Recommended TESOL Vocabulary & Idioms Resources

Milada Broukal, National Textbook Company, 2001

Over 230 commonly used idioms are introduced in reading selections, dialogues, and activities. Their presentation helps learners incorporate common expressions into their everyday speech. Appealing illustrations keep students engaged as they explore idioms related to topics such as colors, geography, food, and time.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

Felicity O’Dell & Katie Head, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2003

This spiral-bound resource book for teachers contains over 50 photocopiable games that help spice up almost any EFL vocabulary lesson. Students engage in fun activities and games in order to practice common words and phrases of the English language.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

Jill Hadfield, Longman Publishers, 1998

Includes a wide variety of games including puzzles, role-play, board games and guessing. Each game involves vocabulary memorization, personalization, then communication. Teacher's notes help you manage each game. Available from Amazon.

 

 

Peter Dainty, Scholastic Publishers, 2002

This 80-page activity book contains stimulating fun activities for the presentation and practice of the most commonly used phrasal verbs and idioms in English. The activities are suitable for all teaching situations, including mixed-ability classes, or can be used for self-study and homework tasks.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

All Clear (series)

Helen Kalkstein Fragiadakis, Thomson/Heinle Publishers, 2006

All Clear teaches students to recognize and produce the high-frequency idioms, phrases, and contemporary expressions needed in a range of conversational situations. Each lesson contains communicative activities for speaking, listening, grammar, writing, pronunciation, and public speaking practice.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

American Vocabulary Program (series)

John Flower, et al, ITP Publishers, 1995

The three books in the American Vocabulary Program provide the essential vocabulary and practice of all types of lexical items: words, word partnerships, and fixed expressions. Over 1,000 words and phrases are taught at each level.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

Michael McCarthy, Cambridge University Press, 2007

This vocabulary text helps beginning students gain knowledge of basic North American English vocabulary. This North American English edition of the popular English Vocabulary in Use series is appropriate for classroom use and for self-study reference and practice. Sixty units cover approximately 1,200 new vocabulary items.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

Street Talk (series)

David Burke, Caslon Books, 1995

Street Talk explores some of the most common idioms that are used and understood by virtually every American. This entertaining step-by-step guide includes dialogues, vocabulary sections, word games, crossword puzzles, dictation, and more.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

Take it Easy (American Idioms)

Paula McPartland, Prentice Hall Publishers, 2000

Take It Easy has theme-based chapters, authentic contexts, and extensive communication practice making it easy for ESL students to gain fluency and confidence using American idioms and verbal phrases. All idioms are presented in their natural context from surveys and e-mail messages to greeting cards and movie reviews.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

Judi Kadden, University of Michigan Press, 1996

Traveling through Idioms is both imaginative and entertaining. The book focuses on all the important aspects of language acquisition: listening, speaking, comprehension and writing.  Available from Amazon.

 

 

Jim Huizenga, Oxford University Press, 2000

Can You Believe It? is a three-level series that teaches high-frequency idioms, two-word verbs, and fixed expressions in the context of remarkable, real-life tales from around the world.  Available from Amazon.