ESL/EFL Worksheets

Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí Faculty of Humanities 

School of English 

English 420 

Formal Presentation Preparation Outline 

OUTLINE 

Speaker’s Name: Einar Pérez

Topic: The Use of Worksheets in Teaching and Learning

Specific subject: Important Aspects to Know about Worksheets.

Specific Purpose: Provide information about worksheets and its role in the EFL classrooms.

Introduction 

I. Attention getter: Did you know that worksheets can greatly benefit EFL classrooms? If not, get ready to learn and discover how worksheets can enhance the student learning process.                                                                                                                    

II. Thesis Statement: In an era where educational strategies are constantly evolving, it is imperative to critically assess the role of worksheets as learning tools. 

III. Preview on main points: In the following presentation, we will provide information about the definitions, types, the role, advantages, disadvantages, guidelines, and  examples of worksheets used in EFL classrooms. 

(Transition: We are going to start by explaining the definitions of what a worksheet is.)

Body

1. When it comes to our mind the word ‘’worksheet’’, we immediately think of a sheet of paper where we do some kind of work or activity. But the definition is more than that.

1. Cambridge Dictionary (2024) defines the word worksheet as a piece of paper with questions and exercises for students. 

2. Collins (2024) defines worksheets as a specially prepared page designed to improve your knowledge or understanding of a particular subject.

(Transition: Next, we will discuss the types of worksheets we can use.

2. To teach effectively, it is crucial to understand the types of worksheets available, how each can support different areas of instructions, and which ones are most beneficial for learners.

1. ESL worksheets (n.d) states that these are two types of worksheets for ESL teaching.

1. Worksheets by topic: Also known as topic-specific worksheet, is a targeted educational resource focused on reinforcing understanding and proficiency in a particular subject through structured exercises and activities. Just to mention some examples:

1. Find Someone Who: Is a kind of worksheet that for new classes, works as a versatile tool. Also prompt questions based on prompts, encouraging conversations and helping classmates connect, making them effective for re-engaging restless students.

2. Conversation Worksheets: This kind of worksheet enhances English Fluency with discussion prompts, suitable for intermediate to advanced learners. Each one of them includes Teacher’s notes with answers.

2.  Worksheet by skill: Known as skill-specific worksheet, is an educational tool designed to improve particular abilities in learners. They provide structured exercises in areas like reading, writing, and language acquisition. Some examples of this type of worksheets are: 

1. Reading worksheets: The objective is to improve learners’ reading comprehension, vocabulary, and analytical skills through exercises and activities

2. Grammar worksheets: These worksheets aim to teach and reinforce grammatical concepts, covering topics like parts of speech, punctuation, and sentence structure.

(Transition: Now that we have discussed some types of worksheets, we can continue with  its role in EFL.) 

3. In EFL classrooms, worksheets play a crucial role in reinforcing language concepts, providing practice, and assessing learners’ understanding of English:

1. Che-Di (n.d.) argued that worksheets can be useful in many ways in terms of academic achievement, for example: 

1. As supplements to textbooks. It means that they provide additional exercises and activities to support and enhance material covered in textbooks.

2. Worksheets can be used to add information for particular classes. It means that worksheets can introduce new material or expand on topics specific to certain lessons. 

3. In addition, blanks in worksheets are invitations for students to fill in gaps; they are opportunities for knowledge construction. It means that worksheets with empty spaces prompt students to actively engage in learning by completing the information, thus building their understanding and knowledge.

(Transition: Next, we move on to worksheets’ advantages in  the EFL classroom.) 

4. Introducing worksheets into the classroom offers a variety of advantages, since this versatile tool provides many benefits in an educational setting.

1. Noor & Yuni (2020) mentioned some benefits of using worksheets in the learning process: 

1. Influencing learning outcomes. It means that the use of worksheets can have an impact on the results of students in terms of their learning process and understanding of the material.

2. Building knowledge. It means that worksheets contribute to the acquisition and reinforcement of knowledge and skills of students.

3. Increasing student competence. It means that worksheets can enhance students’ proficiency, skills, and confidence.

4. Communication between students and teachers is effective. It means that worksheets facilitate communication between teachers and students by providing practice, feedback, and assessment.

5. Increasing conceptual understanding. It signifies that through structured exercises and activities, worksheets help students comprehend abstract ideas or principles.

(Transition: Now, let's move onto worksheets’ disadvantages in  the EFL classroom.) 

5. While worksheets offer various benefits, they also have some drawbacks that limit its performance in some aspects.

1. Grammlick (2019) discussed some negative effects of using worksheets in classrooms:

1. Lack of hands-on learning. It refers to the limitation of worksheets in providing tactile learning for students. They first interact with a paper instead of materials or objects.

2. Can make the teacher too comfortable. It refers that relying excessively on worksheets may lead educators to become more complacent in their teaching approach, overlooking opportunities for more dynamic teaching strategies.

3. Discourages abstract thinking. It states that the structured format of worksheets may inhibit students’ ability to engage in higher order cognitive processes as problem-solving or critical analysis.

4. Pre-made/pre-printed worksheets do not accommodate a realistic timeline. It refers that predetermined worksheets exercises and content may not fit within the available class time or may not address the learning objective. Resulting in an incomplete learning experience. 

(Transition: Now, let’s see some guidelines for making and using worksheets in the EFL classroom.)     

6. When talking about making worksheets, everybody is capable of doing it. But there are some guidelines or steps that should be followed when creating worksheets for the EFL classroom.

1. Tefl.Net (n.d.) provides some tips that we can follow when we are going to create our worksheet.

1. Target your worksheet carefully to your students

2. Ideally, keep your worksheet to a single page

3. Use a font that is easy to read

4. To ensure legibility, never use all capitals

5. Keep your worksheet clearly broken up into appropriate sections

6. Use headings for your worksheet and its sections if any

7. Use short and very clear wording

8. Test your worksheet

(Transition: Now, we are going to see how to assess a worksheet in the EFL classroom.)

7. The Worksheet Assessment is something important since in that way teachers are able to evaluate the progress of students in the classroom.

1. These are some aspects used to evaluate worksheets.

1. Originality and Inventiveness. Refers to the creativity and uniqueness ideas.

2. Content. Refers to the information included.

3. Figure Stick Drawings. If the worksheet contains illustrations.

4. Instruction, Number of Points, and Examples. It Refers to clear instructions, appropriate allocation of points, and relevant examples.

5. Format, Layout, and Margins. It refers to the organization, and overall effectiveness of the learning materials.

6. Spelling and Grammar. It is to ensure that the language used is correct and free of errors.

7. Blank Space. Refers to the empty areas within the worksheet.

(Transition: We are almost done, let's see  some of the most common activities with worksheets.

8. There is a wide variety of tasks that we can include in worksheets for the EFL classroom. 

1. Some tasks with worksheets that we use in the EFL classroom can be:

1. Fill the blanks: Students should complete the blank spaces with the right information.

2. Matching: This type of worksheet usually asks students to match up pairs of items (like opposite words).

3. Word Scramble: In this type of worksheet, the letters of each word are mixed up. Students have to put them into the proper order.

4. Jumbled Sentences: Similar to the previous one, students have to put a group of words into the correct order, and thus create a sentence.

5. True or False: Students should determine whether the statement is true or false based on the information provided by the teacher.

6. Sorting Worksheet: Students are required to organize items, words, images, or concepts into specified categories.

(Transition: To conclude this formal presentation about worksheets, we should recall  that…) 

9. Conclusion 

1. In conclusion, worksheets can be a valuable tool in EFL classrooms to reinforce concepts and provide structured practice. 

2. Worksheets offer many benefits that enrich the learning experience of students. Providing structured practice, reinforcement of concepts, worksheets facilitate the comprehension of the information given. To effectively integrate worksheets into English as EFL, it is important to know what a worksheet is, in general and specific way, what are the types of worksheets that exist, their pros and cons, how to create an effective worksheet using different activities and how to assess it as well.

3. Complementing worksheets with interactive activities can improve the language acquisition and the general learning experience of students. 

References

Cambridge University Press & Assessment. (2024). Worksheet. 

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/worksheet 

Collins. (2024). Worksheet.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/worksheet 

edHelper. (2021, May 31). Do Worksheets Still Work? What is the future of this classroom staple in the classroom?.

https://www.edhelper.com/teacher-education/Do-Worksheets-Still-Work-What-is-the-future-of-this-classroom-staple-in-the-classroom.htm 

Gramlick, N. (2019, February 16). Are worksheets good or bad?. 

https://gramlick.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/are-worksheets-good-or-bad/

InnerDrive. (n.d.). Which type of worksheet is the best for your lessons?.

https://www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/best-worksheets-for-lessons/

International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. (April 2014). Worksheet Usage, Reading Achievement, Classes’ Lack of Readiness, and Science Achievement: A Cross-Country Comparison. Volume 2, Number 2, Page 96-106

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1066356.pdf

International TEFL Academy Costa Rica. (2022, November 4). How to create good worksheets to use in the ESL classroom?.

https://www.costaricatesol.com/tefl-costa-rica-blog/how-to-create-good-worksheets-to-use-in-the-esl-classroom

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2024, March 29). Worksheet.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worksheet

Noor Fajriah and Yuni Suryaningsih. (2020). The development of constructivism-based student worksheets. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1470 012011

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1470/1/012011/pdf

Ryabchikova, V. G., Rubleva, O. S., Sergeeva, N. A., & Yakovleva, N. A. (2020). Using interactive worksheets when teaching foreign languages by the “Flipped class’’ technology. Perspektivy nauki i obrazovania – Perspectives of Science and Education.

https://pnojournal.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/pdf_200315.pdf

Tefl.NET. (n.d.). Guide to ESL Worksheets.

https://www.tefl.net/esl-worksheets/guide.php 

The I.T. Education Company Australia Pty Ltd. (2022). Advantages of using English Worksheets. 

https://itecau.com.au/english-worksheets-advantages/

Top Worksheets. (2021, June 10). Advantages of using interactive worksheets with your students.

https://www.topworksheets.com/blog/en/advantages-of-using-interactive-worksheets-with-your-students-6193996bdff6d

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