Learning objectives define the goal, or the purpose, of a lesson. Also known as learning goals, lesson aims or student goals, learning objectives are designated goals for what students should reasonably achieve by the end of each lesson plan. When a teacher starts a lesson with a clear and concise learning objective, it serves as an expectation for what information and skills the student should learn and retain. Learning objective goals need to be as specific as possible and use figures and metrics where appropriate. Creating lesson goals is an important first step for teachers.
Students’ current abilities should be considered when establishing learning objectives. Teachers must evaluate weaknesses and strengths when structuring curriculum objectives. The lesson plan should focus on how to help students improve language skills both today and how to develop their English over the long term. Think of each lesson as a building block that teaches students specific skills that will help them build a better understanding of the language.
Looking for some help on how to develop steps to learn English? Keep reading to learn more.
Challenges to Developing Objectives for English Learners
It can be challenging to figure out exactly how to measure your learning goals when creating a lesson plan. The learning objective is essential, but it may be hard to define. Ask yourself, what exactly do you want your students to have understood and learned in each lesson? When developing a lesson plan, it is critical to know what possible challenges are in front of you.
Here are some common challenges that come with developing objectives for English learners.
Assessing the Class
When you begin teaching a new group of students, it’s vital to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the class. As a teacher, you may be working with many different levels of ability. Part of your job is to determine how to structure the lesson based on each group. Your primary goals may change yearly. For example, some years may require more emphasis on written skills, while other years, your students may need to spend more time practicing conversational expertise.
Learning Styles
Every student has different needs and learning styles. As a teacher, it’s essential to determine how your students learn best. Resources such as videos, books and articles can help create a lesson plan that best fits students' learning styles in your class.
Time Constraints
Learning a new language requires consistency and constant exposure to the language. A big challenge is when your students or your school can’t devote enough time to language classes. Some schools may only offer classes once a week or just on a few weekdays. It can be hard to ensure that lessons stick when students don’t have constant access to classes and opportunities to practice the English language.
Access to the Material
There is more to learning a language than attending class once a week. Students need to immerse themselves in as much English material as they can. But it can be difficult or expensive to access the books, movies, newspapers and other resources they may need in their target language.
Consistency in English
There are many different varieties of the English language, including British, Australian and American. Each style has slightly different spelling rules and vocabulary conventions. When you correct and assist students, recognize that students must stay consistent and not switch between variants. Additionally, teachers may have a mix of students that have learned British English or American English in their classroom, especially at the university level. Teachers must account for these differences when grading papers and making suggestions for improvement.
Learning Objectives for English Speakers
Not sure where to start when it comes to creating your learning objectives? Here are some suggestions to include in your next lesson plan.
Writing Comprehension
Writing comprehension means when students understand and interpret text and then can connect those ideas with their own thoughts. To assist in proper writing comprehension, an English language teacher should include lessons on grammar structure, vocabulary building, creativity and critical thinking.
The skills required will depend on the ability level. Beginners should focus on basic sentence structure, grammar and vocabulary. Advanced learners will begin writing essays, and teachers will need to ensure these longer-form pieces are structured appropriately. Teachers must go beyond making grammatical corrections to assess — and provide feedback — on the flow and style of the essays. While strong English papers feature good storytelling, other languages and cultures may not favor an emphasis on storytelling. Some cultures place a greater focus on a more structured and methodical presentation.
Listening Comprehension
There is an art to listening properly. Not only must teachers ensure that their students listen to directions, but teachers need to know that their students can extract information and understand what they say. A lot of language learning is done by simply listening, but with a strategy. Listening comprehension skills include paraphrasing, summarizing and relating to what they are hearing.
Teachers should stay in the target language for the duration of their classes, even for beginners. Teachers can use hand motions and gestures to help students understand what they are saying. Staying in the target language can help students learn how to speak and understand English.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is at the core of language learning. Building a new vocabulary will help students not only communicate effectively but also become proficient in many topics. You’ll want to build vocabulary around concepts and topics that students need to communicate during their lessons and in the real world.
Speaking Abilities
Now that your students are learning different words, they need the skills to communicate ideas in the target language effectively. This includes pronunciation and circumlocution skills. Have students practice dialogue with their classmates and encourage active discussions in the classroom. The more your students speak, the better they will become.
When the above language objectives are combined, you will be setting your students up for language-learning success.
How to Achieve Language-Learning Objectives: 5 Ideas
Now that you know the language objectives, here are some helpful tips for achieving these goals.
Have Specific Language Objectives for Each Lesson You Plan
When determining which language-learning objective to use, you should tailor each lesson around specific weaknesses in the class. For example, if your class is struggling with reading comprehension or speaking, focus your biggest lessons on improving and enhancing those skills. Know that not every lesson you plan will be created equally; rather, use each plan for a specific need. By leveraging the abilities of your class, you can create a more concise plan that targets specific, buildable skills.
Introduce New Vocabulary and Concepts
Remember that language learning would be nothing without a robust vocabulary. But the key here is that a teacher needs to introduce vocabulary that is helpful to the learner, words that they are sure to use not only in class, but also when they’re speaking with natives.
Group your vocabulary terms into different concepts rather than niche words that stand alone. You can accomplish this by having your students read newspapers, write short-form essays, tell stories and interact with peers. Consider themes that are important in daily life. For example, beginners can focus on themes such as school or the household.
Make Language Objectives Specific to Themes
It's best to think of language learning as a set of themes. Consider easy themes that appear in your student’s world, such as animals and places to visit around your town. All have slightly different ways of expressing concepts and use different vocabulary. You can use newspapers, books, movies and podcasts to reinforce your chosen vocabulary for extra content. But remember to tailor your themes based on the language level of the class.
Embrace Storytelling in the Classroom
Students can benefit by learning language through content and stories. Storytelling is a powerful tool for gaining confidence in both speaking a new language and describing new concepts. An exciting way to bring storytelling into the classroom is by leveraging traditional stories, fairy tales and books to help introduce students to culture. When reviewing stories, be sure to ask your students to explain what happened in each chapter or to identify new vocabulary they notice.
For example, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is a relatively well-known story, and can be a great example to read around the holidays with a more advanced class. Books like this expose students to the culture, while giving students a grasp on new vocabulary words.
Leverage Newspapers, Music and Podcasts
Using material in the target language can help students better understand how native speakers communicate. Newspapers can be a great tool for advanced learners, while YouTube videos discussing the household or school can be great for beginners.
Listening to fluent English speakers addressing other native English speakers will help your students with listening and reading comprehension, as well as learning accents and circumlocution. Plus, these materials are easy to access and allow students to build vocabulary through different forms of media, depending on how they learn best.
Final Thoughts
Remember that when working with students who are not native English speakers, consistency plus drive can go a long way. Try to make your learning objectives simple tools to help your students thrive. Adding newspaper articles from The New York Times and other media into your regular lessons can be a great way to ensure your students learn to the best of their abilities while having fun. The New York Times Licensing Group produces content in multiple languages, which can help students of various backgrounds.
