Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
One of the best parts of teaching ESL is helping students connect with literature that truly resonates with them. But let’s be real—not every story hits home the first time around. That’s why I love using a By Any Other Name ESL lesson to spark meaningful conversations in my classroom. With the right scaffolds in place, stories like this become powerful tools for exploring identity, culture, and belonging.
I’ve used By Any Other Name for several years in my B1 ESL classes, and it’s a favorite—not just for me, but for my students, too. The themes are relatable, the vocabulary is rich (but manageable), and the story opens up important conversations about names, assimilation, and cultural pride.
If you’re looking for a By Any Other Name ESL lesson that actually works with teen learners, I’ve put together a collection of classroom-tested resources to help make it meaningful and accessible.
Why By Any Other Name Works for ESL Teens
This story dives into the experience of two sisters navigating a strict British-run school in India. What hits home for so many of my students is the moment when the sisters are forced to give up their Indian names. That loss of identity sparks a discussion that ESL teens—many of whom are balancing multiple languages and cultures—really get.
And that’s where the magic happens. When a text mirrors their real-world experiences, engagement goes way up.
My Go-To ESL Resources for This Story
To make sure students can truly connect with the story (and not get lost in the language), I’ve broken down my By Any Other Name ESL lesson into multiple, skill-based resources. Here’s what I use:
Cloze Listening Activity – MP3 + Cloze Passage
This is how I introduce the story. Students listen to a short summary with missing words and fill them in as they go. The audio keeps them focused, and the cloze format helps build listening accuracy and vocabulary retention.
Great for:
- Listening centers
- Whole-class dictation
- Introducing the theme in a low-pressure way
Speaking & Listening Activities – Identity Prompts + Audio
After reading, we dive into oral discussion with prompts like “What does your name mean to you?” and “Would you change your name to fit in?” The set includes pronunciation practice with embedded audio and a mix of print/digital formats.
Perfect for:
- Pair conversations
- Exit tickets
- Speaking assessments
Reading & Writing Lesson – Identity & Point of View
This activity focuses on helping students analyze how the narrator’s point of view shifts throughout the story. It includes editable worksheets and writing prompts that ask students to reflect on their own experiences with identity.
Best used for:
- Writing workshops
- Literary analysis
- SEL-infused language development
Comprehension Quiz & Questions – Editable + Key
Once we’ve read and discussed, I like to check understanding with this low-stress quiz. It’s editable, ESL-friendly, and comes with an answer key. The mix of literal and inferential questions makes it useful for both formative assessment and review.
Use it for:
- Wrap-up activity
- Quick grades
- Review days
Want It All in One Place?
If you’re like me and love having everything bundled together, I also created a discounted By Any Other Name ESL Resource Bundle that includes all four resources listed above. It’s everything you need to teach this story with confidence—whether you’re a new ESL teacher or a veteran looking to streamline your planning.
Final Thoughts
By Any Other Name isn’t just a short story—it’s a bridge to conversations that matter. With the right scaffolding and engaging resources, you can help your students explore identity in a way that feels both personal and empowering.
If you’re looking to breathe new life into your ESL literature lessons, this story is a great place to start.
