Free ESL Lesson Plan Ideas for Advanced Language Learners

Here are some great, free ESL lesson plan ideas for the advanced learner. Each idea may be adapted to any ability level with enough scaffolding and background information. You may also adapt it for a mainstream English classroom as well. Each idea comes with an objective and materials you may need to complete the activity.

1. Book Report

-Objective: To have the students become familiar with a particular author or genre of writing and to make connections between themes and writing styles of that author or genre.

-Materials: At least three books of either author or genre, Reading log notebook, paper, poster board and other materials for production of a poster

-Students choose a particular author or genre to read. Students will read at least 3 of their books throughout out the term or semester and keep a reading log noting their writing styles, themes, etc used throughout the books. Students will then do a book report on the author/genre discussing their reaction to the authors and answering questions written by the teacher to further explore themes and elements of plot and style. Students will then do a presentation complete with a visual to present to the class.

2. Writing a Folktale

-Objective: To teach students about different types of literature and about how folktales are structured and where they come from. Also, students will learn about the similarities and differences between cultures and the folktales they use to explain the universe.

-Materials: Different folktale books, paper, pencil, crayons or markers

-First, the teacher starts by reading a folktale and discussing its characteristics. Have students read several different folktales. Discuss how they are similar to others and different to others. Finally, have students write their own folktales with at least one illustration and then share them with the class.

3. Story Time

-Object: To develop elements of plot from an abstract reading.

-Materials: David Weisner's Tuesday, paper, pencil

-Discuss elements of plot and show the picture book to the class. This picture book has virtually no words. Have the students outline a plot for the story and write their own words based on the pictures.

4. The Biography

-Object: To explore different types and genres of writing, allow the students to demonstrate their knowledge.

-Materials: Biography, paper and pencil

-The teacher chooses a biography and reads it allowed in a reader's theater style. The teacher and students then discuss the differences between biography and fiction. The students then get the opportunity to write their own biography and may share them with the class if they choose. The assignment is evaluated on the basis of characteristics of a biography discussed and demonstrated in class.

5. Historical Journal Entries

-Objective: To have students respond to reading and try to imitate a particular writing style. Also, to have students explore the genre of journal writing

-Materials: A journal entry style book, Paper, pencil

-After reading a journal entry style book, have the students choose a famous person, either for history or, if they aren't familiar with any, one from today and give them a situation and have the students write a journal entry for that person in response to the prompt.

6. Prejudice/Discrimination unit

-Objective: May be used for more advanced students. To teach about a serious issue affecting America, as well as ESL students. To have students write a reflection on their feelings and to have students share their ideas about discrimination that is occurring in their own home countries.

-Materials: movie A Time for Justice or any other movie about discrimination in the U.S., "Prejudice and the Individual" by Gordon Allport, an article about discrimination.

-Activity: The students will start by watching A Time for Justice (1992), a movie about the US Civil Rights movement. Following the movie the students will get in groups and discuss prepared questions and vocabulary. They will then read the article "Prejudice and the Individual" and discuss it in the same manner. Students will then choose an ethnic group being discriminated against in their own country and do research on them, finding an article about it to bring to class. The student will then discuss the articles in groups. Finally, the students will write a response paper or cause and effect paper in response to the information they have found and their reactions to it (based off of lesson posted on www.iteslj.org).

7. Analyzing Song Lyrics

-Objective: To show students the literary value in all forms. Students will also show understanding of more abstract forms of language and demonstrate their own creative understanding of the language.

-Materials: Song lyrics, paper and pencil

-The students will be asked to bring in song lyrics that they choose. The student, either alone or with a group, will look at the lyrics and discuss how the song writer uses language. They will write down any words not understood and then discuss what the meaning is either in class or with a group. Student will then have the opportunity to mimic the style in their own lyrics which they can then share with the class.

Any of these lesson plan ideas may be adapted for a variety of ability levels. Remember that the key to any ESL lesson plan is to relate it to your students and use plenty of background knowledge and graphic organizers to help organize thoughts. And remember, most of all, to have fun!