Planning ESL lessons can be tough. For sure, there’s a lot to prepare. The good news is that you don’t have to do it all from scratch. Why? There are tons of free online ESL website resources for teachers. A lot of these ESL resources for teachers include vocabulary, games & activities, worksheets, lesson plans, and useful videos. So, if you are looking for ESL resources for teachers, you are at the right place! Check out the list of best websites for ESL teachers.
Top 1- ESL Websites for Teachers
ESL Website Resources for Teachers
Here are some of the most useful ESL websites with teaching resources.
1. Eslactivity.org
If you are looking for the best ESL games and activities, this is where you want to go. It has ESL classroom activities for speaking, listening, reading, and writing. These games and activities are great to be used as warm-ups, icebreakers, and time-killers. Also, you can get information about ESL teaching jobs around the world. If you’re an ESL teacher interested in going abroad one day, you can also get useful information about that as well.
2. Online Writing Lab (OWL) from Purdue University
If you are teaching ESL students writing lessons, Online Writing Lab is the perfect teaching resource. Advanced ESL students will need to learn how to write essays using APA or MLA style guide. Using OWL, you will be able to teach students how to properly reference and avoid plagiarism. Also, OWL has a separate category called ESL Teacher Resources. Some of the useful teaching resources include lesson plans, quizzes, online conversation partners, and more links for teachers and students.
3. Dictionary.com
What makes English reading so difficult for ESL students? Grammar, yes. But lack of vocabulary knowledge also makes reading even more difficult for students learning English as their second language. This is where Dictionary.com comes in handy. First thing, it’s completely online, so you or your students don’t need to carry around a heavy dictionary. Not only does this website provide a full online dictionary, but it is also linked to an online thesaurus. Lastly, my favourite part of this website resource is the word of the day section. Just by accessing the website every day, you can learn a new word. I just checked, and the word of the day for today is desegregation!
4. ETS TOEFL: ESL Websites
What are the goals of your ESL students? At some point in your teaching career, you are going to teach a class of ESL students who take English lessons to prepare for exams like TOEFL, SAT, IELTS, and so on. The official TOEFL website has resources for teachers and advisors. As an ESL teacher, you can help your students prepare for TOEFL by using these teaching materials, including a test prep planner, countdown sheet, free practice test, free practice sets (you can also order paid exam preps), and additional resource library. Use this website and help your students get a higher score on the TOEFL exam.
5. ESL Speaking: ESL Websites for Teachers
Looking for quality classroom activities and resources for teaching English speaking? Then check out this website loaded with ESL teaching resources. Find out all the fun games and activities that can help your students learn English speaking in a more engaging way.
The Best ESL Teaching Resources
6. YouTube: Jackie Bolen
Sometimes videos are the best resource. This YouTube channel has tons of quizzes and activities you can play in your ESL classroom by simply playing the video! Also, it has videos about the best tips for teaching English. If you are seeking some advice from an experienced and professional ESL teacher, check out this channel! It has as much useful information as other ESL websites, just in video format.
Some of the teaching resources you can get from Jackie Bolen YouTube channel:
- ESL games and quizzes
- Tips for new English teachers
- How to do all kinds of warm-up ESL activities
- How to make ESL classes more student-centred
- Tips for teaching conversational English
- Tips for giving feedback to ESL students
And a lot more!
7. Breaking News English
Depending on the type of your ESL class, this might be the only website resource you need as a teacher. Breaking News English is especially good when you teach teenagers or adults conversational English. It has over 3,000 free English news lessons in 7 levels. You can target all learning goals of students with different English skill levels in reading, listening, writing, vocabulary, and more. This ESL website reousrce also provides activities like speed reading, speed listening, grammar, dictation, discussion questions, spelling, and prepositions.
8. English Listening Lesson Library (ELLO)
Listening lesson is an important part of teaching ESL students. However, it can be a bit hard giving a listening lesson without any resources. If that’s the case for you too, then try using English Listening Lesson Library (ELLO). There is a number of quality audio and video lessons that includes everything that you’ll need to teach ESL listening. Lessons are also divided into 7 different levels, so you can choose the right lesson to target different levels of students.
9. Internet TESL Journal (ITESLJ)
ITESLJ is a pretty old website that used to publish articles from 1995 through 2010. However, now it is used as a great website resource for ESL and EFL teachers. It is worth taking a look if you are looking for ESL worksheets. In terms of the amount of resources, ITESLJ rules out a lot of competitors in the area of ESL resource websites for teachers. With a little bit of search, you will be able to find the perfect lesson material for your ESL classes.
10. ESL Writing: Top ESL Websites for Teachers
If you are planning to teach an ESL writing class, you have to check out ESL Writing. It has pre-made yearly lesson plans for basic English writing classes that you can use as it is or make some changes to fit your classroom. Also, ESL Writing has super engaging logic puzzles and word games that are perfect for teaching writing classes. This website’s teaching resources are perfect to be used to give a little variety to keep your class interesting and motivating. This website will be especially helpful if you are teaching teenagers, university, or adult students.
Website Resources for ESL Teachers
FAQs About ESL Teaching Resources Websites
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the best ESL websites to find teaching resources.
What is the best ESL website for teachers?
Some of the best ESL websites for teachers to find English teaching materials are Eslactivity.org, Purdue OWL, Dictionary.com, ETS TOEFL, ESL Speaking, Jackie Bolen YouTube Channel, Breaking News English, English Listening LEsson Library, ITESLJ, and ESL Writing.
What websites are teachers using to teach online?
ESL teachers can find English teaching jobs online on websites like Open English, Topica Native, SkimaTalk, and Skyeng.
What is an ESL website?
ESL websites are online resources that provide English lesson materials for ESL teachers. Some of the website resources include games and activities, lesson plans, worksheets, audio and video lessons, ebooks, and go-abroad job opportunities.
Best ESL Websites for Teachers: Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts about these useful ESL resource websites? Do you use any of these websites already? If not, which one are you willing to use in the future for preparing your ESL lessons? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.
