Would you like to hear the good news or the bad news first? – A Guest Lesson by Myles Klynhout

In this lesson students will be encouraged to notice how they naturally react to news in their own language, and highlight how they could perform the same reaction in English to maintain free-flowing conversation.

Dear My Sixteen-Year-Old Self – A Guest Lesson by Mandeep Locham

This class begins with a general discussion on what advice would be useful to give to a typical 16 year old before continuing with a reading that looks at the advice a famous author gave himself. The last part of the class gives the students an opportunity to personalize the activity and write to themselves.

Signs You Are Stuck In Rut – A Guest Lesson by Myles Klynhout

In this lesson students follow a short silent film about a young Australian starting out in the corporate world. Add in a love interest and a little drama, there is plenty to talk about. A number opportunities are provided for students to make predictions and open up a discussion along the way. In this sense, the lesson is conversation-driven.

The Dangers of the Internet – A Pre-intermediate + Lesson by Simon McDonald

Cover photo from ELTPics @CliveSir Before we get to the lesson plan, here’s a little blurb. It’s been a while since anything was posted on this blog, but we continue to receive your visits and hear your messages of support – and we’re very grateful to you for this. Although adding lots …

Five questions about fair pay, respect, and equal rights for TEFL teachers

Too Big to Comprehend – Listening for Detail: numbers

A designer Lessons ESL lesson plan developed by George Chilton This is a Business English class designed for an advanced group of students, with the aim of testing their detailed listening and note taking skills. Students who attend a lot of business meetings in English will likely appreciate this one! …

Conflict: Storytelling with Images, Words and Video – optionally using the iPad

A designer Lessons ESL lesson idea developed by George Chilton I recently gave into the unbearable pressure of society and bought myself an iPad. I wouldn’t say it was cheap, but it has definitely been worth it. I’ve since been able to reduce the number of photocopies and print outs I …

Narrow Reading, learner autonomy, and Web-quests: Homework Using Thinglink

A designer Lessons ESL lesson idea developed by George Chilton Hello! It’s been a while (understatement) since I posted anything here, and I’ve been getting itchy fingers. You may have been wondering where all the lessons have gone. Hmm. Well, you’ll currently find me in Medellín, Colombia – where I am …

Lessons with Maps 2: Europe According To …

This is a well overdue post from me, especially considering it was supposed to appear to coincide with the designerlessons presentation on “Classroom Cartography” at the TESOL Spain event at UAB back in February! Still, better late than never, and I hope you find this lesson as fun and productive …

Some Ideas to Help you Get Started Using Voki with Young Learners

A designer lessons article by George Chilton Voki is a web 2.0 application with plenty of scope for classroom use, ideally with young learners and teenagers. Providing an editable avatar, Voki allows the students, or  the teacher, to give a character a voice. The final product can be shared over …