ESL & Literacy Program

Franklin Public Library ESL & Literacy Program

The Franklin Public Library offers free English language tutoring for those new to the English language, as well as native English speakers who would like to improve their basic reading and writing skills.

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Learn How to be an ESL Tutor!  Click here to enter the ProLiteracy Education Network to get started! 
To access tutor training enter franklinlibraryesl@gmail.com in the first box, and fpltutor in the second box, then click on "Log in"

(Because this is a shared log-in, you may have to clear the progress of the previous user. When you launch a training module you may see a box with the message "Would you like to resume where you left off?", click on "NO" to go back to the start of the module.  If you would like to create a personal log-in and keep track of your progress, see instructions below for "How to create your Proliteracy individual account")

Although no previous teaching experience is necessary, there is a "best teaching practices" specific to ESL tutoring.  Taking the ProLiteracy Tutor Training Online Workshop will give you the tools you need to be a great ESL/Literacy tutor.

This is a self-paced course, so there is no due date.  Once you have finished the course and feel ready to begin teaching, please contact the Franklin Library ESL Program at franklinlibraryesl@gmail.com to be matched with a student.

How to Create Your ProLiteracy Individual Account:

• Go to https://proliteracyednet.org/franklin-public-library
• You do not need to enter an individual member number.  The Franklin Public Library Organization Number will already be filled in
• Under "Other Responsibilities", please click ESL and/or Basic Literacy.  Please create a password and click "login"
• Click on "Explore" under Tutors/Teachers
• Under the subject header Tutors/Teachers, click on ESL
• Search for "ESL Tutor Training Online Workshop"(use the search feature in the upper right corner) and click on "Open Curriculum" to get started.  Click on "Launch" to start the first module.

To Volunteer:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Speak English clearly
• Have patience
• No teaching experience is necessary
• Volunteers do not need to be Franklin residents

Commitment:

• One orientation session
• 18 Hours of training
• Meet with your student 2 hours per week for one year

For more information, please contact Library Director Felicia Oti.

Tutor Resources

Watertown Public Library Project Literacy Beginner Manual. This is a step-by-step textbook, manual and resource goldmine all rolled into one.

A4ESL: Exercises, puzzles and bilingual quizzes in over forty languages.

Breaking News English: Over 3,000 English lessons in seven levels. Lesson plans include stories, quizzes, conversation prompts and games.

Dave’s ESL Cafe: Includes sections on grammar, idioms, phrasal verbs and more.

EL Civics: English, U.S. History, Government 

English Club: For anyone teaching English. It's a site where learners come to improve their English through online lessons, quizzes, games, forums, blogs, videos, photos etc.

English for Everyone: English printable worksheets. Particularly good are the photo worksheets for question-asking practice

English Grammar Online: Great worksheets for all levels of learners on grammar, writing and reading.

Englishpage.com: Free grammar lessons and interactive exercises. Lots of practice with verb tenses and prepositions.

ESL Flow: Endless free material, including worksheets, on many topics for all levels.

ESL Worksheets @ englishsheets.com: Free ESL Printable Grammar and Vocabulary Worksheets, English Exercises, EAL Handouts, ESOL Quizzes, EFL Activities, TEFL Questions, TESOL Materials, English Teaching and Learning Resources, Fun Crossword and Word Search Puzzles, Tests, Picture Dictionaries, Classroom Posters, Matching Exercises and Flashcards.

Internet TESL Journal: A monthly Web journal for teachers of English as a second language that provides lesson plans, classroom handouts, activities and projects, and articles on teaching techniques.

Lantern Fish: A great resource for lesson planning with word searches, flash cards, worksheets and more.

LingoClip: This resource combines music with ESL learning. English learners have their choice of video selections in American, Canadian or British English at the beginner, intermediate, advanced or expert levels.

Many Things: Downloadable and printable read-alongs, word games word puzzles and more.

Minnesota Literacy: Comprehensive literacy resource offers free lesson plans, support kits and teaching videos as well as teacher trainings. Find resources under Volunteer and Educator Resources tabs.

New York Times Learning Network: Ideas for using the NYT as a resource with English language learners. Includes vocabulary, quizzes and writing prompts. 

Purdue OWL: Great source for Grammar information and practice. Especially helpful for tutors, if they’re struggling to explain English language concepts.

Student Resources
 

MassLinks Adult Online Academy: MassLINKS Online Academy is a FREE DESE-funded Massachusetts statewide adult education program. Students can choose from High School Equivalency (GED and HiSet) preparation classes or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL/ESL) classes. Classes are offered fully online with evening and morning options to help you work around your schedule.

Activities for ESL Students: Grammar and vocabulary practice for all levels, including many bilingual quizzes for beginners.

BBC Learning English: Gigantic site with a variety of media options for all different levels. It includes full courses and shorter specialized audio for other topics.

English with Jennifer: This YouTube channel is a great place for very beginner English learners to start.

ESL Literacy Readers: Simple stories read aloud for beginners, with text and pictures to follow.

Hungry for English: Short, fun videos for beginners that introduce basic vocabulary and conversation structures.

Learn English with Mark Kulek: American English conversation practice, specializing in vocabulary-based conversations that are short and easy for English speaking practice.

Transparent Language Online: Transparent Language Online for Libraries empowers anyone to learn 110+ languages anytime, anywhere, on any device — with unlimited simultaneous usage. Creating an account will let you save your progress and learned vocab, as well as access the mobile apps!

USA Learns: This is a video-based online English course for beginner students. There are five sections with six lessons each. 

VOA English: Great multimedia source of news and information for all levels. Select English level in upper left-hand corner.