Free Resources for Independent English Teachers
Our Help Getting Your Community Talking
This page is a list of FREE Resources for ELT independents.
We’re big believers in supporting our ELT community around the world.
Teachers can often benefit from different energy/expertise in our classrooms.
Our ELT strengths are around all things creative and getting groups talking!
We know our weaknesses too, and get guest experts in to teach workshops when our skills aren’t enough.
Our ESOL Teachers’ Hub is where you can find all the support we can give.
And help yourself to any of these class plans/sample English lessons
Help for Self Critical / Anxious Students
The Wonky English PDF
Download the Wonky English freebie now (no sign-up).
Find out what other English teachers Think about this Resource.
Help with 2nd Conditional
Lesson Plan | Practice Exercise on 2nd Conditional | Scottish Fishing
A Complete 2nd Conditional Lesson Plan using a hypothetical policy change. Complete with practice questions and answers.
Use it for:
Environmental Topics, Introducing/Practising the 2nd Conditional and English Cultural Immersion in Scotland.
English Practice Text and lesson | I Used to
Lesson Plan | I Used to versus I am Used to in English Learning
Free English Lesson Plan in the Second Conditional
- I use [something] to/for
- He is used to [something]
- I used to [do something]
Additional topics: Photography, Technology, Habits.
Cultural Immersion | Christmas Traditions
Lesson Plan | Christmas
A Christmas-themed English Lesson easily adapted across levels, including:
- Topics for discussion
- A funny video advert to watch in class
- Links to reading exercises
- A video homework exercise.
Museums & English for Creative Careers
Lesson Plan | Art Fund Museum of the Year
An ESL English Lesson Plan examining the Musem Fund Award, with links to good listening sources.
Additional topics: Art, Museum Design, Visual Culture, Accessibility & Inclusion.
Eurovision | European Culture
Lesson Plan | The Eurovision Song Contest
Love it or hate it, this English lesson plan on Eurovision includes a listening exercise and questions to answer.
Good to assign as homework!
Additional topics: UK Culture, UK & Europe Culture Comparison, Expressing Opinions.
Scottish Culture & Architecture
Lesson Plan | Old Churches
An English immersion Lesson Plan Portraying Scottish Culture through Architecture.
A favourite subject of ours as our own language school is housed in a former church!
Additional topics: Architecture, Restoration & Repurposing, Changing Religious Culture in the UK, and UK politics.
Study alone help
YouTube
Add video to your classroom with Blue Noun‘s YouTube Channel.
None are ‘lessons’ (there are plenty of those already!)
Instead, they are listening comprehension exercises, video speaking exercises and ‘English Moments‘ designed to get you talking.
English resources to your inbox
Our Newsletter Can Help Your Students
Our Talk of the Wee Town Newsletter is a bi-monthly slice of town life. It’s short and interesting, and it keeps learning English REAL.
Help Making GREAT Introductions
A Workshop | Introductions in English
A FREE Workshop in Making Introductions in English.
The lesson gives a new way of practising introductions. Students follow the workshop instructions and learn a whole new way of presenting themselves.
Cultural Immersion | COVID
ELT Teaching Resources | The Story of A Film
An ESOL English Lesson Resource about Creativity.
Additional topics: Business Ownership, Business Life, Independent Language School, COVID.
Reading Skills | Art & Creativity
ELT Teaching Resources | Artist Interview Fiona Jappy
An Artist Interview Written for ESOL English Learners.
Additional topics: WW2, Scottish Culture, Scottish Contemporary Art, UK Cultural Immersion and Remembrance Day.
Trigger warning: touches of themes of remembrance and WW2
Contemporary Art and Culture
ELT Teaching Resources | Delaine Le Bas | Halloween
An Exhibition Review for English Language Learners | Delaine Le Bas
Something for non-corporate and independent language schools and trainers!
Take an alternative look at UK Halloween culture with this resource to supplement an English class/self-study.
Additional topics: Romani culture, Witch Trials, Feminism, Contemporary Art, Cultural Identity, and UK Politics.
Artist Interview | Reading | Mental Health
ELT Teaching Resources | Designer Cherie Gilruth and The Abandoned Trolley Calendar
An ELT English for Design Resource | Cherie Gilruth
How designer Cherie Gilruth unites the community to gather mental health support.
Additional Topics: Mental Health Support, UK Cultural Immersion, Consumerism, Built Environment and Social Environment.
Design | Inspiration | Autobiography
ELT Teaching Resources | Holly Budge & How Many Elephants
ELT Lesson Resources | Holly Budge & How Many Elephants
The inspirational artist’s story of this world-changing designer will inspire your classroom/English lesson.
Additional topics: African Culture, Feminism, Black Culture, Black Panthers, Art and Design.
English Tips | Making Small Talk
ELT Teaching Resources | Small Talk
A humourous ELT support in Learning Small Talk in English.
This funny look at a linguistic convention will get your class talking!
Additional topics: English for Business, English for Professionals, Networking, UK cultural immersion.
African Culture | African ELT Resources
ELT Teaching Resources | World Female Ranger Week
Bring Contemporary African Culture into your English Classroom.
How African women are fighting wildlife poaching.
Additional Topics: Feminism, Problem Solving, Environment and Biodiversity, Climate Action and Social Action.
Learners' Mindset | Classrooms
Why Add Live Plants to a Teaching Space
We are often asked to describe a Typical Day at our Independent Language School.
This account looks at how being with live plants helps one English learner to feel comfortable using English.
Oh my, so many language schools put plastic plants into teaching spaces.
This blog is about what LIVE plants communicate to students.
Discussion Topic | Language Learning
Can Essential Oils Boost Language Learning?
They are not the whole story, but if you can add essential oils to a teaching space and improve memory by even 1%, they are worth it!
I reached out to the Oily Witch, Claire Ottewell, to ask her for Recommendations on Essential Oils for Language Learning.
This blog is her best advice, which I’m passing straight on to you.
Additional Topics: Alternative Medicine, Sensory Learning, Holistic Language Learning, Independent Language School and Alternative Classrooms.
Assessing language progress
Goal Setting for English Course | Why Draw Fish
An Alternative to Traditional Language Course Goal Setting
It’s an unholy hybrid of fishkeeping, Minecraft, visualization, and ‘can-do’ assessments.
However, it works.
Course-takers self-assess and clearly express what needs to be prioritized in their learning.
This is a practical goal-setting exercise for an English course – if you use it please do give us credit!
Additional topics: Mindset, Creativity, Non-traditional Language School.
