One of the most exciting—and often challenging—aspects of teaching English is helping learners become confident speakers. Unlike grammar drills or vocabulary lists, speaking requires real-time processing, creativity, and a healthy dose of courage. Whether you teach ESL students in a classroom, tutor online, or run conversation clubs, having a solid lesson plan for speaking skills is your golden ticket to productive and enjoyable classes.
But how do you craft a speaking lesson that goes beyond “Let’s talk about your weekend”? How can you make it engaging, purposeful, and results-oriented?
In this blog post, we’ll break down how to create a high-quality English speaking lesson plan step-by-step, plus provide a free downloadable template you can use again and again to save time and streamline your prep.
Why You Need a Speaking Lesson Plan
It might be tempting to think that speaking lessons can be casual and free-flowing. While flexibility is important, a lack of structure can backfire—leading to awkward silences, unclear goals, and students who feel lost or disengaged.
A well-designed lesson plan:
- Keeps the lesson focused on a specific speaking skill or sub-skill.
- Balances student talking time (STT) and teacher talking time (TTT).
- Builds confidence through scaffolded tasks.
- Provides opportunities for real communication.
Key Elements of an English Speaking Lesson Plan
Here’s what your lesson plan should include:
1. Lesson Objective
Start with a clear, measurable goal. What should your students be able to do by the end of the lesson?
Examples:
- “By the end of the lesson, students will be able to describe a past event using appropriate past tense verbs.”
- “Students will practice giving and responding to opinions in a debate.”
2. Target Language / Functional Language
List any useful vocabulary or sentence structures students will need. For example:
- Expressing opinions: “I think that…”, “In my opinion…”
- Describing experiences: “Last year, I went to…”, “It was amazing because…”
3. Level & Age Group
Tailor your lesson based on your audience. A group of 10-year-olds learning A2 English will require different materials and pacing compared to a B2-level adult class.
4. Materials Needed
Prepare everything in advance. You might need:
- A whiteboard or Google Jamboard
- Picture prompts or videos
- Audio clips or role cards
- A timer for speaking activities
5. Lead-in / Warm-up (5–10 minutes)
Grab their attention and activate background knowledge.
Examples:
- Quick pair discussion: “What’s your favorite holiday?”
- Picture guessing game: “What’s happening in this photo?”
6. Presentation / Input (10–15 minutes)
This is where you teach or review relevant language.
- Use videos, dialogues, or short readings.
- Highlight useful vocabulary and phrases.
- Model pronunciation and intonation.
7. Practice Activities (15–20 minutes)
Start with controlled practice and move towards freer speaking.
- Controlled: Gap-fills, sentence building, pronunciation drills.
- Semi-controlled: Pair dialogues, role-plays.
- Freer practice: Debates, interviews, storytelling.
8. Speaking Task / Production (10–15 minutes)
This is the climax! Let students use the target language in a real-world speaking context.
Examples:
- Give a short presentation.
- Participate in a group discussion.
- Conduct an interview with a classmate.
9. Feedback & Error Correction (5–10 minutes)
Wrap up the lesson by giving feedback:
- Highlight successful use of language.
- Gently correct common errors.
- Elicit self-correction where possible.
10. Homework / Extension
Reinforce learning with take-home tasks:
- Record a 1-minute video talking about the topic.
- Write a dialogue and perform it in the next class.
- Practice vocabulary on a quiz app like Quizlet.
Example Speaking Lesson Plan (B1-Level Adults)
Topic: Describing Travel Experiences
Objective: Students will be able to talk about a past trip using past simple and descriptive adjectives.
Target Language:
- Verbs: visited, went, saw, tried
- Adjectives: amazing, crowded, peaceful, unforgettable
Lead-in:
Show a photo of a famous place. Ask: “Have you ever been here? What do you know about it?”
Input:
Play a short video of a travel vlog. Students take notes on where the speaker went and what they did.
Practice:
Match verbs and nouns (e.g., “tried” + “local food”). Students practice short dialogues:
A: “Where did you go?”
B: “I went to Istanbul. I visited the Hagia Sophia.”
Speaking Task:
In pairs, students talk about their own travel experiences. Use a prompt:
- Where did you go?
- What did you do?
- How did you feel?
Feedback:
Teacher notes errors on the board and discusses corrections. Praise good use of descriptive language.
Homework:
Students record a short voice message about their trip and share it in the class group.
Common Pitfalls in Speaking Lessons (And How to Avoid Them)
1. Overcorrecting
Too much correction interrupts fluency. Instead, take notes during the activity and give feedback afterward.
2. Teacher Talk Time
Be mindful. The more you talk, the less your students speak. Aim for 70% STT.
3. Lack of Real Purpose
“Talk to your partner” is too vague. Give a reason to talk: solve a puzzle, find differences, plan a trip.
4. Neglecting Pronunciation
Don’t just focus on grammar and vocabulary. Include stress, intonation, and connected speech.
Tips to Make Speaking Lessons More Engaging
- Use role-plays and simulations (e.g., job interview, restaurant scene).
- Gamify speaking: time limits, points, and challenges.
- Include visuals: photos, memes, infographics.
- Connect to real life: topics like hobbies, news, or local events.
Download Your Free Lesson Plan Template!
To make your life easier, we’ve created a free downloadable lesson plan template in Word and Google Docs format. This ready-to-use template will help you plan focused, engaging speaking lessons with clarity and confidence.
What’s inside:
- Editable lesson plan with all key sections
- Step-by-step instructions
- A sample completed lesson for inspiration
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE TEMPLATE
Final Thoughts
Teaching speaking doesn’t have to be hit-or-miss. With a thoughtful plan, you can turn hesitant speakers into confident communicators. Use the template, tweak it for your students’ needs, and keep it flexible. The more you use structured lesson plans, the more fluent your students will become—and the less prep stress you’ll have.
Got questions or want more templates? Drop a comment below or join our mailing list for regular freebies!
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