Senior high school student English ability ranges from higher intermediate all the way to complete false beginner, depending on the school. However, student levels within a school tend to be much more homogenous than they are at junior high school.
The role of an ALT at senior high school therefore can range from planning interesting lessons to re-inspire jaded students (who perhaps were left behind at junior high school) to designing and marking tests to prepare students for their university entrance exams.
Whatever they end up doing, one goal that all ALTs should keep in mind is to provide students with meaningful opportunities to practice using English, whether that be in a conversation, a letter, or a diary. English at senior high school is still too focused on disconnected pattern practice and learning grammar points: reminding students that English is a tool for communication and giving them the chance to do some more practical activities can provide a welcome break and even impart some useful skills.
Amazing Race
A group activity to introduce a city, area, or grammar point while practicing reading skills
American Logic
A lesson plan introducing simple logic puzzles for students to solve
Animals Passive Voice
A four-skills lesson plan to practice the passive voice
Apples to Apples(2007)
An adaptable activity to practice and learn vocabulary
Are You All Right
Lesson plan to practice illness vocabulary
bingo with a twist
Using a variation of bingo played in teams to review language items
body parts
A lesson plan to practice body parts with a great labelling activity
can I help you
Lesson plan on ordering food in a restaurant
choose your own adventure
Lesson plan where students first read, then write their own "choose your own adventure" books
christmas card exchange
An activity involving exchanging Christmas cards with schools overseas
Community Centre Clubs(2007)
Some advice for getting involved with the local community at community centres
Computer Lab Lesson(2007)
Students learn how to use computers to help them learn English
Comics Lesson
Three activity ideas using comic strips to encourage student writing
Conversation Balls
An activity to help students become aware of and improve their turn-taking in converstions. Easy to implement and potentially very useful
Conversation Cards That Work(2007)
A method to create conversation cards that really do encourage students to talk outside of class
country speeches
Students research and present countries around the world
crossword fun
A simple and effective activity using crossword puzzles to review vocabulary
culture in the classroom
A lesson plan to encourage students to think about culture while practicing English
Culture Relay Race and Challenge
Lesson plan introducing culture using an active activity and quiz
Dating Game
Whole class interview game based on finding a date
Describing Food
An active lesson to teach taste and food vocabulary
descriptions and imagination
An activity that allows students to come up with stories based on pictures
directions
Lesson plan to practice directions through a variety of worksheets
directions tpr
An activity to actively practice directions using TPR
doctor, doctor
An survey-style activity to practice medical vocabulary
effective tt activities
Two activities for team-teaching, one to practice grammar points and one to practice dictionary use
emergency activities
Three activities that require very little preparation. Good for "surprise classes"
Fast Food
Lesson to learn and practice language related to ordering fast food
food`s always good
Lesson plan that allows students to create recipes and share them with each other
french english idiomatic expressions
Lesson plan introducing idioms, as well as French phrases that are used in English
Gestures
Lesson plan to teach gestures and get students thinking about other cultures
Getting All Students Involved
A simple classroom management technique to encourage student participation
going to the zoo
A worksheet based lesson plan based around a visit to a zoo
going to tokyo
Very comprehensive lesson plan to practice using want to and have to in sentences
harry potter descriptions
A lesson plan using characters from the Harry Potter movies to practice descriptions
Hobbies
A lesson plan allowing students to talk about their hobbies. Worksheet included
interesting article
A lesson plan for the language lab, allowing students to focus in depth on an article
introducing others
Lesson plan allowing students to ask and answer simple questions, and introduce others
Journals
Two ideas for using journals to improve student writing skills
Katakana IS NOT English(2007)
Some guidelines for weaning students away from 'katakana' pronunciation
Katakana Lesson(2007)
A lesson based on raising student awareness of the differences between katakana loan words and English
Kings(2007)
Activity to encourage students to review and practice a wide range of English
let's go for a walk
Practice directions in a real way by taking students outside the school
let`s go on a trip
Lesson plan with handouts that transforms the classroom into an international trip. Students practice practical English in the context of a fun activity
let's party
Students plan their ideal party and present it to the class
Let's Talk About Music(2007)
Lesson plan to allow students to listen to and evaluate various kinds of music, practices talking about likes and dislikes, favourites, etc.
let's travel
Simple lesson plan introducing students to foreign travel that allows them to practice simple questions
Logic Grid Greetings
A logic puzzle for students, based on describing people
mad doctor game
A fast paced and fun group game to practice body parts and simple conversation
make your idol
A homework assignment to make posters introducing famous people. Includes student-determined assessment.
making plans
A lesson plan to help students practice making plans, including a phone conversation element
Minefield(2007)
A fun, physical activity in the gym to review and practice directions
monster body parts review
A lesson plan that practices body parts and allows students to have fun creating and sharing their work
Movie Self-Introduction
Using a movie to spice up a self-intro class
movie previews
A lesson plan to teach movie-related vocabulary using previews
movie reviews
A lesson plan to allow students to learn movie related vocabulary and use it to review a film. Includes excellent handouts
music video bingo
Variation of bingo using a music video to practice vocabulary
my school life
A lesson plan that looks at school life and how it differs between countries
my vacation
A theme-based lesson plan incorporating photos that challenges students' listening skills
mystery object guessing game
Activity that practices describing things in a quiz type format
name that body part
Introduction, review, and practice of body parts
newspaper research
Lesson plan introducing students to English language newspapers
new years resolutions
Lesson plan to review future tense constructions using New Year`s resolutions
number practice
A lesson plan to practice numbers and introduce foreign currencies
Only in English
A simple variation of Taboo where students define words in English to each other
peer to peer teaching
A teaching method to allow students to teach each other/discover grammar rules together
Perfect Date Shadowing
A 'perfect date' themed lesson plan based around shadowing
Phrase of the Week
A teaching idea involving how to implement a phrase of the week and give the students chances to practice it
Recipe
A lesson plan based around writing recipes
review game
A "grammar gamble" style activity to review grammar. Includes many variations
Rhythm Vocabulary(2007)
A method to practice word stress and pronunciation (using percussion instruments)
Riddles
Lesson plan to develop listening skills based around riddles. Includes worksheet
self-introduction lesson
Lesson plan for a first lesson based around students asking questions
self-intro
A detailed step-by-step run through of how to do a first class
Self-Introduction Hot Potato
A lesson plan for an active first lesson with ALT self-intro
Sendai Subway
A lesson plan based around the Sendai subway map, to build upon similar textbook lessons
Skype the English-speaking World(2007)
A series of lessons preparing students to call abroad for information using Skype
Superheroes
A fun lesson plan based around designing a superhero and describing their powers
Superstitions
A detailed lesson plan on superstitions, with activities and background information
talking square tables
A lesson plan to allow students to practice speaking: includes two conversational warm-up ideas
Teen Win Lose or Draw(2007)
An adaptable activity to review vocabulary in groups
tenses bingo
A simple bingo activity to review/practice verb tenses
the people game
A group based card matching game to practice descriptions
the power of music
An activity that allows students to talk about how music makes them feel
treasure hunt
A treasure hunt activity to practice prepositions of location
valentine's day
A lesson plan to introduce Valentine`s day, allow students to learn about rhyming, and write poems of their own
valentine's day 2
A lesson plan that introduces the history of Valentine's day and customs in Canada, as well as encouraging students to write their own poems
vehicles
A lesson plan to practice vehicle related vocabulary and "what kind of..."
vocabulary tag
An activity to practice vocabulary with the class
warm thoughts
Students write compliments for each other, which are returned at the end of the year
Warm-up Activities
2 simple warm-ups (one for speaking and one for writing) requiring only a timer
weather
A lesson plan to supplement textbook weather lessons
what's your problem
Simple lesson plan building up to advice giving based on illnesses
what happened next
A short warm-up activity using video clips: students predict what will happen next. A good activity to get attention and encourage student participation
What's Your Star Sign
Lesson plan based around star signs. Students read about star signs, then talk to their friends about them
where shall we go
A lesson plan incorporating travel vocabulary, describing a vacation, and basic geography
which do you prefer
Quiz style game played in teams
Who Was I
An easy version of 20 questions to develop students speaking and listening skills
Winter Holidays
A culture lesson introducing various kinds of winter holidays
word games
Three short adaptable activities to help students work on their decoding and reading skills
world cities
A lesson plan to practice world geography in English, including all four skills
world maps
Cultural lesson based around Australian maps and geography
year-end lesson
Final lesson where students write messages of appreciation to their teachers and each other
Some ideas to get to know students better.
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