Heads Up English
Welcome to Heads Up English. Here you'll find complete ESL lesson plans, ESL materials, and most everything you need for beginners, lower intermediate, upper intermediate, and advanced English students. The free materials and printables are real, relevant, and readily applicable - no printables or activities which practice English just to practice English.
So take a look around, download the lessons and printables, and have a great class!
ESL News Lessons
You can find, print out, and use over one hundred free ESL lessons based on what's in the news. All the lesson plans are written for advanced, upper-intermediate, and lower-intermediate students. All lesson plans consider the time constraints of the class and student ability, as well as busy teachers' schedules. The lessons remain flexible enough to meet specific ESL needs - just print the free lessons and teach. Students can even download the English lessons for self-study and homework.
Teachers can choose between a full lesson with available material for an hour or more of lesson time. There also are mini-lessons to use as warm-ups, fillers, or self-study.
ESL Mini Lessons
You can find almost one hundred mini lessons at Heads Up English. These lessons contain a short article, comprehension exercises, and opportunities for discussion. The language used in the articles, as well as the questions for discussion, are all level appropriate. Use the mini-lessons as warm-ups, fillers, or self-study.
- Advanced Mini Lessons
- Upper-Intermediate Mini Lessons
- Lower-Intermediate Mini Lessons
- Beginner Mini Lessons
ESL Skill Builders
Hundreds of hours worth of flexible materials for your ESL students to focus on a particular English skill - speaking, listening, or grammar. There are questions on hot topics for discussion, debate, or even homework for lower intermediate, upper intermediate, and advanced ESL students. And take a look at the extended podcasts for listening practice and self-study.
- Advanced Skill Builders
- Upper-Intermediate Skill Builders
- Lower-Intermediate Skill Builders
- Beginner Skill Builders
ESL Articles
Improve your ESL lesson plans with new ideas and techniques. The articles focus on methodology and activities to make more interesting, effective, and dynamic classrooms.
Here are a few articles to get you started!
- The Importance of Warming Up Students
- How to Correct: Four Ways to Handle Mistakes
- Teaching Mixed-Level Classes
- Discussion-Based ESL Lessons
ESL Activities
And let's not forget some activity ideas! Try these easy to use activities that require minimal preparation and which can fit anywhere in a lesson.