TeachersFirst's ENL (English as a new language)
As educators, we must prepare our lessons thinking of all learners. Students learning English as a new language (ENL) are no exception. Recognizing that these students are likely to be fluent in other languages, ENL classes use specific instructional strategies that build on the linguistic strengths that these students have already demonstrated. Any content area teacher may find themselves designing lessons for this population. We share some resources to help you plan lessons that include strategies for your ENL students in this collection.

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Narakeet - Gojko Adzic
Grades
K to 12tag(s): chinese (44), conversions (38), ELL/ESL (28), german (47), greek (33), italian (27), japanese (47), portuguese (22), russian (25), spanish (103), text to speech (17), video (247)
In the Classroom
Although presentations are uploaded as PowerPoint documents, Narakeet is still easy to use with Google Slides. Upload your Google Slide presentations to the Free Office Online Apps, reviewed here, and save as a PowerPoint presentation. Use Narakeet to share information with world language learners to hear the text spoken in the native language. Use this site with ENL/ESL students to convert small pieces of text to their native language. Use this site with students who have difficulty reading, especially when working with more challenging passages and text. Use the video options to convert student presentations into videos, then share presentations on your class website. Narakeet is also a handy option to use when creating flipped learning lessons. Upload the lesson as a slide presentation, and then convert it to a video file for easy viewing by students.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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TeachVid - TaskMagic and Textivate
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): chinese (44), french (72), german (47), italian (27), japanese (47), latin (21), russian (25), spanish (103)
In the Classroom
Use TeachVid as a supplement to enhance and engage students in foreign language instruction. Share with students as a resource to explore different languages and find options that interest them. Use this site to teach world languages that aren't available within your curriculum. You can create interactive videos of your own using EdPuzzle, reviewed here. Use EdPuzzle to add comments and questions to create self-paced lessons to videos and moderate student learning. As students become proficient in a new language, or find languages that interest them, engage and extend thier learning (with TeachVid as a model) by encouraging them to share their understanding and learning by creating videos using Binumi, reviewed here, with voice overs and templates. Then ask them to share their videos with their peers. Teachvid is also an excellent resource to share with ENL/ELL students to support English language learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mote - Mote Technologies Inc
Grades
K to 12tag(s): editing (88), Google (38), rubrics (30), Special Needs (45), Teacher Utilities (134)
In the Classroom
Use Mote to make feedback more personal for students and hear voice intonation instead of just written text. Use this extension to share positive feedback on student work and point out specific areas of improvement. Share Mote with your peers to use when collaborating on any document as a replacement for written comments. Mote is an excellent way to provide missing in-person connections with students during remote learning by allowing them to hear your voice instead of viewing impersonal comments. Use Mote when teaching ENL/ESL students to help students who are not proficient in English by enabling them to see comments in their native language.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Read Ahead - Full Tilt Ahead, LLC
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): literacy (98), reading comprehension (132), vocabulary (231), vocabulary development (91)
In the Classroom
Include Read Ahead with your other resources for teaching vocabulary. Read Ahead is perfect for introducing any reading passage to struggling readers, special education students, and ENL/ELL learners. Create presentations for articles found in science or social studies materials to prepare students for difficult vocabulary and phrases. Take advantage of this site to use reading material with your students that might otherwise be above their reading level. Instead of asking students to use vocabulary in sentences to demonstrate understanding, ask them to use the words to create digital stories using an online tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator can be used for a variety of assignments in any classroom that is integrating technology as an enhancement, modification, or transformation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FluentKey - Fluentkey, LLC
Grades
K to 12tag(s): chinese (44), DAT device agnostic tool (135), french (72), german (47), sign language (10), spanish (103), Teacher Utilities (134)
In the Classroom
Use FluentKey to easily differentiate world language lessons for students and allow them to progress at their own speed. Help ENL/ESL students master English using videos and quizzes based on their knowledge level. This is also an excellent tool to provide language learning experiences based on student interests. Even if the language isn't included with the videos on the site, find and upload videos for student use and add quizzes along with additional content. As students become proficient in a new language, encourage them to share their knowledge using a variety of multimedia tools. Annotate images using Google Drawings, reviewed here, create an audio recording of conversations, or use PhotoCollage, reviewed here, to create the collage. As students become more proficient in their new language, ask them to record short podcasts with a podcast creation tool like Podcast Generator, reviewed here, and share tips and advice with their fellow students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Headliner Voices - Headliner
Grades
K to 12tag(s): text to speech (17)
In the Classroom
Although the videos created using the site are rough in appearance, use them to engage students at the beginning of a lesson or as a quick summary to conclude an activity. Use with ENL/ESL students to hear text in a variety of voices. After listening to phrases spoken on the site, ask students to practice by recording on their computer or mobile device. Have students use Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here, to share the celebrity version of the text, then record themselves.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BeeLine Reader Collection - Reading is Fundamental
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): independent reading (81), reading comprehension (132), reading strategies (87), Special Needs (45), Teacher Utilities (134)
In the Classroom
These BeeLine Reader PDFs are an excellent addition to the already valuable reading materials found at Reading is Fundamental - Literacy Central, reviewed here. Be sure to bookmark this site to find leveled reading passages with the enhanced function of BeeLine Reader. These PDFs are wonderful to share with ENL/ELL and Special Education specialists to use with their students. Remember, all teachers are reading teachers. Share this tool with your science, social studies, and math teachers, too!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Immersive Reader - Microsoft
Grades
K to 12tag(s): adhd (27), differentiation (72), disabilities (27), dyslexia (10), Microsoft (75), reading comprehension (132), Special Needs (45), text to speech (17)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many features included with Immersive Reader for any classroom use. You may need to discuss downloading this product with your school's IT department; however, it is well worth the effort. This product is especially helpful for ENL/ESL students and students needing additional help with reading. Use the language options for students to hear and view text in their native language. Use Immersive Reader to help students with Dyslexia or ADHD to decode and focus on the text by using the options included. Upload classroom materials for students to use for help in understanding difficult text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LyricsTraining - LyricsTraining.com
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (135), french (72), german (47), italian (27), japanese (47), portuguese (22), spanish (103)
In the Classroom
Ways to use this site are limited only by your imagination! Share with ENL/ESL learners for practice in English. The many choices on this site assure that all viewers will find music to enjoy. Foreign language learners will love practicing their new language using options on the site. Be sure to share a link on your class website and school computers for practice at home and during independent work time. Use this site as a 5-minute transition at the beginning or end of class. Register on the site and create customized exercises to meet the needs of your students, or let them create practice activities for fellow class members.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: ESL Teaching Tools and Tips - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): ELL/ESL (28), professional development (331), twitterchatarchive (155)
In the Classroom
Explore the tools shared in this archived chat. Share this tool with your colleagues who work with ESL students in their classrooms.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Text 2 Speech - text2speech.org
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): listening (65), pronunciation (34), text to speech (17)
In the Classroom
Type or copy and paste what you'd like to hear into the Text 2 Speech box. Use speed options to slow down speech for ENL/ELL students. Mark this site on your teacher web page for your ENL/ELL students to hear something read or pronounced both in an outside of class. Use Text 2 Speech with students who have difficulty reading, especially when working with more difficult passages and text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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YOUGLISH - Youglish
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): dictionaries (47), pronunciation (34), vocabulary (231)
In the Classroom
YOUGLISH is a helpful site for ENL/ESL learners or students encountering new words for the first time. Be sure to activate the Restricted Mode on all devices using YOUGLISH. Look for the (RM) logo while students are using this tool. Since inappropriate content can be search and displayed, this is best used with teacher direction as a group activity, perhaps using an interactive whiteboard or projector.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Vocabulary Trainer - LanguageCourse S.L.
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): arabic (14), chinese (44), french (72), german (47), greek (33), hebrew (16), italian (27), japanese (47), spanish (103)
In the Classroom
This site would be very handy in world language classes and when working with ENL/ESL students. Use this site as a learning station or center. Include this site as a resource when students are preparing a project about another culture. If you have students in world language, world cultures, or even language arts classes who need enrichment - send them to this site to learn the basics of a new language or to look for roots that show in English. Self-motivated advanced students or those planning a semester abroad can learn language basics on their own here. Be sure to include this site for "Children of the World Day" or family heritage day activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Visuals for Foreign Language Instruction - Paul Toth
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): worksheets (68)
In the Classroom
Use this site with ENL/ELL learners to provide visual cues for English language learning. For more advanced learners, use the illustrations as story cues or starters. Have students create their personal learning book by printing images and combining into a notebook. Share a link to this site on your class webpage for parents and students to access at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Learn English with Jokes and Riddles - Jacob Richman
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Jokes and riddles make excellent language exercises, and kids love them. Once the students have guessed the answer, use the sentences for grammar practice by identifying parts of speech, subject and predicate, and even diagramming. Younger students and ENL/ESL students can learn new vocabulary words, too. The twist and/or play on words will surely attract your gifted students. Once you have gone through several of these, encourage students to create their own and share with the class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Story Shares - Louise Baigelman and Gary Herman
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): book lists (139), differentiation (72), digital storytelling (138), ebooks (34), reading comprehension (132)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site to your reluctant or struggling readers on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups to find interesting reading material. Be sure to provide a link to Story Shares on your class website or blog for students to explore at home. Use this site to differentiate for students of all levels and for use with special education or ENL/ESL students. Have students write their own comprehension questions and answers based on the book to check their own comprehension and to exchange with classmates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hungry for English - Learn English Series
Grades
1 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (141), pronunciation (34), verbs (27), video (247)
In the Classroom
Use one of these videos each time you introduce a new ENL/ELL lesson. Share the video on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Share this link on your class website or wiki for new English language learners to use together with their families. Challenge your ENL/ELL students to create their own videos to teach others English. What better way to learn, than teach? Share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dig Into English - Ben
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): listening (65), podcasts (65), vocabulary development (91)
In the Classroom
Assign specific podcasts to students and have them make their own question and vocabulary studies. Bookmark this site for use when studying Oceania (and Australia). Share this link on your class website for your ENL/ELL students to use both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ba Ba Dum - Aleksandra MizieliA...
Grades
K to 12tag(s): arabic (14), chinese (44), french (72), german (47), italian (27), portuguese (22), spanish (103)
In the Classroom
Use your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to introduce this site in your world language class, ENL/ESL class, or young elementary classroom. Make a shortcut to Ba Ba Dum on classroom computers for use as a center in a language class or world cultures. Use this tool with young students just learning the English language to build up their vocabulary. The website offers audio options on many of the interactives, making this site ideal for non-readers (even kindergartners). Share this site with your gifted students looking for individual challenge. Why not learn Lithuanian or Chinese? Be sure to share a link to this site on your class website or blog for students (and possibly parents) to use at home. Have cooperative learning groups create online picture or ABC books featuring a different language using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.Comments
Buena practica de vocabularioClaudia, TX, Grades: 1 - 7
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Lingo Hut - Lingo Hut
Grades
1 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): flash cards (40), vocabulary (231), vocabulary development (91)
In the Classroom
Sit ESL/ELL students in pairs at classroom computers to get extra review for survival vocabulary and phrases. This site is perfect for the classroom where there is one or more English language learners. This would be like having a personal tutor. Be sure to put the URL on your class website so students can work at home, too. It would be a good idea to get parents involved, if they are learning English, too.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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