English for Life Task-Based Curriculum

Resource Description

What is English for Life?

English for Life is a five-level curriculum for adult and teen learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). It is based on task checklists called Ability Checklists and also includes projects. It does not utilize a textbook. Here I provide an introduction and the task checklists. These checklists may be freely used. Any one of the levels may serve as a curriculum guide for a course. All five levels together may serve as a basis for a full English program.

Introduction

Central to the idea of English for Life is the notion that the best teacher of language is a person, not a book. The idea for this approach was born through dissatisfaction with the perspective that many learners seem to have that ‘going through the book’ is the goal of a language class.

The English for Life system stresses class content that is:

Communicative: Use language for real communication through reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Contextualized: Use language for local purposes. Talk about learners’ lives.

Edifying: Use language to stimulate positive growth in learners and teachers.

Continue Reading