How to use these templates
Each template includes: (1) the level, (2) the duration, (3) the materials, (4) the lesson structure with timing, (5) specific activities, (6) the homework. Copy the template, adjust to your student's specific goals + level, and deliver. Each template is designed to be customized in 5-10 minutes, then delivered in 25-50 minutes. The 10 templates cover the 6 most-requested specialties: general English, business English, IELTS, kids, conversation, exam prep.
Template 1: General English — present perfect (A2-B1, 30 min)
Materials: 1 short article (BBC Learning English or similar), 5 example sentences, 1 worksheet with 10 fill-in-the-blank exercises, 1 homework sheet.
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up ("What did you do last weekend?"), 5-10 min introduce the tense (present perfect vs past simple), 10-20 min practice (read article, identify uses, fill-in-the-blank, partner practice), 20-25 min free conversation (each student shares 3 things they've done in their life), 25-30 min wrap-up + homework (write 5 sentences about your life using present perfect).
Homework: 10 fill-in-the-blank exercises + write 5 sentences about your life using present perfect + record yourself reading them (1 min). For: adult conversation practice, all levels. Customization: swap the article for one related to student's interests (work, travel, hobbies).
Template 2: Business English — email writing (B1-C1, 45 min)
Materials: 2 sample business emails (a "request for meeting" and an "apology for late delivery"), 1 worksheet with 10 fill-in-the-blank exercises, 1 practice scenario.
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up ("How many emails do you write per day?"), 5-15 min analyze 2 sample emails (formality, structure, vocabulary), 15-30 min practice (write own email for practice scenario), 30-40 min peer review (swap emails with teacher or another student, give feedback), 40-45 min wrap-up + homework (write 1 real email you'll send this week using the techniques).
Homework: 1 real email + peer feedback + analyze 2 emails you received in the last week. For: corporate professionals, B1-C1, writing focus. Customization: use a real email the student received + reverse-engineer it for tone + structure.
Template 3: IELTS speaking part 2 (B2-C1, 50 min)
Materials: 1 official IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card, 1-minute timer, 2-minute timer, sample Part 2 response, scoring rubric (4 criteria: fluency, lexical resource, grammatical range, pronunciation).
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up (casual conversation), 5-10 min introduce Part 2 format (cue card + 1 min prep + 2 min talk), 10-15 min read cue card + 1 min prep, 15-35 min student talks for 2 min (teacher records for review), 35-45 min feedback (score each of 4 criteria + identify 3-5 specific improvement points), 45-50 min wrap-up + homework (record 3 different Part 2 responses).
Homework: 3 different Part 2 responses recorded (1 min prep + 2 min talk each, 9 min total). For: IELTS prep students, B2-C1, speaking focus. Customization: use real past exam topics from Cambridge IELTS 1-19.
Template 4: Kids — animals + sounds (A1, 25 min)
Materials: 1 picture book (e.g., "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Eric Carle), animal flashcards, 1 song ("Old MacDonald"), 1 colouring sheet.
Structure: 0-3 min warm-up song ("Old MacDonald"), 3-8 min picture book reading (interactive, with sound effects), 8-15 min flashcard game (match animal to sound), 15-20 min colouring + naming (colour the animal, name it), 20-25 min wrap-up song + homework.
Homework: colour the animal + record 5 animal sounds (cat, dog, cow, pig, sheep). For: kids ages 4-7, beginner, all levels. Customization: use the student's favourite animal + sound + add a new sound each lesson.
Template 5: Conversation — travel stories (A2-B2, 30 min)
Materials: 3 travel photos (from the student's recent trip or a virtual travel prompt), travel vocabulary list (15-20 words), 1 travel-themed discussion question list (5-10 questions).
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up ("Tell me about a place you visited recently"), 5-15 min share travel photos + stories (student describes each), 15-20 min vocabulary practice (5-10 travel words used in context), 20-25 min free conversation (5-10 questions about travel preferences, plans, recommendations), 25-30 min wrap-up + homework.
Homework: Write 5 sentences about a place you want to visit + 5 sentences about a place you've visited + record yourself reading them. For: adult conversation practice, A2-B2, all ages. Customization: use the student's specific travel interests (business travel, leisure travel, family travel).
Template 6: Exam prep — TOEIC listening part 4 (B1-C1, 45 min)
Materials: 1 official TOEIC Listening Part 4 audio + questions, transcript, answer key, vocabulary list (10-15 business terms).
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up ("Have you taken TOEIC before?"), 5-10 min review last lesson's content, 10-30 min listening exercise (audio plays, student answers questions), 30-40 min review answers + analyze mistakes + teach vocabulary, 40-45 min wrap-up + homework.
Homework: Complete 1 official TOEIC Listening Part 4 practice test + analyze 5 mistakes + learn 10 vocabulary words. For: TOEIC prep students, B1-C1, working professionals. Customization: use the student's target TOEIC score + target test date.
Template 7: Accent reduction — "th" sound (all levels, 30 min)
Materials: 1 word list with 20 "th" words (this, that, the, think, thank, three, etc.), 1 audio recording of student saying 5 "th" words (baseline), 1 audio recording of teacher saying 5 "th" words (model), 1 mirror (for visual feedback).
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up (free conversation), 5-10 min introduce the "th" sound (tongue position: tip of tongue between teeth, not behind them), 10-20 min practice (minimal pairs: this/this, think/sink, three/free, etc.), 20-25 min contextual practice (read a passage with many "th" words), 25-30 min homework (record 20 "th" words at home, send to teacher).
Homework: Record 20 "th" words + read 1 paragraph with many "th" words + send recording. For: accent reduction students, all levels. Customization: target the student's L1 (Chinese students need different focus than Japanese students need from Korean students).
Template 8: Kids — alphabet + phonics (A0, 25 min)
Materials: 1 alphabet chart, 1 set of letter flashcards, 1 phonics song ("The Alphabet Song" or "Phonics Song"), 1 tracing worksheet (5 letters).
Structure: 0-3 min warm-up song, 3-8 min review letters learned so far, 8-15 min introduce 3-5 new letters (sound + shape + example word), 15-20 min tracing practice + letter recognition game, 20-25 min wrap-up song + homework.
Homework: Trace 3-5 new letters + identify them in a children's book. For: kids ages 3-5, beginner, all levels. Customization: introduce letters in order of frequency + use the student's name + favourite words as examples.
Template 9: Adult conversation — debates + opinions (B2-C1, 30 min)
Materials: 1 debate topic (e.g., "Should social media be regulated?"), 2 minutes preparation time, vocabulary list (10-15 debate words: argue, claim, refute, concede, etc.), 1 debate timer.
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up ("What's your opinion on X?"), 5-10 min introduce debate format + vocabulary, 10-20 min mini-debate (2 min for, 2 min against, 1 min rebuttal), 20-25 min feedback (pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary), 25-30 min wrap-up + homework.
Homework: Write 100-word opinion on a different debate topic + record yourself reading it. For: adult advanced conversation, B2-C1, university students + professionals. Customization: use current events topics.
Template 10: Exam prep — Cambridge B2 First speaking (B2, 45 min)
Materials: 1 official B2 First Speaking Part 2 prompt, 1-minute prep timer, 2-minute talk timer, sample Part 2 response, scoring rubric (4 criteria: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, interactive communication).
Structure: 0-5 min warm-up, 5-10 min introduce Part 2 format (compare 2 photos + answer a question), 10-12 min prep time, 12-32 min student talks for 2 min (teacher records), 32-42 min feedback + scoring (4 criteria + identify 3-5 specific improvements), 42-45 min wrap-up + homework.
Homework: Record 3 different Part 2 responses (compare 2 photos + answer a question). For: B2 First (FCE) prep students. Customization: use real past exam topics from Cambridge B2 First 1-4.
How to build your own template library
The 10 templates above are starting points. As you teach 100+ lessons, you'll build your own library of 50-100 templates organised by:
- By level: A0/A1 (kids + beginner adults), A2/B1 (intermediate), B2/C1 (upper-intermediate + advanced)
- By specialty: general English, business English, IELTS, kids, conversation, exam prep, accent reduction
- By skill: speaking, listening, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation
- By duration: 25 min (kids), 30-45 min (most adults), 50+ min (exam prep)
Update them after every lesson based on student feedback. After 100 lessons, you'll have a personal library of 50+ tried-and-tested templates you can re-use for the rest of your career.
What to do this week
- Pick 2-3 templates from the 10 above that match your most common teaching scenario. Master them this week.
- Customize each template: add 1-2 personal touches (your intro story, your favourite activity, your go-to homework) that make it feel personal to you.
- Test the templates with 3-5 students: note what works + what doesn't, iterate.
- Add the templates to your Notion library: organised by level + specialty + skill + duration.
- After 100 lessons, you'll have your own template library: 50+ battle-tested templates that you can re-use for years.