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This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned:
lesson planning lesson planning is the crucial key to any successful classroom. lesson planning provides a direct and organized way to stay on track with the class and further the agenda of the teacher. The plan should be concise and very detailed; however it should be flexible and contain creative and entertaining activities.
When lesson planning, there are three main stages of the actual plan: Engage, Study and Activate, better known as ESA. Introductions and warmers can also be used as well. This approach gives the teacher a great deal of flexibility in the classroom. By providing the three elements of the ESA, it will ensure a balanced range of activities for the students and their determined levels.
Each of the segments plays an instrumental part in the learning process for the students. The Engage process is the first. This process allots the teacher time to arouse the student?s interest and get them motivated to learn the lesson. Games, discussions, music, pictures or small video clips are a great way to get the students talking and grab their initial interest.
Study is the second process. This segment is where the student will focus on the language or information and how it is constructed. The teacher will have the freedom to take the time to explain the language or chose to let the students explore the language on their own. The activities could range from the study of a single sound to the examination and practice of a verb tense. Worksheets, PowerPoint?s and group or pair work are great ways to encourage the students to engage heavily and stay motivated in this segment of the lesson.
The third process is the activation stage. In this stage, the students are encouraged to use any and all language that they know. Here, students are encouraged to experiment with the language and use it as freely as possible. The focus is on fluency and not necessarily on accuracy during this stage. Typical activities during the activate stage include storytelling, role playing, debates, discussions other communication games.
After verifying that all three segments of the actual lesson plan are accounted for, the teacher must then decide what type of lesson plan they will write. There are three different types of plans that are available: Straight Arrow, Boomerang and Patchwork. Each of the plans vary in how they incorporate the ESL process. The Straight Arrow follows the plan with Engage, Study and Activate. The Boomerang follows the order of Engage, Activate 1, Study, Activate 2. Patchwork follows a similar path but with more components such as Engage, Activate 1, Activate 2, Study, Activate 3, Engage 2, Study 2, Activate 4.
Besides the type of plan, there are also many other things to consider when writing the actual plan. The age of the students, the number of students, and the level are all crucial to the format and the information being taught within the structure of the plan. The teacher must also consider the time period allotted and think strategically about what issues or problems the plan may incur.
In conclusion, lesson planning should be a fun but very intricate part of the class. The process of writing the plan should be taken seriously out of concern for the students and their level. By following these easy steps, the teacher will ensure that they have established a well thought out plan for the class and guarantee a step towards success!
