Teaching Websites

The world wide web is the world's biggest resource - ESL/EFL teaching is no exception. In planning your own lessons, the internet can provide an invaluable hand in not just ideas, but also things like worksheets, printouts, flashcards, and more.

Here is a list of websites that may be of help to English teachers. Some websites may fit into one or more category, but are generally listed under the category they feature most heavily. Also, be aware that most of these sites have their own links page, and so if you can't find what you are looking for here, an exponentially-growing set of links awaits you elsewhere.

This is an ever-growing list, please feel free to add more websites!

Aggregators

• Tower of English : Provides a list of links much more comprehensive than this list, though many are broken.

Full Lessons

• Breaking News English : A full lesson plan based on a news story. The text of the news story is written by the site and is thus targeted at learners. The topics tend to vary, and are typically chosen to appeal to younger people. Each news story has so many activities associated with it that you could never cover them all in a single class.
• Daily ESL : Entire conversation-based lessons dealing with various different topics.
• English Club : Comprehensive resource collection.
• About.com : EFL/ESL lessons covering a variety of topics.

Activities and Games

• Englipedia : Japan-oriented collection of activities for all three levels. Elementary section includes as special section on "Eigo Note". All activities come with a Japanese translation of the instructions.
• Three Wise Monkeys : Activity database created by a group of JETs from Tochigi Prefecture, and are thus likely to work in your classrooms as well.
• ESL Flow : Never-ending list of activities and lessons.
• Lanternfish : Lots of activities with plenty of worksheets and flashcards to boot. Many Japan and Korea-oriented lessons.
• Dave’s ESL Café : Large but fairly unorganized list of ideas and activities. The list is huge, but many activities will be hard to implement in a Japanese classroom.
• EFL Sensei : Free activities, worksheets, games, and game boards created by a former Kitakyushu ALT.
• ALTInsider : Last Minute Games that require minimal planning, but maximize fun. Lifestyle stuff as well.

Flashcards and Worksheets

• ESL Flashcards : Database of free printable flashcards.
• MES English : Topic-based flashcards and worksheets with over 1800+ images.
• DLTK Cards : Printable resources, including bingo cards, greetings cards, awards, etc... Look and feel can be fairly heavily customized before printing.
• Simple ESL : Features games, activities, and lesson plans. Also has articles about learning methods and such.
• Creative Chalk : Large database of shared worksheets and flashcards. Membership is free, however you can only download so much before you run out of "points". To get more Creative Chalk points, you have to upload your own materials.
• HapiLab : Japanese database of topic-based flashcards in various sizes.

Clipart

• PD Clipart : Public domain. Single pictures only.
• Open Clipart : Public domain. Single pictures only.
• Clker : Public domain. Single pictures only.
• Misaki Illustrations : Japanese clipart in black/white, grayscale, and color. Single pictures only.

Grammar

English Page : Computer-based automated grammar exercises and quizzes.

Listening

• Dream English : Songs that are great for use with Elementary kids.
• Archie Comics : Podcasts for for ESL-themed webcomic.

Reading

• Wikipedia (Simple English) : Special version of Wikipedia using simpler sentences. Mie Prefecture even has an article!
• BBC (Simple English) : Selected BBC news stories with simpler phrasing. Will still be fairly difficult for lower level students.

Miscellaneous Resources

• Conversation questions : Amazingly comprehensive, never-ending list of questions for topics to bring up with your students. Useful for those occasions either in or out of class when you just don't know what to say next.
• Food adjectives : Great for enhancing ability to be descriptive.

Utilities

• Presentation maker : Like PowerPoint but free and entirely online.
• Crosword puzzle maker : Automated crossword puzzle maker, saves you a lot of time.
• YouTube -> MP3 converter : Take any YouTube video and produce an mp3 of the audio.

Non-free Sites

• Genki English : Impressive collection produced by famous ex-JET "Genki Richard". Materials are especially genki and are thus great for younger children. The ideas are free, but the materials are not.
• ESL KidStuff : Flashcards, worksheets, and more. Especially made for young children in mind. $25 (USD) per year.