Alright, fellow English educators! Let’s talk about the magical number 90. Ninety minutes, that is! It’s the golden window of opportunity, the sweet spot where you can genuinely dive deep, ignite imaginations, and witness those “aha!” moments sparkle in your students’ eyes. But let’s be honest: 90 minutes can feel like an eternity if you’re unprepared. Fear not! This isn’t about surviving the class, it’s about thriving!
This isn’t just another lesson plan template; it’s a complete guide to transforming your 90-minute English classes from ho-hum to absolutely phenomenal! Get ready to unleash your inner educator superhero because we’re about to break down the perfect 90-minute blueprint, packed with practical tips, creative ideas, and enough inspiration to fuel a thousand lessons!
The Golden Rule: Variety is the Spice of Learning!
The cardinal sin of a long class is monotony. No matter how captivating your topic, students’ attention will inevitably wander if you’re just lecturing or drilling grammar rules for 90 solid minutes. Our secret weapon? Variety! Aim for a dynamic blend of activities that cater to different learning styles and keep your students actively engaged from start to finish.
The Essential 90-Minute Structure: A Framework for Success
Think of your class as a well-structured story. It needs a compelling introduction, a meaty middle, and a satisfying conclusion. Here’s a suggested framework to guide you:
1. The Energizing Opener (5-10 minutes):
- Goal: Wake up the brain, activate prior knowledge, and set the tone for the class.
- Strategies:
- Brainstorming Blitz: A quick whiteboard brainstorm related to the lesson topic. “What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘adventure’?” “What are some common idioms related to money?” Get those ideas flowing!
- Quick Review Game: Think Kahoot!, Quizlet Live, or even a simple “True or False” game based on the previous lesson. Keep it fast-paced and fun!
- Visual Prompt: Show a captivating image or a short video clip that sparks curiosity and connects to the lesson’s theme.
- Story Time (Mini Edition): A very short, personal anecdote related to the topic can create a personal connection. “I once got hopelessly lost in a foreign city…”
- Music Moment: Play a short snippet of a song in English, asking students to identify key words or guess the song’s theme.
2. Core Lesson: Unveiling the Knowledge (30-40 minutes):
- Goal: Introduce new concepts, vocabulary, grammar points, or explore a text in detail.
- Strategies:
- Interactive Lecture (Chunking is Key!): Break down complex information into smaller, digestible chunks (10-15 minutes max). After each chunk, incorporate interactive activities like:
- Think-Pair-Share: Students think individually about a question related to the chunk, then discuss it with a partner, and finally share their ideas with the whole class.
- Quick Quiz: A short, informal quiz (oral or written) to check for understanding.
- Concept-Checking Questions (CCQs): Instead of just asking, “Do you understand?” use targeted questions to ensure true comprehension. For example, instead of “Do you understand the past perfect?” ask, “Did the first action happen before or after the second action in the past perfect?”
- Vocabulary Building Powerhouse:
- Contextualization: Introduce new words within meaningful sentences or short texts.
- Visual Aids: Use images, realia (real-life objects), or gestures to illustrate vocabulary.
- Vocabulary Games: Pictionary, charades, word association, or online vocabulary games are fantastic for reinforcement.
- Collocation Connection: To enhance fluency, teach words in common phrases and collocations (words that often go together).
- Grammar Guru Guide: Read more about grammar and rules
- Inductive Approach: Present examples first and then guide students to discover the grammar rule themselves.
- Controlled Practice: Provide structured exercises to practice the new grammar point accurately.
- Error Correction: Focus on common errors and provide clear explanations and opportunities for correction.
- Text Exploration Expedition:
- Pre-Reading Activities: Predict the content based on the title or cover image.
- Skimming & Scanning: Teach techniques for quickly extracting information.
- Close Reading: Analyze specific vocabulary, grammar, or literary devices.
- Discussion & Debate: Encourage critical thinking and different interpretations.
- Interactive Lecture (Chunking is Key!): Break down complex information into smaller, digestible chunks (10-15 minutes max). After each chunk, incorporate interactive activities like:
3. Activity Time: Applying the Knowledge (20-30 minutes):
- Goal: Provide opportunities for students to practice the new language skills in a meaningful context.
- Strategies:
- Pair Work Power: Dialogue practice, role-playing, information gap activities, or collaborative problem-solving.
- Group Work Glory: Project-based learning, debates, presentations, or creating a skit based on the lesson topic.
- Creative Writing Corner: Short story writing, poem writing, letter writing, or creating captions for images.
- Real-World Simulations: Mock interviews, presentations on a specific topic, or simulated phone calls.
- Technology Integration: Online quizzes, interactive worksheets, or using digital tools for collaborative projects.
- Game On!: Adapt language learning concepts into engaging games like board games, card games, or even physical games like “Hangman” or “Simon Says.”
4. Cool Down & Wrap-Up (10-15 minutes):
- Goal: Consolidate learning, review key concepts, and provide feedback.
- Strategies:
- Mini-Presentation Showcase: Have students share their work from the activity section with the class.
- Review Jeopardy: A fun and engaging way to review key vocabulary and grammar points.
- One-Minute Paper: Ask students to write down the most important thing they learned in the class and one question they still have.
- Self-Assessment Check-In: Encourage students to reflect on their own learning progress.
- Preview of Next Lesson: Briefly introduce the topic of the next class to spark curiosity and prepare students.
- Positive Reinforcement & Encouragement: End the class on a high note with positive feedback and words of encouragement.
Spice it Up: Pro-Tips for Maximum Engagement!
- Know Your Students: Tailor your lessons to their interests, learning styles, and language levels. A survey at the beginning of the course can be invaluable.
- Incorporate Authentic Materials: Use real-world texts, videos, and audio recordings to expose students to authentic language use.
- Embrace Mistakes: Create a safe and supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. Remember, mistakes are learning opportunities!
- Use Technology Wisely: Don’t just use technology for the sake of it. Choose tools that enhance learning and engagement.
- Be a Facilitator, Not Just a Lecturer: Guide students to discover knowledge themselves rather than just lecturing them.
- Vary Your Pacing: Sometimes, you need to speed things up; other times, you need to slow down and allow for deeper processing. Pay attention to your students’ energy levels and adjust accordingly.
- Movement Matters: Incorporate activities that involve physical movement to break up the monotony and energize students. Stand-up breaks, quick stretching exercises, or even just rearranging seating can make a difference.
- Positive Attitude is Contagious: Your enthusiasm and passion for teaching will inspire your students.
- Reflect and Refine: After each class, take a few minutes to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Use this feedback to refine your future lesson plans.
Example 90-Minute Lesson Plan: “Traveling Abroad” (Intermediate Level)
1. Opener (5 minutes): Brainstorming – “What are some of the challenges and rewards of traveling to a foreign country?”
2. Core Lesson (35 minutes):
- Interactive Lecture (15 mins): Discuss common travel phrases and vocabulary related to booking flights, accommodations and navigating a new city. Chunked into 3 sections with quick CCQs after each.
- Vocabulary Building (10 mins): Introduce idioms related to travel (e.g., “off the beaten path,” “bite the bullet,” “catch a break”). Practice with matching and fill-in-the-blanks.
- Grammar Focus (10 mins): Review the use of “should” and “ought to” for giving advice. Inductive approach – present examples of advice given during a travel scenario.
3. Activity (35 minutes): There are different ways to do this activity. For example, practice by role-play conversation.
- Role-Play (20 mins): Students work in pairs to role-play a conversation between a traveler asking for directions and a local offering help.
- Group Project (15 mins): In groups, students plan a short weekend trip to a city of their choice, presenting their itinerary to the class, incorporating vocabulary and grammar learned.
4. Wrap-Up (15 minutes):
- Mini-Presentations (10 mins): Each group briefly presents its travel itinerary.
- One-Minute Paper (5 mins): “What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone traveling abroad for the first time?”
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Adventure!
Planning a 90-minute English class can seem daunting, but with a clear structure, a focus on variety, and a dash of creativity, you can transform your classroom into a vibrant learning environment. Remember to be flexible, adaptable, and, most importantly, have fun! Embrace the adventure and watch your students flourish. Now go forth and create some English language magic! Let me know in the comments your favorite tips and tricks for teaching longer classes! Happy teaching!
