Teaching Englsih for Beginners fileI recommend doing vocabulary tests from time to time. Within 20...

Teaching English for Beginners

A Lessonplan for Volunteers

Designed for Elementary Schools

By Lukas Beermann

1 Lukas Beermann 2014

Foreword

“If you’re ever down, read this, because the idea and raison d’etre for you stepping off the plane was

not only to help others but to improve yourself. So chin up, kid. Why do you even try? Because

someone has to. Because you’re better than that. Because you need to toughen up or shatter. ‘Cause

when it comes down to it, all you have is a piece of chalk and a dream.”

The lesson plan you have in front of you was developed in the course of one year during the time of my

voluntary service with “Taman Bacaan Pelangi (Rainbow Reading Gardens)” and “World Horizon” in Flores

Island, Indonesia in 2013/2014.

Every time you step into a classroom and become a teacher you will face challenges. You stand in front of

a group, you are responsible for what is happening and you want the students to learn as much as

possible during your time with them.

A well-structured lesson plan will help you, especially at the beginning of your teaching career, to be less

nervous, work more effectively and have a more satisfying teaching experience. Through this lessonplan I

try to share some of my experience in teaching English in remote villages and provide some help for

future volunteers.

Remember that noone will judge you if you do not deliver a perfect lesson all the time. You cannot.

Remember that people appreciate you are there and will be happy to help you. You are not alone.

Remember that you are teaching for the kids. If you don’t do the job noone will.

Remember that all you can do is to try again every day and give your best. Nobody expects more.

This lessonplan is designed to provide elementary school students aged 8-13 without any previous

knowledge with basic English skills. All lessons have been tried several times in classes IV, V and VI (some

also in class III) and have proven to be working.

It contains 20 lessons which are enough for 3-4 months of teaching if you do two lessons per class and

week. This lessonplan aims to give you an orientation on how to start and includes only very basic

materials. After you finish all the lessons you will be able to continue yourself easily. The time per session

is calculated with 70 minutes (equals two Indonesian lessons).


Every lesson is structured as follows:

1) Warm-up (usually a song)

2) Review (time to check homework, play a little game and answer questions)

3) Main Part (continue the last lesson or introduce a new topic)

4) Closing (give homework, another song and maybe prayer)

Since you are teaching elementary school kids the review part that is set at the beginning of every lesson

should take up to 50 percent of every lessons time.

I recommend doing vocabulary tests from time to time. Within 20 lessons 4 to 5 tests should be enough.

It will give the kids a boost in motivation and usually they will be happy to do it.

You should always keep in mind to do everything very slow and explain things step by step. Some lessons

of this plan seem to contain very easy or very little material but I highly recommend to stick to the

timeframe and not to join lessons. Experience has proven that the key to successfully teaching English at

elementary school level is not to be too fast.

Even this lessonplan was developed in Indonesia it is applicable for any country.

You should use this as a basis for your lesson planning. See what goes well (as well as what does not),

modify and adapt to your particular teaching situation.

Happy teaching!

Lukas Beermann

August 2014


Table of contents

Foreword Page 1

Bahasa Indonesia in the Classroom

Lesson # Topic Page

1 Introduction 6

2 Alphabet & Daily Greetings 7

3 Introduce Yourself I 9

4 Introduce Yourself II 10

5 Introduce Yourself III (Questions) 11

6 Basic Conversation I 15

7 Basic Conversation II 17

8 The Classroom 18

9 Numbers 20

10 Days and months 22

11 Colors 24

12 Food 26

13 Animals 29

14 My Family 31

15 Singular and Plural 34

16 Conversation at the Market I 36

17 Conversation at the Market II 38

18 Personal Pronouns I 39

19 Personal Pronouns II 41

20 Story 43


Bahasa Indonesia in the classroom

Especially for beginners it is essential to know some phrases and commands.

Classroom Ruang kelas

Exercise book Buku tulis

Teacher desk Meja guru

Blackboard Papan tulis

Pen Bolpoin

Chalk Kapur

Eraser Penghapus

Homework PR (Pekerjaan Rumah)

Task/Exercise Soal/Latihan

Example Contoh

Vocabulary Kosakata

Stand up please Silakan berdiri

Sit down please Silakan duduk

Let’s sing a song first Kita nyanyi dulu

Let’s start Ayo kita mulai

Who is absent? Ada yang absen?

Did you do your homework? Kalian sudah bikin PR?

Close the door/window Tolong tutup pintu/jendela

Please bring me some chalk Tolong ambil kapur

Please open your books Silakan buka buku kalian

Please copy this from the blackboard Silakan tulis ini dari papan

Who knows the answer? Siapa tahu jawaban?

Who can translate this? Siapa bisa terjemah ini?

Who has already finished? Siapa sudah selesai?

Who has not finished yet? Siapa belum selesai?

Are there any questions? Ada pertanyaan?

Do you understand that? Kamu mengerti?

What is the problem? Apa masahlah?


Who can help? Siapa bisa bantu?

Please distribute this among the class Tolong bagi ini

Please raise your hand Tolong angkat tangan

Please be quiet everybody Tolong diam semua

If you do that again I’ll throw you out of

the classroom

Satu kali lagi dan kamu langsung harus keluar

I’m going to report this to the

headmaster

Saya akan lapor kepada Kepala Sekolah

Let’s go home Mari kita pulang


Lesson 1: Introduction

1) Warm up

Introduce yourself and the purpose of you being there. Make a short introduction on why English

is an important language (communicate with foreigners; understand English songs, films and

books; be able to travel)

Distribute exercise books and have students write their names. Encourage students to use these

books for English only and bring it every time there is an English lesson

2) Review

3) Main part

Give materials to the kids and let them produce name tags which they can place in front of them

on the desk. Use colored paper, crayons etc.

Teach them “What is your name?” and “My name is…”

Have every student present his/her name tag in front of the class.

Ask “What is your name?” The students answer “My name is…”

Teach the students the ABC-Song which you can use for the following lessons. Write the song on

the board and point out the letters which are different from Bahasa Indonesia. Have the students

copy the text.

4) Closing

Sing the song

(Pray)

Homework

Learn the ABC


Lesson 2: Alphabet & Daily Greetings

1) Warm up

Sing the song from Lesson 1

2) Review

Have some students present their name tags again

Ask randomly: “What is your name?”

Review the ABC from the ABC-Song. Have students recite the ABC in front of the class. Learn

about same and differently pronounced letters.

A B C D E F

G H I J K L

M N O P Q R

S T U V W X

Y Z

3) Main part

Introduce the daily greetings:

Good Morning Good Day Good Afternoon Good Evening/Night


Also explain about Hi, Hello, Good bye, Bye Bye…

Write on the board and have the students copy. Ask randomly.

Combine with “What is your name?” and “My name is…” Have the students practice with their

classmates.

Write the following text on the board and have students copy it. Explain about the vocabulary.

Read the text several times. Have students read the text.

When I go to school, I say “Good morning” to the teacher.

After I go home from school I say “Good day” to my family.

In the afternoon I meet my friends and say “Good afternoon”.

When I go to bed I say “Good night” to my family.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Memorize the daily greetings and practice reading. Learn the vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Note: Have students start a vocabulary list at the last 5 pages of their exercise books. You can

extend it over time. Add words after every lesson.

Make a vocabulary list from the text and translate:

good morning, good day, good afternoon, good evening, good night

good bye, greetings, song, homework, vocabulary

I, go, school, say, teacher, go home, family, meet, friend, go to bed


Lesson 3: Introduce Yourself I

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check the vocabulary. Have students stand in front of the class and ask. Also check on the ABC

again. (Note: A very useful game to learn vocabulary is “Hangman.” You can play against the class

or divide the class into teams. You can also make a spelling competition.)

Review the sentences from Lesson 2. Practice reading again.

3) Main part

Develop categories for “Introduce yourself”. Do it like a brainstorming.

a) Name (full name/nickname)

b) Address

c) Age

d) Birthday

e) School, Class

f) Religion

Have students copy the list.

Develop the corresponding sentences.

a) My full name is … My nickname is…

b) I am from…

c) I am … years old.

d) My birthday is …

e) I go to school at … I am in class …


f) My religion is …

Have students fill the sentences with their data. Let students introduce themselves to their

friends. Let students introduce themselves in front of the class.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Practice “Introducing Yourself”

Vocabulary

name, full name, nickname, address, year, age

birthday, class, religion, from, introduce yourself


Lesson 4: Introduce Yourself II

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check the vocabulary and sentences from “Daily Greetings.”

Check the categories and sentences from “Introduce Yourself I.” Have students introduce

themselves in front of the class.

3) Main part

Write the sentences from “Introduce Yourself I” on the board again. Do it like a short text.

Good Morning! My full name is … My nickname is… I am from … I am … years old. My birthday is …

I go to school at … I am in class … My religion is …

Introduce the category “Hobby.” Do a brainstorming.

My hobby is … (playing football/volleyball, singing, reading books, etc.)

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Learn the vocabulary


Sentence Puzzle! Put the words in the correct order.

Vocabulary

hobby, play, football, volleyball badminton,

swimming, sing, read, book,

… -class-in-I am

my- … -is-religion

is-birthday-my-…

nickname- … -my-is

is-full name-my- …

from-I am- …

I am- … -old-years

hobby- … -my-is

school-go-to-at-I- …


Lesson 5: Introduce Yourself III (Questions)

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check the homework and the vocabulary from “Introduce Yourself I+II”

Have students introduce themselves to their friends and in front of the class. Let students try

without their exercise books.

3) Main part

Introduce a number of questions corresponding to the categories of “Introduce Yourself ”

Practice reading and answering, then have the students copy the questions. Ask the class and

single students. Have students standing in front of the class asking their friends.

4) Closing

Song

Where do you go to school?

What is your class?

What is your religion?

What is your hobby?

What is your name?

Where are you from?

How old are you?

When is your birthday?


Homework

Find the pairs

Vocabulary

Question Words:

what, where, why, when, who, how, question, word,

I am from…

I am … years old.

I go to school at …

My religion is …

My hobby is ...

My name is …

My birthday is …

I am in class …

What is your religion?

Where are you from?

When is your birthday?

Where do you go to school?

What is your class?

What is your hobby?

What is your name?

How old are you?


Lesson 6: Basic Conversation I

1) Warm up

Song (Note: If you get bored with the ABC-Song introduce a new song)

2) Review

Check homework

Have students stand in front of the class and ask their friends the questions from “Introduce

Yourself III”

3) Main part

Make a basic conversation. Use student’s names as an example. Write on the board.

A: Good morning!

B: Good Morning!

A: How are you?

B: Thank you, I am fine. And you?

A: I am fine, too.

A: Where are you going?

B: I am going to the rice field.

B: What is your name?

A: My name is … What is your name?

B: My name is … Where are you from?

A: I am from … And you?

B: I am from … How old are you?

A: I am … years old. And you?

B: I am … years old.

A: Ok. Nice to meet you …

B: Nice to meet you, too …

A: Good bye!


B: Good bye!

Practice reading and explain vocabulary. Have students copy the conversation. Have students

practice with their friends.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Practice Reading

Vocabulary

you, How are you?, thank you, fine, and, rice, field,

Where are you going?, nice, meet , conversation


Lesson 7: Basic Conversation II

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Have students practice reading the conversation from last lesson with their friends.

Have students read in pairs in front of the class.

3) Main part

Have students write their own short conversation. Use the questions and answers from

“Introduce Yourself III.” Work in pairs.

Have pairs read their conversations in front of the class.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Write a short conversation. Minimal six sentences.

I recommend doing the first vocabulary test after this lesson. Tell the students to learn all the

words from their vocabulary list.


Lesson 8: The Classroom

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Do the vocabulary test

Check homework

3) Main Part

Introduce a number of objects in the classroom by pointing at them

a pencil a piece of paper

a pen a piece of chalk

a rubber a blackboard

a ruler a picture

an exercise book a bin

a textbook a clock

a chair a desk

a cupboard

Make easy sentences with the classroom objects. Introduce sentences of possession using have/has. In our classroom we have a bin. In our classroom we have a clock. In our classroom we have a cupboard.

Selni has a pencil Ana has a textbook The teacher has a piece of chalk. The students have chairs.


4) Closing

Song

Homework

Write five sentences about what is in your classroom.

Vocabulary

Classroom vocabulary + classroom, in, our, we, have/has


Lesson 9: Numbers

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Return the vocabulary test. You can bring small presents for the best students.

Check homework.

3) Main part

Introduce numbers. Normally students can count up to 20 or further but do not understand the

system that enables them to form every higher number.

Write the numbers from 1-20 (numeral and word) and have the students copy them.

Write some higher numbers as an example.

1 one 11 eleven 20 twenty 200 two hundred

2 two 12 twelve 30 thirty 300 three hundred

3 three 13 thirteen 40 forty 400 four hundred

4 four 14 fourteen 50 fifty 500 five hundred

5 five 15 fifteen 60 sixty 600 six hundred

6 six 16 sixteen 70 seventy 700 seven hundred

7 seven 17 seventeen 80 eighty 800 eight hundred

8 eight 18 eighteen 90 ninety 900 nine hundred

9 nine 19 nineteen 100 one hundred 1,000 one thousand

Teach the students the system through forming different numbers. Write down some numbers

(numeral) and have the students write the words. Do it vice-versa.

For further application try a game of bingo and/or do basic math problems in English.


4) Closing

Song

Homework

Have the students write some numbers. You can write the numerals and tell the students to write

the words. Do it also vice-versa.

Vocabulary

Numbers


Lesson 10: Days of the week and month of the year

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check homework. To review numbers you can ask the students the number of tables, students,

pens, etc. in the classroom and/or play bingo again.

You should also check the material from “Basic Conversation I+II” again.

3) Main Part

Introduce the days of the week and the month of the year:

Monday January July

Tuesday February August

Wednesday March September

Thursday April October

Friday May November

Saturday June December

Sunday

Form little sentences:

Yesterday was Tuesday. Last month was January.

Today is Wednesday. This month is February.

Tomorrow is Thursday. Next month is March.

On Monday we go to school. In April we celebrate Easter.

On Sunday we go to church. In December we celebrate Christmas.


4) Closing

Song

Homework

Learn days of the week and month of the year

Vocabulary

In addition to the days and month:

day, week, month, year, yesterday, today,

tomorrow, church, mosque, last, this, next


Lesson 11: Colors

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check homework

You can ask simple questions like: What are we doing on Monday? or When do we go to church?

3) Main Part

Introduce the colors

Assign colors to objects (inside and outside the classroom)

The blackboard is black.

The wall is white.

The tree is green.

The sky is blue.

black white red blue

brown orange yellow green

purple grey tourqise pink


Ask simple questions.

What color is the book?

What color is my T-Shirt?

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Describe min. six objects in your house. What is their color?

Vocabulary

Colors + several objects you described (wall, tree, sky, T-Shirt)


Lesson 12: Food

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check homework

Ask about colors

3) Main Part

Introduce different foods

Apple

Mango

Papaya

Avocado

Rice

Plate, Fork, Spoon

Bread

Noodles

Vegetables

Potato

Chicken

Egg

Fish

Water

Tea

Coffee


Coconut

Guava

Banana

Orange

Watermelon

Rambutan

Snake Fruit

Strawberry

Make simple sentences with eat/drink

Lena eats rice.

Kelvin eats bread.

Michael eats potato with chicken.

Ika drinks tea.

Lintang drinks tea.

Dad drinks coffee with sugar.

Nuna likes to eat coconut.

Anja likes to drink water.

My favorite food is fried rice with fish.

4) Closing

Song

http://www.durian.se/durians/medium/dur


Homework

Sentence Puzzle! Put the words in the correct order.

Nuna-guava-eats

Simon-to-likes-water-drink

Chicken-and-Lita-eats-noodles

Vocabulary Food and Fruits + food, fruit, eat, drink, like, favorite food, sugar, salt, chili, with


Lesson 13: Animals

5) Warm up

Song

6) Review

Review on fruits. Combine with colors.

What do you like to eat?

Who likes to eat fish?

What is your favorite food?

What color is a banana?

Which food is green?

7) Main Part

Introduce animals


Make sentences. Combine with color, numbers, food and sentences of possession.

The frog is green.

The cow is black and white.

The cat eats mouse.

I have a pig.

Whayu has a dog.

Fara has six chickens and a horse.

8) Closing

Song

Homework

Describe five animals.

Recommendation: Prepare vocabulary test.

Vocabulary

Animals


Lesson 14: My Family

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Do vocabulary test.

Review Food and Animals.

3) Main Part

Explain family vocabulary

Grandfather Brother

Grandmother Sister

Father Aunt

Mother Uncle

Children Niece

Son Nephew

Daughter Grandchild

Siblings Cousin


Create an example. Draw on the board.

Have students copy. Explain the family relations.

John is Diana’s father.

Mary is Garry’s mother.

Martin is Mary’s son.

Fiona is Garry’s daughter.

Peter is John’s grandchild.

Ann is Denis’ cousin.

Diana is Fiona’s aunt.

Charles’ is Jean’s brother.

Peter and Sandra are married.

4) Closing

Song


Homework

Describe the relationship:

Garry and Sally

Roger and Jaudie

Diana and Denis

Fiona and Charles

Jean and Marion.

Diana, Garry and Martin.

Vocabulary

Family vocabulary + family, relative, married, divorced, husband, wife, died, generation


Lesson 15: Singular and Plural

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Return vocabulary test.

Review My Family. Ask Questions:

John is Martin’s … ?

Charles is Jean’s … ?

Have kid’s describe their own families. Let them draw in their exercise books and write sentences.

You can also explain about your family.

3) Main part

Write down some sentences to introduce singular and plural.

I eat one apple. You eat two apples.

I eat one banana. You eat five bananas.

I eat have one pineapple. You have nine pineapples.

I have one watermelon. You have ten watermelons.

Point out the difference between singular and plural, the letter ‘s’ at the end of the word.

Have students copy the sentences from the blackboard.

Write sentences and have students decide: Singular or Plural? Why?

Have students write their own sentences.

4) Closing


Song

Homework

Write own singular/plural sentences. Min. 6 sentences.


Lesson 16: Conversation at the Market I

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check homework

Have students explain the difference between singular and plural again.

Also review My Family again.

3) Main part

Make an easy conversation that includes conversation skills, numbers, singular/plural and food

vocabulary

A: Good morning!

B: Good morning!

A: Do you have coconuts?

B: Yes, I have coconuts.

A: I want to buy two coconuts.

B: Ok. Anything else?

A: Yes. I also want to buy six oranges, nine apples and four watermelons.

B: Ok. Anything else?

A: No, that is all. How much is the price?

B: The price is 75.000 Rp.

A: Ok, here is the money.

B: Thank you!

A: Good bye!

B: Good bye


Practice reading and explain vocabulary. Have students copy the conversation. Have students

practice with their friends.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Practice reading

Vocabulary

market, want, buy, Anything else?, also, that, this, all, How much?, price, here, money


Lesson 17: Conversation at the Market II

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Practice reading “Conversation at the market”

Have students stand in front of the class and read in pairs.

Review “Singular and Plural”

3) Main part

Try a little role-play. Divide the class into “Sellers” and “Buyers”. Have students “go to the market.” If it’s too difficult students can write their conversations first.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Translation: Have students write a conversation both in English and Bahasa Indonesia.


Lesson 18: Personal Pronouns I

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check homework

Review “Conversation at the market” briefly

3) Main part

Introduce personal pronouns (without he/she/it). Write on the board.

I eat a banana Saya/Aku

You eat a banana Kamu/Anda

We eat a banana Kami/Kita

They eat a banana. Mereka

All of you eat a banana Kalian

Explain the different personal pronouns. Have students copy the list.

Have students form easy sentences. Have students translate sentences.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Have students translate easy sentences.


Vocabulary

I, you, we , they, all


Lesson 19: Personal Pronouns II

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Check homework

Review “Personal Pronouns I”

3) Main part

Introduce he/she/it. Explain the difference between male, female and neutral.

He eats a banana

She eats a banana

It eats a banana.

Make easy sentences. Explain irregular forms (have has, go goes)

Have students write and/or translate easy sentences.

4) Closing

Song

Homework

Recommendation: Prepare vocabulary test

Have students form sentences.

Max goes to school. He goes to school.

Riska has a dog. She has a dog.


The cat eats a fish. It eats a fish.

Paul and Johann like music. They like music.

Vocabulary

he, she, it


Lesson 20: Story

1) Warm up

Song

2) Review

Do vocabulary test

Check Homework

Review Personal Pronouns

3) Main Part

Make an interesting story using vocabulary and topics covered in the lessons before.

Example:

This story is about Lintang. Lintang is a girl. She is twelve years old and lives in Yogjakarta. Lintang

has two brothers and one sister.

In the morning Lintang goes to school. She likes to learn English.

After schools Lintang goes home. She eats together with her mother, her sister and her brothers.

They eat rice with vegetables and chicken. After lunch the family sleeps.

In the afternoon Lintang and her brothers play volleyball. Later Lintang does her homework

together with her sister.

In the evening Lintang goes to bed and sleeps.

Note: You can follow up the story and learn about daily routine.

4) Closing

Song


Vocabulary

story, about, girl, boy, live, morning, learn, after, home, together, lunch, sleep, afternoon, evening,

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Teaching Englsih for Beginners fileI recommend doing vocabulary tests from time to time. Within 20...

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