A selection of English ESL folk printables

This test assesses comprehension of "The Wish Ring," a folktale translated from the German by Anna Eichberg. There are vocabulary in context questions as well as questions on character, setting, plot, conflict and theme. There is also an extension activity, in which students write a paragraph about their own wish.

The Wish Ring - Vocabulary and Literary Analysis

his folklore was based on a famous mythical creature known as Kokok to the Bajau community of Sabah, Malaysia. Kokok was often depicted as a child who could take any human forms and mimicked their voices and personality. It usually came out during dusk or after a heavy rain where it was still dark and cloudy. It targeted children whom it hid from being seen by putting invisible and intangible cloak or cocoon around them. The victims would usually remain in catatonic states where they were conscious of what happened around them but they could not react to it and they lost sense of time. One effective way of setting the children free was by playing a traditional music known as Titik among the Bajau community. Kokok would become too fascinated with the music that it would start dancing and lose its focus on the children. The magical cocoon it put around the children would gradually lose its invisibility which would then release the children. These children would then return to their normal states. There are several questions related to the story in this material. This story was written by Sirhajwan Idek. This is also available in ESL Printables. 

Kokok the Shapeshifting Trickster 

Think Tales (Borneo Version) is a collection of traditional short stories and poem about the fairy tales, fables and folklore of Bajau of Sabah, Malaysia, located in the Borneo. Each piece comes with language activities. It is also available in ESL Printables. Written by Sirhajwan Idek. Download them all :) 

Think Tales 52 Borneo Version (Anang the Galap)

Think Tales (Borneo Version) is a collection of traditional short stories and poems about the fairy tales, fables and folklore of Bajau of Sabah, Malaysia, located in the Borneo. Each piece comes with language activities. It is also available in ESL Printables. Written by Sirhajwan Idek. Download them all :) 

Think Tales 64 Borneo Version (Sebi & The Mandapun)

This worksheet, titled "Exploring the Mystical Tengu of Japanese Folklore," delves into the intriguing world of Tengu, mythical creatures from Japanese myths, often depicted as bird-like humanoids. Designed for B2 level EFL students, the worksheet includes an extended introduction to the Tengu, describing their appearance, roles in folklore, and significance in both Shinto and Buddhist traditions. Accompanied by a set of reading comprehension questions, the worksheet aims to enrich students' vocabulary with key terms such as "illustrating," "complex," and "revered," while encouraging critical thinking about the cultural and historical context of these enigmatic figures. To enhance learning, students can scan a QR code included in the worksheet to access a detailed vocabulary list and further resources. This educational tool is intended to enhance understanding of Japanese folklore and improve language skills through engaging content and thought-provoking discussion.

Exploring the Mystical Tengu of Japanese Folklore

Think Tales (Borneo Version) is a collection of traditional short stories and poems about the fairy tales, fables and folklore of Bajau of Sabah, Malaysia, located in the Borneo. Each piece comes with language activities. It is also available in ESL Printables. Written by Sirhajwan Idek. Download them all :)

Think Tales 68 Borneo Version (Kitut & The Tarap)

Think Tales 62 Borneo Version (Yaya & Ili)

This folklore was based on a mythical creature known as Katau among the Bajau community. The Bajau community believed Katau to be a malevolent supernatural being that lived in the ocean. It could change its appearance to human and infiltrated human villages to target its victims. This story was written by Sirhajwan Idek. It contains a set of questions. It is also available in ESL Printables. 

Katau (The Sea Witch)

Think Tales 67 Borneo Version (Mun & The Katau)

Think Tales 55 Borneo Version (Idek & The Segai)

Think Tales 70 Borneo Version (Indong & Her Kekurian)

Think Tales (Borneo Version) is a collection of traditional short stories and poem about the fairy tales, fables and folklore of Bajau of Sabah, Malaysia, located in the Borneo. Each piece comes with language activities. It is also available in ISL collective. Written by Sirhajwan Idek. Download them all :) 

Think Tales 50 Borneo Version (Dut The Manuk Manuk)

Culture, intercultural communication, cross-cultural communication

Adjectives to describe feelings, emotions

Adjectives to describe personality and character

Adjectives: Gradable / Non-gradable adjectives

Articles: Definite or indefinite article (a, an or the)

BE + infinitive structures (e.g. he was to become famous)

Clauses of contrast (e.g.  although, while)

Clauses of purpose (e.g. in order to, so that, so as to)

Clauses of reason (e.g. because, because of, due to, as, since)

Cleft sentences (e.g. It's Joey we're looking for)

Comparison: Comparative adjectives and structures

Comparison: Superlative adjectives and structures

Conditional 2 (second conditional) - would

Conditionals: Conditional phrases (e.g. unless, provided that, as long as)

Conjunctions (aka connectives, e.g. and, but, or, so, then)

Contractions (shortened forms, e.g. don't, aren't, etc.)

Determiners (words that can come before nouns)

Formal and informal English (politeness or colloquial language)

Future perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Future perfect simple and continuous (progressive) tense

Future phrases (e.g. be about to, bound to, likely to, due to, set to + INF)

Homonyms (two words with the same pronunciation - homophones and homographs)

It as preparatory subject (e.g. it's raining, it's nice of you to)

Linking verbs (aka copulas, e.g. I am a student)

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how to accuse somebody of something in English

how to apologize, say sorry, forgive and express regret in English

how to ask for information and make inquiries in English

how to ask for something, make requests in English

how to blame somebody for something in English

how to defend yourself from criticism in English

how to deny or admit something in English

how to describe things or people in English

how to emphasize important things in English

how to encourage or discourage people in English

how to evaluate people or progress in English

how to express agreement /disagreement in English

how to express approval and disapproval  in English

how to express cause and effect in English

how to express interest in something in English

how to express likelihood, probability in English

how to express likes and dislikes in English

how to express sequence and chronology in English

how to express shock and disbelief in English

how to express sympathy and condolences in English

how to give permission, authorization in English

how to inform somebody about some news in English

how to interpret what was said in English

how to keep a conversation going in English

how to make guesses about something in English

how to make, accept and refuse offers in English

how to order or make a booking in English

how to persuade, convince people in English

how to praise people and express appreciation in English

how to reassure somebody of something in English

how to refuse and object to something in English

how to remind people of something in English

how to rephrase, paraphrase what was said in English

how to say thank you, express gratitude in English

Nouns: Collective nouns (team, class, family, committee)

Nouns: Proper nouns (names of people, cities, companies)

Oxymorons (phrases with words of contradictory meaning, e.g. living dead)

Participles: Past participle (e.g. HAVING DONE)

Participles: Present participle (e.g. DOING)

Parts of Speech (aka word classes, e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)

Past perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Phonetics (pronunciation, IPA, phonetic symbols)

Plural nouns: regular plurals with S ending

Prefixes (e.g. A, UN, IM, DIS, MIS, EN, etc. )

Prepositions vs adverbs (e.g. before me, saw him before.)

Prepositions: Double prepositions (e.g. out of)

Prepositions: Participle prepositions (e.g. pending, concerning)

Prepositions: Phrase prepositions (e.g. by means of)

Present perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Present perfect simple or present continuous tense

Present simple tense: S for third person singular verbs

Present simple vs continuous (progressive) tense

Pronouns: EACH OTHER, ONE ANOTHER (reciprocal pronouns)

Pronouns: Possessive pronouns (e.g. my, mine)

Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns (e.g. myself, yourself))

Pronouns: SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, EVERYBODY, NO ONE, NOTHING, etc.

Pronouns: THIS, THAT, THESE, THOSE (demonstratives)

Pronouns: YOU and THEY to talk about people in general

Quantifiers (e.g. some, many, much, any, few, little)

Questions: WH questions (open-ended questions)

Reported speech: reported questions (indirect questions)

There is / there are / there was / there were / there will be, etc.

Verbs: Transitive or intransitive verbs (words that can or cannot stand with objects)

Working with Paragraphs: ordering, titling

Role play, miming, drama activity or improv game

Pictionary (picture dictionary) or picture matching

Writing an opinion essay (persuasive essay)

Learners who are Pre-A1 have just begun learning English and will first learn how to:<ul><li>Say the letters in the alphabet and numbers</li><li>Say hello, talk about names and age</li><li>Name the colors and dates, express likes and dislikes</li></ul>

Absolute beginners who have begun to learn the letters and numbers

Learners taking the A1 Elementary exam should be able to:<ul><li>Introduce themselves and ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, things he/she has, people he/she knows.</li><li>Communicate using very basic phrases as long as the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: common adjectives & adverbs of frequency, going to, how much/how many, imperatives, I'd like, 's – possessive, common prepositions of place and time, present simple & continuous, there is/are</li></ul>

A very basic tourist level, which is enough for buying food and a bus ticket

Learners taking the A2 Pre-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).</li><li>Complete tasks that are routine and exchange information about familiar matters.</li><li>Describe matters of immediate need in simple terms.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: countable/uncountable nouns, adverbs of frequency, future will/going to, much/many, present perfect, past simple, past continuous, common phrasal verbs, common modals: can/should</li></ul>

A tourist who can do basic conversations about the past, present and future

Learners taking the B1 Intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand points regarding family, work, school or leisure-related topics.</li><li>Deal with most travel situations in areas where the language is spoken.</li><li>Create simple texts on topics of personal interest.</li><li>Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, as well as opinions or plans in brief.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: question tags, intensifiers: too/enough, future tenses, past tenses, modals, conditionals, wh-questions in the past</li></ul>

Learners who can deal with both familiar and routine situations, in friendly and work contexts

Learners taking the B2 Upper-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.</li><li>Interact with fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without difficulty for either party.</li><li>Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain an opinion on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: perfect tenses, mixed conditionals, modals in the present, phrasal verbs, reported speech, wish, relative clauses</li></ul>

The level where you can be a tour guide for your foreign friends and talk about a lot of topics, even abstract ones, with ease and fluency

Learners taking the C1 Advanced exam should be able to: Express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts. Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, using linking phrases (=words that connect ideas between sentences). Main grammar points to know: inversion, mixed conditionals, modals in the past, all passive forms, phrasal verbs (all patterns), wish/if only for regrets

Learners who can smoothly communicate in every walk of life, read long texts and write well

Learners taking the C2 Proficient exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand almost everything read or heard with ease.</li><li>Summarize information from a variety of sources into a coherent presentation.</li><li>Express themselves using precise meaning in complex scenarios.</li><li>Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations</li></ul>

Get here and you are ready to study in English at university

88 Folk English ESL worksheets pdf & doc