ECOSTAR’s Resource Bank has six zones. Each zone contains resources that support different aspects of the framework.
The six zones are as follows:
- A Framework for English Teaching in Higher Education in Israel and Can-Do Statements
- Classroom Activity Exemplars
- Independent Learning Resources
- Professional Development Resources for Instructors
- EFL Community Sharing
- Resources for EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction)
- A Framework for English Teaching in Higher Education in Israel and Can-Do Statements
Resources in this zone
- provide information about the Framework for English Teaching in Higher Education in Israel
- show how can-do statements form a coherent progression from Besisi (CEFR A2) to Mitkadmim Bet (CEFR B2)
- provide background reading and additional materials.
- Classroom Activity Exemplars
These sequences of classroom activities with teacher guidelines were specially designed by the ECOSTAR team to support implementation of the Framework for English Teaching in Higher Education in Israel.
Resources in this section also illustrate how teachers can use multimedia to integrate all four language skills into the EFL/EAP classroom. These sequences of activities center around seven different themes: Veganism (A2 Elementary / Besisi), Organ Donation, Sustainability (B1 – Intermediate / Mitkadmim Aleph), as well as Ethics, Innovation, and Business Communication (B2 – Upper Intermediate / Mitkadmim Bet).
- Professional Development Resources for Instructors
This zone includes background materials and recommended reading for teachers who until now may not have taught writing and speaking at the tertiary level. This section also includes assessment rubrics for writing and speaking that were developed by ECOSTAR.
Additional resources include templates for creating instructional resources that support can-dos, links to websites that teachers may find useful as well as many more.
- Independent Learning Resources
Two key CEFR principles focus on encouraging students to (1) be less teacher-dependent and take more responsibility for their own learning and (2) regard language learning as a lifelong process worth investing in, not just as something that stops after reaching exit level.
To support increased learner autonomy and encourage students to become more responsible for their own learning, ECOSTAR’s independent learning resources are freely available for all learners, whether or not they are registered for English courses.
This zone contains a large range of resources that focus on aspects of language that require drill and practice, such as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. These resources were selected by the ECOSTAR team and include:
- over one hundred grammar-related interactive exercises with teaching points and feedback.
- Roads to Academic Reading, (http://Roadscefr.iucc.ac.il), which has 1800 vocabulary exercises that explain and provide practice for 300 CEFR words that also appear on other high-frequency academic lists.
- resources that students may require after graduation – how to write a CV, make a presentation, etc.
- English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) courses
Content area courses taught in English to non-native English speakers are becoming increasingly popular at higher education institutions in Israel. This zone contains resources as well as an exemplar course on sustainability.
- EFL Community Sharing
This zone will contain copyright-free resources that members of the EFL/EAP community have shared so that other teachers don’t have to ‘reinvent the wheel’.
Together we can do more – if you have copyright-free resources that you would like to contribute, please contact us at ecostar@mail.iucc.ac.il
