ESL Lesson Plan

. . . Keeping with the-new-teacher-in-town theme, let’s talk about getting to know students. How well do we really know our students? I’m not talking about being able to call them by name or identifying what level student they are. I’m talking about discovering their interests, what topics they get heated about and what makes them laugh. All the above (and much more!) can be used in the classroom and help give a personal touch to your ESL lessons. In other words, learning what makes students tick and implementing that information into your lesson plans can help prevent cookie-cutter classes.

Getting to know students takes time, but to get started, why not create a getting-to-know-you exercise for the first day of class? (You’ve probably done such an exercise before, but here are a few things to think about to ensure an informative result.) The exercise can take on just about any form, but with beginner level students you may be restricted to a simple question-by-question task. But with higher-level students, you can start with initial questions and then let the exercise take on a life of it’s own. In other words, let the student(s) lead while you take the backseat – you’ll get a much quicker idea of their likes and dislikes!

For example, start with a basic initial question like: What was the last book you read? But then let the students expand upon that question by answering more in-depth questions like: How did you pick the book? Have you read other books by the same author or within the same genre? What did you like/dislike? Would you recommend the book? Why or why not? The initial question of “What was the last book you read?” doesn’t tell you much about that student. It is the follow-up questions that give insight into a student’s personality and interests. You can then turn around and use these valuable insights in tailoring your classes to your individual students and/or groups. Give it a shot – you may be amazed what you learn about your students!

Would love to hear how you've approached the task of settling in to a new place and getting to know your students. Please feel free to share them with our friendly community in the comment box below.

Thanks,

Smyth Johansson
June 2006 Guest-Writer for ESLemployment

Looking for more articles that discuss tips & tricks for the ESL classroom? Click HERE!

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About the author of this entry:
Smyth Johansson (B.A. English, TEFL Cert.) has taught ESL in both Spain and Sweden, where she lived and worked for four years. Recently having moved back to the States, Smyth now works as an editor for an educational publishing company. Her work includes editing teaching materials and ancillaries for English language learners.