What should go into an English language lesson?
Every lesson and class is different. The content depends on what the teacher wants to achieve in the lesson. However, it is possible to make some generalisations. Students who are interested and involved in, and enjoy what they are studying, tend to make better progress and learn faster.
When thinking about an English lesson it is useful therefore to keep the following three elements in mind: Engage – Study – Activate.
Engage
This means getting the students interested in the class. Engaging students is important for the learning process.
Study
Every lesson usually needs to have some kind of language focus. The study element of a lesson could be a focus on any aspect of the language, such as grammar or vocabulary and pronunciation. A study stage could also cover revision and extension of previously taught material.
Activate
Telling students about the language is not really enough to help them learn it. For students to develop their use of English they need to have a chance to produce it. In an activate stage the students are given tasks which require them to use not only the language they are studying that day, but also other language that they have learnt.
What is a lesson plan?
A lesson plan is a framework for a lesson. If you imagine a lesson is like a journey, then the lesson plan is the map. It shows you where you start, where you finish and the route to take to get there.
Essentially, the lesson plan sets out what the teacher hopes to achieve throughout the lesson and how they hope to achieve it. Usually, they are in written form, but they don't have to be. New or inexperienced teachers may want to or be required to produce very detailed plans, showing clearly what is happening at any particular time in the lesson. However, in a realistic teaching environment, it is perhaps impractical to consider this level of detail in planning on a daily basis. As teachers gain experience and confidence, planning is just as important, but teachers inevitably develop the ability to plan more quickly and very experienced teachers may be able to go into class with just a short list of notes or even with the plan in their heads.
Whatever the level of experience, it is important that all teachers take time to think through their lessons before they enter the classroom.
Why is planning important?
One of the most important reasons to plan is that the teacher needs to identify his or her aims for the lesson. Teachers need to know what it is they want their students to be able to do at the end of the lesson that they couldn't do before. Planning is important because it:
- gives the teacher the opportunity to predict possible problems and therefore consider solutions
- makes sure that the lesson is balanced and appropriate for the class
- gives the teacher confidence
- is generally good practice and a sign of professionalism.
Do you need to plan if you have a course book?
Many teachers will find themselves having to use a course book. There are advantages and disadvantages to having a sourcebook, but although they do provide a ready-made structure for teaching material, it is very unlikely that the material was written for the teachers' particular students. Each class is different, and teachers need to be able to adapt material from whatever source so that it is suitable for their students. A course book can certainly help planning, but it cannot replace the teacher's own ideas for what they want to achieve in a class.
What are the principles of planning?
- Aims – considering realistic goals for the lesson. They should be not too easy but not too difficult. You may find the following checklist useful:
- What do the students know already?
- What do the students need to know?
- What did you do with the students in the previous class?
- How well do the class work together?
- How motivated are the students?
- Variety – an important way of getting and keeping the students engaged and interested.
- Flexibility – expect the unexpected! Things don't always go to plan in most lessons. Experienced teachers have the ability to cope when things go wrong. It's useful when planning to build in some extra and alternative tasks and exercises. Also, teachers need to be aware of what is happening in the classroom. Students may raise an interesting point, and discussions could provide unexpected opportunities for language work and practice. In these cases, it can be appropriate to branch away from the plan.
Effective lesson planning is the basis of effective teaching. A plan is a guide for the teacher as to where to go and how to get there. However, don't let the plan dominate; be flexible in your planning so that when opportunities arise, you can go with the flow.
Read more in the second part of this article: The elements of a lesson plan.
First published 2002
Comments
principles of planning
for new teachers who struggle with unexpected things in the classroom, how should they cope with unexpected problems?
Unexpected moments
Hi MAIS22
Thanks for your comment - many teachers (not just new ones!) can feel unsure about what to do when something unexpected happens in the class. It could be a behaviour issue, or learners wanting to talk about something that you hadn't planned for, or just about anything!
Although planning is an essential part of teaching, it's also a good idea to have some flexibility within our classes, and to be able to adapt to what is happening in a particular class and to follow our learners' interests.
This article by Alan Maley gives some useful tips about how to create a more creative atmosphere in the classroom: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/using-21c-skills/articles/how-develop-more-creative-climate-your
This blogpost about going 'off plan' in a lesson also gives some simple ideas about how you can turn unexpected moments in the classroom into something meaningful for your learners: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/managing-lesson/magazine/ditching-plan
Do other teachers have any examples of how they deal with unexpected moments in class?
Cath
TeachingEnglish team
Yes, sometimes unexpected…
Yes, sometimes unexpected things happen in my class too. I usually take a short pause, smile, and try to calm the students. Then I adjust my lesson or use the situation as a learning moment. Staying positive and flexible really helps.
How to cope unexpected problems in class
It usually happens in classes and the reason for this varies with subjects to subjects. If anyone ignore some minute things in class multiple time, the probability of bigger problems to be appear is high so it is needed to be acknowledged in very beginning. Some of the most common reasons for this would be
1. Lack of knowledge,
2. Low confidence,
3. Poor Body language,
4. Weak classroom control and management,
5. No clear planning for the lesson about how and what to deliver.
This can be countered by following tips-
1. Well preparedness,
2. Proper Body language along With full confidence,
3. Have a goal to achieve,
4. Foster curiosity about topics,
5. Special focus on the student/students who play key role in creating problems,
6. Using administrative help if needed.
Thank you for sharing these…
Thank you for sharing these helpful tips. I totally agree that preparation and confidence are very important. I also believe that staying calm and flexible helps teachers handle unexpected problems more effectively.
Solution
New teachers may face many unexpected problems in the classroom. When this happens, they should stay calm and think of simple solutions. Asking for help from other teachers can also make things easier. After class, they can reflect on what happened and learn from it. By being patient and kind to students, new teachers can handle problems better and become more confident.
That’s a very thoughtful…
That’s a very thoughtful solution. I agree that staying calm and learning from each experience helps new teachers grow. Sharing experiences with other teachers can also give great ideas for handling similar problems in the future.
Lesson plan
That’s a great idea! Adding…
That’s a great idea! Adding possible problems and solutions to a lesson plan can really help teachers be more prepared. It also helps them stay confident and manage the class effectively when unexpected situations happen.
Aims - Goals - Objectives
I agree that aims, goals,…
I agree that aims, goals, and objectives are sometimes overlooked in lesson planning. They are essential because they guide both teachers and students toward a clear purpose. Having well-defined objectives makes teaching and learning more focused and effective.
Identifying possible problems and preparing solutions within a lesson plan is an essential part of professional teaching practice. It reflects a proactive mindset that allows teachers to anticipate challenges, adapt their strategies, and maintain lesson flow effectively. This approach not only enhances classroom management but also builds confidence and resilience during real teaching situations.