89 English as a Second Language (ESL)
Courses
Advanced Academic Grammar for ESL Students licensed by Rebecca Al Haider (CC BY).
Also see Advanced Academic Grammar for ESL Students under “Textbooks”
This course was created for an advanced academic grammar course for ESL students. By the end of the course, students will recognize and demonstrate the appropriate use of advanced grammar structures. To meet these outcomes, students will listen to aural language that includes the target structures, identify and edit grammar errors in written language, read and analyze texts that include the target grammar structures, and demonstrate the correct and appropriate use of target structures in written and spoken language.
American English Speech by Carnegie Mellon University Open Learning Initiative (CC BY-NC-SA).
Learn how to communicate with the sounds and music of American English. Improve your pronunciation in Standard American English by dealing with the sounds of the words that you speak. NOTE: This is a course on speaking American English, not learning the English language.
Mobile ESL by Dr. James O’Driscoll (CC BY).
From Athabasca University in Alberta, this is a course of lessons and practice on the system of English. It is divided into eighty-six sections. Each section covers an area of basic grammar and contains a number of exercises.
Project I-DEA by various (various licenses).
The Integrated Digital English Acceleration (I-DEA) program teaches English language skills in the context of college and careers for learners who face the largest language gaps. Unlike traditional approaches — in which learners are expected to learn English before pursuing college or job-training — I-DEA teaches English in tandem with college and career skills. Students quickly learn skills relevant to their lives and careers.
Monographs
WAC and Second-Language Writers: Research Towards Linguistically and Culturally Inclusive Programs and Practices edited by Terry Myers Zawacki and Michelle Cox (CC BY-NC-ND).
This book looks at the differing perspectives, educational experiences, and voices of second-language writers. The chapters within this collection not only report new research but also share a wealth of pedagogical, curricular, and programmatic practices relevant to second-language writers. Representing a range of institutional perspectives—including those of students and faculty at public universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and English-language schools—and a diverse set of geographical and cultural contexts, the editors and contributors report on work taking place in the United States, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Readers
Global Storybooks Portal by various (CC BY).
Global Storybooks is a collection of 40 stories from the African Storybook available with text and audio in English, French, and the most widely spoken immigrant and refugee languages in countries all over the world. This resource was created in order to promote literacy and language learning in homes, schools, and communities.
Supplementary Materials
Green Tea Intermediate English Communication OER by Eric Dodson; Luciana Diniz; and Nanci Leiton (CC-BY).
This set of multimedia materials incorporates interesting topics and real-world language in an accessible way for adult English language learners at the low-to-mid intermediate level, using eclectic methods (communicative activities, content-based instruction lite, focus on form), all while maintaining a connection to our learners’ lives.
Home and School by Timothy Krause (CC BY).
This book contains 10 easy picture stories for beginning students of English along with exercises and discussion prompts.
Study Zone by various from University of Victoria (CC BY-NC-SA).
The Study Zone is for students of the English Language Centre (ELC) at the University of Victoria. ELC teachers create English language lessons and practice exercises. The site is designed for our adult English language learners, but all are welcome to read the lessons and use the exercises.
Writing with Grammar by Charity Davenport (CC-BY-SA).
Practice grammar with authentic writing and speaking activities.
Textbooks
51 Bite-Size Lessons on Verbs by Lin Cui (CC-BY-NC-SA).
The book addresses some of the most frequently occurring verb errors made by English as a Second Language (ESL) students.
Advanced Academic Grammar for ESL Students by Rebecca Al Haider (CC BY).
Also see Advanced Academic Grammar for ESL Students under “Courses”
This textbook was created for an advanced academic grammar course for ESL students. By the end of the course, students will recognize and demonstrate the appropriate use of advanced grammar structures. To meet these outcomes, students will listen to aural language that includes the target structures, identify and edit grammar errors in written language, read and analyze texts that include the target grammar structures, and demonstrate the correct and appropriate use of target structures in written and spoken language.
Advanced Community College ESL Composition: An Integrated Skills Approach by Edgar Perez, Sara Behseta, and Jenell Rae (CC BY-NC-SA).
This textbook is for advanced ESL writing classes. It takes a theme-based approach, with content from professional writers, and gives students the opportunity to delve deeply into the readings, learn annotation strategies, and apply critical thinking to their assignments.
Common American English Pronunciation Patterns by David Fox (CC-BY).
This textbook was written for students enrolled in ELL 80 at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. It includes several English pronunciation lessons to make students more effective speakers.
Daily Departures: Speed Reading Passages for English Language Learners by Regina D. Weaver (CC-BY).
This Pressbook version primarily exists to encourage others to adapt and adopt Daily Departures: Speed Reading Passages for English Language Learners using Pressbooks. This textbook is designed to provide fluency support for English language learners at the Waystage level of the Common European Framework Reference.
A Digital Workbook for Beginning ESOL by Eric Dodson; Davida Jordan; and Timothy Krause (CC-BY).
This book contains three levels of interactive grammar lessons and reading activities for beginning students of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The grammar section includes a select set of YouTube videos, and the three original readers include short picture or chapter stories. Each lesson is accompanied by self-correcting exercises.
ESL for Beginning Students: The Way You Like It, Levels 1–5 by Analea Brauburger (CC BY-NC).
A collection of English-grammar books ranging in levels from beginner to advanced. These books were created by Don Bissonnette of South Seattle College for students and teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL). These grammar-based books also include vocabulary, some pronunciation, punctuation, capitalization, and model paragraphs.
Explorations 1: Grammar for the Experienced Beginner by Susan Caisse, Jennifer Rueda; and Kristee Emmens-Heslink (CC BY-NC-SA).
This English grammar textbook was designed for a class of Clackamas Community College (CCC) ESOL students who need only a review of the BE verb and are ready to learn the simple present and present progressive tenses.
Intermediate Reading and Writing by Rebecca Al Haider (CC BY).
OER Textbook for English as a Second Language. It uses themes found in the historical fiction novel Uprising.
It’s All Greek to Me! Using the Authentic Readings to Improve Knowledge of the English Language and Western Culture by Charity Davenport (CC BY-NC-SA).
This book includes entertaining stories, academic articles in a variety of disciplines, vocabulary crossover in literary and academic readings, connections to local, American, and Western culture, and plenty of chances for critical thinking for advanced students of English as a Second Language (ESL). All readings are authentic with minimal adaptation from a variety of sources.
Language Learning in K-12 Schools: Theories, Methodologies, and Best Practices by Nadia Prokopchuk (CC-BY-NC-ND).
This Open Educational Resource (OER) text is intended for both pre-service and practicing teachers who are interested in gaining professional knowledge about language teaching methodologies, strategies, and best practices in K-12 settings. The text may be used as an academic resource text for language education courses and academic programs, or as a self-study text for educators who want to become more informed about the process of learning an additional language at school.
Listening Strategies for Success by Larissa Conley and Sarah Darling (CC-BY-NC-SA).
Supports English language learners to develop academic listening and note-taking skills. Students at the high-beginner/low-intermediate level listen to conversations and presentations on everyday topics such as holidays, food, and travel.
Oral Communication for Non-Native Speakers of English by Timothy Kochem; Monica Ghosh; Lily Compton; and Elena Cotos (CC BY-NC-SA).
This textbook is designed to serve as an instructional tool for both learners and teachers in the field of pronunciation. Topics covered include vowel and consonant sounds, word stress, thought groups, prominence, and intonation as well as materials on listening, speaking, lexicogrammar, pragmatics, and pronunciation. The book can be used as a self-paced instructional tool or a classroom resource for speaking or pronunciation courses.
Teaching Math for Emergent Bilinguals: Building on Culture, Language, and Identity by Ji-Yeong I and Ricardo Martinez (CC BY-NC-SA).
This book is designed for pre-service/in-service teachers and others who will work or work with K–12 students who have linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds, especially students of other languages (English language learners/Emergent bilingual/multilingual).
Teaching Pronunciation with Confidence: A Resource for ESL/EFL Teachers and Learners by Agata Guskaroska; Zoe Zawadzki; John M. Levis; Kate Challis; and Maksim Prikazchikov(CC BY)
This textbook is designed to effectively build strong pronunciation skills and knowledge of pronunciation. It covers key topics, including English sounds, word stress, intonation, rhythm, prominence, connected speech, and pronunciation diagnostics to guide improvement. The book includes a wide array of interactive H5P activities and sound recordings, which can be used for classroom teaching, or homework and individual practice. These exercises provide practical experience, reinforcing the concepts covered in each chapter.
Transition with Purpose: Pathways from English Language to Academic Study by Michele Miller, and Anne Greenhoe (CC BY-NC).
This textbook will guide students through their English language to academic degree studies. Part one of this textbook is a guide for moving from ESL study to academic study at a university. Part two focuses on how academic skills are used across various disciplines and is comprised of activities and assignments designed to practice these skills.
Vocab ASAP by Jennifer Snyder, Luciana Diniz, Elise McLain, (CC-BY-NC-SA).
This work is organized around 5 themes. Each theme has 2 units for a total of 10 units. Each unit contains 24 – 28 target vocabulary words. Other words that may be unfamiliar to students are glossed. We use this material as our textbook for an intermediate vocabulary class for adult English language learners at our community college. This class meets for 2 hours per week, and we typically use 5 units per 10-week term. Each unit contains multiple readings. If you are not teaching a vocabulary class, the readings and vocabulary work may be useful supplements in other classes.
Writing for Change: An Intermediate ELA Resource by various (CC-BY-NC-SA).
Writing for Change: An Advanced ELA Resource by Inés Poblet (CC-BY-NC-SA).
Writing for Change: An Advanced ELL Resource by Whatcom Community College (CC BY).
This ELL textbook includes anti-racist, culturally responsive, and decolonization approaches to learning English.
Media Attributions
- Canada Map Icon by Icons8 (CC BY-ND).
- BC Map by Adamwashere (CC BY-NC-SA).