4. Structuring and Delivering Lessons

What are the different parts comprised in a lesson plan? What are the 3Ps: the PPP?

Structuring and Delivering Lessons: Lesson Planning

Here are some tips on how to plan a lesson:

First of all, here are the different Parts composing a Lesson Plan:

Date: ………/……………./…………..


Name of your Lesson: …………………………………………

Class/Level taught: (Age, subject matter, level: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, or C2) …………………………………………

Materials used: …………………………………………

Textbook/Course book used: …………………………………………

Unit—title—page number used: …………………………………………

Goal/Aim of this lesson: …………………………………………

Give a description of the outcome of the lesson as follows:

My students will be able to: …………………………………………

Grammar points/structures used: …………………………………………


Questions and Answers referring to your lesson: Ask these questions throughout your warm-up to elicit/bring out from your students what they might or might not already know about the theme that you are going to cover in class.

…………………………………………

…………………………………………

…………………………………………

Warm-up:

This should incorporate a review of the content of their previous lessons – which are linked to this new lesson. It ought to include the Q&A above-mentioned too. Furthermore, add the questions used to provoke discussion comprising new structures and functions you have in view to teach. This part of your lesson plan can also be used to demonstrate examples of what your students will learn during this class.

Now for the PPP of a Lesson Plan: the magic three P Formula!

Presentation:

Bear in mind the target language (English) to be taught and how you will instruct it. Take into account how you will get your students’ interest and get them engaging in English. But also think about how you might elicit from your students the vocabulary or grammar you have arranged to teach. Comprise specifics/details in the form of a map or structure chart (e.g. grammar use and form, scripted dialogues, questions and other practice activities).

Practice:

Comprise the activities you have set and annex any hand-outs connected to the lesson plan. Incorporate two to three practice activities, ordering them from most to least structured, gradually allowing the students more freedom to engage.

Production:

This is where students really learn, by activating the newly-acquired knowledge and generalising a new language skill. Allow/encourage the students to talk about themselves, their lives or specific situations using their own information, yet focusing on English – as referred to as “the target language” – and the expressions taught in the previous 2 steps (presentation and practice). Be precise as to what you will ask the students to do. Highlight how you plan on monitoring students, how you will encourage and correct them as needed in their use of the target language.

Conclusion/Closer/Wrap-up:

This is a quick review where you discuss what you have covered and learned during the class.

Notes:

As you gain experience as a teacher of English, and once you know have embraced the methodology of the school in which you are teaching, you will tend to write a more minimal lesson plan. You will have by then developed your own set routine, and preferred approaches when delivering said lessons.

New TEFLers (first 6 months) should however develop the habit through thorough lesson planning, trying to follow the structure as rigidly as possible. This does require real discipline, but long term it will enable you to extensively develop your skills as a teacher of English.

Taking notes after each class is also key, whether you are experienced or not in teaching, as this will contribute to the scheme of work (compiled lesson plans). Writing down problems that occurred during the lesson, any changes you made to the initial lesson plan, and/or any other comments, will enable you to ratify what you are doing right and wrong, and give some pointers to a supply teacher when you are on leave.

In order to complete this unit, please conclude with the following quiz: