A reusable online lesson framework
Most 45–60 minute 1-to-1 or small-group online lessons work well with this Presentation–Practice–Production shape. Keep a blank copy and change only the topic, vocabulary and examples.
| Stage | Time | Goal | Online-friendly activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up | 3–5 min | Activate prior knowledge, settle the student | Quick chat, picture prompt, last-lesson recap |
| Presentation | 8–12 min | Introduce target language clearly | Model sentences, concept-check questions, short clip |
| Controlled practice | 8–12 min | Build accuracy | Gap-fill, matching, drag-and-drop, short drills |
| Freer practice | 12–15 min | Use the language meaningfully | Role play, opinion task, picture story, mini-presentation |
| Review & close | 3–5 min | Consolidate and set next step | Error correction, stars/praise, homework sentence |
Write the target language at the top of your plan (for example "I get up at… / What time do you…?") so every activity points at the same goal.
Sample plans you can adapt today
- Kids (A1, ~45 min) — daily routines: warm up with a clock on screen; present 8 routine verbs with pictures; controlled practice with matching or gap-fill; freer practice where the student describes their real morning; close with 3 homework sentences.
- Teens (A2–B1, ~50 min) — likes and free time: warm up with "What did you do this weekend?"; present "I like / don't like + -ing"; controlled practice with a short survey; freer practice planning a perfect Saturday; close with one sentence each student types in chat.
- Adults (B1–B2, ~60 min) — giving advice: warm up with a work or travel problem; present "should / shouldn't", "I'd recommend", "If I were you…"; controlled practice matching advice to scenarios; freer practice role-playing a real problem; close with a one-line takeaway.
- Business / exam track: keep the same stages, but use job or IELTS topics and ask for full sentences before moving on.
These outlines are free to copy. Swap pictures, questions and topics to match your student; keep the stage times so the lesson still finishes cleanly.
How to run a lesson plan over screen share
- Open your materials in one browser tab before class and close other tabs.
- In Zoom, Google Meet, ClassIn or similar, share that one browser tab (not the whole desktop) so notifications stay private.
- Make the window large enough to read on a phone; check once that the student can see the text.
- Move stage by stage: explain briefly, let the student respond out loud or in chat, then click the next activity.
- Keep a short game or speaking task ready for the last 5 minutes if energy drops.
Some online teaching companies use their own classroom software and limit outside materials, so check your company's rules before you screen-share a third-party tab.
Tips that keep online plans working
- Philippines, South Africa and native-English teachers: evening Asia classes often fall in your morning or afternoon — keep plans short and visual so tired students still speak.
- Young learners: more pictures, shorter stages, and a visible reward (stars or a quick game) help attention on Zoom.
- Adults: use the same framework with richer prompts; ask for a full sentence before a move or answer counts.
- 1-to-1: cut group survey steps and turn them into teacher–student exchanges.
- Zero-prep days: reuse the template with a familiar topic and interactive activities you already have open.
Ready interactive lesson materials for online classes
ESL Courseware is Online Teachers Club's browser app of interactive English lessons built for online classrooms. You pick a lesson by level or category, share your screen on Zoom, ClassIn, Google Meet and similar platforms, and teach with activities already inside the lesson — including games, student profiles with stars and certificates, libraries, a whiteboard and a question generator. ESL Courseware is included with OTC Pro (it is not sold separately). Run by Online Teachers Club, which publishes this list.
For screen-share games on their own, see ESL games for Zoom and online classes. Teaching students in Asia? Use the Beijing time converter. Looking for work? Compare companies in the Online Teachers Company List and read how to become an online teacher.
Tools for online teachers
Once you have shortlisted a few companies, it helps to have one page that shows who you are as a teacher. You can create a free online teacher profile page on Teacher4.me and share it with students, parents, and schools alongside your company applications.