Lesson Planning
Perhaps you are a volunteer ESL teacher and/or you teach in a very casual setting without a required curriculum. Nonetheless, lesson planning is essential!
Here are some of the several reasons to start lesson planning:
Maximizes class time - Time is not wasted with a teacher thinking of what to do next
Teachers are more confident when more prepared for the class
Keeps the teacher focused on students' goals
Makes it easier to evaluate student progress
If you ever need a substitute to cover your class, a lesson plan will make sure the class stays on track of their goals
When beginning the lesson planning, focus on:
Preparation - Keep in mind the learners' prior knowledge
Presentation - Give clear directions and provide all necessary information
Practice - Make sure students actively engage in the lesson and practice as they learn
Evaluation - Incorporate ways to assess student growth and check for understanding
Lesson Plan Breakdown
Note: There are many kinds of lesson plan templates. It is acceptable to use different variations.
Test them out to figure out what works best for you and your students.
Note: It is okay if you don't follow the lesson plan to the exact minute. If the class needs more time on a topic, don't rush them for the sake of time. If the class gets in a great conversation on a topic, don't cut it off for the sake of time. Be flexible and focus on the students' needs.
Think about how the setting and how the amount of resources can affect the lessons you teach
Remember to incorporate as many language forms as you can.
It's great to start with a warm-up activity or ice breaker. Warm-ups can be used to refresh a previous topic
while making the students feel comfortable.
Don't simply present the information as a long lecture. Use different forms of media and activities to teach information.
After presenting information, think of ways to have students practice and apply the new information. Consider both group work and independent practice.
Finally, evaluate for progress and check for understanding. This is important in order to determine if you need to teach the information or if you can move on to a different topic.
"10 Speaking Activities for Adults..."
This is a great video if you need a list of detailed ideas for speaking activities or warm-ups. Also, there are several more ESL activities, games, and teaching theories from this YouTube creator, Etacude.
Template #1
Template #2
