This Website covers a number of issues looking at arguments for and against. It’s U.S. based but there are many issues that are relevant across the globe. More local background information can then be researched. 
Pros and Cons
Reply
Debating
Debating topics relevant to the news can be a high-interest way to engage English language learner. The link below has some video clips to see this in action.
Learn Words
This is a great way for students to explore and learn words – especially after discussing morphemes in class.
using TED talks
Links to some brilliant auto lesson sites – especially activities for listening.
forgetting
Just in time for exam revision comes this article on Edutopia. Great thing to keep in mind from the start of the year!
grit – passion and success
Connect
This twitter account from Katie Toppel has some brilliant ideas – many for primary level – but general ones as well.
Listening sites
Phonetics and EAL
Great little article for getting a handle on the language used by linguists.
Film English Ali’s story
Another brilliant short lesson from Film English
