• Weather (describing the weather)
  • Emergency (associated vocabulary and dialogues)
  • Community (describing buildings and activities in a town; describing a location)
  • Parts of the Body (and common health problems associated with the body)
  • Family (names of family members)
  • Health (common health problems and medication; to ask and respond to questions about health)
  • Food (names of common food; inquiring about food in a grocery store; discussing likes and dislikes)

Boyd, John R., Mary Ann Boyd and Paula Kezwer. Before Book 1: Listening Activities for Pre-Beginning Students of English. Scarborough, Ontario: Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., 1994.

This kit includes tapes, a workbook and an accompanying teacher's manual that includes transcripts of the tapes as well as lesson plan ideas.
Topics covered include: numbers, letters, money, time, clothing, household items, parts of the body, Canadian geography and food.

Dietrich, Darcy. Thematic Units for ESL Literacy Learners. Regina: Regina LINC Consortium, 1995.

This book includes six units (in 3 binders) and a teacher's manual. All supplementary materials are included.

Gati, Sally. Literacy in Lifeskills. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 1992.

This kit includes two workbooks and cue cards. The kit contains plenty of worksheets where learners can practice their writing skills; visuals are also included which help learners develop the appropriate context for the new vocabulary. A teacher's manual is also included.
Themes include: numbers, the alphabet, introductions, personal information (addresses, dates), time, money, family and health.

Holt, Grace Massey and Susan Gaer. Bridge to Literacy: English for Success (Book 1). Carlsbad, CA: Dominie Press, Inc., 1993.

This activity book includes prepared lesson plans focusing on a variety of common, everyday themes such as food, job skills and recreation. Although printed in the U.S.A., some of the content is transferable. Each lesson stresses a cultural concept as well as specific functions, grammar and vocabulary. For tutors who want to have more ideas regarding how to use sight words (or Total Physical Response) in the content of a lesson, this would be a good resource. Accompanying the learner's book is an instructor's manual. The instructor's manual includes: suggested materials, preparation (warm-up exercises), presentation tips (for the main portion of the lesson) and follow-up. The main portion of each lesson focuses on all skill areas (listening, speaking, reading and writing.)