 The good and bad of course materials There are many interactive tools that can be used during teaching to enhance a lesson and keep students engaged There are also a few tools that are a teacher's lifeline during a lesson Course materials that range from props and pictures of vocabulary words to simple worksheets and lesson plans are integral to teaching a good lesson They can provide basic aid to a teacher or help keep the students' attention But, when overused or used during the wrong times, course materials can become problematic and disadvantageous Different things that a teacher brings to a lesson can make or break an ESL lesson This post was written by our ITTT graduate MIH Important Course Materials There are some course materials that are all but necessary for an ESL teacher A detailed lesson plan can be the absolute key to success during any and all classes It is a teacher's guideline for what is happening during that scheduled lesson with specific activities and timelines When you cannot quite remember what to do next or want to know if you are teaching at a good pace, a lesson plan is there to help It can also work as an aid if a lesson is not running so smoothly With key points to repeat or backup worksheets or games, it can be a teacher's security blanket Your lesson plan is one of the most important parts of a good class and a good teacher The use of props to really create a good lesson, a teacher needs to be informative and authoritative while still adding a flare of fun Bringing a few props to a classroom can brighten up even the dullest of lectures Nothing simple, like fun pictures of lions and puppies to help explain a mammal's vocabulary lesson First graders might know what a tiger is and even how to spell it, but what really excites them is seeing a cool picture of a ferocious cat Or even something more complex, like bringing a map of the city you're teaching in to make a cardinal directions lesson a little more personal and exciting A lesson that could easily become confusing or boring by bringing materials that they are familiar with, students are more able to understand and interact with new material The downside of using course materials, while course materials usually seem like a great way to pump up a lesson, they can also turn into a negative aspect of teaching From personal experience, I was recently teaching a fairly simple vocabulary lesson on natural disasters to a third grade ESL class, ages 8 to 9 While I was lesson planning, I thought of a great way to help explain this hard to understand topic course materials I was collecting pictures, videos, diagrams, models, even plush toys, of tornadoes and typhoons However, what I thought would be a fun way to introduce a new set of terms, quickly overwhelm the students I had way too many props that were fairly misleading and confusing My class was not sure which pictures matched what terms and became confused by how the models and diagrams worked I had overdone it, a handful of pictures or a video or two would have been a lot more effective but my props left students confused and distracted Keep it simple and don't overdo it Most of the time, course materials from outside sources can be excellent aids while teaching an ESL lesson to students Props are a useful map for where the lesson is going and a backup if it turns south Props, like pictures and videos, can be awesome ways to help explain new topics where explaining in English does not work Fun, realistic props can create a personal lesson where students feel engaged But, when overdone or misused, materials can be distracting, unhelpful and overwhelming When used in the right balance, course materials can be great assets to ESL lessons Are you ready to teach English abroad? Apply now for your TEFL TESOL certification course and start teaching in a matter of months This is an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad Send us an email or call us toll-free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today