Clare Harris

THIS POST IS OUT OF DATE: UPDATED IN NOV 2023!

In my last interview with Natalie Nawrocki  (Kim Loves Life) I thought how great it was to be able to say, ‘This is a free ESL resource’.

Now I know as well as you do that I can search online for ‘free ESL resources’ and find a gazillion worksheets. However, I’m talking here about free Aussie resources, because I think that – at lower levels especially – it’s so important for learners to get local information and culture, as well as language.

So I’ll update my resources-for-adult-learners list and hope that other people can add to it! I know that links are prone to change – so updates are welcome too.

Reading books: beginner – to download

• Kim Loves Life: health issues reading book at ‘beginner up’ level, with teacher’s workbook and resources at higher levels.
• Welcome to the Library: also from Djerriwarrh with Melton City Council: it’s a reader and rap song
• My own book: My Job is the Best: reader, cut-ups, worksheets, teacher notes
• Stay safe readers: beginner literacy readers about Home Safety, on the old NCELTR website

Reading books: beginner – to read online

• Karen Barber’s Bad Hair Day series – now on Youtube, with page turning and audio.
• MOOEC: Beach Safety (based on the TELLS Safety at the Beach reading book)

Reading books: post-beginner to intermediate level

• Namaste book series from TCAL: six stories by refugees from different countries, now living in Australia. Download as pdf, epub or mobi.

 Teaching resources: all levels

• Home Tutor resource packs: for volunteer tutors, with resources and teaching tips at four levels

Teaching resources: post-beginner to intermediate

From AMES NSW (now on the VETRES site): four resources

• Fire Safety
• Calling an Ambulance
• Beach Safety
• Understanding good health

From AMES Australia (Victoria):

• Digital Literacy for Mobile Phones resource kit
• Lily the Volunteer (great for pre-employment students)
• What’s the law? kit: find out about it here, but contact your local legal aid centre to get the free DVD.
• Work at it: Podcasts on jobseeking and career planning
• Career Development Skills for CALD Learners kit: “a free kit to support the delivery of an integrated career development program to adult EAL students at a pre-intermediate level of English in conjunction with their English language program.” (Thanks, Lesley Cioccarelli, for this update – I’d missed it!)

Training materials from AMES Australia, for teachers/RTOs:

• Engage respectfully with young people from a refugee background
• Working with refugees and bicultural work with refugees

Video

• ABC Everyday English and higher level resources

Self-study for learners

• AMEP Online: an less-than-appealing interface (and may be confusing on a phone), but great content (from the old Navitas Distance Learning program)
• MOOEC has a huge number of IELTS prep and academic level courses, and some more vocational ones, like Sun safety – ideal for would-be child care workers

Schools resources

• So not really for adults, but a good list at the Australian Government site, including Behind the News.

What have I missed? Please, if you know if more free Australian ESL resources aimed at adult learners, let me know!!