Foolproof ESL Lesson Plan Format (and Tips!)

First of all, it's important that you keep your lessons fun. Remember that learning a new language is very difficult and no matter who or where you're teaching you need to be able to motivate your students. And what better way to motivate someone than with the incentive of having a good time?

Another tip for you ESL teachers is this: The less time you lecture your class, the better off you and your class will be. It's important that your students do most of the talking, after all, that's what the ultimate goal is, right? Communicating in English! Also, the more words you use, the more confused they get. Focus more on repeating common phrases like, "How are you?" and "Open your book," and "How is the weather?" and "Good job!"

Now on to the simple, yet very practical, lesson plan:

1- Greeting.

Always start by saying hello to your students! Every few weeks mix it up. Try, "What's up?" or "How's it going?" or "How are you doing?"

2- Warm up/Hook

It's important that you have your students' attention right away. Here are some examples:

-TPR: Total physical response. (ie. Have the students do what you say. Simon says is great!)

-YouTube: YouTube is especially great for any age. Find a song that relates to the subject they are learning about. Or a short drama/skit.

-Your Voice! Even simpler, ask your students a question. (Ie. Do you like soccer?)

3. Introduce the material/new words

It's necessary that your students have a solid foundation for the rest of the lesson. An effective way of teaching students new words is with a Powerpoint. The more pictures, the better.

4. Activity

There are many activities out there for ESL courses. The best kind is when you get your students talking to each other (in English, of course). For example, BINGO is a popular game, as are matching games, class surveys, etc.

5. Wrap Up - evaluate understanding

Worksheets are an effective way of testing your students' understanding of the material. You can also do a verbal quiz. This doesn't have to be extensive, just make sure your students understand what is going on so that you can appropriately plan your next lesson.

6. Give simple homework

Don't go overboard, here! A little really goes a long way. Require that they do something that will get them to use English at home. For example, "Ask your parents what their favorite animal is and write it down for next class!"

*I am currently living in South Korea teaching ESL to elementary school students. For some of my personal experiences, visit my blog: Miss Wendy City.

Check my content page often. I will continue to update with more ESL tips, including the best websites, personal experiences and great games/activities to incorporate into your lessons.