving. Check out the website for more details.

Title:	Scrambled Sentences
Resource:
Topic(s):	Grammar
Description:	Write the words of a sentence on cards. Give each student in the group a card. Have them work together to make it into a sentence. Remind the students how a sentence begins and ends. The students can then work on reading the sentences aloud.

Title:	Spin Zone
Resource:	Dunaway, A. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Games and activities for the English as a second language classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Description:	Check out this activity for a Fun Friday. It is a game that uses a top to see how many sentences they can form while the top is spinning.

Title:	Which Side of the River?
Resource:
Topic(s):	Grammar
Description:	Place a jump rope or a long rope on the floor (tape would also work)Pretend that the rope is a river. Make one side of the river a period side and the other a question side. Have the student begin by standing in the river (on the rope). Say a sentence or question and students then have to decide which side of the river they want to be on. After all of the students have chosen, give them a chance to change their answer. Give them the correct answer. Repeat as many times as you wish.

Title:	Big Thom's Re-reported Rap
Resource:	Kreutzer, T.M. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Description:	This is good activity for working on past tense verbs and being clear on the “who” part in a sentence. It is a short activity that can be done to begin a class and get them warmed up. Check out the website for the details.

Title:	Martian
Resource:	Mattson, C. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Games and activities for the English as a second language classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here.
Topic(s):	Oral Skills Vocabulary Development
Description:	This activity focuses on getting students to explain what real life objects are and what they are used for. It is one that you can start off with easy concepts or objects and work towards more challenging objects. Check out the website to find out the details.

Title:	Book Cover
Resource:	English Club (2003). ESL lesson plans [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here.
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Description:	Use this activity with any story you are doing in your class. All students would like this to display their knowledge of the story. Click on the website to find out more.

Title:	A Favorite Spelling Game
Resource:	Anne (submitted by) Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version] Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Spelling
Description:	When you need a spelling game for today that is not a lot of prep work. This is the one to have in your back pocket. Check it out!

Title:	Busy Bee Spelling Bee
Resource:	Bontenot, K. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Spelling
Description:	Another spelling game that is a lot of fun. It gets the students moving and can be used with any list, in a small group or large class. Enjoy!

Title:	I SPY
Resource:
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Description:	Play the children’s game I Spy to help students with classroom vocabulary words and to help with the learning of nouns associated with school.

Title:	I SPY
Resource:
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Description:	Play the children’s game I Spy to help students with classroom vocabulary words and to help with the learning of nouns associated with school.

Title:	Way Better than word searches
Resource:	Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Description:	If you are short on time, but want an activity similar to a word find, this is an activity you will want to check out. It would be great for any subject.

3-5 Activities Click on the link in the resources box to get to the website with all of the details for each lesson.

Title:	Any game for reading
Resource:	Lee, S. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Following Directions Reading Comprehension
Description:	This is a great activity to use all board games you already have. The only prep is to have the games and the directions.

Title:	14 Visual Lesson Plans that Exploit Cartoons
Resource:	Canning, C. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Description:	These are lessons that use comics to help teach grammar. They look like a fun way to get students motivated to work on grammar. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Concentration
Resource:	Canning, C. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar Phonics Vocabulary Development
Description:	Use words that the students have been working with to play concentration. Grammar – Use the game to work on synonyms and antonyms. Phonics – Have words with similar sounds and students tell the letters that make that wound. Vocabulary Development – Have a word on one card and the definition on the other card.

Title:	Go Fish!
Resource:	Davis, A. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	This is a variation on the game "Go Fish" is to teach/review the grammar point "Have you/Have you ever~?" It would be fun to do in a small group of students.

Title:	Nazo’s Running Dictation
Resource:	Ozcynar, N. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar Oral Skills Writing
Brief Overview:	Here is a really good activity to get students moving while working on writing sentences that make a story. You can use any stories that you use in your classroom to do this activity. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Open the Door Slowly
Resource:	Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	This is an activity that focuses on adverbs. The students act it out in front of the class. It is a great activity that gets students moving. Check out the website for more details.

Title:	Prepositions Game
Resource:	Ashoo L. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Games and activities for the English as a second language classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	Use this game with any text that you already use. It makes it a game that is easy to prepare for with students.

Title:	Scrambled Sentences
Resource:
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	Write the words of a sentence on cards. Give each student in the group a card. Have them work together to make it into a sentence. Remind the students how a sentence begins and ends. The students can then work on reading the sentences aloud.

Title:	Spin Zone
Resource:	Dunaway, A. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Games and activities for the English as a second language classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	Check out this activity for a Fun Friday. It is a game that uses a top to see how many sentences they can form while the top is spinning.

Title:	Tag Question/Short Answer Flyswatter Game
Resource:	Shepard, H. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a really fun activity to use on a Friday or for a review day. Middle school teachers say that the students love all of the physical movement this activity requires. It is easily adaptable to what you are already doing in the classroom. Check out the detailed directions on the website.

Title:	Terri’s Wicked Grammar Competition
Resource:	Terri (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	This is a great game to play with your DOL sentences!!!!! Check out the directions on the website.

Title:	Verb Races
Resource:	Sarah. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	This is a great way to review those verb conjugations. It gets loud so you may want to save it for a Friday. Check out the website for all of the details.

Title:	Adjective – Noun Game
Resource:	Greene, S. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Adjective-noun game[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a game that uses alliteration to work on adjective –noun combinations. It takes very little prep and appears to be a lot of fun to do with a large group or small group. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom
Resource:	The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Conversation questions for the esl/efl classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This website is full of conversation questions which are wonderful to help individual ELL students engage in conversation. Conversation helps work on various grammar skills. You can also use the conversations as a prewriting activity. Just click on Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom at the bottom of the web page to get to the question lists.

Title:	Martian
Resource:	Mattson, C. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Games and activities for the English as a second language classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from http://iteslj.org/c/games.html
Topic(s):	Oral Skills Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This activity focuses on getting students to explain what real life objects are and what they are used for. It is one that you can start off with easy concepts or objects and work towards more challenging objects. Check out the website to find out the details.

Title:	Question Tags
Resource:	English Club.com (2003). Question tags [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills Writing
Brief Overview:	This website has a list of 20 statements that can be used to help generate questions tags. Have students use this activity to work on question writing/speaking.

Title:	Talking Cards
Resource:	Brown, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Talking cards [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful activity to get students working on conversation and answering questions. The directions are all on the website and all you need is two packs of playing cards and the directions of the website. A great first day of class activity for everyone.

Title:	UNO with a Twist!
Resource:	Carmen. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	In this activity the students use a deck of UNO cards (or regular playing cards) to help ask questions. The details are on the website.

Title:	Using Posters in Content Courses
Resource:	Furmanovsky, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Using posters in content courses[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills Reading Comprehension Writing Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful activity to use for a research project. It uses cooperative group roles to do research and make content posters, which are presented in front of a large group. There is a very detailed description of this activity on the website that would be wonderful to check out.

Title:	Book Cover
Resource:	English Club (2003). ESL lesson plans [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	Use this activity with any story you are doing in your class. All students would like this to display their knowledge of the story. Click on the website to find out more.

Title:	Nazo’s Pre-Reading Activities
Resource:	Ozcinar, N. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	These are a series of pre-reading activities that can be used with any type of reading. They are not a lot of prep work. Check out the website for all of the details.

Title:	A Favorite Spelling Game!
Resource:	Anne (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Spelling
Brief Overview:	When you need a spelling game for today that is not a lot of prep work. This is the one to have in your back pocket. Check it out!

Title:	Team Hangman
Resource:	McLaughlin, D (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Spelling
Brief Overview:	If your class loves Hangman, they would enjoy this spin-off.

Title:	Emotions
Resource:	John’s ESL Community (2003). Teacher Resources [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 14, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful unit on emotions to use with your students. The website has printable worksheets to use in your classroom to help students understand emotion vocabulary.

Title:	Way Better than Word searches
Resource:	Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	If you are short on time, but want an activity similar to a word find, this is an activity you will want to check out. It would be great for any subject.

Title:	An Interesting Approach to Writing Introduction Paragraphs
Resource:	Bologna, D. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). An interesting approach to writing introduction paragraphs [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Writing
Brief Overview:	This gives a very detailed lesson on how to help ELL students write an introduction paragraph.

Title:	Pizzaz!… Persona-Poems
Resource:	White, J. and Opp-Beckman, L. (submitted by). University of Oregon (2002). Pizzaz!… persona-poems [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Writing
Brief Overview:	This is an activity that uses a structured biographical 8-line poem and collage project. It is very detailed and a great activity to do at the beginning of the year to get to know each other. Check out the web site with a detailed lesson.

6-8 Activities Click on the link in the resources box to get to the website with all of the details for each lesson.

Title:	Any Game for Reading
Resource:	Lee, S. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Following Directions Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	This is a great activity to use all board games you already have. The only prep is to have the games and the directions.

Title:	14 Visual Lesson Plans that Exploit Cartoons
Resource:	Canning, C. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	These are lessons that use comics to help teach grammar. They look like a fun way to get students motivated to work on grammar. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Go Fish!
Resource:	Davis, A. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	This is a variation on the game "Go Fish" is to teach/review the grammar point "Have you/Have you ever~?" It would be fun to do in a small group of students.

Title:	Nazo’s Running Dictation
Resource:	Ozcynar, N. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar Oral Skills Writing
Brief Overview:	Here is a really good activity to get students moving while working on writing sentences that make a story. You can use any stories that you use in your classroom to do this activity. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Open the Door Slowly
Resource:	Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	This is an activity that focuses on adverbs. The students act it out in front of the class. It is a great activity that gets students moving. Check out the website for more details.

Title:	Prepositions Game
Resource:	Ashoo L. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Games and activities for the English as a second language classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	Use this game with any text that you already use. It makes it a game that is easy to prepare for with students.

Title:	Tag Question/Short Answer Flyswatter Game
Resource:	Shepard, H. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a really fun activity to use on a Friday or for a review day. Middle school teachers say that the students love all of the physical movement this activity requires. It is easily adaptable to what you are already doing in the classroom. Check out the detailed directions on the website.

Title:	Terri’s Wicked Grammar Competition
Resource:	Terri (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	This is a great game to play with your DOL sentences!!!!! Check out the directions on the website.

Title:	Adjective – Noun Game
Resource:	Greene, S. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Adjective-noun game[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a game that uses alliteration to work on adjective –noun combinations. It takes very little prep and appears to be a lot of fun to do with a large group or small group. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom
Resource:	The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Conversation questions for the esl/efl classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This website is full of conversation questions which are wonderful to help individual ELL students engage in conversation. Conversation helps work on various grammar skills. You can also use the conversations as a prewriting activity. Just click on Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom at the bottom of the web page to get to the question lists.

Title:	Improvisations
Resource:	English Club (2003). Improvisations [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a lesson that has a huge list of pair and group improvisations to do with students.

Title:	Preparing EFL Learners for Oral Presentations
Resource:	King, J. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Preparing efl learners for oral presentations[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This website is packed with great ideas to help students with oral presentations. Use it as a resource for any oral presentations you are doing in your class with ELL students.

Title:	Talking Cards
Resource:	Brown, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Talking cards [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful activity to get students working on conversation and answering questions. The directions are all on the website and all you need is two packs of playing cards and the directions of the website. A great first day of class activity for everyone.

Title:	UNO with a Twist!
Resource:	Carmen. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	In this activity the students use a deck of UNO cards (or regular playing cards) to help ask questions. The details are on the website.

Title:	Using Posters in Content Courses
Resource:	Furmanovsky, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Using posters in content courses[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills Reading Comprehension Writing Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful activity to use for a research project. It uses cooperative group roles to do research and make content posters, which are presented in front of a large group. There is a very detailed description of this activity on the website that would be wonderful to check out.

Title:	A Fun Reading Comprehension Activity
Resource:	Akgun, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). A fun reading comprehension activity[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	This is an activity that you can use with any text that you are using in your classroom. It has strategies that will help you ELL learners (and maybe other students too!) Check out the website for the details of the lesson.

Title:	Book Cover
Resource:	English Club (2003). ESL lesson plans [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	Use this activity with any story you are doing in your class. All students would like this to display their knowledge of the story. Click on the website to find out more.

Title:	Nazo’s Pre-Reading Activities
Resource:	Ozcinar, N. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	These are a series of pre-reading activities that can be used with any type of reading. They are not a lot of prep work. Check out the website for all of the details.

Title:	Team Hangman
Resource:	McLaughlin, D (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Spelling
Brief Overview:	If your class loves Hangman, they would enjoy this spin-off.

Title:	Emotions
Resource:	John’s ESL Community (2003). Teacher Resources [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 14, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful unit on emotions to use with your students. The website has printable worksheets to use in your classroom to help students understand emotion vocabulary.

Title:	Introducing Euphemisms to Language Learners
Resource:	Alkire, S. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Introducing euphemisms to language learners [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful lesson on euphemisms. It really helps students develop an understanding of what euphemisms mean and how they are used. Check out the website for the details of the lesson.

Title:	Way Better than Word searches
Resource:	Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	If you are short on time, but want an activity similar to a word find, this is an activity you will want to check out. It would be great for any subject.

Title:	An Interesting Approach to Writing Introduction Paragraphs
Resource:	Bologna, D. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). An interesting approach to writing introduction paragraphs [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Writing
Brief Overview:	This gives a very detailed lesson on how to help ELL students write an introduction paragraph.

Title:	Pizzaz!… Personal-Poems
Resource:	White, J. and Opp-Beckman, L. (submitted by). University of Oregon (2002). Pizzaz!… persona-poems [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Writing
Brief Overview:	This is an activity that uses a structured biographical 8-line poem and collage project. It is very detailed and a great activity to do at the beginning of the year to get to know each other. Check out the web site with a detailed lesson.

9-12 Activities Click on the link in the resources box to get to the website with all of the details for each lesson.

Title:	14 Visual Lesson Plans that Exploit Cartoons
Resource:	Canning, C. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar
Brief Overview:	These are lessons that use comics to help teach grammar. They look like a fun way to get students motivated to work on grammar. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Nazo’s Running Dictation
Resource:	Ozcynar, N. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar Oral Skills Writing
Brief Overview:	Here is a really good activity to get students moving while working on writing sentences that make a story. You can use any stories that you use in your classroom to do this activity. Check out the website for complete directions.

Title:	Tag Question/Short Answer Flyswatter Game
Resource:	Shepard, H. (submitted by). Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Grammar Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a really fun activity to use on a Friday or for a review day. Middle school teachers say that the students love all of the physical movement this activity requires. It is easily adaptable to what you are already doing in the classroom. Check out the detailed directions on the website.

Title:	Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom
Resource:	The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Conversation questions for the esl/efl classroom [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This website is full of conversation questions which are wonderful to help individual ELL students engage in conversation. Conversation helps work on various grammar skills. You can also use the conversations as a prewriting activity. Just click on Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom at the bottom of the web page to get to the question lists.

Title:	Improvisations
Resource:	English Club (2003). Improvisations [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a lesson that has a huge list of pair and group improvisations to do with students.

Title:	Preparing EFL Learners for Oral Presentations
Resource:	King, J. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Preparing efl learners for oral presentations[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This website is packed with great ideas to help students with oral presentations. Use it as a resource for any oral presentations you are doing in your class with ELL students.

Title:	Talking Cards
Resource:	Brown, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Talking cards [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful activity to get students working on conversation and answering questions. The directions are all on the website and all you need is two packs of playing cards and the directions of the website. A great first day of class activity for everyone.

Title:	Ten Conversation Lessons with Stories, Vocabulary Practice, Questions and Activities
Resource:	Sharifian, F. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Ten conversation lessons with stories, vocabulary practice, questions and activities[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills Reading Comprehension Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	These are lessons that deal with situations that may happen in real life. They focus on the use of multiple meaning words and comprehending them in text. These activities will also stimulate class discussions about various situations. Check out the website for the detailed lesson. They can be printed out and used right in class.

Title:	Using Posters in Content Courses
Resource:	Furmanovsky, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Using posters in content courses[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Oral Skills Reading Comprehension Writing Skills
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful activity to use for a research project. It uses cooperative group roles to do research and make content posters, which are presented in front of a large group. There is a very detailed description of this activity on the website that would be wonderful to check out.

Title:	A Fun Reading Comprehension Activity
Resource:	Akgun, M. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). A fun reading comprehension activity[Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	This is an activity that you can use with any text that you are using in your classroom. It has strategies that will help you ELL learners (and maybe other students too!) Check out the website for the details of the lesson.

Title:	Book Cover
Resource:	English Club (2003). ESL lesson plans [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	Use this activity with any story you are doing in your class. All students would like this to display their knowledge of the story. Click on the website to find out more.

Title:	Teaching the English Newspaper Effectively
Resource:	Kitao, K. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Teaching the English newspaper effectively [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Reading Comprehension
Brief Overview:	This is a series of lessons teaching students how to understand the conventions of the newspaper and newspaper articles. It has a review exercise that can be used with any newspaper.

Title:	Emotions
Resource:	John’s ESL Community (2003). Teacher Resources [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 14, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful unit on emotions to use with your students. The website has printable worksheets to use in your classroom to help students understand emotion vocabulary.

Title:	Introducing Euphemisms to Language Learners
Resource:	Alkire, S. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). Introducing euphemisms to language learners [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	This is a wonderful lesson on euphemisms. It really helps students develop an understanding of what euphemisms mean and how they are used. Check out the website for the details of the lesson.

Title:	Way Better than Word searches
Resource:	Dave’s ESL Café (2003). Dave’s ESL café idea cookbook [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Vocabulary Development
Brief Overview:	If you are short on time, but want an activity similar to a word find, this is an activity you will want to check out. It would be great for any subject.

Title:	An Interesting Approach to Writing Introduction Paragraphs
Resource:	Bologna, D. (submitted by). The Internet TESL Journal (2003). An interesting approach to writing introduction paragraphs [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Writing
Brief Overview:	This gives a very detailed lesson on how to help ELL students write an introduction paragraph.

Title:	Pizzaz!… Persona-Poems
Resource:	White, J. and Opp-Beckman, L. (submitted by). University of Oregon (2002). Pizzaz!… persona-poems [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 25, 2003 from click here
Topic(s):	Writing
Brief Overview:	This is an activity that uses a structured biographical 8-line poem and collage project. It is very detailed and a great activity to do at the beginning of the year to get to know each other. Check out the web site with a detailed lesson.