Introduction

Why an ESL Tutor Toolbox ?
Frontier College been training tutors for more than 100 years. Thousands of volunteers have been trained to teach newcomers to Canada how to communicate and read and write in English. Tutors are trained in the Student Centered Individualized Learning (SCIL) methodology. Using the SCIL methodology, tutors help students identify things that they can do well and set goals for skills they wish to obtain. Although trained to develop their own lessons, tutors often ask if there is a resource available to help them plan lessons and how to incorporate into lessons, the activities and ideas they have learned in the training.

Who is it for?
This book is designed for tutors or teachers of English as a Second Language. It provides lesson plans based on thematic units. The ESL Tutor Toolbox is designed to provide tutors/teachers with practical lesson activities. The Toolbox activities provide tutors/teacher with ideas for lessons that can be adapted and or expanded depending on the student’s interest, goals and prior knowledge. The activities refer to a on one-to-one learning context but can be easily adapted to a group situation. Although the title is ESL Tutor Toolbox, the lessons and activities can also be used by instructors of adult literacy tutoring or classroom programs.

What is in it?
This ESL Toolbox is a resource for tutors and instructors working with adult students wishing to improve their language skills, both English as a Second Language or literacy. Each theme consists of units containing hands on activities and practical techniques to assist the tutor with lesson planning. Each unit contains: initial assessment questions, a complete set of activity/lesson plans, handouts and a list of other resources which would be useful in lesson planning a particular theme.

How is it set up?
The book has been deliberately produced in a 3-ring binder format so that you can add notes and adapt it to your teaching situation. You may add additional lessons, activities and handouts to each unit. You may wish to add activities to each lesson to assist your student in reaching their goal. The initial assessment questions are designed to assist in finding out what prior knowledge your student is bringing to the lesson. Background notes are included and you may wish to supplement each with your own notes. The demonstrative activities will help you and your student evaluate what has been learned throughout the sessions.



Acknowledgements Table of Contents