English Vocabulary Resources
English as a Second Language (ESL) vocabulary materials shared by the Parlora community. Filter by format below or open the full library.
Vocabulary Distinctions: Trust vs. Confidence
An advanced vocabulary guide analyzing the nuanced differences between 'trust' and 'confidence' in professional communication, featuring examples, practice exercises, and real-world explanations.
Expect vs. Anticipate: Vocabulary Distinctions
A guide clarifying the nuanced differences in meaning and usage between 'expect' and 'anticipate', complete with contextual examples, practice exercises, and an answer key.
When Prefixes Play Tricks: Understanding 'Invaluable' and 'Inflammable'
An English vocabulary study guide examining misleading prefixes, highlighting how 'invaluable' and 'inflammable' differ from standard negative prefix patterns, complete with practice exercises and explanations.
When Opposites Work Together: The Language of Contradiction
An exploration of English expressions that combine contradictory ideas—such as bittersweet, love-hate relationship, deafening silence, and open secret—with matching exercises and context practice.
Idiom Touch Base
An illustrated lesson on the English idiom Touch Base, with particular focus on its use in professional settings. – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom Think Outside the Box
An illustrated examination of the idiom Think Outside the Box, especially its use in workplace environments. – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom Raise the Bar
An illustrated exploration of the idiom Raise the Bar, with particular focus on how it is used in professional English – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom On the Same Page
Explore how the idiom On the Same Page is commonly used in professional English – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom Learn the Ropes
Learn how the idiom Learn the Ropes is used in professional English – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom In the Loop
Learn when to use the idiom In the Loop, and explore how it functions in professional English – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom Hit the Ground Running
Learn how the idiom Hit the Ground Running is used in daily English, especially in the workplace – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom Get the Ball Rolling
Learn the uses of the English idiom Get the Ball Rolling – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Idiom Go the Extra Mile
Explore the best use of the English idiom Go the Extra Mile – Includes a few brief exercises for you to practice.
Vocabulary Distinctions: Scan, Browse, and Skim
Explains the nuances and differences in meaning between the reading verbs 'scan', 'skim', and 'browse' depending on the reader's purpose, complete with practice exercises and answer keys.
Sensitive vs. Sensible: Vocabulary Distinctions
A vocabulary worksheet clarifying the differences, definitions, and contextual nuances between the commonly confused words 'sensitive' and 'sensible', complete with practice exercises and an answer key.
Vocabulary Distinctions: Scent vs. Fragrance
This document explains the nuanced differences between 'scent' and 'fragrance,' providing definitions, examples, and practice exercises to help distinguish when to use each word correctly in English.
10 Essential English Vocabulary Words for Beginners
Learn 10 essential English vocabulary words with simple meanings and practice exercises. This beginner-friendly worksheet is useful for English learners, students, classroom activities, homework, and self-study.
Fresh Guacamole Recipe
This document provides a simple, step-by-step recipe for making fresh guacamole, along with a vocabulary section explaining key cooking terms. It's designed for English learners to practice language in a practical context.
Fluffy Pancakes Recipe
This document provides a simple recipe for making fluffy pancakes, including ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and key vocabulary related to cooking. It is designed for English learners to practice language in a kitchen context.
Easy Tomato Pasta Recipe
This document provides a simple recipe for Easy Tomato Pasta, including ingredients, step-by-step cooking instructions, and a 'Words to know' section explaining cooking verbs and terms.
10 Must-Know Business Slang Terms
This document introduces ten essential business slang terms used by native English speakers in workplace settings, differentiating between idioms and slang and providing definitions and example sentences for each term.
Giving Directions to a Lost Tourist - B1 English for Travel & Community
This guide helps intermediate (B1) English learners master essential vocabulary and phrases for giving directions, featuring a situational dialogue and practice exercises.
Navigating a Hospital Visit: Medical English for Real Life
This guide helps B1 English learners communicate effectively in a hospital setting, covering essential medical vocabulary, common symptoms, hospital departments, dialogue examples, and key questions to ask healthcare professionals.
Food Adjectives: Beyond "Good" and "Bad":
Help your intermediate English learners move beyond generic vocabulary and describe flavors and textures like native speakers! This clean, ready-to-print B1 ESL worksheet transforms basic food talk into precise, expressive communication. What’s Inside: Engaging Real-World Dialogue: A realistic café conversation between two friends that contextually embeds target descriptive words such as bland, crunchy, greasy, mouth-watering, savory, and tender. Comprehensive Vocabulary Glossary: A structured reference table complete with clear definitions and intermediate-level example sentences for each targeted adjective. Quick Practice Challenge: A built-in fill-in-the-blank comprehension check perfect for exit tickets, independent practice, or quick homework assignments. Visually Appealing Layout: Features a charming, student-friendly cake illustration header and a scannable, modern design that keeps learners engaged. Target Learning Objectives: Expand food-related vocabulary beyond simple "good/bad" binary descriptions. Distinguish between flavor profiles (e.g., sweet vs. savory) and food textures (e.g., crunchy vs. tender). Improve reading comprehension and spoken fluency through contextual dialogue reading. Ideal for: Teen and adult ESL/EFL classrooms, conversational English groups, and intensive vocabulary modules.
Handling Restaurant Issues – Politeness & Complaining
Give your intermediate students the confidence to navigate real-world restaurant mishaps smoothly and politely. This ready-to-print B1 ESL worksheet balances functional language with essential customer service etiquette, shifting learners away from blunt complaints toward natural, diplomatic English. What’s Inside: Realistic Problem-Solving Dialogue: A practical restaurant scenario highlighting common complaints (wrong orders, undercooked food, cold sides, and missing items) using polite framing techniques. Useful Phrases & Vocabulary Glossary: A detailed breakdown of essential customer service terms and indirect questions like "There seems to be a mistake..." and "Could you check on...?", complete with definitions and student-friendly examples. Quick Practice Challenge: An interactive gap-fill exercise designed to anchor new vocabulary immediately, making it perfect for independent study or paired classroom activities. Professional, Clean Layout: Styled with an elegant cloche graphic header and clear tables that facilitate easy scanning and structured learning. Target Learning Objectives: Equip students to report common dining errors politely without sounding aggressive or rude. Master indirect question structures used for checking on delayed orders. Expand restaurant vocabulary to include customer service outcomes (e.g., complimentary, on the house, take it back). Ideal for: Adult language learners, corporate ESL tracking, travel English modules, and high-frequency conversation practice.
Learn Everyday American Idioms: Sofia's Restaurant Adventure
This document introduces five common American English idioms through a narrative about Sofia's challenging first dining experience in New York. Each idiom is then clearly defined with an example.
In the Classroom: Classroom Vocabulary
This two-page PDF helps A1 English learners identify and practice common classroom objects. It includes a picture matching exercise, a word bank, an answer key, and useful classroom phrases and practice activities.
English Phrasal Verbs: Match, Complete, and Correct (B1 Intermediate)
This worksheet helps B1 intermediate English learners practice common phrasal verbs through matching, sentence completion, and error correction exercises. An answer key is provided for self-assessment.
IELTS Academic Preparation Textbook - Chapter 19: Academic Vocabulary Builder
This chapter provides a curated list of over 300 academic vocabulary words, organized by topic, with definitions, common collocations, and example sentences, aimed at helping IELTS Academic test-takers achieve a band score of 6.5-7.5.
Business & Entrepreneurship
Business vocabulary, presentations, and entrepreneurial concepts.
Family Members
Vocabulary for family relationships and describing your family.
Weather & Seasons
Talk about weather conditions and seasonal activities.
Food & Drink
Essential food and drink vocabulary with ordering and preferences.
Numbers & Colours
Practice counting, recognising colours, and using them in simple sentences.
Describing People
Use adjectives to describe appearance, personality, and character.
Technology & Social Media
Explore digital technology vocabulary and discuss online habits.
Time & Days of the Week
Tell the time, talk about schedules and weekly plans.
Jobs & Workplaces
Talk about careers, job responsibilities, and workplace vocabulary.
Health & the Body
Describe symptoms, visit the doctor, and discuss healthy habits.
House & Home
Describe rooms, furniture, and household chores.
Idiomatic Expressions & Collocations
Master advanced idioms, collocations, and natural English phrasing.
Food & Cooking
Advanced food vocabulary, recipes, and discussing culinary traditions.
Law & Justice
Legal vocabulary, justice systems, and courtroom language.
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