Open Educational Resources (OER) by Subject: English for Speakers of Other Languages

Oral Communication

• Oral Communication for Non-Native Speakers of English (2020, Iowa State, CC BY-NC-SA)
• Communication Beginnings: An Introductory Listening and Speaking Text for English Language Learners (2017, Abrahams, CC BY-NC) This textbook is designed for advanced beginning-intermediate English language learners in an academic English program. It is composed of 7 chapters, each of which covers specific speaking and listening learning objectives and includes dialogues, interviews, discussions and conversation activities. Each chapter also focuses on 10 target words from the New General Service List of English vocabulary and reviews basic grammar points. The textbook includes an audio component that consists of recorded conversations of native and non-native English speakers, as well as links to additional listening resources on the web.

  • Audio files are also available online via PSU Mediaspace.

Reading

• Daily Departures: Speed Reading Passages for English Language Learners (2019, Weaver, CC by-NC) is a collection of twenty 200-225 word reading passages written primarily within the 1,000-word level of the New General Service List and designed to provide fluency support for English language learners at the Waystage level of the Common European Framework Reference.

Writing

• Writing for Change: An Advanced ELL Resource (2021, Inés Poblet, CC BY)
• About Writing:  A Guide (Klamath Community College/Open Textbook Library)
• College ESL Writers: Applied Grammar and Composing Strategies for Success (Georgia State University/Open Textbook Library)
• Frameworks for Academic Writing (Creative Commons)
• Handbook for Writers (Saylor Academy)
• Introduction to Academic Writing for ESOL (Portland Community College)
• Writing for Success (University of Minnesota)
• You, Writing! A Guide to College Composition (Lake Superior College/Open Textbook

Grammar

• Conventions 101:  A Functional to Teaching (and Assessing!) Grammar and Punctuation (Columbia Gorge Community College)
• Grammar the Way You Like It, Levels 1-5 (South Seattle College)

Math

• Teaching Math for Emergent Bilinguals: Building on Culture, Language, and Identity (2020, Iowa State, CC BY-NC-SA)

Advanced

• Reading, Writing, Research, and Reasoning: An Advanced ESL Text  (2022, Winer & Wadell, CC BY-NC)
• Advanced Academic Grammar for ESL Students (PDF & Word) (2021, Reedley, CC BY) Also available as a Canvas cartridge in Canvas Commons

• Adult Education Open Community of Resources (OER Commons)Materials dedicated to supporting adult ESL teaching and learning including lesson plans and activities.

• Citizenship Resource Center (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) For learners, educators and organizations. Includes lesson plans and

• EL CIVICS ESL Literacy Test (OER Commons). This material is for low beginning/literacy ESL students who need life skill instruction. There is a teacher's manual, student book, blackline masters and audio for every lesson. This material was developed through a California Department of Education grant.

• Project I-DEA (OER Commons). The Integrated Digital English Acceleration (I-DEA) program teaches English language skills for learners who face the largest language gaps. Unlike traditional approaches — in which learners are expected to learn English before pursuing college or job-training — I-DEA teaches English in tandem with college and career skills. Students quickly learn skills relevant to their lives and careers.

• Basic Reading and Writing (Lumen Learning) This course includes modules on success skills, critical reading, the writing process, research and grammar.

• English Composition I (Lumen Learning) An in-depth version of the Lumen's Basic Reading and Writing Course with a focus on the research and writing process and an extensive grammar section.

• Writing Commons (Creative Commons) Writing Commons is a peer-reviewed open education resource for faculty and students in college-level courses that require research and writing.  Sections include The Writing Process, Style, Academic Writing, Rhetoric, Information Literacy, Evidence & Documentation, Research Methods & Methodologies, New Media Communication, Professional & Technical Communication, and Creative Writing.