(This posting includes a handout which you are welcome to use with your students.)

This posting expands on the discussion in the most visited posting on Common Sense Teaching ESL:  Integrated vs Discrete Skills ESL Courses: Advantages of Discrete Skills

In that posting, I explained the many advantages there are for both students and teachers when Conversation, Reading, Writing and Listening are taught in separate classes.

However, it may not be possible to teach them separately due to the structure of the ESL program. And on top of that, there is a situation in which integrating the skills around one subject or topic in one course has several important advantages for students.

 To explore this more, I put together a four-part YouTube video series.

In PART 1, I discuss the best way to teach students in a LOW- or INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL class in which all four skills need to be taught in one class due to the program’s design. Here is the link to the video: Teach All ESL Skills in a Class But NOT Integrating Around a Topic-PART 1 Integrated/Discrete Skills

In PARTS 2, 3 & 4, I focus on ADVANCED-LEVEL classes. At this level, especially in Academic ESL programs, an integrated-skills course that revolves around a topic or subject area can best mirror the types of mainstream (non-ESL) college classes which student will be taking.

About PARTS 2, 3 and 4. (Including a link to two academic, integrated-ESL skills units for advanced levels which you can download for free to use with your students.)

In PART 2, I explain WHY Cross-Culture Psychology makes it the perfect subject for an ADVANCED-LEVEL ESL course. Here is the link to that video: Perfect ESL Integrated-Skills Subject: Cross-Cultural Psychology (Part 2 Integrated/Discrete Skills)

n PART 3, I discuss the HOW Cross-Culture Psychology makes it the perfect subject for an ADVANCED-LEVEL ESL course. Here is the link to that video: How Cross-Cultural Psy Makes Perfect Adv. ESL Integrated-Skills Class (Pt 3: Integrated/Discrete),

In the last video of this series, PART 4, I share with the viewers two Cross-Cultural Psychology units that integrate reading, discussion and academic writing. (See the link below to download the units.) In the video, I go through the unit step-by-step showing student-centered exercises which help students develop the language skills that they will need to be successful in mainstream college courses. A very important point about this material is that we are using it to DEVELOP SKILLS. We are NOT trying to teach Cross-Cultural Psychology. We are only using that subject as a launching pad for working on the skills. Here is the link to that video: Integrated-Skills Exercises From Cross-Cultural Psychology For ESL Students (Part 4: Integrated/Discrete Skills)

Here, you can download the two units for free and use them with your students:    Cultural Differences Units 2 and 6

To see the other 12 units from which these came, see Pro Lingua Learning–Cultural Differences

I hope you find the videos and materials stimulating and useful.

David Kehe

About the free download materials. During my 40 years of teaching ESL, I have had many colleagues who were very generous with their time, advice and materials. These downloads are my way of paying it forward.