ESL Civics Hotlist

ESL Civics Hotlist
An Internet Hotlist on ESL Civics

Introduction
This hotlist is compiled from information available on the AELC Civics Website, which is the Civics IEP available for students, tutors and instructors in the AELC at Waubonsee Community College.

The Internet Resources

Signs - Reading signs in English, over 700 signs

Government and the Flag

Ben's Guide to the US Government - General branches of government, with reading levels of K-12
Flag of the United States - Flag picture, explanations and questions about the flag
The Three Branches of Government - Explanations, trivia and links to sites about the three branches of government and U.S.government in general

The Constitution

AELC Constitution Blog - A Blog with Websites about the Constitution, including Gabcasts from AELC staff explaining various Constitutional issues that students often get confused.
Constitution Facts - US Constitution and Bill of Rights
Constitution Study Guide - This website is written for adult GED students in Illinois, who will be required to take a Constitution test prepared by the State of Illinois. This website presents information about the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, and the U.S. flag. The GED Constitution test includes questions about all of these documents.
Constitution Web Search, Game - A WebQuest site on the US Constitution
Constitution of the United States - Preamble Article I Article II Article III Article IV Article V Article VI Article VII AMENDMENTS presented by the US Senate. Explains the Senate, and also has a search to find your US Senators.
Daily Civic Learning Blog - Current events and news items are highlighted, with ideas on how to explore these events with students. This site can be subscribed to via email or a reader. The website is a program of the Annenberg Center for Education & Outreach.
Information and Facts on Various Government Documents - US Constitution, Articles of Confederation and the Bill of Rights.
State and Local Government: Illinois - State and local government reference page and links.
The Constitution, First Amendment - Documents relating to the Constitution and the First Amendment. Advanced.

Community, Home Safety, Signs and Maps

AARP: Current Events about Money - Current news stories about money and the economy, such as the stimulus package.
Banks - Useful information about banks and the federal reserve, with many links to explain various vocabulary words in the article.
Checking Accounts - Learn it, do it and use information on checking accounts.
Cyber Drive Illinois - Along the roadway there are regulatory, warning and guide signs. The color and shape of each sign has special meaning. You will be asked to identify roadway signs on the written driver's license exam
FTC Consumer Information, Credit, Automobiles - This section of the FTC website offers practical information on a variety of consumer topics. The information here can help you avoid rip-offs and exercise your consumer rights. Also in Spanish.
Food and Containers - Quiz on various types of containers for food, such as tins, jars etc.
Manual of Traffic Signs - A listing of the most commonly used traffic signs in the United States.
Reading Maps 1 - Questions about reading maps.
Reading a City Map - Use the city map to answer the questions.
Signs - Although the site is French, there are many signs in English.
Signs in English - Reading Signs in English - Over 700 Signs Pictures of many Signs in English for Reading Practice
TV 411: Reading Maps - Simple to read with good photos
Working for a Living - Reading about jobs and work issues.

Health and Body

At the Dentist’s Office, Dental Care - Although many people don't like the experience, visiting a dentist regularly is one of the best ways to take care of your teeth. In addition to cleanings, more and more dentists are offering additional services including tooth whitening and orthodontic treatments like braces. Listen to the words below and consult a dictionary if you need a definition. Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the Internet to find related information. Vocabulary, practice and
Baby Doctor Visits Guide - Doctor visit worksheet: The 9-month checkup See what your baby's doctor will do and ask at the 9-month checkup.
Dental Care - Crest site in Chinese, French, Spanish and English. Requires free registration.
Dialog: Making a Doctor Appointment - Sample dialog for making a doctor appointment.
Getting the Most Out of Pharmacy Visits - Although most people have visited a pharmacy, very few people are aware of all of the services that pharmacists can provide. What goes on behind the pharmacy's glass partition? Why does it take so long to get a prescription filled? This article discusses the role of the community pharmacist in providing healthcare and provides advice on getting the most out of each visit to the pharmacy.
Going to the Emergency Room - When your child is sick or injured, it's natural to panic and head straight for the emergency room, because you know that you can get care, regardless of the time, day, or severity of your child's injury. In some cases, it is a true medical emergency and the ER is the most appropriate place to get care. In other cases, the illness or injury can be handled at an urgent care clinic, or treatment can wait until your child's doctor can see you. Also in Spanish.
Going to the Pharmacy: Quick Tips - The single most important way you can stay healthy is to be an active member of your own health care team. One way to get high-quality health care is to find and use information and take an active role in all of the decisions made about your care. This information will help you when getting a prescription filled.
Health Problems: Lesson - A lesson on various health problems with a quiz. Pictures are included.
Health Problems: Quiz on Interpreting Health Problems - Various health problems and a quiz. Pictures are included.
In Case of Emergency - What to do in medical emergencies
Making Sense of Over the Counter Drugs - With all the choices of over-the-counter (OTC) products available in the marketplace, it is increasingly difficult to select the proper product(s) for you and your family. To help you in your decision-making process, the MedicineNet.com Doctors and Pharmacists have provided an easy-to-follow format to help you understand which products may work better for specific conditions and how to choose the products that are most appropriate for your needs.
Making a Doctor’s Appointment (Dialog) - Vocabulary | Vocab. Quiz | Body | Body Quiz Supplies | Specialists | Diagnosis | Visiting | Appointments
Medical Advice on the Phone (Dialog) - Dialog and explanations for getting medical advice on the phone.
Questions a Doctor May Ask (Dialog) - Dialog and explanations as to questions a doctor might ask a patient.
Quick Tips when Talking to your Doctor - The single most important way you can stay healthy is to be an active member of your own health care team. One way to get high-quality health care is to find and use information and take an active role in all of the decisions made about your care. This information will help you when talking with your doctor.
Reading Prescription Labels - Medications — The Importance of Reading the Label Almost half of all parents do not correctly follow the directions on prescription labels. However, labels have a lot of important information that you need to know. Samples of prescription labels are included.
Reading Prescription Labels for Children - When it comes to taking medicines, kids aren’t just small adults. When using nonprescription medicines, here are 10 ways to be sure you’re giving your children the right medicine and the right amount. Reading prescriptions for children.
Roadside Assistance: Emergency Calls - Pre-Listening Exercises Listening Exercises Vocabulary Post-Listening Exercises
Staying Healthy for Kids - Find out how to take care of your body, eat healthy, and stay fit! Also in Spanish.
Talking to a Doctor - Taking an active role in your health care can help you get the best care possible from your doctor. One way to do this is to improve your relationship with your doctor. The following are some tips to help you and your doctor improve your health care together. Includes videos and tips.
The Human Body: Virtual Body (English and Spanish) - Shows the various parts of the human body in Spanish and English
What you should know about drugs - Whether synthetic or natural (herbal), drugs are intended to act on the body. There always is a chance that they will produce effects that we do not want. Also, if two or more drugs are taken at the same time, there is a chance that one drug will interact with another drug in either a positive or negative way. This does not imply that the drugs are bad, but rather that they should be used carefully in order to reap the greatest benefit while minimizing unwanted side effects. Indeed, when used properly, most drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration do more good than harm. Below are ten questions that apply to most drugs and are worth discussing with your healthcare provider. Most of these issues are addressed by the information that is provided with the drug.
Women's Health - What can you do to stay healthy and prevent disease? You can get certain screening tests, take preventive medicine if you need it, and practice healthy behaviors. Top health experts from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggest that when you go for your next checkup, you should talk to your doctor or nurse about how you can stay healthy no matter what your age. Also in Spanish.

Housing

Apartment Hunting: Conversations - Reading and listening to a conversation about finding a new apartment.
HUD: Buying and Selling a House, Lending, Landlords - Consumer information by state, also has the information in Spanish
Housing Complaints: Talking to a Landlord - Listening,vocabulary and vocabulary activities for making a complaint to a landlord.
How to Buy a Home in the US - Vocabulary asking price listed commission open house community services shoppers’ guide home inspector word of mouth Purpose To identify different ways of finding a home to buy. Note: It will be useful to bring copies of the real estate ad section of the newspaper as well as some shoppers’ guides to class for this lesson. Pre-reading activity
Protecting and Maintaining a Home - Your toolbox Many learners in the class will be familiar with these tools. Help them learn the names in English and how to describe the function of each. Ask each learner to write a functional definition of one tool. Pair learners or place in small groups. Have one partner or group member describe a tool, while the others guess which one it is. If desired, play a game of “twenty questions” with the tools.
Renting an Apartment - The procedures for renting an apartment in different counties, and within the same area, city, or local area, can differ widely, and thus, know what to expect can help you in your apartment search.

General

Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly: ESL Civics Lesson Plans - The Bright Ideas curriculum was designed for elderly learners participating in community-based ESL programs. The curriculum focuses on developing oral English communication skills and providing opportunities for learners to use these skills inside the classroom and outside in the community. The units reflect the interests of the learners as they emerged from conversations with students, focus groups, and needs assessments. Each unit contains step-by-step instructions for the teacher, lessons for the students, and visual support materials to facilitate learning for students who have few literacy skills in English and in the native language. The units may be taught in any sequence. All units are in MS Word format; you may modify them to meet your needs.
EL Civics - EL/Civics Online is a unique professional development opportunity for ESL instructors and volunteers who wish to incorporate EL/Civics content into their adult ESL classrooms.

Content by jsotir, jsotir@waubonsee.edu
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listeslcivijs.html
Last revised Mon Mar 2 7:23:15 US/Pacific 2009