🟦 Pedagogical Module 2: Week 1 - Planning the Destination

PEDAGOGICAL MODULE 2: PLANNING LESSONS

Pathway: Planning lessons and courses

Target teachers: All full-time JYS teachers

Schedule: Every Tuesday at 2:30 PM

Zalo group for submitting all evidence/work: JYS Teacher Training

Certificate condition:

To get the JYS "Planning Lessons" certificate, you must:

1. Attend all 4 meetings.

2. Complete all homework and post Zalo evidence each week.

3. Complete the final reflection task in Week 4.

Main resources for the entire month:

- Pathways: Planning lessons and courses (main page): https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/professional-development-pathways/pathways-planning-lessons-and

- Planning lessons workbook (download and save): https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2025-06/Planning_lessons_and_courses_theme_workbook_2025.pdf

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WEEK 1 (March 17) – Planning the destination

Focus: Learn "Backward Design" – plan the Camera Presentation FIRST, then work backward to plan the rest of the lesson.

1. Resources

Access these during the meeting (facilitator) or at home (teachers):

- Article: The basics of lesson planning: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/planning-lessons-and-courses/articles/basics-lesson-planning

- Workbook: Download 2025 workbook PDF (link above)

2. In-meeting plan (90 minutes)

Setup (0-5 minutes)

- Choose a facilitator: The group must choose one person to lead the meeting. Rule: It must be a different person from Module 1. If nobody is chosen, the person whose turn is next leads.

- Facilitator duties: Open resources on the TV. Keep time. Record evidence videos.

- Phone rule: Everyone puts phones away. Only the facilitator needs a phone for the timer and camera.

The reality check (5-20 minutes)

- The facilitator writes on the whiteboard: "Why do we often run out of time for the video presentation?"

- Each teacher writes ONE honest answer on a piece of paper or sticky note and sticks it on the board.

- The facilitator reads the notes aloud. The group discusses briefly.

- Expected answer: "We spend too much time on the beginning of the lesson and don't plan the ending."

- Facilitator introduces the concept: "Today we learn BACKWARD DESIGN. This means: plan the ENDING first."

- Evidence task: The facilitator takes a photo of the board with the notes.

Input: What is a lesson aim? (20-35 minutes)

- Facilitator opens "The basics of lesson planning" on the TV. Scroll to the section about "Why is planning important?" and "Aims".

- Do NOT ask teachers to read the whole article. Use the SUMMARY TABLE on the printout instead.

- Key concepts to discuss:

- A lesson AIM = what students CAN DO at the end that they could NOT do before.

- Planning helps teachers predict problems and find solutions before class.

- A course book is NOT a lesson plan. Teachers must adapt the book for their students.

- Every lesson has 3 parts: ENGAGE → STUDY → ACTIVATE.

- THE JYS RULE: The main aim of every JYS lesson is: "Students will present [Topic] to the camera clearly and confidently."

- Discussion question (5 minutes): "Do you usually write an aim before you teach? What is your aim usually about?"

Worked example: The reverse plan (35-50 minutes)

- Facilitator explains: "Normal planning goes: Warm-up → Vocabulary → Activity → Presentation. BACKWARD planning goes: Presentation → What do they need to say? → How do we teach those words?"

- DEMO: Facilitator writes this example on the board (teachers copy it):

Topic: "Animals"

Step 1 – THE END (Video Script): "Hello! This is a lion. It is big. It has sharp teeth. It lives in Africa. Lions eat meat. I like lions because they are strong."

Step 2 – THE MIDDLE (Vocabulary): lion, big, sharp teeth, lives in, Africa, eat meat, strong

Step 3 – THE START (How to teach): Flashcards + TPR gestures → Matching game → Practice sentences → Mind map → Video

Group workshop: Your reverse plan (50-75 minutes)

- Task: Work in pairs or small groups.

1. Choose a REAL unit from a JYS textbook you will teach soon.

2. Use the WORKSHEET (on the printout) to write your Reverse Plan:

- Step 1: Write the video script FIRST.

- Step 2: List the key vocabulary from the script.

- Step 3: Plan how to teach and practice those words.

3. Write your Reverse Plan on the whiteboard.

4. Each pair/group explains their plan (2-3 minutes each).

Evidence (75-90 minutes)

- Video recording: The facilitator records a video (2-3 minutes). Each pair/group points at the whiteboard and explains their Reverse Plan.

- Zalo post: The facilitator posts the photo + video to the JYS Teacher Training Zalo group BEFORE leaving the room.

Caption: "Planning lessons, Week 1. Our Reverse Plan for [Unit Name]."

3. Homework and deadlines

Deadline: Before the Week 2 meeting.

Classroom practice: Before your next real class, plan your lesson using Backward Design. Write the VIDEO SCRIPT first. Then plan backward.

Evidence to post on Zalo:

- Who: Every teacher.

- What: Take a PHOTO of your Backward Design plan.

- Caption: "My Backward Design plan for [Class Name + Unit]."