Hidden Door is a pretty interesting, and free, AI tool. The simplest way to describe it is that it lets you create characters that interact with others inside of classic novels. It seems somewhat similar to another AI site called Playbrary (see ...
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  1. “Hidden Door” Uses AI To Let You Role-Play Within Classic Novels
  2. Infographic: “Global Child Poverty Rates In Perspective”
  3. Infographic: “The Steps of the Hajj Pilgrimage”
  4. The New Yorker’s New Word Game, Shuffalo, Is Great For ELLs
  5. Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL
  6. More Recent Articles

“Hidden Door” Uses AI To Let You Role-Play Within Classic Novels

 

Hidden Door is a pretty interesting, and free, AI tool.

The simplest way to describe it is that it lets you create characters that interact with others inside of classic novels.

It seems somewhat similar to another AI site called Playbrary (see “Playbrary” Turns A Thousand Classic Books Into “Choose-Your-Own Adventures”).  Only you can be more pro-active, almost a co-creator, with Hidden Door.

     

Infographic: “Global Child Poverty Rates In Perspective”

aamiraimer / Pixabay

 

I’m adding this infographic to The Best Visualizations Of Poverty In The U.S. & Around The World:

Infographic: Global Child Poverty Rates In Perspective | Statista You will find more infographics at Statista

     

Infographic: “The Steps of the Hajj Pilgrimage”

 

I’m adding this infographic to The Best Sites To Learn And Teach About The Hajj:

Infographic: The Steps of the Hajj Pilgrimage | Statista You will find more infographics at Statista

     

The New Yorker’s New Word Game, Shuffalo, Is Great For ELLs

 

The New Yorker magazine recently announced a new online word game called Shuffalo.

In it, you’re first provided a few letters and then have to make a word out of them.  Once you’ve completed that puzzle, another letter is added to the collection, and you have to make a word out of all of them.  Then, yet another letter is added, and so on.

It’s not an easy game.

However, it also provides you with the ability to request as many hints as you like, and that’s what makes it great for English Language Learners.

Project the game at the front, and then give everyone, or pairs, a mini-whiteboard.  See who can create the first word.  Then, move to the second one.  If students feel stumped, just click “hint” and get a letter.  Add another letter if students still don’t get it.

I’m adding this info to The Best Ideas For Using Games In The ESL/EFL/ELL Classroom.

     

Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL

Eight years ago I began this regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attention.

You might also be interested in all my Best lists on teaching ELLs.

Also, check out A Collection Of My Best Resources On Teaching English Language Learners.

In addition, look for our latest book on teaching ELLs, The ELL Teacher’s Toolbox 2.0.

Here are this week’s choices:

Ozu lets you search video clips to find what you’re looking for – it could be useful in class.

Learning Briefs — Series 3: Cultivating and Supporting Quality Teachers of Newcomer and Multilingual Learners is from The Internationals Network.

INTERNATIONALS NETWORK RESOURCE BANK FOR SUPPORTING MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS is from…the Internationals Network. I’m adding it to THE BEST RESOURCES TO HELP EDUCATORS TEACH ELL NEWCOMERS.

The Immigration Initiative at Harvard has a bunch of very useful educator and policy briefs on ELLs, like this one on Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices for Immigrant-Origin Students that I’m adding to The Best Resources About “Culturally Responsive Teaching” & “Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy” – Please Share More!

Considerations and Suggestions When Adopting a Reading Difficulties Screener for Multilingual Learners is from Californians Together.

Newcomer Support Resources comes from the Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL).

We have two new episodes of GO FIGURE, explaining a key chart from our research spotlighting English Learners in @chipubschools.bsky.social high schools.

English: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkWU…

Español: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufkw…

The original report: consortium.uchicago.edu/publications…

[image or embed]

— UChicago Consortium on School Research (@uchiconsortium.bsky.social) June 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM

Sabi and Avatalks are two new Ai-powered language learning tools.

Presentation, Practice, Production Common Mistakes is from The Barefoot TEFL Teacher.  I had never heard of “PPP” before, but I guess it’s an ESL version of “I do, we do, you do.”

     

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