History of ESOL Materials Ireland

Angus and Peadar, founders of ESOL Materials Ireland, began working in ESOL provision during the mid to late 2000s. Coming from working in private English language academies, both were surprised and intrigued by the different type of learner to be found in the ESOL classroom. Although both tutors employed a variety of teaching techniques and methodologies, they often struggled to fully engage the learner with the standard English language learning resources at their disposal. This was particularly apparent with the lower-level learners, or what may be termed pre-beginner or A0 level learners, where weak literacy skills were common. Through their work at Spirasi, the National Centre for Survivors of Torture, and at the Dublin Adult Learning Centre (DALC), both tutors have worked closely with international protection applicants, refugees, and their family members.

Such learners, from a variety of different educational backgrounds, possess a diverse range of learning skills and strengths, and areas which required much improvement, most notably, with reading and writing skills. Through their participation on the literacy tutor training programme at DALC, working closely with other colleagues, and actively tutoring in a variety of ESOL classes, the tutors set about employing new ways to meaningfully engage the ESOL learner, mindful of those that required literacy support, and conscious of a vulnerability often present in the learner due to experiences in the past.

The tutors did manage to access some suitable resources online through the old Talent website, Skills Workshop, and from publications and resources from Integrate Ireland Language & Training, and those produced by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). Inspired by the development of such resources and others, both tutors began to design and create unique ESOL resources to be used in their own ESOL classes. These resources were shared amongst colleagues and the feedback from other tutors and learners was positive.

Frustrated by the lack of resources available online or through publications, both tutors set about discussing the idea of developing their own self-funded website to disseminate their materials freely to other tutors. Fortunately, a Spirasi colleague with web designer skills, Doctor Emer Gilmartin, was on hand to assist in the development of the original site, and both tutors began to upload their materials during the early period of the last decade.

Receiving positive feedback from ESOL tutors at various educational conferences, along with workshops facilitated by the tutors, they were encouraged to continue in their endeavour to upload further resources. However, teaching is a busy and tiring profession, and without financial backing, the original site began to look and feel a little dated and under resourced.

Thankfully, due to the financial support from the Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration & Innovation Fund 2023, resourced by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in collaboration with Spirasi and the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, the tutors have managed to develop and revamp the ESOL Materials Ireland website and upload new and exciting ESOL resources. As before, these resources are free to download and use within a classroom setting.

It is the hope tutors find these resources beneficial to their ESOL classes, and most importantly, to the development of their ESOL learners’ language and literacy skills.

ESOL Materials Ireland Founders

Angus O’ Riordan

Angus is the psychosocial coordinator at Spirasi with over 15 years’ experience working as an ESOL tutor

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Peadar Glennon

Peadar is an ESOL coordinator and tutor at Dublin Adult Learning Centre whose area of specialty is working in the field of ESOL literacy

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