News+Websites+for+ESL+Learners

Lessons based on current events in the news provide rich opportunities for advanced ESL learners. The lessons are real and relevant. Other aspects which make these sorts of lessons a good choice for the classroom include, in no particular order: **//Interesting.//** After all, most everyone reads the news, particularly the human interest pieces. **//Challenging.//** Even when rewritten to include particular vocabulary and/or grammar, the real and relevant aspect also makes them slightly more difficult than the usual lesson. **//Refreshingly different.//** A lesson focused on real topics instead of textbooks offers something new. **//Useful.//** Students can use the information from the lesson to gain different perspectives on hot topics, and use that information when talking with friends and colleagues. What's more, because the students may likely have discussed the same and/or related issues in their native language, retention of grammar and vocabulary improves, as does accuracy and fluency, because the ideas are already somewhat familiar. Source

Pre-intermediate + || Split the class into groups. Each group takes one section of the website (news, sport, music etc) and writes a summary based on the news topics on the page. || low-interm., interm., advanced || News articles from the web chosen for ESL learners with interactive exercises. Read the article -> study the word list -> reading comprehension: True or False -> vocabulary exercise. To access the full list of news articles (graded by age and level) you need to register (free). By registering as a teacher you automatically become a member of another site EFL247.com which has resources and community for ESL teachers. || Interm., upper-int., advanced || A short news article, audio and lots of reading comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and writing activities. To access audio, online quiz, online gapfill, a printable handout, definition activity, online crossword, hangman, vocabulary flashcards, word matching exercises - check the links shown on the picture. || Learning English ||  ||   ||
 * **Website name and URL** ||  **Audience**  ||  **Ideas / Notes**  ||
 * ** Children’s BBC Newsround ** || 10+ native speakers
 * **News Activities** || 10 +, teens, adults
 * **News English Lessons** || high teens, adults
 * Simple English News ||  || Mandula, the miraculous cat ||
 * Voice of America |
 * News in Levels ||  || This site has a variety of news stories with materials designed to support learners at 3 different levels. ||