Description:

Do you want to use more visuals in your lessons but don’t have the time to search through old magazines and newspapers before each lesson? Or do you realize that you saw the perfect picture for your lesson in a newspaper that went out with last week’s recycling? If so, you might want to consider creating a picture file individually or with other tutors at your program.

Over time, go through old magazines and newspapers, cutting out pictures that you think might be useful for activities with your learners. Or as you read a newspaper or magazine, mark suitable pictures with sticky notes and cut out later. Good pictures to begin with include:

            People – try to get a wide variety of people, not just people from fashion magazines

            Jobs – pictures that show people doing a variety of jobs, or pictures of workplace settings

            Actions – sport pictures, people doing things

            Community – pictures of transport, buildings, etc

            Food

            Nature – animals, oceans, deserts, mountains, etc

Glue each picture to a full-sized piece of paper or card. If you have access to a laminator, you can laminate them. As your picture file grows, you may want to develop a way to categorize and organize your pictures.