Course syllabus, programme, curriculum - so many different names, but they all boil down to one thing: creating a structured plan for your language course.
Do You Really Need a Syllabus?
Technically, no. But it definitely helps.
Having a structured plan for your course saves you time, as you won’t need to decide what to teach the day before each lesson. With a syllabus in place, everything is pre-planned, ensuring you cover all essential topics.
A well-thought-out syllabus also provides a clear learning path. Each lesson builds on the previous one, contributing to a larger learning objective. Your students will progress in a structured way, and you’ll be confident that no important topics are left out.
That said, you don’t need to plan every detail before the course starts. It’s often best to work with your students for a few lessons first, understand their goals and learning preferences, and then create a syllabus that meets their needs.
Step 1: Define the Course Objective
Start by identifying what your students want to achieve by the end of the course. Is it a business English course? Conversational fluency? Exam preparation? Having a clear end goal will help you structure the syllabus effectively.
Step 2: Work Backwards
Once you have the objective, plan backwards:
- Identify key components: What grammar, vocabulary, and skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) need to be covered?
- Look for connections: Can certain skills and topics be combined? For example, conditionals work well with topics like crime, advertising, or health. You could introduce a grammar structure alongside a video or text about healthy habits, incorporating relevant vocabulary.
- Create a timeline: Set a goal for each month and break it down into smaller sections for each week.
- Plan lesson objectives: What should your students achieve in each lesson? This will ensure steady progress towards the overall goal.
Step 3: Organise Course Content
Break down everything that needs to be covered into the following categories:
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading
- Listening
Consider how different areas can be introduced and revised together. What vocabulary can be reinforced while teaching specific grammatical structures? Which topics lend themselves well to reading or writing practice?
Step 4: Set Monthly and Weekly Goals
- Monthly Goals: Plan what you want to achieve each month, distributing the key topics accordingly. Be sure to allow time for revision.
- Weekly Goals: Break down monthly objectives into weekly targets. This helps keep lessons focused and manageable.
- Individual Lessons: Define a clear objective for each lesson. What should students be able to do by the end of the session?
Extra Tips for a Flexible Syllabus
- Keep track of materials: Make notes of useful resources for grammar structures and topics. This will save you time later.
- Allow for flexibility: Leave space in your syllabus for unplanned lessons. Having a ‘blank’ lesson each month lets you review, reinforce tricky concepts, or address unexpected needs.
- Involve students: Engaging students in the syllabus planning process ensures their goals are met and increases motivation.
Creating a syllabus doesn’t mean losing flexibility - it means having a structured plan that keeps you and your students on track while allowing room for adaptation. By working backwards from the course objective and breaking it down step by step, you’ll create a practical and effective syllabus that supports meaningful learning.
Find all our ready-to-use resources and materials to help you with onboarding a new student and running your first classes HERE.
