The main points when writing an ESL/EFL lesson plan are to stay focused and to recycle language through various skills practice to enable students to assimilate target structures and functions.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
- Select target structure or function by deciding what students need to focus on considering past lessons and future goals.
- Select materials to be used: Do you want to use your course book, outside materials, or do you want to invent something special for this lesson.
- Divide the lesson into four areas: warm-up, introduction of materials, class work, summary
- For the warm-up section of the lesson choose something that will activate target area. This section can include a simple discussion, reading, a joke, etc.
- To introduce material choose an exercise that will focus on the target area. These materials can be inductive (student discover for themselves) or deductive (teacher 'teaches' the new material.
- Have students work on the material through using a variety of language recycling techniques. These can be spoken, written, games, etc.
- To summarize the lesson use an open form of language recycling such as class discussion to allow students to ask any questions they may have.
- Once you have decided on your materials and strategy, write a short outline using bullets. This will help you keep track of where you are going.
- Assign homework by choosing materials that will further recycle the target structure or function studied in class.
- Keep a copy of your lesson plan. As you continue to teach these old plans will come in handy when having to prepare a lesson at the last moment!
Tips:
- Keep you lesson focused. Don't try to do too much.
- Remember that language is first acquired passively and takes at least 5 repetitions before it can become active knowledge.
- It is usually best to underestimate student capabilities. If you overestimate and plan too much you might rush your students and hamper their learning experience.
