Centre For Excellence

ESL Literacy Network Resource Finder

An online ESL Literacy resource room

Explore the ESL Literacy Network's most popular resources, find valuable materials to use in your classroom and program, and discover new tools to enrich your practice.

This collection of Bow Valley College created resources and tools will help enhance your understanding of ESL Literacy and assist you in program development and classroom instruction.

All of the resources are free of charge, easy to download, and viewable online. 

Visit the ESL Literacy Network.

What Members Say

  • I have been looking for helpful, concise information about program development, and your information has been by far the most useful.
    ESL Program Director
  • The ESL Literacy Network provided me with theoretical information I needed, so now I have a better understanding of literacy learners specific needs and how to support them.
    ESL Literacy instructor
  • I developed a curriculum for my program and without these resources on the ESL Literacy Network, I would have been lost.
    Curriculum developer

Featured Resources

  • English Language Learning

    A Practical Guide to Teaching ESL Literacy

    October 10, 2018

    A Practical Guide to Teaching ESL Literacy is a useful and in-depth resource for ESL literacy practitioners. The resource can support both instructors with dedicated classes of ESL literacy learners and instructors who have ESL literacy learners mixed with non-literacy learners.

    This resource introduces a Framework of Literacy Skills for Adult ESL Literacy Learners, which outlines the skills for the development of literacy. The resource also explores effective approaches to teaching adult ESL literacy learners. 

    Read more...

Resource Filter

Title Category Description Source
Workforce Development Framework for ELL Instructors English in the workplace, Curriculum

The content of this guide includes needs assessment, course development and teaching intercultural communicative competence in the workplace.

 

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VESL Tutor Tips VESL

The tutor tips in this document were created by English language learning instructors who have facilitated previous VESL workshops.

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Theme Unit and Lesson Planning Guide ESL Literacy, Classroom practices

Effective theme teaching requires planning and intentional instruction. The purpose of this tool is to help instructors understand how components of a thematic unit are tied together and plan effective thematic units.

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Supporting ESL Literacy Learners ESL Literacy, Classroom practices, Program development

Successful ESL literacy programs are sensitive to learners’ barriers and recognize that learners need support. This tool provides information on the ways a program and instructors can support and empower learners.

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Strategies for Teaching Adult Refugees in the ELL Classroom Classroom practices

This tool is designed for ELL practitioners working with refugee learners and includes:

  • information on the impact of trauma on learning
  • tips for creating a supportive and safe classroom environment
  • effective teaching strategies and approaches suitable for different levels and groups of learners
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Process of Strategy Instruction ESL Literacy, Classroom practices, Reading

Literacy strategies are the methods that learners use to help them read, write and spell effectively. The purpose of this tool is to help instructors provide explicit and focused strategy instruction.

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Portfolio Planning and Implementation ESL Literacy, Classroom practices

A portfolio is a systematic and purposeful collection of learners’ work that demonstrates achievement of learning outcomes over time. This tool supports instructors in planning effectively for portfolio assessment.

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Pathways to Belonging and Influence: Strategies and skills of the flourishing Canadians, born abroad English in the workplace

This resource contains audio conversations with successful immigrants that focus on their strategies for success in establishing themselves in Canada. The conversations are accompanied by written transcripts and a summary of common strategies and practices.

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