Prepare lesson plans for teaching English as a second language according to your students' needs. There are several effective ways to do this, including a standardized TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) structure; as well as focusing on specific test-taking goals and some practical approaches.

TEFL Structure
You can use the TEFL method for creating lesson plans for all occasions, including book work, test preparation and more abstract creative lessons. TEFL lesson plan preparation involves a multitude of factors, which can be helpful if listed in order while you create a lesson plan. They include: Rationale, which is a statement explaining why you have chosen a specific plan; Aim, which explains the goal you wish to attain; Language Items, such as "grammar"; Lexical Items, such as new vocabulary words; Phonology, which describes how you will focus on pronunciation; Materials, such as flash cards or a game; and finally the Procedure, which will map out how you incorporate the above items and objectives into your plan.

Generally, you should focus on having your students learn one or two specific goals during each lesson plan. For example, you could teach the second conditional verb tense, along with new vocabulary words, by writing a sample sentence on the board, such as, "If I were a pop star, I would ___________." This sentence teaches students how to use the second conditional, as well as the meaning of "pop star."

Test Preparation
Students' main goal within an English class is often test preparation, either for a visa application or further educational pursuits. In this case, it is important to know the exact tests for which your students are preparing, and what section or sections of that test you will focus on in your lesson plan. English tests usually have reading, writing, listening and speaking sections. The most common international standardized English tests are the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), Cambridge, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), and TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication). When preparing a lesson plan for these tests, it is best to find a sample test, which you can do online, and look it over to get a good idea of exactly what your students are going to encounter. Richard Gresswell recommends that an IELTS "Test Preparation" lesson plan start with conversation among students aimed at discovering how much they know or don't know about a specific test. The lesson should then move on to more specifics about the test, such as how long each unit is and the amount of time allotted for completing it. Afterward, the lesson should focus on a particular aspect of the test, like reading or listening, and finish with a timed in-class activity that utilizes that aspect of the test.

Creative
Oftentimes, and especially in more advanced English classes, you will have a group of students that doesn't want to follow book exercises, wants more colloquial phrases having to do with the particular country you're in, or just needs a break from the rigid structures found inside classrooms. A few ideas of how to incorporate originality into your classroom include: printing out a transcript of a TV show, reading it over with your students, and watching it in class; acting out a book or play; playing a game; or just going to the park.