There are many TEFL and easy-English resources online. Here is a selection.
English teaching is a
major opportunity in virtually all non-English speaking countries, open or closed.
It is difficult to overstate its significance as a witness tool in a world desperate to learn English. Many specialist or general mission groups use this opportunity.
- Teaching English online – opportunities for gentle evangelism.
- English Language Institute
One of many groups placing teachers in China.
- International Bible Society's ESL Page
Cross-cultural ESL seminars.
- Teachers for Christ International
Great pages for TEFL teachers and students, chatroom, lists, exercises, message board and more.
And any teacher will like the links at Resources for Christian Teachers
- Literacy and Evangelism International
Resources and ministry in TEFL and other-language literacy around the world. Their Passport to the World of English'
Christian-based English-teaching course is highly recommended.
- Joanne's Page for ESL Teachers
More for Christian ESL teachers. Tips, interviews, ideas.
- Sojourners
A unique opportunity for appropriate people to teach English to non-Christians via the Internet from their own
homes, with an evangelistic angle. This is also a valuable link for an evangelistic website – to encourage
second-language speakers to improve their English.
- Easy-English evangelistic paper
'SOON' is a single-sheet evangelistic paper in a restricted English vocabulary. It is sent free by
direct mail around the world to those who request it, and is available in reasonable quantity to
English teachers, and other Christians working in non-English-speaking countries.
The paper offers a follow-up easy-English Bible correspondence course too.
- Wycliffe Associates Free Bible Study materials in easy-English
Wycliffe Associates are a group of volunteers who undertake mission support
work in UK, not just for Wycliffe but for any mission. One valuable section
of their work is the production of short commentaries/study books in easy
English for most books of the Bible, for use in a field situation. These
texts are offered to any missionary or worker who can use them in their own
situation – either in easy English or translated into another language.
Translation is easier because of the easy jargon/idiom-free nature of the
English version. Considerable freedom is given to modify material for local
needs.
Easy-English Bibles
There are several Bible translations with different levels of
simplified language. The CEV is relatively simple and has great clarity. Even simpler are the
Easy-to-Read version (World Bible Translation Center)
- an excellent translation for English learners, also available for download in PDF format from their site. [UK supplier]
See also the NIrV (New International reader's Version) aimed at third-grade children and 2nd-language English learners.
SOON Ministries has an easy-English New Testament online at the Bible Gateway
and although it is not distributed commercially, we will supply at cost to Christians who
wish to use it for English teaching or evangelism. A Christian printer would like to collaborate
with other groups to print, for example, Mark's Gospel in a 4/8page folded A3 (11" x 17") format.
If any organisation is interested in reprinting and using the entire New Testament, or portions, please write.
We have a study comparing a number of easy Bible translations. It is available to download as a Rich Text Format file (which any word-processor can read) as:
- English learning notes – free booklet to download
SOON also has a short booklet of English comprehension notes based on Mark's gospel for English learners.
It is free to download as a text file (under 100k) and can be reprinted not for profit. You may need to adjust the formatting before printing.
The booklet was written to accompany Mark's Gospel in the easy-English version above,
but can be used with any easy-English translation:
RTF file |
Publisher file, set up as 12-page mini-booklet
- Adventures in English
Field-tested Christian-based material to teach conversational English.
- Teaching English using the Bible
Navigators English program based on Bible stories: 'English in Action'.
- ESL materials from Multi-Language Media
Bible-based English teaching and Bible studies in easy English (and other languages).
- Dave's ESL Cafe
Great secular resource for all involved in teaching English. Bulletin boards, many links.
- ESL links
Large range of ESL links from AppliedLanguage.com.
- Writing in easy-English
It's important to write in an easy style for second-language users. It helps any online reader too!
