I started this list, with many suggestions from other teachers and tutors, for the Portland Literacy Council‘s tutor training workshops for remote tutoring.
List:
- ESOL News Oregon
- A fantastic source of local current events in multiple levels of complexity, with online vocabulary and language-focused questions. Written by Tim Krause, ESOL Instructor at PCC SE.
- Some readings (look in the archive) have little sound/speaker symbols next to them, and have recorded narration.
- For more info, I have a short explanation on my site, too.
- Online Readers by Tim Krause
- Home and School (beginning level)
- Ten easy picture stories with comprehension questions and interactive online activities.
- Portland People and Places (high beginner level)
- Nine short readings about Portland and Oregon history, ranging from the Vanport flood, complete with comprehension questions and online activities.
- Seven Wonders of Oregon (low intermediate level)
- Seven short readings (ok, there are also two extra readings) about amazing natural landmarks in Oregon, from Crater Lake to the Columbia River Gorge. Also has comprehension questions and online activities.
- Home and School (beginning level)
- Bow Valley ESL Literacy Readers
- 40 readers for adult learners of English, with audio narrations also available.
- Note: for a Canadian context, so some context may be different from your learners in the US.
- Merriam Webster Learners’ Dictionary
- Free online resource that includes audio pronunciation guides.
- For students who are looking for a way to organize their vocabulary and practice online, there is also a free account (email required) — but this is optional.
Do you have more that you’d like to contribute, or share a way that you’ve engaged and supported learners online? Share a comment or contact me.
Hi Eric,
I had met you at the PLC’s tutor training. I teach through BLC and would like to use the audio files made on different topics in my class, one of them being Cat Cafe. How do I access it?
Hi Medha, you can find the audio files next to the articles in ESOL News Oregon (though only some of the articles have recordings). For example, here is the cat cafe article. On that page, there is an audio player. Click on the orange play button to start the audio.
Also, you can find all of the recordings on Apple Podcasts. This is sometimes an easier way to find everything.