ESOL Life-Skills: Communication Resources

Below, you will find a list of student Web resources for practicing English in work and everyday life situations (based on Florida Adult ESOL Frameworks)

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Interpersonal Communication

Audio Resources/Listening Practice

1. Greetings and Introductions (audio quiz)
   http://www.esl-lab.com/stalk.htm
2. Speaking Situations
   http://www.eslgold.com/speaking/speaking_situations.html
3. Making Friends
   http://www.rong-chang.com/book/mkfrnd.html
4. Ordering Lunch
   http://www.rong-chang.com/book/lunch.html

Audio Resources/Asking and Giving Directions

1. Asking for and Giving Directions (script)
   http://www.wakeupenglish.com/free_dialogues/files/dialbu12.swf
2. Asking for the Way (script and audio)
   http://www.rong-chang.com/book/askway.html
3. Asking for Directions Activity (script with map and quiz)
   http://members.aol.com/adrmoser/hotpotatoes/whereis.html
4. Asking for Directions Activity (script with map and quiz)
   http://members.aol.com/adrmoser/hotpotatoes/map.html
5. You Can't Miss It (script and audio)
   http://www.wakeupenglish.com/free_dialogues/files/dialpr7.swf
6. Reading a City Map 1
   http://english-zone.com/reading/citymap01.html
7. Reading Maps 1
   http://english-zone.com/reading/map01.html
8. Directions 1 (audio)
   http://www.esl-lab.com/dir1/dir1.htm
9. Directions 2 (audio)
   http://www.esl-lab.com/dir2.htm
10. Directions 3 (audio)
    http://www.esl-lab.com/dir3.htm
11. Where's the Movie Theater?
    http://esl-lab.com/dir4/dir4.htm

Body Language/Gestures

1. The Definition of Gesture (good vocabulary source; includes a list of different types of gestures and a description of each)
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesture
2. Personal Space (a brief explanation of American-style communication)
   http://www.edupass.org/culture/personalspace.phtml
3. How to Communicate Using Space (an explanation of the four distances of personal territory for Americans)
   http://hodu.com/space.shtml

ESL Links

1. Greetings, Conversation Starters, Rejoinders and Giving Details (links by levels)
   http://www.eslpoint.com/speakingindex.html
2. A List of Links of Small-Talk Dialog
   http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Speaking/
3. American English Tips
   http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa_americantips.htm

Telephone Communication

Audio Resources/Listening Practice

1. ESL Podcast 190L: Taking a Phone Message (with audio)
   http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=259andPHPSESSID=6421272cc0ebbd73ae94aa2960236054
2. Taking a Business Call Message (script and audio)
   http://www.wakeupenglish.com/free_dialogues/files/dialbu17.swf
3. Using a Public Phone to make a Person-to-Person Call (script and audio)
   http://www.wakeupenglish.com/free_dialogues/files/dialde27.swf
4. Telephone Responses
   http://www.esl-lab.com/tel1.htm
5. Dialog: Business Communications
   http://www.esl-lab.com/tc1/tc1.htm
6. Dialog: English Language Center (inquiring about an English studies program)
   http://www.esl-lab.com/elc/elcrd1.htm
7. Dialog: Phone Message
   http://www.esl-lab.com/meet/meetrd1.htm
8. Movie Show Times
   http://www.esl-lab.com/show/showrd1.htm
9. Listening to Telephone Numbers
   http://www.esl-lab.com/phone.htm
10. Dialog: Travel Arrangements
    http://www.esl-lab.com/flight/flightrd1.htm

911 Emergencies

1. In Case of Emergency 
   http://www.medids.com/Phone_Tips.html 
2. Call for Help (from Wikipedia)
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_for_help
3. How to Use 911 (printer-friendly version)
   http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/er/911.html
4. How to Use 911
   http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/PD/How_to_use_911.htm#ENGLISH
5. 911 Conversation: Reporting a Fire (with audio)
   http://www.statefarm.com/learning/kid_stuff/smoke/cmndctr/images/911top.swf
6. Emergency Information 911
   http://www.nriol.com/welcome2america/emergency-info-911.asp

Phone Bill and Phone Conversations

1. Understanding Your Phone Bill
   http://www.nclnet.org/technology/88-telecommunications/228-understanding-your-phone-bill
2. Phrases Used Over the Telephone (includes a quiz)
   http://www.linguarama.com/ps/193-2.htm
3. Sample Wireless Phone Bill (scroll down for glossary of terms used)
   http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/phonebills/WirelessPhonebill.html
4. Telephone Skills: Find Your Partner (a class matching activity with printable telephone exchanges)
   http://www.eslpartyland.com/teachers/listening/telephone3.htm
5. Telephone Skills: Role Plays (printout cards and a classroom handout)
   http://www.eslpartyland.com/teachers/listening/roletelephone.htm
6. A List of Polite Phrases for Telephone Conversations
   http://speakspeak.com/html/d2g_resources_telephone_language_library.htm
7. Lesson: Teaching Language Skills Using the Phone Book (detailed lesson plan; includes handouts and link resources for teaching the lesson; from the International Reading Association)
   http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/teaching-language-skills-using-18.html

Scripts

1. Dialog: A Script on How to End a Phone Call Politely
   http://www.linguarama.com/ps/297-2.htm
2. Taking a Message (script)
   http://www.englishclub.com/speaking/telephone_practice2-messages.htm
3. Dialog: There Is a Call for You (script and audio)
   http://www.wakeupenglish.com/free_dialogues/files/dialpr8.swf

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