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Learning activities

There are lots of ways to practice reading and writing and English language. Read on for some ideas…

What skills you can practice

Reading

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.

Writing  

Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.

Speaking      

Two people speaking, with speech bubbles over their heads, to symbolise speaking skills.

Listening

An ear, to symbolise listening skills.

What activities you can do

Activities to do  online

A circle with lines going through it vertically and horizontally, to symbolise online activities.

Videos to watch

A play symbol, to represent videos learners can watch online.

Worksheets to

print

An icon of a printer, to symbolise worksheets that can be printed.
A computer screen, smartphone and tablet, to symbolise websites.

Websites

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If you can’t get onto the internet, speak to your keyworker to see if they can help you. Click on the underlined links below to go to each website.

This website is for people who are Level 1 or Level 2 in English. You can practice skills for jobs (for example, catering, construction) and different situations (for example asking questions). There are also tips for spelling and grammar. All the information is on videos you watch and activities you do on the website 

Skills Workshop.

https://www.skillsworkshop.org/

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.
A circle with lines going through it vertically and horizontally, to symbolise online activities.
A play symbol, to represent videos learners can watch online.
An icon of a printer, to symbolise worksheets that can be printed.

This website has sections for English and ESOL. On the left-hand side of the main page, you can choose your level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2). It has some resources for speaking. There are lots of worksheets on reading and writing, including spelling and punctuation. All the worksheets need to be printed.

This website is for very good for people who have English as a second language but is also helpful for people who speak English as their first language. It has sections for speaking, listening, reading, writing and pronunciation. It also has a section for numeracy (maths). You can choose your level (Entry, Level 1 or Level 2) and the activities are through videos and activities you do on the website.

A circle with lines going through it vertically and horizontally, to symbolise online activities.
A play symbol, to represent videos learners can watch online.
A play symbol, to symbolise videos learners can watch online.
A printer, to symbolise worksheets that can be printed out.

This website has a section for reading, writing, listening and speaking. It also has pages for spelling, word grammar and sentence grammar. It has videos and worksheets you can download and print.

English Language Teaching Resources.

https://www.englishwsheets.com/

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.

This website has lots of worksheets to help with learning and spelling words in English. There are stories you can read and activities to help with grammar too.  The worksheets need to be printed out.

A printer, to symbolise worksheets that can be printed out.

English Grammar Online.

https://www.ego4u.com/

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.

This website has some good reading exercises in the ‘Read On’ section and word games in the ‘Chill Out’ section. You can see them on the left-hand side of the page. All the exercises must be done online.

A circle with lines going through it vertically and horizontally, to symbolise online activities.

Games to learn English.

https://www.gamestolearnenglish.com

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.
Two people speaking, with speech bubbles overhead, to symbolise speaking skills.
An ear, to symbolise listening skills.

This website has lots of games to help with learning English and practicing grammar. There are games to help learn new words, practice making sentences and practice listening skills. All the activities are done on the website.

A circle with lines going through it vertically and horizontally, to symbolise online activities.

The Guardian quick crossword.

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick/15776

Good for​

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.

The Guardian quick crossword can help you practice spelling and learning new words. You can click ‘reveal’ to show you a word if you don’t know it. There’s a new crossword each day. The website also has cryptic crosswords and other puzzles. All the puzzles are done online.

A circle with lines going through it vertically and horizontally, to symbolise online activities.

Do you know any good websites that help with reading and writing or learning English? If you have any suggestions or ideas for these pages please e mail me at shalsey@rweproject.org or tell me when we speak.

Other ideas

Magazines stacked together on a shelf.
A pile of newspapers.

You can get these free newspapers in most underground stations and some shops. You can use them to help practice reading and writing by:

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  • Choosing one article to read. Underline any new words and ask a friend or someone you know what they mean/how to pronounce them.

  • Choose an article and try reading some of it out loud to help with pronunciation.  

  • Try the crossword/word puzzles. 

  • Choose a picture and label all the things you can see OR write a description of the picture OR make up your own story about what you can see in the picture  

  • Cut out the letters from headlines and rearrange them to make new words.

Free newspapers and magazines

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.
Two people speaking, with speech bubbles overhead, to symbolise speaking skills.
An ear, to symbolise listening skills.

Radio and Television.

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.
Two people speaking, with speech bubbles overhead, to symbolise speaking skills.
An ear to symbolise listening skills.
A telepvision set.
A radio.

Listening to the radio or watching television can be fun and interesting. You will hear new songs and maybe new ideas. It will help your listening skills, which will also help your speaking skills. Whether you like to listen to people talking, or to music, it will help you to hear and learn new words.

To practice writing, you could also:

  • Write down some of the new words you hear.

  • Write about a song, radio or television programme that you like.

  • Keep a radio/TV diary, where you write down what you’ve heard/seen and what you think about it. You don’t have to write a lot!

Books/magazines.

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.
Two people speaking, with speech bubbles overhead, to symbolise speaking skills.
Magazines on display on a shelf.
A book with a green cover.

Reading books and magazines can be interesting and enjoyable, as well as helping your English skills. As well as reading stories and articles, you can also try some of the following ways to help your English skills when you read:

  • Underline new words and look them up in a dictionary or ask a friend what they mean. You can also highlight them using different colour pens.

  • Draw pictures of things in the book, for example characters or places described in the book

  • Write down new words in a notebook, look at them again when you want to. You could also try writing a sentence that use the new word.

  • Keep a reading diary, where you write about what you read and what you think about it. You do not have to write a lot!

  • Try reading some sentences out loud. Depending on how you like to learn, this might help you remember what you are reading better. It also gives you a chance to try pronouncing new words.

Diary/Journal/Notebook.

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.

Good for

Someone writing to symbolise writing skills.
Two people speaking, with speech bubbles overhead, to symbolise speaking skills.
A spiral bound notebook with a pencil beside it.

Writing in a diary, journal or notebook is a great way to express yourself, record what you’ve been doing or get creative! At the same time, you will be practicing your writing skills, including feeling comfortable holding a pen/pencil, forming letters, spelling and grammar. Some ideas for things to write about are:

  • What you have done during the day

  • What you can see around you right now

  • What you thought of a film/TV series you’ve seen

  • A description of a person you like

Remember that you do not have to write a lot. One sentence a day or a week is a good place to start. You can write more when you want to.

Shopping lists.

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.
A green shopping basket.

Next time you go for shopping, try writing down the things that you need.

As well as helping to practice writing and spelling, it will help you

remember everything!

Sticky notes/labels.

Good for

Someone reading a book, to symbolise reading skills.
Someone writing, to symbolise writing skills.
A pad of green sticky notes.

If you are trying to learn a new word, write it on a sticky note and put it somewhere you see every day (for example, on the door of your room, or next to your kettle).Every time you see it, say and spell it out loud.

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