Teaching the verb “to be” to ESL students is exciting, but it can be a bit tricky too. Not only is it the most commonly used verb in the English language, but it is also irregular. It’s important that students know this verb as soon as they start learning English, and that teachers work hard to help them master it. Feeling the pressure? Don’t worry! This easy-to-follow lesson plan will help with how to teach the verb “to be”.
Feeling the pressure? Don’t worry! This easy-to-follow lesson plan will help with how to teach the verb “to be”. https://www.off2class.com/lesson-plan-downloads/teaching-the-verb-be-to-esl-students/
This lesson introduces your students to our favorite verb — “to be” and it focuses on the positive and negative forms of the verb. By the end of the class, your students will be forming simple sentences on their own. Don’t forget to congratulate your student on their first complete sentence in English! It’s a big deal! They will feel accomplished, they will be excited to learn more and they will be back for more classes with their favorite English teacher!
When to teach the verb BE
Many teachers are apprehensive to teach verbs and verb conjugation, especially irregular verbs, too soon. But consider this: the verb BE is is the key that will open doors for your student. They’ll finally be able to talk about themselves and talk about what is happening around them. When your student can walk out of class and know how to share their name, age, nationality, and other important facts and feelings, you and your student will feel a huge sense of pride. Therefore, we should be teaching this verb right away.
Should I teach contractions too?
Yes, we should teach contractions too! Think about this — when was the last time you used the long form of a verb in everyday conversation? We use contractions more often than not, especially in spoken conversation. They’re more comfortable and easier to pronounce. English is ever-evolving — in some regions, people use contractions of contractions! (You’ve seen the “y’aint” meme, right?). Therefore, we’re doing a great disservice to students by not teaching contractions, so don’t skip over this part of the lesson.
Teaching the verb “to be”
This lesson is ready to teach and can be used for both in-person and online classes. It is also suitable for group classes or private classes! As well, don’t forget to sign up for your free Off2Class account so you can assign homework for extra practice. Your students can access their assignments online from their laptops, tablets, or cellphones. No more excuses — doing homework has never been easier!
If you found this ready-to-teach lesson plan helpful, check out the hundreds of other lessons available on Off2class.com. With a user-friendly lesson library, teacher notes and one-click homework assignments, lesson planning has never been easier.
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