People Who Save Teachers Time and Help Students – For Free
Of all the English teaching materials in the world, the ones I like best are those that are online and free. Not that I mind paying for good materials, mind you – it’s just that online materials are better (imho) than those you pay for – both those online and in textbooks.
Why is this?
The guys providing lesson plans for free…
- are doing it because they love writing and creating materials. They aren’t doing it because it’s their job.
- have a clear vision of what they want to do and then get it done.
- are not constrained by editors who require materials to fit within a global, generic textbook mould.
- are dedicated and talented materials writers.
- know what motivates students.
- appreciate what busy teachers need.
- can create materials publishers are too afraid to touch.
- are in the classroom day in, day out.
- have a good sense of what works and what doesn’t with today’s learners.
- can and do very regularly produce materials based on what happened one hour ago (almost) or on that day.
I am writing this post to congratulate some of my favourite materials writers for the valuable work they do in providing millions of teachers and students around the world with top quality, free and very regular lesson plans. They do so despite having full-time jobs. I know at least one has a full-time and several part-time jobs and a side job or three.
I make a few lessons myself and receive a few e-mails from busy teachers and happy students thanking me for them. I guess the good people below also receive similar mail:
Sue Lyon-Jones
I would love to produce the visually appealing and pedagogically well-thought-out materials Sue produces at http://www.esolcourses.com/. She has built a beautifully laid out site that is easy to navigate. Her links entice us to click on them. When doing so, we are constantly rewarded with some of the best materials available anywhere in the world. Sue hits the spot ever time with her grading of language, ability to arouse interest and her use of multi-media. She currently has me in a panic that I’m not using video 
Sue also has a lovely blog (http://the-pln-staff-lounge.blogspot.com/)and is an enthusiastic, sharing and ever-supportive tweeter (http://twitter.com/esolcourses)
Chris Cotter
A quick skim through Chris’ site (http://www.headsupenglish.com) leaves one in no doubt Chris is a man dedicated to the cause of providing high quality materials on topics that will motivate learners every time. Chris creates weekly all-skills, X-page lessons on current news for high-intermediate and advanced learners. He also has mini-lessons on extremely original and stimulating topics. Another facet of Chris’ site is his weekly newsletter in which he provides tips and ideas for teachers. Chris has also written a book full of practical and reproducible ideas for the classroom: http://www.betterlanguageteaching.com. Chris also tweets: http://twitter.com/cotterHUE.
Todd Beuckens
Todd’s incredible http://www.elllo.org is my favourite site for listening. It is simply unbeatable. There are over 1,000 excellent listenings on all manner of topics. Each listening is accompanied by lovely flash activities and games that engage students with the transcript. It includes dialogues read by voices from all over the world. Todd also has a blog ELLLO-ology (http://ellloblog.blogspot.com/)
David Deubelbeiss
A visit to the Site Map of David’s ning (http://eflclassroom.ning.com/directory.html) is a jaw-dropping experience. It is unbelievable how someone with a full-time job can create something so incredibly all-encompassing. It is the candy store (of Willy Wonka-esque vision) of EFL teaching – everything you want is here. David has obviously worked tirelessly to create a learning and teaching community based around high quality materials, discussions and everything web 2.0. When I grow up I want a site like David’s. Catch up with David on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ddeubel.
Sandy and Thomas Peters
Sandy and Thomas are behind the excellent Topics Online Magazine (http://www.topics-mag.com), which started way back in 1997. It is a wonderful resource for reading. The couple have amassed a wonderful wealth of inspiring readings written by students from all over the world. My students love it. I love it for its cosmopolitan nature and the fact my students can peek into other cultures via very accessible readings. The striking photos on the site enhances its attractiveness.
It is my hope these people continue to create and be happy with what they do each and every day.
It is also my hope they get suitably rewarded one day, perhaps commensurate with their considerable efforts day in, day out over many years. J They don’t charge $29.95 or more to subscribe to or access their lessons, nor do they earn commissions, speaking fees and royalties from the big publishers.
Follow them. Bookmark/Favourite them. Use their resources. Recommend them.
Tags: esl, free materials, lesson plans, materials writers
I love it when Mr.Free Materials tells us all about the other ‘jaw-dropping’ free materials sites.
It just goes to show that believing in free materials sharing and supporting open-source for all things, is not just an ego trip, it’s a genuine attitude.
Thankyou for showing what is out there that I didn’t even know about. Will be visiting theses place now.
Sean.
Thank you for the mention. Just to be included in your list is a humbling honor. All the sites you mentioned are indeed great sources of free materials created by tireless individuals… and you are at the top of that list, with a new site every time I find the time to browse the Net.
Thank you!
Chris
bravo on your post Sean… brilliant acknowledgment to indispensable people in our field.
Thank you…
Hi Sean.
Like Chris, I feel really honoured to be included in your list, although as you provide such amazing free resources yourself I think in fairness your name really ought to be on the list as well. I like to include topical stuff in my classes and I’ve lost count of the number of times your Breaking News English lessons have come in handy over the years, and saved me hours of preparation time.
ELLO and Heads UP English are both on my list of favourites too, and I’ll be checking out the other sites.
Once again, thank you so much!
Sue
Thank you Chris.
I hope you never tire of creating materials – Many teachers and students all over the world love your stuff.
Agreed on the free lessons. I regularly direct students to breakingnewsenglish.com as part of my program’s continued learning strategies. Also, Sue Lyon-Jones’ site is really well organized…great layout and design.
Hey Sean,
I totally appreciate everything you do for English teachers and learners out there! Over the years, though, I have worked with several publishers who have taught me the ins and outs of material writing. There are ELT authors like Lin Lougheed and Paul Battle who took a chance on me and taught me that I could make a living teaching English through my writing when my kids were young and needed me at home. They paid me for my work even when I was just learning and thank goodness they did. My children were able to eat!
I’m happy that some things in life are free, but I disagree that we all have to make our way by giving stuff away. Schools have so many different needs and many still prefer textbooks, worksheets, and yes even standardized tests written by professional writers (so happy I’m not writing those anymore, but also thankful for what I learned while I was employed in that industry). Freelance writers, editors, artists and photographers also work tirelessly and we deserve to make a living for it. I don’t think anyone would say that all teachers should work for free. Times are changing, so we’ll see what happens to people like me. My guess is that free, like Google, will one day take over the world. Hopefully we can go back to the barter system and someone will let me use their car if I bake them some yummy bread.
Thanks again for your great sites, and now for collecting so many great links.
Tara
Sean,
Thanks so much for the kind words! Like yourself, my site really embodies the idea of, “you can do a lot if you do a little each day”.
I just try to be myself and share what I know. Been out of the light a bit lately, changing jobs/house etc… will ride again and also keep shouting out about your own amazing dedication. Thanks always,
David