ESL Resources

I teach English as a second language (ESL) at a college in Quebec, Canada.  The material that you see here was developed for that context, and may not work as well in other contexts.

Would you like to grade using rubrics, also called descriptors? If so, look below for a download link. The download file contains speaking grids and writing grids for English 101, 102, and 103 (A block or B block). There are also some examples of grids to for multi-skill exams, like an exam for reading & writing, or an exam for listening & speaking. Multi-skill exams are great because they mean less time evaluating and less time marking. They also respect our ministerial directives much better than single-skill exams, in my personal opinion.

Would you like a full course for B-Block? If so, look below for a download link. The course makes very heavy use of discussions to keep the students active and engaged. It has students discussing personal and professional issues like time management, soft skills, physical health, etc. This leads to students writing a "personal essay" for their midterm, where they self-reflect. The second half of the semester builds research skills, and leads to a research essay.