The Internet provides a vast quantity of resources for TEFL and ESL materials. Teachers tend to use specific websites, such as Dave's ESL Cafe and Breaking News English. Dave's ESL cafe provides tips, lesson plans, activity ideas and job postings for teachers. Breaking News English provides lesson plans for ESL students based on current events; each lesson includes a text with exercises. You can also find ESL and TEFL websites that provide audio and video podcasts, full lesson plans, grammar exercises and role-playing games.
Grammar books, specifically formulated to help students whose native language is not English, are an essential part of teaching English as a second language. ESL grammar books use a natural progression and cover subjects that are difficult for non-English speakers, such as the difference between "since" and "for." Raymond Murphy's "English Grammar In Use," published by Cambridge University Press, is a widely used grammar book in the ESL classroom.
Using various forms of multimedia in the classroom can be very beneficial for English learning, but should never become a primary resource. Movies, TV shows, news programs, documentaries and even commercials have practical application in the ESL classroom. Commercials are particularly useful for learning English because of their short, repetitive and highly visual format. When using multimedia in the ESL classroom, prepare exercises, discussion question and a list of vocabulary words pertaining to what you showed.
Authentic materials essentially consist of anything written in English and intended for a native English speaker. This can include books, newspaper articles, magazine articles, brochures, interviews and travel guides. When teaching business English, try using real emails, projects, reports and presentation. Always review your authentic materials beforehand and verify that the level is appropriate for your students. Simplify authentic materials for lower-level students.