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TeachingEnglish: Planning lessons

Learn how to plan engaging language and topic-based lessons by identifying and applying commonly used lesson models. Explore techniques for introducing new language, writing achievable learning outcomes, and planning warmers and lead-ins. Enrolment for Planning lessons is closed. Find resources connected to the course contents on this page, and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on when our courses open.

A Black teacher sitting at a desk, typing something on a laptop.
TeachingEnglish
Engagement
9–12 hours
Start: 01/10/25
End: 31/12/25
Certificate
Workbook
Online community

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Enrolment for Planning lessons is closed. Sign up for our newsletter, and we'll keep you updated when enrolment will open next. In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about Assessing learning, you can view helpful resources here.

How will the course help you?

By the end of Planning lessons, you'll be able to:

  • apply some commonly used models for planning language lessons
  • explore and evaluate a range of techniques for introducing new language
  • write effective learning outcomes and align them to assessment.

What does the course include?

  • Self-study modules that you can access at any time before the course closes
  • A certificate of achievement on successful completion of the self-study modules
  • A free workbook with extra learning content and resources connected to the course contents
  • A dedicated Facebook community of course participants with up-to-date insight, resources and innovative teaching ideas for you to try out (Facebook account required)
  • Learning content related to our courses on Facebook and YouTube
  • Live events and recordings with course tutors and language teaching experts on Facebook and YouTube

What are the self-study modules?

Module 1 – Engaging with lesson planning – models and frameworks

The aim of this module is to consider some commonly used models and outlines that will help you with planning your lessons. You'll also look at other practical ideas specifically for planning language skills and topic-based lessons. You will identify some commonly used lesson models, analyse and apply models for planning language skills lessons as well as categorise the stages needed to use projects for a topic-based lesson plan.

Module 2 – Engaging with lesson planning – introducing new language

The aim of this module is to explore and evaluate a range of techniques for introducing new language. The module also looks at the role of warmers and lead-in activities for starting lessons. You're given the opportunity to select appropriate techniques for introducing new language and to plan the initial stages of a lesson.

Module 3 – Engaging with learning outcomes

The aim of this module is to provide you with the necessary skills to write effective learning outcomes. You'll find out what learning outcomes are and how you can put them together, and consider the characteristics of well-written learning outcomes. You will define a learning outcome, integrate different levels of thinking skills within a set of learning outcomes as well as align assessment with learning outcomes.

Course reviews

What have other teachers said about how Planning lessons helped them?

"I have started planning my lessons more carefully considering the type of the lesson and desirable outcomes, and also started giving feedback on content before giving feedback on language."

Course participant, Ukraine

"I started using warmers more often as soon as I got exposed to them in this course and and the level of learner participation in my lessons has gone up."

Course participant, South Africa

"I improve my lesson planning with consideration of receptive and productive skills and how to integrate the pre, while and after activities. Also I have learned how to choose the best method for each stage of lesson planning according to the level and the needs of the learners."

Course participant, Yemen

Do you have more questions?

Please see our FAQs or access further support through our Help button.

Downloads
File attachments
Planning lessons workbook 20252.73 MB
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Comments

Submitted by FarkhandaAli on Tue, 12/30/2025 - 19:44

can I still enroll myself?

Submitted by Kirsteen_admin on Wed, 12/31/2025 - 04:17

I am sorry Farkhanda Ali,

The enrolment closes one week before the course ends. This course is not available now, but you can use  the Planning lessons workbook to help you reflect on your lesson planning.

There are also many other courses open for January 2026. View our training courses.

Kirsteen at TeachingEnglish
 

Submitted by Nesar Azimi on Fri, 12/19/2025 - 16:11

I want enroll in (Planing Lessons), but I don’t know how
Is there anyone help me with this

Submitted by Anne Lennon on Sun, 12/21/2025 - 23:06

Hi Nesar Azimi,

To register for one of our courses you need to have a free TeachingEnglish account. You can set up your account here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/user/register Once you have registered, you need to log in, and then click to explore all courses: https://open.teachingenglish.org.uk/Home/ExploreProgrammes Click on "Enrol in activity" to register for the course..

We have a FAQs page, which gives more information about how our courses work, here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/training/courses/training-courses-faqs

If you need more help or have more questions, please send us an email to TeachingEnglish@britishcouncil.org where they will help you.

Hope that helps,

Anne, TeachingEnglish team

Hi ccarvalho

Thanks for your message. 

All of our courses have start and end dates. Once the course is finished, you won't be able to access the course modules any more, so you need to have completed them by then. However, you can always download the course workbook (above), which contains useful resources and links related to the course content.

Hope that helps and that you enjoy the course!

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 10:09

Hi Rayxona

Thanks for your message. I can see that you have registered for the course, but haven't completed all the modules yet. When you go to 'My Portfolio - my courses' you can see which courses you are registered for and your progress. 

Once you have completed all the modules successfully, your certificate will appear under the 'My awards - my certificates' tab.

Hope that helps,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Thanks for that feedback - we're glad you found the course useful.

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Ladygigi on Thu, 11/13/2025 - 02:11

I want to be a ELT. So, I'm trying my beat practcing slowly and not giving up and asking for help even when I get stuck

Hi Svetakhrushch

Thanks for your message - you can join the course by simply clicking/tapping the purple 'enrol on this free course' button above. This will take you to our courses platform where you can see all our currently available courses and sign up.

You can also find answers to common questions about our courses on our FAQ page here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/training/courses/training-courses-faqs

Please let us know if you have any problems. Enjoy the course!

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Hi

You are now enrolled on the Planning lessons course - if you log in to TeachingEnglish, then click/tap on the 'My Portfolio - my courses' tab, you should see the course there. 

Hope that helps. Please let us know if you have further questions.

Thanks,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by CaboTeacher on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 18:32

I am trying to enroll in this course by clicking on the START NOW button and it takes me somewhere else. How can I actually achieve enrollment??

Hello CaboTeacher

You need to click on the purple 'Enrol on this free course' button. That will take you to our courses platform - you will see a list of courses and then you need to click on 'Enrol in this activity'.

If you are having problems, please can you write to us at TeachingEnglish@britishcouncil.org and explain the problem you are having. If you can also send us a screenshot that would be helpful.

Thanks,

Cath
TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Marleny_Q on Sat, 10/25/2025 - 04:38

I´d like to enroll this course.Help me please.
Best wishes
Marleny

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 09:31

Hi Marleny

Thanks for your message - and great that you want to enrol! To do so, simply click/tap on the 'Enrol on this free course' button above.

You can check our FAQs page here for any other questions you might have about our online courses. Please let us know if you have further doubts/problems.

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/training/courses/training-courses-faqs

 

Thanks - enjoy the course :)

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Monicats on Wed, 12/24/2025 - 03:32

Hi dears! The point is that the enroll button is not working. I thought it was some problem with my account, but as I see many people saying the same, I believe it's the button which is not working. I successfully enrolled in other courses. I'm new here and I would love to enroll in this course.

Submitted by Anne Lennon on Thu, 12/25/2025 - 22:20

Hi and sorry that the enrolment date for this course has passed. It is now too late to enrol for it but I hope you find other courses you are interested in to follow. 

All the dates are wit the course information on the training page

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/training

Best regards,

Anne

Hi

Thanks for your comment. If you successfully complete all the modules on this course you will receive a certificate. Once you are enrolled, complete the course in your own time, and when you have finished you will be able to see your certificate under the 'My awards' tab.

Hope you enjoy the course!

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Cavahir on Sat, 10/25/2025 - 05:20

I have completed Planing Lessons course but couldn't get certificate under the "My awards" tab

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 09:32

Hi Cavahir

Thanks for your message. If you think there is an error with your certificate, please can you contact the courses team directly? You can do this by logging into your course as usual and using the orange 'help' button at the bottom of the page.

Thanks,
Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Hi Natalia

Thanks for your message. If you complete all the modules in the course you will receive a certificate.  All of our courses are free and self-access. This means that once you enrol you can complete the modules at your own pace. Once you have done that you can download your certificate from the course platform by clicking/tapping on 'My awards- my certificates'.

Hope that helps - let us know if you have further questions.

Thanks,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

 

Hi Hiba_Fatima

Thanks for your message. I'm afraid we can't send out hard copies of our certificates - if you have access to a printer, you can download and print the PDF.

Thanks,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by MeghnaTalukdar on Fri, 10/03/2025 - 19:15

when I click on the enroll for this course tab, it does not open the course for self study. Please help me out!

Hi MaghnaTaukdar,

Thanks for your message and sorry to hear you are having problems enrolling. The button is working fine for me. Can you try logging out of your account, clearing the cache on your browser and then logging back in again?

If you are still having problems, please can you send us an email to TeachingEnglish@britishcouncil.org with a screenshot of what you are seeing?

Hopefully we can resolve this issue for your as soon as possible.

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by davide_zizza on Thu, 11/27/2025 - 21:47

Good evening. I'm also trying to enrol in this course, but after clicking the button, it does not open the course for self study.
Regards
DZ

Hi Davide_zizza

Thanks for your comment. 

When you click on the 'enrol in this free course' button, you should be taken to the course platform where you can choose which courses to enrol on. If you are not logged in to your TeachingEnglish account you will be taken to the log in page, and from there you can enrol.

If you are still having problems, please send an email to TeachingEnglish@britishcouncil.org and let us know which steps you are following and if you can send a screenshot that's also helpful. Then we can try to resolve the issue ASAP.

Thanks,

Cath
TeachingEnglish team

Hi Mohamed Haret Abdi

Thanks for your comment. I've just checked and can see that you are successfully enrolled in this course already. To access the modules, you just need to click/tap on the 'My Portfolio - my courses' tab. You will see the course there and can work on the modules.

Let me know if you are still having issues - hope you enjoy the course!

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 09:08

Hello

To enrol on this course, just click the purple button above ('Enrol on this free course').

If you have any problems, please let us know.

Cath
TeachingEnglish team

because I want to develop professionally. Also I pursue lifelong learning. Therefore I want to keep learning and preparing the best lessons ever gor my bright students

Hi

Thanks for your comment - this course is now closed, so you won't be able to enrol. You can download the course workbook from this page -it contains useful resources and links related to this course. 

You can find a list of our current and upcoming courses on our calendar here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2024-04/Training_courses_2024-25_calendar.pdf

Hope that helps,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 03/10/2025 - 09:21

Hi Ahmedal-rassad,

Thanks for your comment. This course is currently closed, but will open again on 1st October 2025.

To keep up to date with all our latest courses etc. you can sign up for our newsletter, here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/subscribe-our-newsletter

You can also see which courses are available for the next year here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2025-03/2025-2026_TeachingEnglish_training_course_calendar_QR.pdf

Hope that helps!

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Hi ismailfahmy

Thanks for your comment. 

The best way to keep up to date with our latest training courses and events is to sign up for our free newsletter. You can do that here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/subscribe-our-newsletter

You might also find our courses calendar helpful: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2025-03/2025-2026_TeachingEnglish_training_course_calendar_QR.pdf

Hope that helps,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by KhanhLinh0602 on Mon, 05/13/2024 - 04:11

Hello. Can you help me? The school year starts in August, September every year. So can you open this course for preparing before the school year. I need some courses:
- lesson plan
- teach vocabulary
- teach grammar
- motivate students
Please consider it. Thanks a lot!

Hi KhanhLinh0602

Thanks for your message and suggestion.

All of our courses are only available for a limited period, and our course calendar is already fixed for the year, so unfortunately it's not possible to change the course dates. Even if the course is not currently open you can download the participant workbook, which has lots of information and links related to the course.

You can also sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with when courses are opening, new resources and events. You can sign up for free here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/subscribe-our-newsletter

Hope that helps,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

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