Some Advice On Writing Good ESL Lesson Plans

By Craig Henderson

Preparation is an essential part of teaching and this is particularly so in the ESL classroom. Good ESL lesson plans should be well-structured, varied and have clear aims and outcomes. It is important to work on your planning skills and develop a format which helps you prepare and deliver effective and interesting lessons.
Although some teachers prefer to ‘wing it’ in the classroom, relying on their experience to carry them through, planning well helps to make your purpose clearer, anticipate any problems and familiarise yourself with the material you want to cover.
As a trainee teacher, you will be taught how to write class plans, and will be expected to do so for each lesson you present on your course. Initially, they will take a lot of work, as you will have to write a detailed description of each activity, along with the anticipated time frame. Goal setting is very important, and you need to have not only an overall lesson aim but one for each stage. Afterwards, both you and your tutor will evaluate your class and determine if the aim has been met.
Fortunately, it is no longer necessary to plan so thoroughly once you are working, and as you become more experienced and confident in the classroom, you will find that the preparation process gets much shorter and easier. The method you originally learn, however, is still useful as a basic guideline.
You should always have a clear purpose in mind to give your lesson focus. Think about what your students needs are and what you would like them to achieve in the class, when defining your goal. You also need to list the content to be covered and any material referred to, including the book title, unit and page numbers. Keep a checklist of any resources you have to prepare, such as photocopies, tapes or CDs, visual materials and group activities.
It is standard practice to start with a ‘warmer’, which can take the form of a game, discussion or group activity. This has the double benefit of providing an opportunity for revision and encouraging student interaction, allowing the class to mentally prepare for the more challenging work which is to follow.
The main body of your lesson should focus on at least one teaching point, either related to grammar, vocabulary or the skills of speaking, listening, reading or writing. A good textbook will help you structure the class and give you ideas and activities to use, but you should also try to supplement or adapt the material to suit the needs of your students. Keep in mind the principles of effective language teaching, which are to prioritise communication and encourage student participation and interaction. Your class should be as student centred as possible, with a minimal amount of teacher direction.
Finally, while good planning is important, so is spontaneity. Your plan should support but not restrict you, so if you find something needs more time than expected or is not working well, you have the flexibility to change it. You can even drop your plan altogether if you feel is is necessary. You should know your students and be able to use your intuition as to what will be of maximum benefit for your class.

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