Cut out from newspapers and magazines, or bring to class, examples of the following types of written texts, and ask your learners to identify them – either matching them from a list or using their judgement to decide what kind of text each one is. After they have identified each one, get them to think about what the purpose of each text is. What did the writer of each text wish to communicate and why – and to whom? Examples... Different types of written texts: * a postcard * a voucher * TV listings * a leaflet or a flyer

Test Your Reading Skills Homophones 4 Homophones are words that sound the same as each other, but have different spellings and meanings. Examples Write an English word that sounds the same as each of these words: 1. wore ___________________________ 2. plum ___________________________ 3. so ___________________________ 4. two ___________________________ Complete with answers.

Test Your Spelling Skills Just Vowels - Oscar-winning Film Directors 1 Fill in the gaps to spell the names of ten Oscar-winning film directors: Examples 1. _ o _ _ o _ a _ _ 2. _ _ e _ e _ _ _ i e _ _ e _ _ 3. _ e _ _ i _ _ o _ 4. _ a _ e _ _ a _ e _ o _ Complete with answer sheet

Test Your Spelling Skills Just Vowels - Oscar-winning Film Directors 2 Fill in the gaps to spell the names of ten Oscar-winning film directors: Examples 1. _ o _ e _ _ _ e _ _ o _ _ 2. _ o o _ _ A _ _ e _ 3. _ _ a _ _ i _ _ o _ _ _ o _ _ o _ a 4. _ o _ e _ _ _ i _ _ Complete with an answer sheet

Test Your Reading Skills Lesson Plan – Reading Race This is an effective activity for practising all the skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening – and what’s even better, students love it! Level: Pre-Intermediate (but could be higher or lower depending on the text that you choose) Skills: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening Time: 50 minutes Aim: To practise all of the skills; to energise a lethargic class; to encourage pair work Materials: Board and pen; several copies of the text (including one for you)

Test Your Spelling Skills Just Vowels – Street Names in Derby, UK Fill in the gaps to spell twenty different street names in Derby city centre: Examples 1. _ i _ _ o _ i a _ _ _ e e _ 2. _ a _ _ _ i _ _ 3. _ _ _ a _ _ Complete with answers

Test Your Reading Skills Playground Signs – Reading Comprehension This picture was taken at Carsington Water reservoir in Derbyshire. Look at the questions below and write “true”, “false”, or “we don’t know” next to each one: Examples 1. The signs are on a gate at a children’s playground. 2. The playground is closed. 3. Children aged 12½ years old can use the playground. Complete with answers

Test Your Reading Skills The Girl Who Got Bigger and Bigger, by Matt Purland Reading Comprehension 1 Read the story and answer the questions below: example The Girl Who Got Bigger and Bigger, by Matt Purland There was once a girl who wanted to be grown up like her parents, so she made a special drink that would make her grow, and she did grow. She grew until she was as big as her parents, but she didn’t stop there. She kept on growing until her foot was the size of her house.... Example Questions: 1. How did the girl grow bigger? 2. How did her parents react to her growing bigger? Answers are included

Test Your Reading Skills The London Underground – Alphabetical Order Write these 30 London Underground (Tube) stations in alphabetical order: South Wimbledon Ealing Broadway All Saints Vauxhall South Woodford..... Comes complete with an answer sheet

Test Your Reading Skills The London Underground Using a map of the London Underground (https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/track/tube), find these stations and answer the questions below: Examples... 1. Covent Garden is on the Piccadilly Line . . . true or false? 2. Holland Park is on the Northern Line . . . true or false? 3. Waterloo is on the Northern Line . . . true or false? Comes complete with an answer sheet.

Test Your Reading Skills Elementary Homophones 3 Homophones are words that sound the same as each other, but have different spellings and meanings. Put together the words that sound the same: road their waste sale write tide sew saw wear vain some tail tea too weak Examples 1. to ___________________________ 2. tale ___________________________ 3. rode ___________________________ 4. sail ___________________________ Contains a worksheet

Test Your Vocabulary Skills Learn to Spell 50 Common Words – Page 1 Take time to learn how to spell each word in these vocabulary groups. Tick the box beside the word when you have learnt how to spell it: clothes [ ] trousers [ ] suit [ ] shirt [ ] shoes [ ] jacket Contains answers

Test Your Vocabulary Skills Learn to Spell 50 Common Words – Page 3 Take time to learn how to spell each word in these vocabulary groups. Tick the box beside the word when you have learnt how to spell it: drinks Example words [ ] coffee [ ] tea [ ] orange juice [ ] beer [ ] whisky

Test Your Vocabulary Skills Learn to Spell 50 Common Words – Page 4 Take time to learn how to spell each word in these vocabulary groups. Tick the box beside the word when you have learnt how to spell it: drinks. Example words [ ] vodka [ ] apple juice [ ] hot chocolate [ ] water [ ] cider

Test Your Vocabulary Skills Learn to Spell 50 Common Words – Page 2 Take time to learn how to spell each word in these vocabulary groups. Tick the box beside the word when you have learnt how to spell it: clothes. Examples [ ] skirt [ ] blouse [ ] socks [ ] pyjamas [ ] jumper

Test Your Speaking & Listening Skills Lucky Dip 1 A fun quiz for two or more teams. Award five points for each correct answer: Example questions... 1. London is the capital city of which country? 2. Name the Prime Minister of the UK. 3. List three different sports. For Lucky Dip quizzes some of the questions have definite answers, while others allow students to provide their own answers. In all cases students must spell their answers correctly to get the points! Some answers included

Test Your Speaking & Listening Skills Lucky Dip 2 Example questions... A fun quiz for two or more teams. Award five points for each correct answer: 1. How many months are there in one year? 2. What colour is the shirt/blouse/jumper I’m wearing? 3. List three different foods. Some answers included. For Lucky Dip quizzes some of the questions have definite answers, while others allow students to provide their own answers. In all cases students must spell their answers correctly to get the points!

Test Your Speaking & Listening Skills Lucky Dip 3 Example questions... A fun quiz for two or more teams. Award five points for each correct answer: 1. Name three creatures that live in water. 2. If I have fifteen potatoes and give you nine, how many do I have left? 3. Write this time in words: 12.35pm. 4. Name the room in your house where you cook food. For Lucky Dip quizzes some of the questions have definite answers, while others allow students to provide their own answers. In all cases students must spell their answers correctly to get the points!

Test Your Reading Skills. Meet Arnold Palmerstone - the most boring man on earth Example of the work... Hello there. My name is Arnold Palmerstone, and I work in a bank. I live in a small bungalow in Norwich with my wife Deirdre and our two daughters, Florence (who is eight) and Prudence (who is six). I get up every morning at six o’clock and do my daily exercises before breakfast. I like to keep fit because my job at the bank is very difficult and requires a lot of energy. 1. Where do I live? a) Norwich b) Northampton c) The North Pole 2. What is my wife called? a) Darlene b) Deidre c) Deborah Answers included

Test Your Spelling Skills Mixed Spelling Challenge 1 Look at the words below. There are five words spelt incorrectly in each box. Put a circle around each one and write the correct spelling underneath: Examples... earings shoos coat jeens jumper skirt glasses jackit dress trousrers Answers included.