Icons & Symbols
Icons in ELT materials are more than decoration: they act as visual signposts that help learners recognize skills, activity types, and media quickly. They save a learners time and help free up cognitive space for real learning. When used consistently and supported by clear text rubrics, icons can reduce effort in navigating tasks and make lessons easier to scan for both teachers and learners.
◎ Aim
Icons are visual signposts. They help learners recognise skills and activity types quickly and should be used consistently and sparingly.
Recommended icon set: Google Material Symbols & Icons.
1 Clarity
- Choose simple, universally recognisable icons.
- Use standard libraries (e.g. Google icons, Microsoft icons).
- Avoid symbols that can be easily misinterpreted across cultures.
2 Placement
- Place icons before the task instruction.
- Align icons with the bullet or number for easy scanning.
🔊 Listen to the conversation. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
3 Accessibility
- Icons must not replace written instructions.
- Always accompany icons with clear text rubrics.
4 Consistency
- Use the same icon for the same activity type throughout a course.
- Do not mix different versions of the same symbol (e.g. multiple headphone icons for listening).
5 Minimalism
- Use icons only when they add real value.
- Do not overload pages with icons.
- Avoid decorative or “fun” icons (🔥 ☀️ ❤️) that have no clear function.
6 Recommended Categories
Suggested icon set for Business English materials:
- 🔊 Listening – loudspeaker.
- 💬 Speaking – speech bubble.
- 📖 Reading – open book.
- 📝 Writing – pencil.
- 🧩 Grammar / Vocabulary – puzzle piece.
- ▶️ Video – play button.
✓ Key Takeaway
Treat icons as part of your instructional system, not decoration: a small, consistent set, placed before clear rubrics, helps learners navigate tasks quickly without cluttering the page.