I develop my own TESOL teaching resources, specifically aimed at adult learners at a range of abilities. My classes are beginner (CEFR A1-2), pre-intermediate (CEFR B1), upper intermediate (CEFR B2), and advanced (CEFR C1-2). I offer a range of topics including speaking, culture, grammar. In addition, I combine my passion for history with my EFL teaching experience in my History classes.
I develop my own TESOL teaching resources, specifically aimed at adult learners at a range of abilities. My classes are beginner (CEFR A1-2), pre-intermediate (CEFR B1), upper intermediate (CEFR B2), and advanced (CEFR C1-2). I offer a range of topics including speaking, culture, grammar. In addition, I combine my passion for history with my EFL teaching experience in my History classes.
This is an upper intermediate (CEFR B2, IELTS 6.0) EFL Speaking class about chores. The first activity has students describing some pictures of common chores. Next, they discuss the meaning of chore, as well as some basic questions related to their experiences of chores. Vocabulary (vacuum, dishes, laundry, clean, tidy, set the table) is introduced using pictures. Students then match each chore with a suitable verb to learn some collocations. A further discussion follows. Three production activities follow (a rank and defend about which chore is the most boring, agree/disagree, a role play between a parent and a child).
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about animals. Students complete a short quiz in which they must guess the name of an animal based on a description. Students then brainstorm the animals that they know (for large classes, the teacher might assign a particular environment/habitat for each group as different habitats will be learned later in the class). The target language (deer, otter, peacock, orca, octopus, gecko) is introduced using pictures. The pronunciation of each word is drilled, after which the students match each animal to a suitable adjective describing it. Students then contextualise the next activity by reading a summary of Monterey Bay in California. Students read an article about sea otters in Monterey Bay, after which they answer comprehension questions. Teachers should point out to students that the golf balls in Monterey Bay are a form of environmental pollution. The next slide shows six types of environmental pollution (oil spill, microplastics, radiation, light, noise, litter). Students then discuss how pollution affects animals. The following two activities involve students describing differences between the animals they learned, and naming the animals that live in a variety of habitats.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about advertising. Students begin the class by looking at a picture of a man demonstrating reluctance or hesitancy. The students will then read a short text about a businessman who is reluctant to spend money on advertising. The aim of this activity is to make students aware of the prevalence and importance of advertising. A short discussion about advertising follows. Next, students learn target language (product placement, native advertising, guerilla advertising, endorsement, before-and-after, jingle) using pictures (some guidance may be required in this activity). Students then match the method of advertising to its description. A further discussion about the various methods of advertising follows. Students then look at four situations and decide upon the best way to advertise for that particular situation. Two free production activities follow.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about animal rights. Students begin by looking at two photos; one of battery-farmed chickens and one of free-range chickens. Teachers should elicit the differences between the experiences of these chickens. A discussion about ethics and animals follows. Target language (battery farming, activist, sentient, vegan, research, free-range) is introduced using photographs. A gap-fill activity follows to confirm students’ understanding. Students then discuss more questions and the class ends with predictions about the future of animal rights.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about wealth inequality. Students first look at a picture of a private jet and a picture of a beggar. Students then discuss how they feel about these pictures and what they show. Target language (disposable income, economic mobility, debt, poverty, tax rates, tax avoidance) is then introduced in pictures. Students then read a sentence and choose the correct word for each. A further discussion about taxes and wealth follow. To prepare for a reading activity about wealth inequality, students look at a picture and match vocabulary from the text to its meaning. Students then answer comprehension questions before thinking about the concept of a vicious cycle. After that, students read five situations and discuss how each situation affects inequality. Finally, students discuss agree/disagree statements.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about vegetation. Students first look at pictures of plant life. They then discuss their own knowledge of plants and other types of vegetation. Target language (shrub, deciduous tree, evergreen, moss, mangrove, fern) is introduced in pictures. Students read a short text and complete sentences using the newly-learned vocabulary. Students then discuss vegetation in their country. In preparation for a reading activity about the taiga forest in Russia and Canada, students look at a map of this region. They then answer comprehension questions about it. Finally, students complete an agree/disagree activity about deforestation.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Grammar class about prepositional phrases. Students learn some key vocabulary required to understand the concepts in the lesson. Students review the different kind of prepositions (place, time, manner, agency, direction). Students learn the concept of modifiers and then learn what a prepositional phrase is. The functions of prepositional phrases are introduced. Students complete sentences in a controlled exercise. Students learn about prepositional phrases with gerunds before reading a short text and identifying prepositional phrases.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Grammar class about perfect participle clauses. Students review the form and functions of present participle clauses, after which they learn the difference between them and perfect participle clauses. Students review past participles and test understanding with a concept check. Two controlled exercises follow. The passive perfect participle is then introduced, following a review of the passive in the simple aspect. Further concept check and exercises follow. Finally, students prepare a recipe for a popular Chinese dish using perfect participle clauses.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Grammar class about inversion. Students will learn the concept of inversion and its rhetorical uses. Students learn about limiting adverbs which normally precede inversion. The form of inversion using negative adverbs is learned. Students read an article and identify examples of inversion. Students then answer comprehension questions. Next, inversion including conditional sentences are learned. The final activity sees students converting a normal sentence into an inverted sentence.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Grammar class about relative clauses with wh- words. Students learn the form and function of a relative clause before learning how to use a relative clause with the words whose, whereby, when, where, whatever, whoever, and whichever. Students complete controlled exercises and free discussion activities throughout.
This is an upper intermediate (CEFR B2, IELTS 6.0) EFL Speaking class about accidents. Students will firstly brainstorm examples of accidents before looking at six images, each showing a piece of target language (fall, burn, broken bone, car crash, cut, animal bite). Students then discuss their experiences of accidents before looking at four images of different places (kitchen, office, road, park). In this activity, students brainstorm the types of accident that could happen in each place. Students then read a dialogue about a car accident before answering comprehension questions. Students end the class by talking to a partner in three different production activities (rank and defend, discussion, agree or disagree).
Due to the nature of the topic, this class is recommended for adult learners only.
This is an upper intermediate (CEFR B2, IELTS 6.0) EFL Speaking class about crime. Students firstly describe pictures of things commonly associated with crime (arrest, fingerprints, courtroom) before they discuss basic questions about crime. The next few slides introduce the target vocabulary (burglary, bribery, vandalism, assault, fraud, pickpocketing). To confirm understanding, students read the description of each crime and match it to the vocabulary they learned in the previous slides. A further discussion follows. An agree/disagree activity follows in which students read a crime and the respective punishment. Students discuss whether or not they agree with the punishment. A news article about different instances of crime is introduced using images, before students read the short article. Students then check their understanding using comprehension questions. Finally, students rank the most serious crime to the least serious.
This is an upper intermediate (CEFR B2, IELTS 6.0) EFL Speaking class about electronics. Students first brainstorm prior knowledge of electronics, after which they discuss their own experiences with electronic devices. The target language (smartphone, camera, tablet, smartwatch, wireless speaker, e-reader) is introduced using images. Students then drill the structure “for …ing” to show purpose by describing the use of each device. Students then discuss their preferred brands as well as how technology changes over time. After that, students discuss the pros and cons of each device. In preparation for a role play between a parent and child, students look at and describe a picture of a young girl with a smartphone. Finally, home appliance vocabulary (fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, stove and oven) are introduced in images. Students then rank the most to least useful.
This is an upper intermediate (CEFR B2, IELTS 6.0) EFL Speaking class about driving. Students first read short sentences describing something related to driving, which they must guess. The target language (speed limit, traffic lights, petrol station, manual (gearbox), motorway, driving license) is introduced using images. Students then drill pronunciation of the vocabulary, after which they discuss it with a partner using question prompts. Students then look at images and short sentences as context for a reading activity, which is about the congestion charge in London. Students answer true/false questions to check their understanding. Two free production activities follow.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about illness. Students begin the class by brainstorming as many illnesses as they know. Next, target language (high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, allergy, stroke, dementia) is introduced using pictures. Students then drill the pronunciation and form of the vocabulary. Students then read a short text about diabetes and answer comprehension questions. The next part of the class focuses on treatments; students first brainstorm different medical treatments. Further target language (lifestyle changes, chemotherapy, insulin injections, medication, medicine) is learned in pictures. Teachers should emphasise the difference between medication and medicine. Students then look at four idioms about illness which they match to the respective meanings. Finally, students talk to their partners using the idioms.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about investing. Students first look at two images showing the ideas of investing (growing money over time, risk and reward). Students should discuss what they think the images show. Target language (dividend, capital, bonds, return, make a killing, share) is introduced in a short reading text, after which students match the vocabulary to its meaning. Students then complete a gap-fill exercise. Students then discuss their own experiences of investing. Further target language in the form of investment products (oil, stock market, cryptocurrencies, real estate, pension fund, bonds) is introduced in pictures. Students then rank the best to worst investments before debating the best of three potential investments. Finally, students design their own investment portfolio using a pie chart and the investment products they learned.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about maps. Students first look at pictures of different types of map and discuss what each one is used for. Students then discuss their knowledge of maps with a partner. Target language (grid coordinates, contour lines, legend, GPS tracker, scale, compass) is introduced using pictures. Students complete sentences using the correct word. Students then discuss more questions with a partner. Students then read an article about how to use a map. Finally, students discuss places they would like to visit using the 2nd conditional, followed by an activity in which they answer comprehension questions about map of some mountains in England.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about motivation. Students will first describe various images showing different levels of motivation. Students should be encouraged to discuss what makes people motivated. Next, students discuss with their partners a definition of motivation and other basic concepts. Target language (empowerment, enthusiastic, incentive, admire, ambition, appreciation) is introduced in a match-up activity. Students then complete a gap-fill activity with the new vocabulary. Students then use the vocabulary in a discussion activity. Next, students read three situations and choose their particular motivation for doing that activity. Students are introduced to a reading activity by looking at a picture of a donkey, a carrot and a stick. Students should be encouraged to discuss the idea of motivating someone with a reward or a punishment. Finally, students think of examples of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations.
This is an advanced (CEFR C1, IELTS 7.0) EFL Speaking class about nuclear power. Students first look at images related to nuclear power issues (reactor, waste, plant). Students then discuss the concept of energy. Target language (technician, meltdown, reactor, nuclear waste, turbine, contamination) is introduced using pictures. Students then complete sentences using the vocabulary. Finally, students complete three interactive speaking activities (discussion, agree/disagree, debate) about the topic.
Due to the sensitivity of the topic, this class is recommended for adult learners. This is an upper intermediate (CEFR B2, IELTS 6.0) EFL Speaking class about first dates. Students begin by describing some photographs of common first date ideas. Students then discuss generic ideas about first dates. Vocabulary is introduced using a match-up activity, after which they complete a gap-fill exercise to confirm their understanding. Students brainstorm common places to go on a first date. Next they will rank and defend the best and worst places to go on a first date. Finally, students engage in discussion with a partner.