English for Speakers of Other Languages
Resources
Listed below are resources on cross-cultural awareness, pronunciation, idioms, U.S. citizenship, and holidays.
Cross-Cultural Awareness
- Reaching the World in Our Own Backyard: A Guide to Building Relationships with People of Other Faiths and Cultures, by Rajendra Pillai
- A Beginner's Guide to Crossing Cultures: Making Friends in a Multicultural World, by Patty Lane
- Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting in Around the World, by Duane Elmer
- Figuring Foreigners Out: A Practical Guide, by Craig Storti
Cross-Cultural Training Games
- Ambassador simulation—a game to sensitize players to differences in communication styles. Described fully at http://www.saskschools.ca/ or www.saskschools.ca
- A Cross Cultural Simulation, by Linda Olson. Whole article is on the website (www.urbana.org/_articles.cfm?RecordId=32)
- Barnga: A Simulation Game on Culture Clash (Paperback) by Sivasailam Thiagarajan, Raja Thiagarajan (Go to Amazon.)
- "Customs and Cultures" game by Lisa Chinn. This game is a role-play, designed to be a fun and interactive learning experience. Participants "pack" their bags with their host culture’s values. The game centers on the lively and often revealing exchange between the returnee and the customs officer (www.intervarsity.org/ism) Purchase the game at the online store. Best for volunteer staff training or advanced speakers.
Another Classroom Resource
Building Bridges: A Peace Corps Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding. Short, adaptable lesson plans and activities that build cross-cultural awareness, respect, and communication in your classroom. Lessons are flexible, easy to use, and standards-based. This is an online workbook supported in part by National Geographic Education Foundation. Good ideas (www.peacecorps.gov/wws/bridges)
Pronunciation
Pronunciation Skills and Activities
ohiou.edu/esl/english/speaking.html#PronunciationSkills
Activities and links.
international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation
(scroll down past the college home page)
Thirteen units target individual consonant and vowel sounds. Excellent minimal
pair on-line activities, movie demonstration of sound production, PDF file
of workbook exercises.
esl-lab.com (Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab) Listening quizzes and pronunciation exercises with downloadable audio.
fonetiks.org Mostly British English, but does have a limited American accent track.
Books
Clear Speech From the Start, by Judy Gilbert; Cambridge University Press
Beginning to low intermediate
(cambridge.org/us/esl)
Clear Speech, Pronunciation and Listening Comprehension in North American
English, by Judy Gilbert; Cambridge University Press
Intermediate to high intermediate
(cambridge.org/us/esl)
Accurate English, A Complete Course in Pronunciation, by Rebecca Dauer;
Prentice Hall
A very thorough academic course with numerous practice exercises. Audio
tapes are available. Exercises are presented for several ability levels.
Frequently, exercises are also presented for use with certain language groups,
highlighting the error patterns seen for speakers of those varied languages.
(amazon.com)
Sound Advantage, A Pronunciation Book, by Hagen and Grogan; Prentice
Hall
Easy to follow, numerous short, interactive exercises
(amazon.com)
Pronunciation Contrasts in English, by Nilsen and Nilsen; Waveland Press
Excellent resource/reference tool
(waveland.com/Titles/Nilsen-Nilsen.htm)
Small Talk: More Jazz Chants, by Carolyn Graham; Oxford University Press
Good rhythm activities that are fun
(us.oup.com/us/corporate/publishingprograms/esl/)
Idioms
englishdaily626.com
Includes American slang expressions, proverbs, grammar, common mistakes,
song lyrics and other topics. Especially helpful for Chinese students of
English.
rong-chang.com/idioms.htm
Web links to sites teaching American idioms
eslcafe.com/idioms
Extensive list, definitions, examples of idioms and a random idiom of the
day
idiomsite.com
Provides history of numerous idioms (alphabetized); why we say what we do.
Books
Essential American Idioms, by Richard Spears (amazon.com)
The Slangman Guide to Street Speak, the complete course in American slang and idioms, by David Burke (three-book series; (amazon.com)
A Fine Kettle of Fish, Sixteen Idiom Theme Units, by Kristin Pedersen (altaesl.com)
Idioms Delight, by John Arena (bestprices.com)
U.S. Citizenship
uscitizenship.org
Preparation for the U.S. citizenship test. Free for residents of Minnesota;
small charge for others.
The White House
whitehouse.gov
Official web site for the White House and President George W. Bush, Features
a virtual historical tour, history of American presidents and their families,
links to a kids website
Citizenship News
users.crocker.com/~lynnew/index.htm
Links to resources and organizations related to citizenship issues and current
developments in citizenship/civics education.
Books
The U.S.A.: Customs and Institutions: A Survey of American Culture and Traditions: An Advanced Reader for ESL and EFL Students, by Ethel Tiersky and Martin Tiersky; Prentice Hall (amazon.com)
Bible-Oriented Resources
Genesis chapters 1-3. For a high intermediate ESOL group's reading and discussion. The first two pages suggest a schedule of text readings with key concepts listed. Then four review sheets are included with instructions for use.
Holidays
Holiday Charts