TEFL Lesson Plans and Activity Ideas

Having some solid TEFL lesson plans is one of the first things that teachers need to think about when starting a new term in a language school or taking on more students for small group or private classes.

It is surely difficult for even the very best teachers to keep coming up with new ideas for lessons and suitable activities to help students practise their language every week.

My English Language has a few classroom ideas for you to use, whether you want to incorporate some of the ideas into your own TEFL lesson plans or use them for inspiration.

 

Short activity for practising tenses

In order to help students to learn the uses for different English tenses, teachers can ask the students to write suitable questions to fit some pre-prepared answers.

To make it more difficult, all the questions and answers require different tenses and the students have to decide which. For example:

I worked in a shop. (simple past)

The student would need to write something like: ‘Where did you work before you came here?’

They have worked here for 10 years. (present perfect)

She will retire when she is 62. (future)

I will have been working here for 5 years in March. (future perfect continuous)

He will have worked here for 3 months tomorrow. (future perfect)

TEFL Lesson Plans:

Writing Practice – Letters

TEFL lesson plan ideas for writing letters:

• Ask students to distinguish situations for a formal letter vs. informal letter
• Students brainstorm differences between formal and informal letters.
• Giving students a worksheet of phrases for letters and ask students to decide if each phrase belongs in a formal or informal letter. (Worksheet 1)
• Correct the worksheet task as a group, while discussing any problem phrases.

• Show students phrases found in informal letters. Students finish the sentences with appropriate words and phrases. (Worksheet 2)
• Discuss the differences in layout and language between informal and informal letters. For example, the passive voice, indentations, writing phrases in full or contracted forms, phrasal verbs, idioms and slang, etc.
• Have students write an informal letter choosing one or two of the suggested topics. (Worksheet 3)

• For homework, or in the next lesson, students can use worksheets 4 and 5 to repeat the exercises for formal letters.

Worksheet 1: Example phrases for informal and formal letters. Students can mark on the sheet whether these phrases are more appropriate in a formal letter or an informal letter.

• I am sorry to have to inform you that …
• Do you fancy going …
• I’m over the moon about …
• Dear Mr Smith
• Yours sincerely
• See you soon
• Love from
• We’re looking forward to seeing you
• Contracted verb forms such as I’m, you’re, we’ve
• I hope that we can overcome this difficulty
• I hope you’re OK again now
• It is with regret that I must …
• I’m sorry but I need to …
• I would be grateful if you could …
• Can you let me know if …

 

Worksheet 2: Phrases for informal letters. Students finish the sentences with appropriate endings or further comments:

• Dear…
• How are …
• Hope everything is …
• We should get together. How about …
• Please let me know if you can …
• How about we …
• I’m sorry to hear about
• I need to ask a favour. Can you …
• Hope to see you …
• That reminds me of …
• Write …

 

Worksheet 3: Subjects suggestions for informal letters:

Write a letter to a friend who enjoys sport. You saw him or her last week and want to arrange to meet up again soon.

Write a letter to a friend to invite them on holiday. Give him or her some details about where you are going and what you can do there.

Write a letter to an extended family member you have not seen in years. Ask how they are doing and give details about what you are up to.

Write a letter to your cousin who is has just lost his/her job. Express your sympathy and ask how you can help. Tell them about a new job opening in your company.

Write a letter to your grandparents telling them about your new house, your plans for decoration and invite them to visit you.

Worksheet 4: Phrases for formal letters. Students can finish the sentences.

• I would like to thank you for …
• I would like to request that …
• Would it be at all possible for …
• I would be grateful if you could …
• Please find enclosed …
• Yours …
• Thank you for your …
• Thanking you in …
• Kind …
• Best …
• I would like to place an …
• I am sorry to have to inform you that …

 

Worksheet 5: Subjects suggestions for formal letters:

Write a letter to your bank manager, asking for clarification about a problem with your account

Write a letter applying for a job, telling the manager why you would like the position and why you would be good at the job

Write a letter of complaint to a hotel where you had an unpleasant stay

Write a letter ordering some new furniture and suggesting a good time for delivery

Write a letter of thanks to your boss for your generous bonus and ask for a meeting with him or her next week sometime

More coming soon …

Teaching English online

Many EFL lesson plans can translate to work in an online setting, whether in a on-to-one Skype lesson or larger groups. If you would like to try teaching English online from home, you could sign up with a tutoring company who could put you in touch with potential students.

Share your ideas

If you have any TEFL lesson plans or other teaching ideas that you would like to share with the My English Language community, we would love to hear from you – please contact us or leave a message in the comments box.