Meeting people

Lesson plans and other resources for your online beginners’ classes (CLB 1-4).

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THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST

Week of Aug. 10/26

This lesson plan offers engaging activities for your first day of class, focusing on classroom rules, introductions, and cultural exchanges.

The plan includes lesson objectives, warm-up exercises, two short videos, and a range of…

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by ESL Directions

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Making small talk

Lesson plans

Topics for small talk

Learn about good topics for small talk in Canada.

Making small talk about the weather

Learn strategies for making small talk about the weather.

Resources

Links to helpful external resources …

Learn2Teach: Small talk (Vocabulary and practice exercises.)
Learn English by Pocket Passport: Small talk/Beginner English (Short video with tips on good topics for small talk.)
LearnHip: Conversation cards (Scroll to “Getting to know each other”)
TCDSB Adult Education Youtube Channel:
- Neighbourhood videos (A series of videos for CLB 1-4 students on topics such as “Where do you live?,” “Welcoming someone to the neighbourhood,” “Making conversation,” “Asking for directions,” and more.)
- Small talk about the weather, 3 examples (Video.)
The TESL Internet Journal Archives conversation questions: Getting to know each other

Greetings

Lesson plans

Saying “hello”

Learn ways to say “hello” in English.

Resources

Links to helpful external resources …

CCLB CNCLC: Greetings and Introductions Module (Greetings and Introductions full module package of classroom materials. Includes audio files. This resource is on Tutela, a free resource-sharing site for ESL teachers. You do need to create an account to access the site.)
English Central: How’s it going? (Video with comprehension and speaking activities.)
Learning Chocolate:
- Greetings around the world
- Introductions (Vocabulary for greetings.)
LINC Learn2Teach: Nice to meet you (A series of vocabulary, role plays, and other activities.)
VOA, Learning English: Welcome! (Full lesson plan, including speaking, listening, and pronunciation practice.)

First day of class

Lesson plans

First day of class

Choose from a variety of activities to engage your students on the first day of class.

Resources

Links to helpful external resources …

Introducing yourself and getting to know you:
- All Things Grammar: Basic English dialogs introducing yourself (video)
- Discussion questions:
  - LearnHip: Conversation cards (Click on “Getting to know each other” for questions on this topic.)
  - The Internet Journal TESL Archives: Getting to know each other
About your country or nationality:
- English for Beginners: Where do you come from?
- Games to Learn English:
  - Falling clouds (Click on “Countries” to find a game to learn words for nationalities.)
  - Fast vocab (Click on “Countries” to find a game to learn words for nationalities.)
- Google Earth (Use Google Earth as part of your first class. As students tell you where they are from, you can zoom to their home country.)
- Live Worksheets:
  - Countries and nationalities (Learn how to give information about where you were born and your nationality.)
  - Countries, nationalities, and flags
  - Where are you from?
  - MapChart: Where are you from? (Ask students to identify their country on the interactive map. Ask students: Where are you from?, What does your country look like?, What is the weather like right now in your country?)
  - Wordwall activities:
    - Englishcombin: Countries and nationalities (Sort items into two categories.)
    - Urunbaeva87: Country/nationality match-up

Work

This page includes work-related lesson plans and resources for your beginners’ ESL classes (CLB 1-4). The page includes digital and interactive…

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Your home and community

This page offers digital and interactive links for beginner English classes (CLB 1-4) on homes and communities. Topics include meeting new…

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HOME AND COMMUNITY YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Click on the small right arrow at the top of this video to play the videos or go to the YouTube Your Home and Community Playlist.

COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURS WORDWALL ACTIVITIES

Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Community and neighbours” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.