Getting Started
Are you just getting started with ESL Library's digital tools and platform? Here is a list of frequently asked questions and answers about our digital tools. If you have another question, feel free to ask it in Comments below or click the blue question mark found in the bottom right corner on any page on our site.
Does ESL Library have its own web conferencing platform?
No. ESL Library offers printable and digitized content that you and your students can use in two ways. First, you can work together using our Broadcast tool. To do the lessons together, you need to be in a live online class using a web conferencing platform like Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or Microsoft Teams. Choose the digital lesson you want to do together. Then screenshare with your students as you work through the tasks. Your students do not need to log in to ESL Library for your live class. They just join your web conference and you launch the content. Second, you can assign digital tasks to your students to complete on their own devices. Your students do need an ESL Library account to do this (free for students). Watch How to Create Classes and Invite Students.
Do my students need an email address to sign up for a student account?
No. You can give your students a class code instead of having them sign up with email. Here is a Help Doc that walks you through the steps. Here is a video demo made for students.
My student forgot their username and/or password. What should I do?
Go to My Classes from the top navigation bar and scroll down to My Students until you see your student's name and username/email. Click on the three dots at the end of the table and choose Reset Password. Create a new password for your student and tell your student what this temporary password is. The next time your student logs in they can use the temporary password you made. Then they can go to My Profile and Change Password to create their own new password that you do not know.
Can I send a single invitation that goes out to all of my students?
We recommend having your students sign up as a group using the class code and secret word. You can screenshare this information in a live class. Here is a Help Doc that walks you through all the steps. You can also invite students individually using email. They each need their own invitation.
Can my students do their ESL Library homework on their mobile phones?
Yes. All of ESL Library's digital tasks were designed to work on mobile devices or desktop. The Student Dashboard is also mobile-friendly.
Does ESL Library integrate with Google Classroom?
Yes. You can now share an assignment on Google Classroom. Simply choose a class and assign some digital tasks. Then click the Share on Google Classroom icon. When your students are logged into Google Classroom they will see a link that takes them to their ESL Library assigment. We are currently working on more integration features.
Can I upload ESL Library content to Google Classroom?
No. Our terms do not allow you to take our content and move it to another platform. If your students don't have their own devices to do the digital tasks, you can screenshare the content in a live class. You can also email the PDFs to your students if digital content does not exist.
How can I use the audio component during live lessons?
When you are teaching a live lesson and screensharing an ESL Library digital lesson, you can play the audio from your own computer or device and your students will be able to hear it as long as you don't have your headphones plugged in. You may want to mute yourself (and students) while audio is playing to reduce any echo or sound problems.
Can I use ESL Library flashcards in a live class?
Yes! We have a Flashcard Player that allows you to broadcast a flashcard set. Learn more here.
Can I make the font size larger?
We don't currently offer any features for increasing the font size of our digital materials. However, you can zoom in on your own screensharing program if you need to increase the text (especially useful for a formatted Reference task; please share this tip with your students). Our Flashcard Player also has two different font styles to choose from (Standard or Literacy).
How can I see my students' results?
Go to My Classes in the top navigation and find the results for the class or student you want to see. (See Step 10.) When you click on a student's name you can see their individual student results. The results you see are in reverse order of completion within one due date. Please tell your students to complete the tasks in the order that you assign them.
How can I give students feedback about their digital homework?
A feedback and rating tool for open-ended questions is available now. You can also leave a general comment after viewing the results of each scoreable task type. On the Student Dashboard, you students will see a pen icon if there is feedback and ratings to view or a speech bubble icon if there is a comment to view.
How can I cancel an assignment or edit the due date?
Click on Class Prep in your top navigation and choose My Classes. Choose the class or student you want to cancel or edit an assignment for. Click on the lesson you want to edit or cancel. Click on the due date link on any of the assignments in that lesson. This will bring you back to the edit assignment page. Edit the due date and/or time for any task you want to change, or cancel the lesson. View Step 8–9 in this Help Doc.
How can I get back to the lesson itself when I'm viewing results?
Click on Results for any task. You will now see a link at the top of the page that says View Lesson. This will take you back to the digital tab on the lesson description page. If you are starting on the Digital tab and you click on a due date of a task, you will see the View Lesson link at the top of the Results table that will easily take you back.
Can I remove students to make room for new students?
Yes. Simply go to Class Prep in the top navigation bar when you are logged in at ellii.com. Choose My Classes. Choose a class that has students that you no longer need. From the Class List, you will see a list of students. Remove any students that are no longer in your class.
Can I screenshare the PDFs during a live class?
Yes. If a lesson has not yet been digitized or if there is a task or reference page that you prefer in the PDF version, you can simply open it on your own screen for your students to view.
Can I assign the PDFs to my students?
We recommend using the digital versions where available. Not all of our lessons and resources have been digitized and it may be necessary to email the Student PDF in this case. Our digital assignment feature currently only works with digital tasks.
Can I edit the PDFs?
No. We do not allow editing of the PDFs for copyright reasons.
Do you collect any private information from my students?
No. We don't collect or share any private information about your students. Also, it is not necessary for a student to use a real name or even an email address to receive ESL Library homework.
Where can I learn about digital feature updates?
We will post monthly product updates on our blog.
Do you offer any help for students?
Yes. We have an FAQ for students who are new to ESL Library. We will also be working on some videos and a lesson. Here is some digital literacy vocabulary for your students.
