English Banana.com ESL Blog

The latest free material and news from English Banana.com

Category Archives: Free

Big Grammar Book


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Big Grammar Book has been downloaded from EnglishBanana.com over 1 million times in 2015 (so far!)

Big Grammar Book

I recently came across this statistic from our server log files and felt it was so encouraging that I wanted to share it with you.

I had no idea that Big Grammar Book was still so popular (it was published in 2004), and the total number of downloads for this year to date will be much higher, since the book can also be downloaded from numerous other websites – the most famous being Guardian.co.uk – where it is the second most recommended resource of all time, and rising! – and TES.co.uk. The million downloads from englishbanana.com does not include any of these other sites!

When you consider that Big Grammar Book was published 11 years ago, you can add to this 1 million all the other millions of downloads over the years – not to mention those of my other 19 books – plus downloads of all the thousands of worksheets – and you can see that EnglishBanana.com material is really pretty popular! The total number of downloads – which I have not been able to calculate, being an English-y sort of person, rather than a maths-y one – must be mind-bogglingly huge!

Is the high number of downloads because it is free? I hope it is because it is high quality, but I guess being free doesn’t hurt! According to figures from bookshops, the average book sells fewer than 250 copies per year and fewer than 2,000 copies during its lifetime. It is only the celebrity books and books by really famous authors that hit the million mark. When people ask me why my material is all free and in the Public Domain, I point them in the direction of this page, which helps to explain my motivation. But as a writer, there is a part of me which gets a great deal of satisfaction from being read. I’m personally thrilled that over a million people – this year alone – have had the chance to use my Big Grammar Book – that I put together on my computer on my own all those years ago – to learn or teach English.

Also, since a normal ELT course book has the “normal” price of £28 in the UK, it’s no wonder that people are glad to download free resources, like Big Grammar Book. I’m glad to be able to offer them. 🙂

So, go ahead! Download Big Grammar Book – and all the other popular free downloadable pdf files and resources from EnglishBanana.com. It is all online waiting for you to discover!


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Free Live English Class on EnglishSpeaking.Tips: Tuesday 13th January 2015 at 8pm CET!

You are welcome to join us for the start of a new online speaking course on EnglishSpeaking.Tips. It starts tomorrow at 8pm CET. Hope to see you there! For more information, please click below:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/11662553/events/3719591/player?width=640&height=360&autoPlay=true&mute=false


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FREE ESL Lesson Plan: Make a Group Text

This is a free lesson plan from You Are The Course Book – Lesson Plans by Matt Purland. You can download the complete book for free here. (.pdf – 6 MB) This book is in the public domain, which means that anybody can use it for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

Method:

1. Stage 2.1 First Draft – Initial Ideas:
Explain that the whole group is going to write a shared text with 8 sentences on the board, which includes an agreed number of vocabulary words and phrases. T states or elicits a text type, e.g. an informal email. A SS from one team comes up and writes their sentence at the top of the board. A student from another group comes up and writes the next, and this continues until there are 8 sentences and SS from each group have participated. As they write, all of the other SS have to copy the text into their notebooks. Other SS can call out with suggestions and corrections. T must stay out of it. T does not try to correct their work. If SS ask for help, T says, “Sorry, I can’t help you at the moment.” By the end of this stage, SS have created the first draft of the text. One SS reads it aloud.

Variation: each sentence has to begin (or end) with one of the 8 chosen words.

2. Stage 2.2 Second Draft – Corrections:
T asks: “Can you see any errors?” T elicits a few from the text. SS work in their teams and analyse the text for errors: grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. After a few minutes, T elicits the errors from the whole group, helping if SS really can’t see some of the errors, and corrects the text on the board (or a SS could do this), until the text is completely correct. SS should also correct the text in their notebooks, so that every SS has the same corrected second draft text written down.

3. Stage 2.3 Third Draft – Improvements:

T congratulates the group: “Good! The text is correct; it’s good, but can it be improved? How can we make it better?” T elicits the different ways in which it can be improved:

  • title / headline / subject line (if required)
  • higher-level vocabulary and more adjectives
  • compound or complex sentences instead of simple
  • character development, e.g. names, motivations, back-stories
  • more dramatic action
  • consequences of actions are explored
  • detail where the text is generalised

SS work in their groups to produce an improved text, which means that there are now several distinct texts in the room. T can check each group and offer advice. After about 10-15 minutes, T asks a SS from each group to read their text aloud. After each reading T asks the other groups: “What was different? How has it been improved?” T helps SS to process what they have done: how they have gone from a few vocabulary words, through a rough version of the text, then a corrected version, to an improved version – working together as a whole group to begin with, then in smaller groups.

Tips:

  • T must let SS do all the work. Guide, don’t lead. Let them make mistakes on the board in Stage 2.1. Encourage SS to peer correct. All mistakes will be corrected in Stage 2.2.
  • Before you begin, make sure you have a few board pens that work!
  • The text that the SS write on the board should be legible and of a reasonable size. If it is too small, other SS will not be able to read it; if it is too big, there may not be enough room for all 8 sentences.
  • SS could write up their own final draft of the third draft text for homework.


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FREE ESL Lesson Plan: Mode 1 Vocabulary Session

This is a free lesson plan from You Are The Course Book – Lesson Plans by Matt Purland.  You can download the complete book for free here. (.pdf – 6 MB) This book is in the public domain, which means that anybody can use it for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

Mode 1 Vocabulary Session

Method:

1. T asks each group to write down 8 interesting and random words or phrases. They must be content words, not function words. They could be completely random, or begin with the same letter (elicited from a SS), or from a particular topic, e.g. Music. SS work together – one list per group. SS can use dictionaries. One SS from each group reads out their words and T selects the most interesting and random words to write on the board – 8 in total. T does not allow boring words, e.g. table, chair, book… SS write down the whole list.

2. T checks that everybody knows all the words and leads a pronunciation drill with the words. SS have to listen and repeat each word after T.

3. T asks SS to work as a team and write down the type of each word, e.g. noun, verb, adjective, etc. When each group is ready T asks for a SS to come to the board and write the word types on the board next to the vocabulary words. T elicits whether they are correct or not. If not, T elicits the correct answer and the SS writes it.

4. Repeat 3, except with number of syllables in each word.

5. Repeat 3, except with the stressed syllable in each word, which is underlined.

6. Repeat 3, except with the stressed vowel sound in each word. SS writes it with Clear Alphabet, if possible. If not, T elicits it from SS who use the Clear Alphabet chart (p.107). SS could also write each word in Clear Alphabet.

7. Repeat 3, except with whether the stressed vowel sound is short, long, or diphthong. T models the stressed vowel sounds and SS repeat.

8. Repeat 3, except with schwa sounds circled. By the end of the session, your board might resemble something like this (with words from the topic of Music:)

Vocabulary Lesson Plan - Image 1

…and so on.

Tip:

  • Try not to spend too long doing the vocabulary session. Remember to put together a lesson that provides a balanced ‘meal’ – where different skills are practised and different student needs are met. For example, while one SS might be happy to work with vocabulary for the whole lesson, another SS might prefer free practice activities, and so on.


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All learning resources on EnglishBanana.com are now in the public domain! :)

Let’s compare two English Banana.com worksheets:

This is Worksheet A:

EnglishBanana.com Public Domain

EnglishBanana.com Public Domain

…and this is Worksheet B:

public-domain-3

EnglishBanana.com Public Domain

Did you notice the difference? Yes, they are the same worksheet, from the Big Grammar Book. But there is a crucial difference. The first one belongs to the past and the second to now and the future. The removal of the tiny copyright symbol makes a big difference to what you can now do with English Banana.com resources – all 4,000+ pages of them!

 

 


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This is a recording from a free live teacher training session on YouTube last night: Teaching Spelling and Sounds to ESL Students

You are welcome to join me for my next free live lesson on YouTube!

Click here to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECj82eoY_ZU


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Free Teacher Training Course – Final Class Tonight!

Our current free teacher training course is coming to an end tonight. The final class will be at 9.15pm CET on WizIQ.com. Please click below for full details. Hope you can make it!

http://www.wiziq.com/course/36615-free-teacher-training-course-for-english-teachers


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We’re giving away 20 FREE hard-copy books: Big Grammar Book & Talk a Lot Elementary Book 1!

Free Hard-Copy English Banana Books!

Free Hard-Copy English Banana Books!

PLEASE NOTE: THIS OFFER HAS NOW ENDED. THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO EMAILED US!

We’ve got 20 FREE English Banana.com books to give away – with FREE postage and package – courtesy of the good people at English Banana Trust! Glyn Purland, who is Chair of English Banana Trust, writes:

“To mark the end of the 10th year online of English Banana.com, the English Banana Trust is offering a number of the two most popular English Banana books, one per person, free of charge including postage and package. We hope that this will help you in your teaching and learning of the English language.”

There are 10 free copies of Big Grammar Book and 10 free copies of Talk a Lot Elementary Book 1. These books are real, not digital – you can flick through them! You can put them in your bag or on your bookshelf at home! You can photocopy them!

All you have to do to get your FREE book is to send us a message with:

* Your full name

* Your mailing address

* WHICH book you would prefer to receive

* A few words to say WHY you would like to receive a free English Banana.com book

This offer is open to teachers and students of English, and is available on a first come, first served basis – one free book per person. If you are not lucky enough to receive a free hard-copy book, please remember that you can still download both books (and many more!) free from English Banana.com.


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Free EFL/ESL Lessons for Busy Teachers at EFL Sensei

EFL Sensei.com

EFL Sensei.com

Check out this great resource site for EFL teachers: EFL Sensei. There you will find free printable lesson plans, speaking activities, board games, conversation cards, grammar activities, and more!

Why not try this exciting jigsaw speaking activity for starters? Bourbon Street: http://www.eflsensei.com/Bourbon-Street/?path=52


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You Can Still Join Our Free Teacher Training Course!

Free Teacher Training on WizIQ!

We got off to a great start this week, with 47 learners now enrolled! There is still time for you to join this free teacher training course. It is suitable for any English teacher or trainee teacher who would like to learn how to teach without the *boring* course book!

You can find out more and enrol for free below:

http://www.wiziq.com/course/36615-free-teacher-training-course-for-english-teachers

The next class will take place on Monday 11th November at 8.15pm CET.


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New FREE Online Course for English Teachers – Starting Next Monday!

Free Teacher Training Course - Now Enrolling!

From next Monday 4th November 2013 Matt Purland will be running a free on-going teacher training course for teachers of English and ESL. Enrolment is now open so you can sign up from today! You can get all of the details here:

http://www.wiziq.com/course/36615-free-teacher-training-course-for-english-teachers

Title: Free Teacher Training Course for English Teachers

Goal: Learn how to teach English without a course book

Live classes: Mondays at 8.15pm CET & Thursdays at 10am CET

Main Benefits:

* FREE live classes twice a week

* Learn with an experienced English teacher and teacher trainer

* Professional development certificate when you attend 10 live classes

* Learn techniques that will help your students be more productive

* FREE access to recordings and group material (pdf, ppt, doc)

This is a course for English teachers; if you are studying to become a teacher, you are also welcome. This course is for teachers who want to learn and discuss ways of teaching English without formal material, e.g. a course book or handouts.

This course is on-going. You don’t need to attend every class – attend when you can; if you attend 10 live classes you will receive a FREE professional development certificate.

This course is based on You Are The Course Book Method. You can find out more about it and download the FREE material here: http://englishbanana.com/resources/free-books/teacher-training/

Hope to see you there!


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News from More People Using English Banana Free Material

We often get emails from teachers and other individuals who want to use our free material either commercially or on a wider scale than just printing out a few worksheets. You don’t need to contact us to take advantage of our free licences, but if you do it is always lovely to hear from you! It’s great to know that you are able to use our free material. Here is some recent news from people who are using this material for various purposes. If you feel inspired to use English Banana material after reading this news, please go ahead! 🙂

 

Using the material as content for another publication:

Antananarivo, Madagascar

“I am an English teacher in Madagascar and I’m planning to write a book because of the lack of teaching materials in my country.”

Sapporo Gakuin University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan

“Thank you very much for offering the free license to your materials. A group of teachers here at Sapporo Gakuin University are making our own textbook for our students and will offer it free like your materials, including free Moodle quizzes and activities. Your model is an inspiration. We may also use some of your materials in it, so thank you again.”

 

Using the material to teach others for free, or as paid courses:

London, UK

“Firstly I’d like to thank you for the amazing material which is really helping  me on planning my lessons.

“I live in London, I’m Brazilian and I run a free English course on Mondays and Fridays 3 hours course each day, on a Brazilian Catholic Church to help people from my country it the basics so they can start communicating and finding a job. Thank you very much!”

Banten, Indonesia

“Finally I have a courage to open English course and use your EB materials. Actually not my own place, but [a local] kindergarten school.

“I ask her permit to allow me open an English course as beginning for a primary kids. I ask her permit again to use my own name ORANGE & BANANA. Orange represent me and Banana represent your EB. I thought it will be easy to set up my own materials, but still your EB materials really really help out. Wishing for your big support to encourage me start this new experience and still freaking me out. Hehehehe.”

Stepping Stone English – Bangkok, Thailand

“I am a native English man working in Thailand for a language school. I see the language schools as over priced compared to the local economic market as they are aimed are the high society of Thailand leaving the poorer public behind. Asean is coming in 2015 and I feel I want to help the less fortunate. If they don’t have the opportunity to learn English now then I’m afraid when Asean starts they are going to be in a devastating state. I think your material is wonderful and it is perfect for the students I am aiming to help. I would like a Certificate of Authorisation to progress my plans to help the community.

“I greatly appreciate the efforts you are doing and I would greatly appreciate your support in getting my project up and running. I’m starting out on a small scale due to funding. But with your material and support I can see great things for the future and hopefully for the public of Thailand. Thank you very much for your efforts in helping the world of education.”

Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

“I am not teaching at a school as such, but rather in my home to students and local people in my community as I live in rural Vietnam so I don’t have a school name. As I stated I will use your resources to teach local children, and some adults, they are just very average poor working people, some in this country can afford paid education, most can’t. It’s these people that I will target and try to assist them to improve their lives through the English language.”

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“I live in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.  I run Bridges of Hope for Children and currently care for 12 children.  I run a Preschool from home and am busy registering an Independent School.  There is a desperate need for English classes for people from our neighbouring Township.  I’m hoping to be able to generate an income from these classes.”

Slovakia

“My main idea is to develop an English language course, based entirely on your materials; however, selecting them and compiling them together, which would entirely target speaking and general understanding.”

 

Using the material as content for an app or website:

Saudi Arabia

“I want to use your resources. Hi and thanks for this site. Now I’m doing programming Android app (free, without ads) for learning English language. Can I use your resources in my app?” [We replied: yes, of course you can!]

New York, USA

“Hey, you have a great website! I am working on making a website for people who want to learn another language. I was looking for free resources for my website and I found you! This will really help me a lot – thanks. I’ll be sure to add your website on mine. Thank you!”


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Matt Purland will be speaking at Language Show LIVE – 20th October 2013

Language Show LIVE 2013

Language Show LIVE 2013

I will be speaking on the subject of  How to Teach English without a Course Book at Language Show LIVE at Olympia, London on Sunday 20th October 2013 at 1pm.

You can read about my seminar here:

http://www.languageshowconnect.co.uk/page.cfm/Action=Visitor/VisitorID=69698

And register for your FREE tickets here:

http://www.speeddata.co.uk/Forms/Default.aspx?FormRef=LanA3Visitor

Language Show LIVE is “the event for people passionate about languages. Free to attend, it’s your chance to join over 10,000 language learners, teachers, translators, linguists, jobseekers and language professionals for three incredible days.”

At my seminar we will discuss:

“…how you can teach English without a course book in any environment – school, workplace, home, or online. Forget photocopying handouts and cast aside your course books! I will demonstrate You Are The Course Book Method, where your students become the main resource, going from passive consumers to active producers of content.”

Hope to see you there in October!

Matt


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English Banana free material has been read over 4 million times on Scribd.com!

We just thought we’d share this latest milestone with you… 🙂

Scribd.com is a great place to find the documents you need – including all English Banana.com free worksheets and books. If you have documents to share, you can make money by selling them in the Scribd Store. Or simply let people download them for free – as we prefer to do.

English Banana documents are on Scribd

English Banana documents are on Scribd