vocabulary

ESL Vocabulary Activity Worksheet: Dictionary Skills

If you’re on the lookout for a cool and effective way to help your students improve their vocabulary, writing, and critical thinking skills, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, I’ll explain an ESL vocabulary activity that could become your secret weapon in the classroom. It’s all about taking complex language and making it simple using the good old paper dictionary.

The Magic of Vocabulary in ESL Teaching

Now, we all know that vocabulary is kind of a big deal when it comes to ESL teaching. It’s the building blocks of communication. The more words your students know, the better they can express themselves. And that’s where our “Dictionary Skills” activity comes into play – to help you give your students a vocabulary boost.

What’s the ESL Vocabulary Activity about?

It’s very simple. A text about an everyday activity but there’s a twist. The activity is described with a very sophisticated, complicated language. Your students are on a mission to break down that intricate language into everyday English, and they’ve got a trusty paper dictionary to back them up.

Goals for Your ESL Students:

Your students are going to be introduced to some pretty difficult words. Think of it as their passport to new vocabulary.

DIY Learning: This activity is all about independence. It’s like telling your students, “You got this!” as they tackle language challenges on their own.

Mastering the Dictionary: Armed with their dictionaries, your students are going to become pros at finding the meanings of tricky words. It’s like giving them a treasure map.

Writing Skills on Point: By simplifying complex language, your students are also leveling up their writing skills. It’s like taking a complicated puzzle and turning it into a simple picture.

Think Critically: Breaking down those fancy words into everyday language is a sneaky way to boost those critical thinking skills.

How to Get Your ESL Class in on the Action

Set the Challenge: Tell your students that they’re going to decipher a very complicated text. Don’t give away the twist.

Introduce the Dictionary: If you haven’t used a paper dictionary before, show them how to use it. It’s like unveiling a superpower tool. Alternatively, you can let them use an app on their phones but I think they will learn more using the paper dictionary.

Task Time: Explain what is happening – their job is to take the fancy text and make it sound like something you would say to your grandma.

The Whole Learning Package: Remind them that it’s not just about words. They’re also becoming better writers and thinkers during this journey.

In a Nutshell: Empowering Your ESL Students

So, when it comes to ESL teaching, having a solid vocabulary is like having the key to fluency. This ESL vocabulary activity is here to make vocabulary expansion, independent learning, and critical thinking a breeze. By simplifying those big words, your students will be not only learning new stuff but also mastering the art of using a dictionary.

With this activity, you’re giving your ESL students the tools to grow their vocabulary, work on their own, and sharpen their thinking skills. It’s time to unlock their full language potential. Get ready to start that journey to vocab mastery in your ESL classroom – it’s going to be fun!

Download: Worksheet – Dictionary Skills

Prefixes Worksheet for ESL: Conversation Practice

As ESL teachers, we’re always on the lookout for resources that can truly make a difference in our students’ language learning journeys. That’s why I’m excited to share a resource that has not only enriched my classroom but has also contributed significantly to my students’ language skills: the “Prefixes Worksheet for ESL: Conversation Practice.”

Negative prefixes, such as “un-“, “dis-“, “in-“, and “im-“, often pose a challenge for ESL learners. These tiny word elements can drastically change the meaning of a word, and mastering them is crucial for achieving fluency in English. This prefixes worksheet, however, takes a different approach to teaching negative prefixes, one that’s focused on engagement and genuine communication.

Engaging Gap-Fill Exercises: The heart of this prefixes worksheet lies in its carefully crafted gap-fill exercises. Instead of dull, disconnected vocabulary drills, students are presented with sentences that have missing words. Their task? To fill in the gaps with the appropriate negative prefix. This approach transforms what might be a monotonous exercise into an interactive puzzle, piquing students’ curiosity and challenging them to think critically.
Conversation Catalysts: What truly sets this worksheet apart is its dual functionality. Each sentence, in addition to being a gap-fill exercise, serves as a conversation starter. After completing the sentence, students are encouraged to discuss the meaning of the word or phrase in the context of the sentence. This not only reinforces their grasp of negative prefixes but also equips them with the ability to use these prefixes naturally in real-life conversations.
Improved Comprehension: By encountering negative prefixes within sentences and conversations, students gain a deeper understanding of how these prefixes work and influence word meanings. This comprehension goes a long way in helping them become effective communicators in English.
Enhanced Retention: The combination of active exercises and discussion-based learning not only helps students remember the correct usage of negative prefixes but also ensures that this knowledge sticks. They’re not just memorizing rules; they’re internalizing language patterns.
Teacher’s Ally: As teachers, we value resources that align with our teaching philosophy and seamlessly integrate into our lesson plans. This worksheet is not just beneficial for students; it’s a teacher-friendly tool that enhances the overall classroom experience.

So, fellow ESL educators, I invite you to share in the success I’ve witnessed in my classroom. Consider using and sharing our “Prefixes Worksheet for ESL: Conversation Practice” within your teaching community. It’s a practical and effective resource that can empower both you and your fellow educators, fostering confident, fluent English speakers.

Exercise 1

In each sentence below, there is a missing negative prefix. Fill in the gaps with the correct prefix (un-, dis-, in-, ir-, im-, il-, etc.) to complete the sentences.

Can you recall a time when you felt __________(estimated) or __________(valued) in a professional or personal setting? How did you prove your worth?
Have you ever encountered a situation where someone was __________(fairly) discriminated against? What actions can society take to combat discrimination?
Describe a moment when you found yourself in a __________(comfortable) or even __________(bearable) situation. How did you handle it?
Share a story of someone who was initially __________(understood) but later gained recognition or respect. What can we learn from their experience?
Can you think of an occasion when you felt __________(connected) or __________(engaged) from a group or community? How did you address this feeling?
Discuss a time when you observed an action that you considered __________(ethical) or __________(moral). How did it affect your perception of the person involved?
Have you ever experienced an __________(usual) or __________(expected) phenomenon that left you feeling uneasy or __________(oriented)?
Share a situation where you or someone you know had to deal with an __________(cooperative) colleague or team member. How was it resolved?
Can you describe a moment when you felt __________(valued) as a consumer or customer? How did you respond to the situation?
Discuss a time when you observed an __________(ethical) or __________(moral) action that you believe should be discontinued. What alternatives would you propose?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt powerless or __________(able) to influence the outcome? How did you cope with it?
Share an example of a __________(just) law or policy you believe should be discontinued. What alternatives would you propose?
Describe a situation where someone exhibited __________(healthy) or detrimental behavior patterns. How can they be encouraged to change?
Can you think of a time when you were __________(prepared) for a significant life event or challenge? How did you adapt and learn from it?
Discuss an instance when you witnessed an __________(effective) or __________(productive) meeting or discussion. What improvements would you suggest?
Share a story of a project or endeavor that initially seemed __________(feasible) but was eventually successful. What contributed to its success?
Have you ever had to deal with an __________(responsive) or neglectful service provider? How did you seek resolution or compensation?
Can you recall a situation where you felt __________(appreciated) in a personal relationship? How did you address the issue with the other person?
Describe a time when you encountered an __________(dated) or __________(moded) practice or technology. What innovations could replace it?
Discuss the concept of an __________(certain) future and the role it plays in making long-term plans and decisions.

Exercise 2

In each sentence below, there is a missing prefix. Fill in the gaps before the words with removed prefixes to complete the sentences.

Have you ever encountered an ____ (efficient) system or process at work or in daily life? How could it be improved?
Can you think of a situation where someone acted ____ (responsible)? What were the consequences?
What are some examples of ____ (tolerant) behavior you’ve observed, and how can we promote more tolerance in society?
Describe an experience when you found a book or movie to be ____ (interesting) despite high expectations. What went wrong?
Share a story of a ____ (conventional) or ____ (orthodox) solution to a problem. Did it prove effective in the end?
Share an instance when someone’s comments or actions were ____ (sensitive). How did it affect you or others involved?
Do you believe there are any ____ (possible) tasks or challenges, or is it always a matter of perspective and determination?
Discuss a time when you had to deal with an ____ (convenient) situation while traveling. How did you handle it?
Can you recall a moment when you witnessed a dispute escalate into an ____ (controllable) argument? What could have been done differently?
Describe a situation where someone displayed ____ (reasonable) behavior. How did you respond, and what did you learn from it?
Have you ever faced an ____ (expected) setback that temporarily disrupted your plans? How did you adapt and move forward?
What do you think about the idea of a ____ (known) or ____ (charted) future? Does it excite or worry you, and why?
Have you ever encountered someone who was completely ____ (interested) in your favorite hobby, and how did you handle it?
Have you encountered any ____ (desirable) consequences of technology in your life? How do you mitigate them?
Can you think of a situation where someone was ____ (fairly) underestimated, only to prove themselves later on?
Discuss a time when you had to confront your own ____ (securities) or ____ (uncertainties). How did you overcome them?
Can you think of a time when you found yourself in an ____ (hospitable) or unwelcoming environment, and how did you cope with it?
Have you ever encountered a ____ (functioning) device or piece of equipment, and how did you address the issue?
Share a personal experience where you felt ____ (understood) or ____ (represented). How did you clarify the situation?
Do you believe there’s such a thing as an ____ (reversible) mistake, or can most errors be rectified in some way?

Prefixes worksheet:

Download: Negative Prefixes Conversation Questions

ESL Taboo Cards: Printable Vocabulary Activity

Are you looking for a stimulating and entertaining method to increase your vocabulary and communication abilities in English? Take a look our ESL taboo card games below!

ESL Taboo is a frequently played game that’s designed for teams of two or more players. The goal is to get your teammates to guess a particular word or phrase without uttering a series of taboo words or phrases that are closely linked to the target word. For instance, if the target word is “banana,” the taboo words could be “fruit,” “yellow,” and “peel.”

Using ESL taboo cards in your classroom is an excellent method to stimulate your students’ minds and broaden their vocabulary range. It’s also an ideal opportunity to develop communication skills like expressing ideas with clarity, actively listening to others, and providing feedback.

To play, split your class into teams and give each group a pack of taboo cards. One member of each team draws a card and attempts to get their teammates to guess the target word without using any of the taboo words or phrases. If their teammates guess correctly, the team earns a point. If they use a taboo word or phrase, the other team earns a point.

ESL taboo cards can be used to practice various topics and themes, such as food, travel, hobbies, and more. You can also generate your own cards based on your class’s specific needs and interests.

So why not add a dash of spice to your ESL classes with a game of Taboo? It’s an amusing, effective, and engaging way to improve your students’ English language abilities while having fun in the process. And who knows, you might even learn a few new words and phrases yourself.

Here are our favorite taboo games:

Science&Techology NEW!

Food

Health

Nature and Environment

Other vocabulary activities:

ESL Vocabulary Quizzes and Games

ESL/EFL Vocabulary Activity: Travel Compound Nouns Dominoes

ESL Game Compound Nouns Dominoes: Town and Countryside

Travel ESL Conversation Questions

This is an excellent speaking activity for students when engaged in a conversation about travel, as well as for adult students in any program or one-on-one lessons. Travel words on the list include – journey, flights, destination, trip, license, accommodation, backpacking, international, leisure, and countries.

The free discussion worksheet for the topic of travel is anything but boring, and it’s guaranteed to pique your students’ curiosity. They may be inspired to go on vacation or organize group trips, especially when cheap flights are easily available on reputable websites such as sa.wego.com.

Students should be placed in groups or pairs, and they should take notes on what their partners say and answer.

Travel ESL Conversation Questions

Have you ever been abroad?
Where have you been?
Are you planning on going anywhere for your next vacation?
- If so, where?
- Who with?
- How long will you stay?
Are you afraid of going abroad alone?
Do you have any tips to get cheap flights?
Could you live in another country for the rest of your life?
Describe the most interesting person you met on one of your travels.
What was your best trip.
What was your worst trip.
Did your class in high school go on a trip together?
- If so, where did you go?
- How long did you stay?
- How did you get there?
Do you have a driver’s license?
Do you like to travel with children? Why or why not?
Do you like to travel with your mother? Why or why not?
Do you prefer summer vacations or winter vacations?
Do you prefer to travel alone or in a group? Why?
Do you prefer to travel by train, bus, plane or ship?
Do you prefer traveling by car or by plane?
Have you ever been in a difficult situation while traveling?
Have you ever been on an airplane?
- How many times?
- What airlines have you flown with?
Have you ever been to a foreign country?
Have you ever gotten lost while traveling? If so, tell about it.
Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, how many times?
Have you ever taken a package tour?
How do you spend your time when you are on holiday and the weather is bad?
How many countries have you been to? How many states?
How many times have you traveled abroad?
How much luggage do you usually carry?
If you traveled to South America, what countries would like to visit?
If you went to ___(Insert a country name)__, what kind of souvenirs would you buy?
If you were going on a camping trip for a week, what 10 things would you bring? Explain why.
What are some countries that you would never visit? Why would you not visit them?
What are some things that you always take with you on a trip?
What countries would you like to visit? Why?
What countries would you most like to visit?
What countries would you not like to visit? Why?
What country do you most want to visit?
- Why?
- Do you think you will ever go there?
What do you need before you can travel to another country?
What is the most interesting city to visit in your country?
What is the most interesting souvenir that you have ever bought on one of your holidays?
What languages can you speak?
What place do you want to visit someday?
What was the most interesting place you have ever visited?
What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
When was the last time your traveled?
When you are on a long car journey do you play games or sing songs to occupy your time?
- What kind of games?
- What songs?
Where are you going to go the next time you travel?
- When are you going to go?
- Who are you going to go with?
- How long are you going to go for?
- What are you going to do there?
- What kind of things do you think you will buy?
Where did you go on your last vacation?
- How did you go?
- Who did you go with?
Where did you spend your last vacation? Your summer vacation? Your Christmas vacation?
Where will you go on your next vacation?
Would you like to take a cruise? Where to? With who?
Do you prefer traveling on a hovercraft or a ferry?
Would you prefer to stay at a hotel/motel or camp while on vacation?
Would you rather visit another country or travel within your own country?
Would you rather go to a place where there are a lot of people or to a place where there are few people?
Do you find more fulfillment from your leisure activities including vacations than from your job?
Do you think the type of vacation one takes reflects one’s social status?
What are popular tourist destinations in your country?
- Have you been to any of them?
- Which would you recommend if you could only recommend one? Why?
Do you prefer active or relaxing holidays? Why?
Which is better, package tour or a tour you organize and book yourself?
Why do you travel?
- Why do people travel?
Would you like to go back to the same place?
Did you find anything of particular interest? / Did you get attracted to anything special?
What are some benefits of travel?
- Why do people travel?
What is your favorite mode of travel?
Have you travelled in business class?
When you were a child did your family take a vacation every year?
Do you prefer a budget or first class hotel? Why?
Do you travel with a lot of baggage or do you like to travel light?
What is your favorite method of travel at your destination? Train? Bus? Boat? Bicycle? Backpacking?
What is the best kind of holiday for different ages of people? Children? Teenagers? Adults? Elderly people?
Do you think it is a good idea to travel with friends, or alone? How about with your family?
If you had $100,000, where would you go on holiday? How about if you had $10,000? What about $1,000?
Which countries have you travelled to?
Do you prefer hot countries or cool countries when you go on holiday
Who makes the decisions when your family decides to go on holiday
If you could choose one place to go this weekend, where would it be?
How do you browse for the best deals on flight tickets?
Has the airline ever lost your luggage? What happened?
On long flights do you usually walk around the plane to avoid health problems?
Have you ever read an interesting question in an in-flight magazine? What was it?
Is there any difference between young tourists and adult tourists?
Do you think tourism will harm the earth?

This is a sponsored blog post by sa.wego.com

Other resources:

ESL Travel Vocabulary Taboo Cards

ESL/EFL Vocabulary Activity: Travel Compound Nouns Dominoes

ESL Role Play Worksheet: Travel/Holidays

Food and Travel ESL Lesson: Interactive Online Lesson

ESL Conversation Lesson: Game Of Thrones And Traveling

Halloween Vocabulary Activity: ESL Video and Speaking Activity

It’s almost here! Our students’ favorite holiday! Halloween!

Ok, not everyone loves Halloween, but it’s a perfect opportunity to have a little fun in the classroom. There are plenty of various activities online and for those who don’t like crafts and are not particularly artsy (as myself) I’ve put together this cute Halloween vocabulary activity based on even cuter video by TedEd, which is by the way one of my favorite sources for educational videos.

Despite the animated video, the topic and vocabulary are perhaps not suitable for younger students (younger than 12). Watch the video beforehand to make sure it’s appropriate for your class.

Halloween activity based on video from TedEd.

WARM UP

1. What is your favorite holiday/festival?

2. Do you celebrate Halloween?

3. What traditions do you celebrate in your country on Halloween?

4. Do you like scary stories?

5. What costume would you like to wear for Halloween?

VOCABULARY

1. Match the halves of the expressions

1) spindly a) grounds

2) rusted b) gardens

3) crumbling c) tops

4) solitary d) trees

5) blooming e) catacombs

6) burial f) grounds

7) head g) gate

8) crowds h) stone

9) mountain i) yard

10) subterranean j) water

11) church k) mourner

12) ground l) of people

VIDEO

1. Watch the video and check your answers.

2. Complete the sentences with the expressions from Ex. 1

1. The ________________________are very extensive and hold numerous galleries and graves of different types.

2. Adding a ___________________ to a gravesite or memorial is one of the most common ways to commemorate a loved one once they are gone

3. The old ____________________ is bent and battered, but it holds a lot of memories for our family.

4. Large parts of the northern _______________________ were destroyed in order to make space for the basements of the new building

5. There are fears that _____________________ might become contaminated

6. The fate of endemic birds of eastern Brazilian _________________ in the face of climate change.

7. __________________________ watched the fireworks.

8. Americans had always buried their dead, but did so in churchyards, town commons, or municipal __________________

9. Seven years before our story begins Scrooge is seen, as a _________________, at the funeral of his business partner Jacob Marley.

10. Making sure that no one was looking, I touched the ___________________. Sand grains accumulated in my hand.

11. The island’s west side slopes into terraces and cultivated __________________.

12. Some tall, _____________________need to be cut at the top in order to produce new twig or branch growth.

DISCUSSION

What information from the video surprised you the most?

Would you be scared if you were in a graveyard at night? Why?

How did people bury their dead in the past?

How do you think people will bury their dead in the future? Why?

Download:

Halloween Worksheet: Video ESL Vocabulary and Speaking Activity SW

Halloween Worksheet: Video ESL Vocabulary and Speaking Activity TN

Bonus for your entertainment, a comic by Oatmeal.

Other resources:

Halloween ESL Video Lesson: Simone Giertz Made a Soup Robot

Online ESL Video Lesson Plans

ESL Personality Questions and Reading Worksheet

ESL personality questions based on reading activity and 20 conversation questions with personality adjectives.

1 Warm up. Watch the video and do the personality test. Do you agree with the result?

2 Read the text and answer the questions below.

Personality is the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. It is believed that personality arises from within the individual and remains consistent throughout life.

Examples of personality can be found in how we describe other people’s characteristics. For instance, “She is generous, caring, and a bit of a perfectionist,” or “They are loyal and protective of their friends.”

The word “personality” comes from the Latin word persona, which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers in order to either take on different roles or disguise their identities.

Personality Types

One theory suggests there are four types of personality. They are:

Type A: Perfectionist, impatient, competitive, work-obsessed, achievement-oriented, aggressive, stressed
Type B: Low stress, even-tempered, flexible, creative, adaptable to change, patient, tendency to procrastinate
Type C: Highly conscientious, perfectionist, struggles to reveal emotions (positive and negative)
Type D: Worrying, sad, irritable, pessimistic, negative self-talk, avoidance of social situations, lack of self-confidence, fear of rejection, appears gloomy, hopeless

Research on personality can provide us with fascinating insights into how personality develops and changes over the course of a lifetime. This research can also have important practical applications in the real world.

For example, people can use a personality assessment (also called a personality test or personality quiz) to learn more about themselves and their unique strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Some assessments might look at how people rank on specific traits, such as whether they are high in extroversion, conscientiousness, or openness.

Other assessments might measure how specific aspects of personality change over time. Some assessments give people insight into how their personality affects many areas of their lives, including career, relationships, personal growth, and more.

Personality type can also have an impact on your health, including how often you visit the doctor and how you cope with stress. Researchers have found that certain personality characteristics may be linked to illness and health behaviors.

Adapted from: Verywell Mind

What is personality?
How can we learn more about ourselves?
Can personality change over time?
How can your personality influence your health?
How would you describe yourself?

ESL Personality Questions

How would you describe someone creative?
Who is the most competitive member of your family?
How do you feel about people who are impatient?
Who is the most generous person you know?
What are some irritable habits you have?
Are you rather pessimistic or optimistic?
In which profession do you need to be really achievement-oriented?
How can we improve our self-confidence?
Do you think one can train to become more patient?
Do people get less flexible as they age?
Have you ever been in a situation that felt hopeless? What happened?
What makes some people charismatic?
Do you know someone hilarious?
Describe your most reliable friend.
Describe your most conscientious friend.
How would you describe someone who is resourceful?
Do you think aggressive people should be put in jail?
What are intuitive people good at?
Do you think a mother can be impartial about her children?
What are you determined to accomplish?

Similar resources:

Conversation Questions: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Conversation Questions Passive Voice: ESL Speaking Activity

50 ESL Conversation Questions for Teens and Adults

12 ESL Negotiation Role-plays: Real-life situations

Communication Boardgame

ESL Reported Speech Speaking Activity: Gossip

TED Talks Worksheets

Storytelling Cards: Imaginative Speaking and Writing Activity

I’ve decided that you deserve a little treat. Read on and find all about it. It’s almost Christmas after all and you’ve been working hard.

We love stories. We have always loved them.

When our ancestors sat by the fire they told stories of mighty warriors, immortal gods, or wicked witches.

Stories are fascinating. And they are a powerful teaching tool.

This storytelling activity will save you tons of prepping time!

Storytelling Cards can be used as a fun and imaginative speaking activity for groups or for creative writing assignments.

There are thousands of possible variations and no two stories will be the same. The recommended level of English is A2-B1 and it is suitable for students aged 12+.

With Storytelling Cards they will be able to create hundreds of wonderful stories.

The aim of the game is to tell(or write) a story using the prompts on the cards. There are five types of cards:

12 Character cards
12 Activity cards
12 Object cards
12 Place cards
12 Problem cards

I’ve mentioned a treat before, haven’t I? Well, you deserve one. So here you go. You can get the Storytelling Cards with a 25% discount.

Click below to reveal the discount code. The code is valid until December 24th.

[spbcta_sc id=1]

Other resources:

Improvisation Cards: ESL Speaking Activity

ESL Speaking Activity: Conversation Cards

Fluent English: Effective Tips on How To Speak Fluently

ESL/EFL Speaking Activity: Role Play Debate

12 ESL Negotiation Role-plays: Real-life situations

ESL Reported Speech Speaking Activity: Gossip

ESL Video Lesson Based on Netflix Docuseries “The Mind, Explained”

Modal verbs: Use, Examples, and Conversation Questions

Taliban Take over Afghanistan: Dare to Educate Afghan Women(UPDATED)

If you don’t live in a cave you know what’s happening in Afghanistan right now. If you don’t know, you can find out here.

No matter what your political preferences are, or what do you believe in, I’m sure you agree that education is important. What is happening in Afghanistan right now will have tremendous negative consequences on the education of Afghan girls. Watch the Ted Talk. Discuss it with your students. You can also help here, or here.

This Ted Talk education ESL video lesson is based on a talk by Shabana Basij-Rasikh. She is an educator from Afghanistan, humanitarian, and women’s rights champion. She grew up under the rule of the Taliban, which banned education for women so she had to dress as a boy to attend a secret school.

This is her story.

Level: Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate

Time: 45min.(video 10min.)

Skills: speaking, listening, reading

Topic: education, human rights

Taliban Take over Afghanistan | Ted Talk Education Lesson Plan | Dare to Educate Afghan Girls | Shabana Basij-Rasikh

WARM-UP

Discuss the questions

1. Do you think education should be free? Why? Use arguments to justify your opinion.

2. What was your parents position on your education? How do you think it has influenced your life? What is your position on your education?

3. Can you imagine being denied higher education based on your gender or religion? How would it influence your life?

Write three reasons why education is important.

1.__________________________________________________________________

2.__________________________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________________________

1 Read the sentences and try to work out the meaning of the underlined words/phrases.

1. I dressed as a boy to escort my older sister, who was no longer allowed to be outside alone, to a secret school.

2. A total maverick from a remote province of Afghanistan, he insisted that…

3. …had my family not been so committed to my education…

4. …the one exiled from his home for daring to educate his daughters,

5. And I see their parents and their fathers who, like my own, advocate for them despite and even in the face of daunting opposition.

6. …this is something that is often dismissed in the West…

7. …they’re often the initial and convincing negotiators of a bright future for their daughters…

8. I fear that these changes will not last much beyond the U.S. troops’ withdrawal.

2 Match the words/phrases (a-p) to their explanations(1-16).

a)escort(v.) 1)demand something forcefully, not accepting refusal.

b)allow 2)without being influenced or prevented by

c)maverick 3)a person who helps other people to come to agreement

d)remote 4)difficult to deal with

e)insist 5)accompany (someone or something) somewhere

f)commit 6)the process or action of a military force moving out of an area

g)exile(v.) 7)let (someone) have or do something.

h)dare 8)of or at the beginning

i)advocate(v.) 9)able to make you believe that something is true or right

j)despite 10)to think or say that something is not important

k)daunting 11)to send someone away from their own country, village, etc

l)dismiss 12)far away, distant

m)initial 13)to promise or give your loyalty, time, or money to something

n)convincing 14)an unorthodox or independent-minded person

o)negotiator 15)have the courage to do something

p)withdrawal 16)publicly recommend or support

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Watch the video and answer the questions.

1. Why do you think the Taliban made it illegal for girls to go to school?

2. Why was Shabana’s grandfather special?

3. What would have happened if the Taliban had found out that Shabana and her sister were going to school?

4. How many women in Shabana’s age have made it past high school?

5. What were Shabana’s parents prepared to do in order to pay for her school fees?

6. How many girls went to school in Afganistan under the Taliban, and how many are in school now?

7. What is SOLA?

Discuss the questions

1. What would you change about your school if you could?

2. Some people say that schools are useless for life. Do you agree?

3. What do you think are the most important life skills?

4. Do you need education if you want to be successful?

5. What are the most useful things that you learned at school?

6. What are the most useless things that you learned at school?

7. Besides school, where and how can you learn something new?

8. What talent or skill would you like to improve?

Download Ted Talk Education Lesson Plan:

Ted Talk Lesson Plan: Dare to Educate Afghan Girls SWDownload

Ted Talk Lesson Plan: Dare to Educate Afghan Girls TNDownload

Other resources:

ESL Exam Speaking Picture Description and Questions

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Phrasal Verbs Activity and Exercises, Conversation Questions and PDF Worksheet

I sometimes watch, or more accurately, watched (because Covid) Netflix with friends. We always use English subtitles, as my friends want to improve their English. Sometimes they ask me to translate a word or a phrase, sometimes I don’t mind and sometimes it bothers me. But my lack of patience with my friends is not the point.

The point is, I’ve noticed one thing all my friends had in common. They often didn’t understand the meaning of a certain phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs are tricky, because they seem to be two separate words. Sometimes the same phrasal verb can have a few different, totally unrelated meanings and that’s very confusing for English learners.

They are very common, especially in informal context, so it’s often recommended to learn essential phrasal verbs to sound more natural.

Here are a couple of phrasal verbs activities and exercises.

Phrasal Verbs Activity: Definitions

back down: to resign your position in a fight, argument, plan, etc.

bump into: when you meet someone by accident or unexpectedly

burst out: to suddenly and unexpectedly say or do something

call off: to cancel something

carry on: to continue doing something

chicken out: to stop doing something because you’re afraid

clam up: to refuse to speak or share your feelings

come up with: to think of a solution, idea

deal with: to handle something, to solve a problem

drag on: to last longer than expected

figure out: to find the answer

get along: to have good relationship with someone

get rid off: to remove something or somebody

hang out: spend time with people, socialize

look up to: to admire someone

polish off: to eat or drink something quickly

rip off: to ask for a very unreasonable price, to cheat financially

run out of: to have no more of something

stick up for: to defend someone or something

talk into: to convince someone to do something

Phrasal Verbs Activity: Exercise with Flashcards

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Discussion Questions

When was the last time you had to back down in a situation?
Who was the last person you bumped into? How did it happen?
Can you remember the last time you burst out something inappropriate?
What was the last event you had to call off? What happened?
Have you ever chickened out of something?
When something surprises you, can you carry on and pretend nothing happened?
What would you do if you were talking to a friend and they suddenly clammed up?
What’s the last brilliant idea you’ve come up with?
How well can you deal with interruptions when you work/study?
What do you do when you are in a meeting that just drags on?
What is the last thing you didn’t understand first, but then you figured it out?
Describe three people you get along with.
What 3 things would you like to get rid of in your life? (material and abstract)
What do you do when you hang out with friends?
Who do you look up to in your family?
What meal do you usually polish off?
Can you think of a time when someone ripped you off?
Have you ever run out of patience when talking to someone? What happened?
What ideas can you imagine sticking up for?
What was the stupidest thing anyone has ever talked you into?

Phrasal Verbs Discussion Questions PDF Download

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Food and Travel ESL Lesson: Interactive Online Lesson

In this food and travel ESL lesson students will discuss their travel experience and plans. They will watch a ten-minute video and learn about different etiquette rules.

We can’t travel anywhere(even if we can, it’s still very limited) because of the current Covid-19 pandemic, however, there are plenty of activities we can do – we can go for a walk, do sports, read books, watch Netflix. Wondering what to recommend to your students?

Try these shows, they are educational, suitable for school but still fun to watch. You can share opinions, start a discussian, revise vocabulary.

If you don’t have time to crate your own, you can use this ready-made lesson based on a Netflix show called The Mind Explained. This lesson is on the topic of anxiety, which could be helpful as many students struggle with mental issues and anxiety during these days.

So, even if we can’t travel, we can plan our future travels. Traveling and food are very popular topics for students of any age. Your students will enjoy this food and travel ESL lesson and the video – 12 Unexpected Etiquette Rules from Around the World.