5 Simple Tips to Make ESL Classes Easier (and More Fun) for You and Your Students
By Megan O’Connor, ESL Teacher in Public Schools
Teaching ESL in a public school is one of the most rewarding jobs out there—but it can also feel like you’re juggling a dozen things at once. You’re prepping lessons, adapting to different proficiency levels, and trying to keep students engaged. No wonder so many teachers end up spending hours after school buried in planning.
The good news? A few simple shifts can make your ESL classes run smoother and save you time.
1. Keep Routines Consistent
Students thrive on predictability, especially when working in a second language. Starting every class with a short speaking warm-up or a quick review activity gives them confidence and helps you settle the group faster.
2. Use Materials That Build Step by Step
When lessons connect in a clear progression (beginner → advanced), students don’t get lost—and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every week. A structured curriculum also makes it easier to handle mixed-level classes, since you know exactly where each student fits.
(This is one reason I like using ready-to-go ESL lesson sets—less time planning, more time teaching.)
3. Balance Skills in Every Lesson
Even if today’s focus is reading, slip in a few speaking moments too. Students remember vocabulary better when they use it. A quick “turn to your partner and ask…” activity goes a long way.
4. Add Variety Without Extra Prep
Games, pair work, and role plays break up the monotony—but they don’t have to mean extra hours of planning. Many ESL resources include built-in speaking and activity sections, so you can simply open up the lesson and run with it.
5. Save Your Prep Time for What Matters Most
Your time is valuable. Instead of creating lessons from scratch, consider tools that are already designed for classroom and online teaching. I’ve seen teachers cut their planning time in half just by using structured ESL lessons they can trust.
👉 If you’re curious, SuperEnglishESL.com has a full kids and teen curriculum (Levels 1–7) plus extra modules for phonics, reading, and speaking. It’s made with public school teachers in mind, so you can pick up a lesson and start teaching tomorrow—no extra prep needed.
Final Thought
The best advice for ESL teachers? Don’t try to do it all alone. Lean on routines, structured lessons, and resources that save your sanity. Your students will still get engaging, effective lessons—and you’ll finally get a little of your time back.
FAQs for Public School ESL Teachers
Q: What’s the best ESL curriculum for schools?
A: The best curriculum is one that is structured from beginner to advanced levels, flexible for mixed-level classes, and ready-to-use so you don’t spend hours prepping. Many teachers find that online ESL curriculums like SuperEnglishESL.com fit these needs better than piecing together worksheets.
Q: Can an online ESL curriculum be used in a classroom?
A: Absolutely. Many curriculums are designed for both online teaching and traditional classrooms. SuperEnglishESL lessons, for example, work with a projector, interactive whiteboard, or even printed out.
Q: How do ESL teachers save time on lesson planning?
A: By using pre-made, progressive lesson sets. Instead of designing everything from scratch, teachers can focus on tailoring lessons to their students. This not only saves hours each week but also ensures consistency across units.
Q: How do I handle a mixed-level ESL class?
A: Choose a curriculum with clear levels and scaffolded activities. That way, beginners get support while advanced students still feel challenged. Built-in phonics, reading, and speaking sections also help bridge gaps between levels.