Adult ESL/ELL Beginner · Lessons

Adult ESL/ELL Beginner lessons

7 sections · 102 skills · work through the full outline skill by skill — read the long-form lesson or flip through the slide-style version.

Long-form lessonsSlide-style lessons

Practice 102 skills across this outline.

Recommended next

Basic Capitalization & Punctuation

Pronunciation, Spelling & Mechanics

Long-form lesson

Weighting distribution

25 categories

Pronunciation, Spelling & Mechanics

14%

Culture & Pragmatics

14%

Vocabulary & Semantics · Functional Language & Word Learning

Vocabulary & Semantics · High-Frequency Survival Vocabulary

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Write Basic Messages

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Explaining Yourself

Skills

The comprehensive taxonomy of adult esl/ell beginner — drill into a card to work its skills.

Pronunciation, Spelling & Mechanics

4 core skills14% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Basic Capitalization & PunctuationRecommended

Long-form

Basic English PronunciationAvailable

Long-form

Using the English AlphabetAvailable

Long-form

Editing for Spelling & PunctuationAvailable

Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Interpretive Strategies & Evidence

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Inferring Word MeaningAvailable

Long-form

Confirming DetailsAvailable

Long-form

Predicting Topics from Text FeaturesAvailable

Long-form

Choosing Best SummariesAvailable

Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Everyday Listening (Main Idea & Key Details)

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Recognizing Numbers, Prices & TimesAvailable

Long-form

Following Multi-Step DirectionsAvailable

Long-form

Identifying Key Details: SpokenAvailable

Long-form

Understanding Main Ideas: SpokenAvailable

Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Understanding Common Questions & Requests

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Recognizing Question TypesAvailable

Long-form

Inferring Meaning from ContextAvailable

Long-form

Identifying Exchange PurposeAvailable

Long-form

Understanding Requests & InstructionsAvailable

Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Reading Survival Texts (Signs, Notices, Forms)

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Understanding Signs & NoticesAvailable

Long-form

Reading & Following InstructionsAvailable

Long-form

Recognizing Abbreviations & SymbolsAvailable

Long-form

Finding Key Information in DocumentsAvailable

Long-form

Interpretive Communication (Listening & Reading) · Reading Messages (Texting & Email)

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Identifying Requests in TextsAvailable

Long-form

Interpreting AnnouncementsAvailable

Long-form

Locating Details in MessagesAvailable

Long-form

Understanding Short MessagesAvailable

Long-form

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Write Basic Messages

4 core skills5% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Revising Messages for ClarityAvailable

Long-form

Writing Planning MessagesAvailable

Long-form

Writing Short NotesAvailable

Long-form

Filling Out Basic FormsAvailable

Long-form

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Explaining Yourself

4 core skills5% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Describing People, Places & ObjectsAvailable

Long-form

Explaining Needs & ProblemsAvailable

Long-form

Giving Opinions with ReasonsAvailable

Long-form

Talking About Daily RoutinesAvailable

Long-form

Presentational Communication (Speaking & Writing) · Tell a Simple Story

4 core skills5% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Summarizing ConversationsAvailable

Long-form

Including Key Details in NarrationAvailable

Long-form

Sequencing EventsAvailable

Long-form

Telling Stories About Recent EventsAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Housing, Transportation & Community

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Asking for DirectionsAvailable

Long-form

Home & Housing QuestionsAvailable

Long-form

Community Service InteractionsAvailable

Long-form

Transportation QuestionsAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Classroom & Learning Communication

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Partner Work PhrasesAvailable

Long-form

Classroom EnglishAvailable

Long-form

Asking for Help in ClassAvailable

Long-form

Asking for ClarificationAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Shopping, Ordering & Services

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Completing TransactionsAvailable

Long-form

Ordering Food & DrinksAvailable

Long-form

Requesting ServicesAvailable

Long-form

Shopping: Requesting Items & InfoAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Workplace Basics

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Reporting Work ProblemsAvailable

Long-form

Confirming Task UnderstandingAvailable

Long-form

Work IntroductionsAvailable

Long-form

Asking for & Giving InstructionsAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Health & Emergencies

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Safety & Emergency ResponsesAvailable

Long-form

Calling for HelpAvailable

Long-form

Healthcare InteractionsAvailable

Long-form

Describing Symptoms & FeelingsAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Introductions & Small Talk

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Making Small TalkAvailable

Long-form

Basic Personal QuestionsAvailable

Long-form

Greetings & IntroductionsAvailable

Long-form

Ending Interactions PolitelyAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Making Plans & Appointments

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Making & Changing AppointmentsAvailable

Long-form

Questions About SchedulesAvailable

Long-form

Confirming InformationAvailable

Long-form

Accepting, Declining & ReschedulingAvailable

Long-form

Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening) · Conversation Strategies & Repair

4 core skills2% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Rephrasing with Simpler WordsAvailable

Long-form

Checking UnderstandingAvailable

Long-form

Requesting Slower Speech or WritingAvailable

Long-form

Communication Maintenance PhrasesAvailable

Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Nouns, Articles, Pronouns & Prepositions

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Singular/Plural Nouns & ArticlesAvailable

Long-form

Pronouns & PossessivesAvailable

Long-form

Maintaining Clear ReferenceAvailable

Long-form

Common PrepositionsAvailable

Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Core Sentence Patterns

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Affirmative & Negative FormsAvailable

Long-form

Using Be (am/is/are)Available

Long-form

Using Have/HasAvailable

Long-form

Using There Is/There AreAvailable

Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Questions & Short Answers

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Yes/No QuestionsAvailable

Long-form

Information QuestionsAvailable

Long-form

Questions for ClarificationAvailable

Long-form

Giving Short AnswersAvailable

Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Simple Tenses for Daily Life

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Simple Present for RoutinesAvailable

Long-form

Simple Past for Recent EventsAvailable

Long-form

Simple Future for PlansAvailable

Long-form

Using Time ExpressionsAvailable

Long-form

Language Systems (Grammar & Syntax) · Modals, Imperatives & Connectors

4 core skills3% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Polite Request FormsAvailable

Long-form

Imperatives & Safety LanguageAvailable

Long-form

Using Basic ConnectorsAvailable

Long-form

Vocabulary & Semantics · High-Frequency Survival Vocabulary

5 core skills7% total weight

0/5 completed

5 skills to mastery

Personal Information VocabularyAvailable

Long-form

Shopping, Money & Food VocabularyAvailable

Long-form

Transportation & Community VocabularyAvailable

Long-form

Health & Body VocabularyAvailable

Long-form

Workplace VocabularyAvailable

Long-form

Vocabulary & Semantics · Functional Language & Word Learning

5 core skills8% total weight

0/5 completed

5 skills to mastery

Courtesy PhrasesAvailable

Long-form

Time & Sequencing ExpressionsAvailable

Long-form

Clarification & Repair PhrasesAvailable

Long-form

Word-Learning StrategiesAvailable

Long-form

Avoiding Confusing Word PairsAvailable

Long-form

Culture & Pragmatics

4 core skills14% total weight

0/4 completed

4 skills to mastery

Turn-Taking & Understanding SignalsAvailable

Long-form

Workplace & Community NormsAvailable

Long-form

Polite Language in US SettingsAvailable

Long-form

Appointments & Punctuality NormsAvailable

Long-form