ESA Method in TEFL: How to Structure Engaging English Lessons

Whether you're in a bustling classroom in Bangkok or leading a one-on-one Zoom lesson from your laptop, the key to a smooth, successful lesson is structure. That doesn’t mean scripting every word—but it does mean knowing how to guide your students through a logical, motivating journey from start to finish. That’s where the ESA method comes in.

Developed with real teachers and real classrooms in mind, ESA stands for Engage, Study, Activate. It’s one of the most widely taught methods in TEFL courses because it’s both easy to understand and highly adaptable. Rather than trapping you in a rigid formula, ESA gives you the tools to build lessons that are balanced, student-centered, and tailored to your teaching context—whether you're working with five-year-olds in Vietnam or adults in a corporate English class in Madrid.

Let’s explore how this simple framework can transform the way you teach.

What Is the ESA Method?

The ESA method was created by Jeremy Harmer as a more flexible alternative to traditional teaching models like PPP (Presentation, Practice, Production). At its core, ESA breaks down every lesson into three stages:

• Engage: Get your students emotionally and mentally involved. This could be a question, image, game, or short discussion—anything that sparks curiosity and lowers the fear of making mistakes.

• Study: Zoom in on a specific language point. This might involve looking at grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, or structure—through examples, drilling, or analysis.

• Activate: Let students use the language freely. This is where they speak, write, or interact without rigid correction. Think roleplays, creative writing, or group problem-solving—anything that gets them using the target language naturally.

Unlike some older methods, ESA allows teachers to reorder and adapt these stages to fit their students' needs. It’s less about ticking boxes and more about flow and purpose.

The Three ESA Lesson Structures

One of the great strengths of ESA is its flexibility. Depending on your learners, goals, and class time, you can mix and match the three stages into different “shapes”:

✅ Straight Arrow (E → S → A)

This is the classic format, ideal for beginner teachers or straightforward grammar lessons. You start by engaging your students, then introduce and study the target language, and finally move into an activity where they can practice it freely.

Example: You show a funny photo to introduce feelings vocabulary (Engage), teach “I’m happy/sad/tired” with pronunciation practice (Study), and end with a mime-and-guess game (Activate).

🔁 Boomerang (E → A → S → A)

Here, you let students try using language first, then teach what they need based on their performance, and finish with another activity to apply the new knowledge. It’s more dynamic and student-led.

Example: You begin with a group task like planning a weekend trip (Engage/Activate), notice students are struggling with future tense or modals, teach a short mini-lesson (Study), then do a new task where they apply what they learned (Activate).

🧩 Patchwork

This structure is a creative blend of multiple E, S, and A phases in no fixed order. It’s best for longer or more complex lessons, or for experienced teachers who know how to read the room.

Example: You might Engage students with a story, do a quick Study drill on past tense, Activate through storytelling, return to Study for pronunciation, and finish with a creative writing activity.

The key takeaway? You’re not locked into one pattern. ESA gives you a toolkit—how you use it depends on your students and your goals.

ESA in Action: Practical Examples

Seeing ESA in practice makes it easier to grasp how fluid and adaptable it can be. Here are a few real-world examples that show how the method works across levels and contexts:

🟢 Beginner Example (Straight Arrow)

Topic: Simple present tense (routines)

• Engage: Show images of different daily routines (eating breakfast, going to school, brushing teeth) and ask students to describe their mornings.
• Study: Introduce key verbs and sentence patterns: “I eat breakfast at 7,” “He goes to school at 8.” Practice with drills and basic questions.
• Activate: Students create and present their own daily routine posters or interview a classmate.

🟠 Intermediate Example (Boomerang)

Topic: Travel vocabulary and giving advice

• Engage: Ask students where they would love to travel and why.
• Activate: In groups, students plan a dream trip together. As they discuss, the teacher notes useful or missing language.
• Study: Focus on expressions like “You should…,” “Why don’t we…,” “Let’s…,” and reinforce correct usage.
• Activate: Repeat the task with more refined language or roleplay a travel agent/customer interaction.

🔵 Advanced Example (Patchwork)

Topic: Technology and society

• Engage: Watch a short video or show an image of an AI robot and ask, “Do you think technology improves or damages our lives?”
• Study: Review advanced opinion structures like “In my view,” “It’s widely believed that…”
• Activate: Hold a mini-debate or write an opinion blog post.
• Study (again): Focus on language noticed during the debate (pronunciation, phrasing, or error correction).
• Activate (again): Reflective group discussion to tie ideas together.

Tips for ESA success:

• Keep each phase clear but fluid—use short transitions like “Now let’s look more closely at…” or “Let’s see how well we can use that in a real situation.”
• Time wisely: don’t let grammar drills take over the whole lesson.
• Always close with meaningful activation to let students internalize what they’ve learned.

Benefits of Using ESA

Whether you’re just starting out or fine-tuning your approach, the ESA method offers a reliable and adaptable framework. Here’s why teachers across the world use it:

• ✅ Simple and intuitive: Easy to understand, especially for new teachers coming out of TEFL training.
• 🎯 Fluency + accuracy: The Study phase sharpens accuracy, while the Activate phase boosts confidence and real-world application.
• 🔄 Adaptable: Works across topics, ages, levels, and even unexpected classroom moments.
• 👨‍🏫 Flexible for different teaching styles: Whether you're more structured or spontaneous, ESA can be shaped to your personality and lesson goals.
• 🌐 Great for online teaching: Works smoothly with virtual tools like whiteboards, breakout rooms, and shared documents.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with a solid structure like ESA, it’s easy to fall into some common traps. Here’s what to watch out for:

• ❌ Overloading the Study phase: If your lesson is 45 minutes and you spend 30 of them explaining grammar rules, your students miss out on meaningful practice.
• 😴 Flat Engage activities: Avoid predictable or irrelevant warm-ups. Use real visuals, personal stories, or questions that spark curiosity.
• 🧱 Rigid scripting: ESA is a framework, not a formula. Don’t force it—adjust based on the energy and needs of your class.
• 🔄 Poor transitions: Jumping between stages without a clear bridge can confuse students. A quick line like “Let’s take what we just learned and put it into practice” can smooth things out.

Avoid these, and ESA becomes not just a method—but a mindset that leads to confident, well-paced, student-focused lessons.

Adapting ESA for Online and Large Classes

Whether you're managing a packed classroom or teaching from your laptop in another country, the ESA method still works—you just need to adjust your tools and timing.

🖥 Online Teaching Tips

• Engage: Use polls (e.g., Zoom polls, Mentimeter), gifs, or short video clips to spark interest and build connection at the start of class.
• Study: Introduce grammar or vocabulary via shared slides or digital whiteboards. Use screen annotation or real-time examples typed in the chat box.
• Activate: Breakout rooms are your best friend—pair students for speaking tasks, roleplays, or games like "Find someone who…" using Google Docs or Jamboard.

👥 Large Class Modifications

• Pair or small group work instead of open class discussion helps maximize student talk time.
• Nominate group reps to present ideas or answers instead of checking everyone’s work individually.
• Use timers and clear instructions to keep momentum moving and avoid chaotic transitions.

⏱ Time Management Tips

• Keep Engage activities brief but impactful—think 5 minutes, not 15.
• During Study, focus on one key form or concept to avoid overload.
• In Activate, provide clear goals so students stay on track—even in a noisy or distracted setting.

With a few smart tweaks, ESA can turn even the largest or most tech-limited class into an interactive, well-paced learning experience.

How ESA Fits into a TEFL Career

From TEFL training to job interviews, the ESA method is everywhere—and for good reason.

• ✅ TEFL-certified teachers are often trained using ESA as a foundation, especially in online TEFL courses.
• 🧠 Employers love structure: When you explain your lesson plan using ESA, it shows you can balance accuracy, fluency, and student engagement.
• 🎤 In demo lessons, ESA gives you a clean format to follow—and lets interviewers clearly see your teaching logic.
• 🔗 It pairs well with other methods: Use ESA alongside PPP (for more form focus) or CLT (for fluency) depending on your class needs or school curriculum.

Whether you're teaching full-time abroad or tutoring online part-time, ESA gives you a versatile skill that keeps your classes sharp and your planning stress-free.

Final Thoughts

Some teaching methods come and go—but ESA sticks because it just works.

It offers the structure that new teachers crave, with the flexibility to grow your own voice and style over time. Once you’ve internalized it, lesson planning becomes smoother, transitions feel natural, and your students get the right mix of clarity, confidence, and creativity.

From kids in a Vietnamese classroom to adults in an online business English course, ESA gives your lessons rhythm and relevance—no matter where you are in the world.

👉 Suggested links:

• Popular ESL Teaching Methods