Planning

lessons
Workbook
Your reflective journal and
additional resources

www.britishcouncil.org
Foreword
We’re delighted you’ve chosen to continue your professional development
with TeachingEnglish training and look forward to learning with you over the
coming weeks.

In this workbook you’ll find additional learning materials to complement your

course, places to note ideas of interest, encouragement and guidance in
applying them within your teaching practice. Whether you prefer to save and
update it on your device, to keep handwritten notes, or use it as a prompt for
your on-the go reflection, do what works for you. We hope you and your
learners find it beneficial.

If you haven't signed up for the free course, go to the course training page to
enrol.

Happy learning.

The British Council open learning team.

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Contents
Foreword…………………………………………………………………………… 02

Your learning goals, your course………………………………. 04

Your learning tools…………………………………………………………. 05

Module 1: Engaging with lesson planning – models and frameworks

Overview and additional learning resources………….. 06

Your learning: Notes, plans and reflections……………..08

Module 2: Engaging with lesson planning – introducing new language

Overview and additional learning resources…………….10

Your learning: Notes, plans and reflections………………12

Module 3: Engaging with learning outcomes

Overview and additional learning resources……………14

Your learning: Notes, plans and reflections………………16

Your action plan……………………………………………………………….18

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Your learning goals, your course
Learn how to plan engaging language and topic-based lessons by identifying and applying
commonly used lesson models. Explore techniques for introducing new language, writing
achievable learning outcomes, and planning warmers and lead-ins.

During this TeachingEnglish training, you’ll engage with learning content in four modules,
supported by extra learning content in our Facebook community. You’ll find practical
support and encouragement from course tutors and other members of the British Council
courses for teachers global learning community as you work to introduce new teaching
ideas within your classroom.

Just as every classroom is unique, so is your learning journey. Ensure you’re heading in the
right direction by reflecting upon and noting your reasons for taking this course and
learning goals. Keeping these in mind will help you focus on the most beneficial content and
discussions for you.

Your goals and reasons for learning

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Your learning tools
Online learning modules
After completing the introductory Getting started module, work through three modules,
each exploring a different area of teaching and learning. Involving an average of 12
hours of study, this course blends theory, practical teaching suggestions and case
studies that explore new ways of teaching. Repeat, return to and review activities as
often as you like before the end of your course. Learn how to access the online learning
modules by visiting the courses page on TeachingEnglish.

Courses for teachers community

Join course tutors and other educators working on their professional development in
our supportive, Facebook-based learning community. Gain access to a wide selection of
additional learning resources and engage in developmental discussions while getting
the support and encouragement you need to successfully bring ideas from the course
into your classroom. Access all the discussions and content related to your specific
course in the Guides section on the community Facebook page.

Workbook
Use this workbook to record useful course and community content, questions you’d like
to ask in the community, links to resources, or to note ideas from any of the extra
resources or recorded events. Save a version online or print the workbook - or both.

Extra resources and recorded events

Access extra resources and recorded events through the links in this workbook. Search
TeachingEnglish for other resources and more recorded events about planning lessons.

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Module 1: Engaging with lesson
planning – models and frameworks
Overview
The aim of this module is to identify some commonly used lesson models that will
assist with planning and to provide practical ideas for planning language skills and
topic based lessons.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
• identify some commonly used lesson models and use a lesson framework to
plan classes
• analyse and apply models for planning language skills lessons
• categorise the stages needed to use projects for topic based lessons
• plan and consider resources needed for projects

Further reading, teaching, and learning resources

Type Resource description (tap/click to open)

Use Project work with teenagers - why do it, what to do and how

Use Refugee poster project for secondary learners

Read An overview of task-based learning and its advantages

Read An article exploring what the 'PPP' model is

Read An opinion piece questioning whether teachers follow models of planning

Read Glossary entry for 'Test teach test'

Read Criteria for identifying tasks for task-based learning

Read A discussion of different types of tasks for task-based learning

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 An article explaining task-based and project-based learning (to compare
Read
with the PPP model)
Read Glossary for the term input
Article covering what texts are for - three kinds of input and three kinds
Read
of output
Read Explanation of the role of texts in language learning
Read A framework for planning a listening skills lesson
Watch How to engage our learners with a reading text
Watch Suggestions for building self confidence in elementary reading
Watch Ideas for planning a writing lesson
Watch A webinar about being able to improvise from your planned lessons
Insights from online immersive task-based innovative teaching (Mini
Watch
event session 3)
Watch Conference talk: Moving beyond a simple understanding of input-output
Watch Video of ideas for planning communicative speaking activities

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Your learning
Which new ideas in Module 1 are most useful for you? Note them here together with any
questions you’d like to ask in the British Council courses for teachers learning community.

Describe three things you learned from…

Your online module

Resources you found and discussions in the course community

Extra resources and recorded events

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Plan it

Describe one thing you will change in your teaching. Why have you
chosen it?

What problems might happen when you try to make this change?

What could you do to solve those problems?

Teach it

Try it out and come back here to reflect on the experience. What did
you learn?

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Module 2: Engaging with lesson
planning – introducing new
language
Overview
This module explores a range of techniques for introducing new language and looks
at warmers and lead-in activities for starting lessons.
By the end of this module, you'll be able to:
• differentiate between warmer and lead-in stages
• summarise the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques for
presenting new language
• choose an appropriate technique for introducing new language to learners
• plan a lesson using that technique.

Further reading, teaching, and learning resources

Type Resource description (tap/click to open)

Use Booklet with ideas for warmers and fillers

Use Classroom warmers activity booklet

Use Activity to use as an 'ice-breaker'

Use Article with ideas for 'getting to know each other'

Use Ideas for 'circle games'

Use Mini Talks - a lesson idea following 'Test, teach, test'

Use Lesson plan for primary to raise awareness of the importance of forests

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 Lesson plan for secondary students to look at links between sports and
Use
the climate crisis

Use Speaking activity for older learners - a night out

Use Find lesson plans for your secondary learners here

Use Find lesson plans for your primary learners here

Use Lesson plan for primary to raise awareness of the importance of forests

Read Practical help on starting to plan lessons

Read Article to help planning courses

An explanation of how to check understanding in a presentation of

Read
language

Read Ways of thinking about planning lessons

Planning for inclusion: Being updated to face any challenge (Session 1 in

Watch
the mini event)

Watch Planning for creativity: Getting creative in low-resource contexts

Empowering learners through sustainable development goals (Mini event

Watch
Session 3)
A personal view of the importance of lesson planning (Part 1 - the
Watch
introduction to a series of videos)

Watch Video of ideas for planning communicative speaking activities

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Your learning
Which new ideas in Module 2 are most useful for you? Note them here together with any
questions you’d like to ask in the British Council courses for teachers learning community.

Describe three things you learned from…

Your online module

Resources you found and discussions in the course community

Extra resources and recorded events

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Plan it

Describe one thing you will change in your teaching. Why have you
chosen it?

What problems might happen when you try to make this change?

What could you do to solve those problems?

Teach it

Try it out and come back here to reflect on the experience. What did
you learn?

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Module 3: Engaging with learning
outcomes
Overview
This module defines learning outcomes and equips you with the skills to evaluate,
write, and combine effective learning outcomes.
By the end of this module, you'll be able to:
• define a learning outcome
• list the characteristics of well-written learning outcomes
• use appropriate verbs for a learning outcome
• integrate different levels of thinking skills within a set of learning outcomes
• align assessment with learning outcomes
• write clear, achievable learning outcomes for your own context(s).

Further reading, teaching, and learning resources

Type Resource description (tap/click to open)

Use Planning a listening lesson

Use Planning to make reading communicative

Use An activity to help learners predict listening texts

Use An activity to encourage language prediction

Listen How raising student learning outcomes can benefit education systems

Read A self study booklet about planning lessons and courses

Elements to consider when planning a lesson: aims, concepts, contexts

Read
and marker sentences
Read A framework for lesson planning
Read Making lesson targets clear for students

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 Read An article on using prediction to help reading
Watch Including homework in planning: Should homework be humdrum?
Planning for assessment: Assessment for learning, the road to
Watch
improvement (session 1)
'Why am I doing this'? Matching learning outcomes to the components of
Watch
lessons
Watch Lesson planning helps keep the learner at the centre of the lessons

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Your learning
Which new ideas in Module 3 are most useful for you? Note them here together with any
questions you’d like to ask in the British Council courses for teachers learning community.

Describe three things you learned from…

Your online module

Resources you found and discussions in the course community

Extra resources and recorded events

16
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
Plan it

Describe one thing you will change in your teaching. Why have you
chosen it?

What problems might happen when you try to make this change?

What could you do to solve those problems?

Teach it

Try it out and come back here to reflect on the experience. What did
you learn?

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Your action plan
Make an action plan focused on applying learning from this the course. Complete any
sentences that help you do this. Come back and reflect on what happened in class.

In the next two weeks, I am going to...

Over the next two months, I’m going to...

Before the end of the school year, I’m going to...

Next school year, I want to...

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Well done — you’ve made it to the end of the course! We hope you’ve
found it useful, and you’ll join us on another very soon.

Learn more about other free teacher training courses with the British Council
at: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/training

Explore our framework for teacher knowledge and skills for inspiration,
support and materials: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-
development/teachers

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