Resources for Teaching ESL Online

Teaching online requires creative thinking and solid teaching strategies, and the online ESL classroom is no exception. While addressing their students’ language-learning needs, online ESL instructors have the additional responsibilities of addressing digital access concerns and promoting digital literacy skills development. For this reason, the Digital Literacy and Distance Education Technical Assistance Project (DLDE) compiled the resources below, which are a collection of sample videos and resources that can be applied directly in the classroom. If you have questions about how to best support your students’ digital literacy needs in the classroom, please reach out to DLDE team member Sarah Whitesel at swhitesel@tiu11.org.



What does it look like to teach ESL classes online?

Teaching Skills That Matter (TSTM): Digital Literacy in Action

This seven-minute video demonstrates principles for teaching in an online ESL classroom (this video accompanies the principles outlined in p. 5 of the TSTM digital literacy brief).

HyFlex in Adult Education YouTube playlist

These five short videos provide real-world examples of what ESL instruction can look like in a HyFlex setting.

What resources can I use in my online ESL class?

Sample activities using Zoom annotations, polls, and reactions

These three sets of Google Slides include Zoom-based activities. Users can copy activities into their own presentations and adapt as needed.

Tutoring Routines

These routines are designed for use with tutors or in-class. Many of the routines function well in an online environment.

Digital ESL, Open Education Resource

This resource is a “hands-on, paper-first course that teaches beginner English learners digital literacy through guided experimentation on their smartphones.”

The Digital Skills Glossary

The Glossary provides resources for teaching digital literacy vocabulary, including an instructor guide, a glossary index, and Google slides.

DART Digital Literacy ELL Curriculum

The curriculum includes 20 paper-based lessons to teach digital literacy skills and English literacy.

Teaching Skills That Matter (TSTM) Lesson Plans

TSTM lesson plans incorporate digital literacy into content instruction.

Promising Practices for GED^® Testing in County Jails

The Workforce Development System Liaison project would like to invite you to a special networking session, “Promising Practices for GED^® Testing in County Jails." This webinar will include representatives from GED Testing Service^® as well as several county jails in Pennsylvania to share their success stories and tips. This is a great time to share your promising practices, ask questions, and explore how to work more collaboratively with your community partners (WIOA partners, County Assistance Office, Community Action, Probation, and Postsecondary Education and Training providers). This networking event will take place on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 9-10 a.m. at https://psu.zoom.us/my/cklinger. Please feel free to share this event with your community partners. If you need additional information or have questions, contact Chrissie Klinger at cok5111@psu.edu.

Resources to Support English Language Learners with Career Exploration and Planning

In February, Workforce Development System Liaison Project member Alexis Vang facilitated three networking sessions focused on supporting English language learners with career exploration and planning. Representatives from World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and Upwardly Global presented information on available services which help English language learners have their foreign credentials translated and evaluated, ensuring that their previous educational accomplishments can be used toward achieving their career goals in the United States. They also shared about services that can assist adult learners and program staff with career exploration, planning, and hiring activities that lead to employment in an occupation which connects to learners' previous experiences and education.

The recordings and resources from these networking sessions can be found in the PD Portal or by contacting Alexis Vang at amv6178@psu.edu.

Upcoming Professional Learning for Adult Education and Family Literacy Staff

Staff at PDE-funded adult education and family literacy agencies can view a list of upcoming courses now available for enrollment in the PD Portal. For more information about any of these courses, please visit the PD Portal, open the course catalog, and view the syllabus. If you are interested in enrolling in a course, please consult with your in-house professional development specialist (IHPDS) to determine if the course meets your professional learning goals.

Availability of Funds - Family Literacy

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education, Division of Adult Education announces the availability, on a competitive basis, of approximately $3.615 million in grant funds to be awarded under the Pennsylvania Adult and Family Literacy Education Act (24 P.S. §§ 6401—6409) for family literacy direct service.

Further details regarding this funding opportunity will be posted to the Division of Adult Education Grants webpage as they become available.

Correctional Education Association Region 1 Teacher of the Year Application

There are so many great teachers that give their heart and soul to educate and inspire their students. It is time to nominate the great teacher you know to be the 2025 Correctional Education Association (CEA) Region 1 Teacher of the Year. The winner will be recognized at the 79th International CEA Conference in Pittsburg, PA, on August 10-13. All completed forms, paperwork, and a photo must be submitted to region1@ceanational.org by April 4.

Nominations for the Toyota Family Teacher of the Year

The deadline has been extended through March 30 for nominations of outstanding educators for the 2025 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year award. Nominations will be accepted in two phases. During the first phase which ends March 30, anyone can nominate a family educator. The selection committee will review first phase nominations and select nominators to complete a more thorough application as well as submit a letter of support from the nominee’s supervisor or school/organization leader. View full details online.

Presentation Proposals

The 2025 Families Learning Conference will be in Charlotte, NC, November 2-5, 2025. The National Center for Families Learning is seeking family learning professionals to present best practices, strategies, and resources to use in classroom and community settings that help families succeed in accomplishing their learning and career goals. Proposals should reflect highly interactive and engaging presentations that include strategies and/or materials that attendees can use right away in their classrooms or programs. Proposals must make strong connections to multigenerational learning. Learn more about the proposal process and begin today.

The job postings below are for adult basic education programs funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and, at least in part, by WIOA Title II funds. You can also find the postings on the PAAER website. To post a job, please email the job advertisement to mjmanfred@tiu11.org. 

• Director of Finance - Delaware County Literacy Council
• Digital Literacy and Assessment Specialist/English as a Second Language Instructor - Vita Education Services

Visit PAAER.org for the latest PA adult education news and resources. Recent additions to the site include:

• ELA Lines of Inquiry
• eData Instruction Manual/Glossary 24-25
• ANDE Data Entry in eData Webinar recording (Under "Additional Resources")

• COABE National Conference - March 30-April 2, 2025, Dallas, TX
• PAACE Conference - April 27-29, 2025, State College, PA
• NCFL Families Learning Conference - November 2-5, 2025, Charlotte, NC

State and national organizations' newsletters are listed below and may be of interest to you. To receive the most recent editions by email, please subscribe directly to the newsletter. 

PA Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE)

Features information for adult education partners for advocacy, networking, and professional development.

March Newsletter

Adult and Family Literacy Today

Features updates on adult and family literacy research, policy, and practice from the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy and the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy

February Newsletter

Families Learning, News of the Week, National Center for Families Learning

Features information and resources for family literacy, early childhood education, and parent education.

Mar. 14 | Feb. 28 | Feb. 27

World Education/U.S.

Features resources and information from World Education projects, including EdTech Center News, The Change Agent, College for Adults, E-Learning, LINCS Region 1 Professional Development Center, National College Transition Network, and many others. 

The Change Agent

COABE Connects, Digital Equity, Coalition on Adult Basic Education

Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education.

Mar. 13 | Mar. 7 | Feb. 28