Once again we will be gathering in the fall for our annual training conference. SOCEM’s Gathering XVI will be on October 26, 2019 from 8:15am to 2:30pm at Trinity Church Streetsville. There will be a plenary panel discussion on “Building Community in ESL Ministry,” 14 workshops to choose from (see below), a Getting Started in […]
Finishing Well
By Linda Reed At this time of year, many of us are wrapping up our ESL programs for the year. Some of us are tired, while others begin overseas ESL experiences. Often, the summer provides time for quiet reflection on the year past. Did we finish well? If we want to evaluate the year, what […]
Resources for ESL Summer Lessons
Is your program continuing through the summer? Or perhaps you’re looking for summer-related materials to wrap up the year? Here is an assortment of ideas and lesson plans based on topics to do with the summer. Let these be a springboard for further ideas. Summer Worksheets (beginners’ level) 103 Free Summer Worksheets (all levels) Summer […]
By Nathan Kwan There are endless number of activities your students can do during the summer. The following are some possibilities mainly around the Greater Toronto Area, but including Ontario as well. We just took a group of students to Kensington Market in Toronto on Pedestrian Sunday (see here for this year’s dates). The roads […]
By Johnson Hsu Having worked in and with ESL ministries for over 20 years now, I know that sometimes we can question what we’re doing and why. Sometimes we get asked how this is ‘ministry’ work. I’d like to look at that question through the lens of one of the primary groups we serve: international […]
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/annual-report-parliament-immigration-2018/report.html#introduction
By Carol Blake Does grammar make you nervous? Do you wonder if you know enough to be able to help your students with their grammar? Let’s take pronouns, for example. Can you explain when to use who or whom? You and I or You and me? You can Google these issues fairly easily and find […]
Consider using these little stories as “Easter lessons” for Intermediate/Advanced students, as lead-ins to the truths of Easter. They are short, easy to read, and we can easily devise comprehension questions and vocabulary exercises out of them. I hope that they can become spring boards for discussions on what Christ has done for us on […]
Beginners’ level http://www.bestofthereader.ca/Ebooks/Holidays-print.pdf (pp. 14, 15) http://bogglesworldesl.com/easter_worksheets.htm (an assortment of fun activities like crossword, rhyme, word search) Conversation questions http://iteslj.org/questions/easter.html http://teflpedia.com/Easter_conversation_questions Readings http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/04/good_friday.html (with lots of accompanying exercises) http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/04/easter_sunday.html Miscellaneous https://busyteacher.org/classroom_activities-vocabulary/holidays_and_celebrations/easter-worksheets/ (Free Easter worksheets, different levels) https://www.esolcourses.com/topics/easter.html (Easter – online lessons, activities, and worksheets) Specifically Christian content Good Friday, Easter Part 1, Easter Part 2 […]
The New Life of Spring
By Mary Hogan We are blessed in Canada to be able to experience four seasons throughout the year. Indeed, the seasons are a favourite topic of our ESL learners. From the heat of summer with its ever-expanding array of water sports, to the magnificent display of yellow, orange and burgundy fall colours, to the pristine […]