Planning effective ESL lessons for the upcoming year: Tips and ideas for teachers

Sam Colley
Teacher and primary school students colouring
Reading time: 4 minutes

As the new year approaches, it's the perfect time to reflect on our teaching practices and plan engaging, effective lessons for our English as a Second Language (ESL) students. Thoughtfully crafted lesson plans can make a significant difference in the learning outcomes and engagement levels of your students. Whether you're teaching young children, teenagers, or adults, the principles of effective lesson planning remain consistent. Here are some ideas, hints and tips to help you create dynamic and successful ESL lessons for students of all ages.

Start with clear learning objectives

Begin each lesson with clear, achievable objectives. What do you want your students to learn by the end of the lesson? Objectives provide a roadmap for both you and your students, ensuring that everyone is focused and aware of the goals. For example, an objective might be "Students will be able to use past tense verbs to describe their weekend activities." Clear objectives provide direction and help you measure student progress.

Incorporate a variety of activities

To cater to different learning styles and keep students engaged, incorporate a mix of teaching methods and activities. Here are a few ideas:

  • Listening: Use audio recordings, songs, or podcasts to improve listening skills.
  • Speaking: Organize pair or group discussions, role-plays, or presentations to enhance speaking abilities.
  • Reading: Provide a variety of texts such as articles, short stories, or dialogues.
  • Writing: Assign tasks like journal entries, essays, or creative writing exercises.
  • Homework activities: For something outside of the classroom, a nature walk or a recipe can be used to help learn specific vocabulary.

Use authentic materials

Authentic materials—such as newspapers, menus, brochures and videos—expose students to real-world language and contexts. These materials can make lessons more interesting and relevant, helping students see the practical application of their language skills. Even better, they’re everywhere, so easy to find. Here are some more suggestions for how to select and use authentic materials in your English language teaching.

Integrate technology

Teachers are already used to leveraging technology to enhance lessons utilizing online resources, language learning apps and interactive platforms to create a dynamic learning environment. Why not take this a step further by using AI to create your own resources. Take a look at our blog on How to make the most of AI in the classroom for some more ideas.
 

Tips for planning effective ESL lessons
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree Pearson can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Foster a supportive learning environment

Create a classroom atmosphere where students feel comfortable making mistakes and taking risks. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, so ensure that your students are comfortable experimenting with the language. Encourage participation and praise effort, not just accuracy. A supportive environment boosts confidence and motivates students to practice their language skills.

Differentiate instruction

Recognize that your students have diverse needs and proficiency levels. Differentiate your instruction by providing varied tasks and materials that cater to different abilities. For instance, while advanced students work on a challenging reading comprehension task, beginners might focus on foundational vocabulary building.

Incorporate cultural elements

Language learning is intertwined with cultural understanding. Introduce cultural elements into your lessons to provide context, enrich the learning experience and deepen understanding. Celebrate cultural diversity by discussing traditions, holidays and customs from English-speaking countries as well as your students' home countries. This approach fosters cultural awareness and appreciation.

Use games and interactive activities

Games and interactive activities are excellent for making learning fun and memorable. Consider incorporating language games like Bingo, Pictionary, or Jeopardy. These activities not only reinforce language skills but also promote teamwork and communication.

TV game shows like the British program Countdown, are a great source of ideas for ESL games. In Countdown, players take turns selecting a consonant or a vowel to produce nine random letters. They then use these letters to make the longest word they can in a set time. It can be a bit of a challenge, so it’s best played with higher levels.

Provide regular feedback

Regular feedback is essential for student development. Offer constructive feedback on assignments and in-class activities, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. Encourage self-assessment and peer feedback to help students become more reflective and autonomous learners.

Plan for continuous assessment

Continuous assessment allows you to monitor student progress and adapt your teaching strategies accordingly. Use a variety of assessment methods, including quizzes, oral presentations, written assignments and informal observations. This comprehensive approach ensures a well-rounded understanding of each student's progress.

Reflect and adjust

At the end of each lesson, take a moment to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Gather feedback from your students and use it to adjust your future lesson plans. Continuous reflection and adaptation are key to effective teaching.

Conclusion

Planning effective ESL lessons requires creativity, flexibility and a deep understanding of your students' needs. By setting clear objectives, incorporating diverse activities, using authentic materials, integrating technology, fostering a supportive environment, differentiating instruction, incorporating cultural elements, using games, providing regular feedback and planning for continuous assessment, you can create engaging and effective lessons for students of all ages.

As you plan for the upcoming year, remember that your enthusiasm and dedication are key to your students' success. Here's to a year of inspiring and impactful teaching.

If you're looking for some more ideas on lesson planning and keeping your students engaged, why not take a look at our blog on Designing new learning experiences for your English language learners.

More blogs from Pearson

  • Two business professionals loooking at notes together
    GSE, KPIs and ROI (Part 2): Turning language data into business value
    By Łukasz Pakuła
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    In Part 1, we looked at how to build a sensible measurement philosophy for language training using KPIs and the Global Scale of English (GSE). We’ve established that language programs shouldn’t be treated as a calendar entry, but as a strategic lever, and that independence, granularity and credibility are the secret sauce.

    Now it’s time to move from how to why: how these datapoints translate into tangible business outcomes, and how to make sure your investment in English doesn’t just look good on slides but actually delivers value when the CFO walks in.

    From measuring to meaning: translating KPIs into ROI

    Let’s be blunt: only a reckless stakeholder invests without expecting a return. Weighing costs and benefits, however, can get tricky. Without some operational clarity, ROI quickly becomes either a fairy tale or a labyrinth, both of which are bad news in risk-averse corporate cultures.

    From a client’s perspective, it’s vital to include all components in your calculation: direct delivery fees, platform access, materials and, ideally, a provider capable of offering the full package. And please don’t forget the indirect cost of time. Two hours of lessons per week equals more than 100 hours per learner per year. Add the asynchronous learning that every serious learner contributes, and we’re suddenly talking about real numbers.

    If you skip that, the ROI will look spectacular on paper until someone performs a reality check and the budget line gets a little uncomfortable. If you’re an L&D manager reading this, add sensible estimates for coordination and reporting. Ideally, your provider helps you keep those to a minimum. At choices®, which provides language services, we see this as part of the service rather than a side quest. Trust me, it saves everyone time and sanity.

  • Students looking at notebooks smiling
    Get same-day results with Pearson English Express Test
    By Abi Fordham
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you’ve ever taken an English test and found yourself constantly checking your inbox, wondering when your score will arrive, you’re not alone. I worked across Pearson’s social media channels for years, and I heard from students every day who were anxious to know how they did, despite it only being an hour into the standard 48-hour turnaround time.

    That’s why I’m so excited about the Pearson English Express Test - because it gives you something most tests don’t: a score in minutes.

    The score that helps you plan

    Let’s talk about the unofficial score. You’ll see it just minutes after finishing the test. While it’s not certified for university applications just yet, it’s a powerful tool for planning your next move.

    If your score is where you hoped it would be, you can start preparing your application materials with confidence. If it’s not quite there, you’ve got a head start on knowing what to improve, and you haven’t lost time waiting to find out. It’s like getting a sneak peek at your future, and it’s one of the most empowering parts of the Pearson English Express Test experience.

    Fast and reliable certified results

    Of course, you’ll still need your certified score to apply to universities. That’s delivered within 48 hours, after a security review.

    • AI scoring ensures fairness and consistency.
    • Remote proctoring and ID checks keep the process secure.
    • Certified results align with CEFR standards and are trusted by institutions.

    You get speed and reliability – without compromise.

    Why fast English test results matter for students

    When you’re applying to study in the USA, every day counts and you’ll have so many things to tick off your list. You might be juggling deadlines, coordinating with universities, or planning your next big move. The Pearson English Express Test was built to support you, not slow you down.

    It’s fast, fair and designed for students who want to move forward with confidence.

    Ready to take the Pearson English Express Test?

    If you’re looking for a test that gives you answers quickly and helps you plan your next step, this is it.

    Take your test today and experience the difference for yourself.

  • A student and lecturer talking together in a lecture room
    Language education trend predicitions for 2026
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Language education has never been more active or challenging. We've experienced significant changes in technology, changing student needs and higher expectations for practical results. Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook is positive: better tools, clearer skill guides and learning that feels more personal and human.

    Below are nine trends to keep an eye on in 2026 for your language teaching. 

    AI becomes your co-teacher, not your replacement

    Generative AI is moving from novelty to dependable support: drafting lesson variants, generating levelled texts, offering initial feedback on writing and speaking, and freeing you to focus on pedagogy and relationships. The emphasis in 2026 is on ethical, transparent use: you set the learning goals and the guardrails; AI accelerates the workflow.

    Try: Use AI to produce three versions of a reading at different proficiency bands, then validate levels using a recognized framework.

    Data-informed personalization with clear proficiency frameworks

    Teachers want data they can trust and act on. Proficiency frameworks like the Global Scale of English (GSE) make progress visible and instructional decisions simpler, connecting learning objectives, materials and assessments across skills and levels. Expect more “micro-mastery” milestones and dashboards that turn evidence into next-step teaching.

    Try: Map unit outcomes to specific "can-do" statements, then build short practice cycles around those micro-goals. Use GSE-aligned resources to set targets and monitor growth.