Summer is just around the corner, and you might be thinking about offering a short English course. These courses are often intensive and fast-paced, so a little planning now can save a lot of stress later.

Here’s a handy checklist to help you get everything in place.

1. Define the Goal

As with any course, it’s important to clarify what your students want to achieve. A quick needs analysis will be your best friend here. For a short summer course, a simple conversation will often do the trick. Ask why they signed up and what they hope to get out of the experience.

Goals might be specific, such as “I want to be able to communicate on holiday”, or more general, like “I’d like to improve my speaking skills.”

2. Create a Syllabus

Once you know what your students need, plan your syllabus. Even if you don’t usually work with a syllabus, it can be especially useful for a short course. Time is limited, and a clear plan helps ensure you cover everything that matters. 

3. Choose Materials and Activities

With your syllabus in place, it’s time to gather your materials. Even if you're a fan of spontaneous lessons, having everything prepared ahead of time will save you from last-minute scrambling.

What kind of materials should you choose?

For Lower Levels

Students at lower levels usually want to learn practical, everyday English. This often includes:

• Ordering food

• Shopping

• Using public transport

In short, they want useful phrases they can apply immediately. Communicative activities like role plays and situational dialogues work especially well here. Find out how to design a good role-play activity.

Want to make it extra practical? Try this:

Be tourists for a day.
Go to a local café or pub and get your students to order in English. Continue the lesson at the table – in English, of course!

For Higher Levels

Higher-level learners may already be comfortable with functional language, and might be looking for something different – perhaps maintaining their fluency or expanding their vocabulary.

Summer is the perfect time to explore unusual or thought-provoking topics. The lighter mood makes it easier to dive into fun and offbeat themes like Immortality, Chocolate, or Jewellery. You can find these topics, along with lesson ideas, in our Lesson Starters Upper collection.

4. Make It Feel Complete

This is another reason a syllabus is important: make sure your course ends well.

Don’t finish on a random note – and definitely not mid-topic. Aim to wrap up with a revision lesson and a final session that brings everything together. Your students should feel that they’ve completed a full course, not just dipped into a few disconnected lessons.

For the final class, you might:

• Run a fun revision

• Have an informal discussion to wrap up the course

• Reflect on what they’ve learnt

A sense of closure is key.

5. A Few Extra Tips

• Homework: Will you set any? If not, consider recommending some apps or videos for self-study.

• Outdoor learning: Take advantage of the good weather! Kids can learn on a picnic blanket in the garden. With adult groups, why not meet for a walk-and-talk session?

• Promotion: A well-run summer course can be a great way to showcase your teaching and encourage students to stay on for your regular courses.

And Finally… Take Care of Yourself

With all the planning and teaching, don’t forget to look after yourself. Summer courses can be demanding, so make sure to schedule time for rest and recharge.

You’ll find some helpful tips on maintaining work–life balance in this article.

 

Find a full collection of materials for summer lessons HERE.