Quick answer: To survive and enjoy your first TEFL class, find out as much as you can about the students beforehand, keep your own talking time down, and get the class speaking through simple communicative activities as early as possible. Have a clear objective, vary the material, and remember that a relaxed, human teacher gets far better results than a nervous perfectionist. Below is a first-lesson plan you can follow, a timing guide and answers to the questions every new teacher asks.
It doesn’t matter how confident you are in real life – your first day in the TEFL classroom is likely to be a knee-knocking experience. So what can you do to make it go as smoothly as possible and keep those nerves under control? Here are five top tips, a ready-to-use plan and a timing guide to get you through.
What to find out about your class before you start
1) Find out as much as you can about the class beforehand.
- How old are your students?
- What is their level of English, and why are they learning?
- Are there any difficult students?
If you are taking over a class, find out what they have been doing so far. If it’s a new class, ask what the school expects you to achieve, whether there are set goals, and whether there are particular methods the school likes to use. Your best lessons happen when you know why your students are learning and can match your materials to their needs and interests – so gather as much information as you can before you start.
What should you do in the first 10 minutes?
The opening minutes set the tone for every lesson that follows, so get them right. (For a deep dive into just those opening moments, see our companion post on acing the first few minutes of your first TEFL class – this article covers the whole first lesson and its preparation.)
2) Body language and control. Take control – don’t be a dictator expecting a salute, but don’t stand with your hands in your pockets either. Speak slowly and clearly, facing the people you’re addressing. Don’t talk to the board or just to that one smiley person in the front row. This sets the tone for every future lesson with this class.
3) Limit your TTT and get the class talking (meaningfully) as soon as possible. TTT stands for Teacher Talking Time, and it’s something we all need to limit, especially when starting out – we cover this in all of our accredited Global English online TESOL courses. Prepare one or two simple communication activities, ideally in pairs or small groups. Students will be happy taking an active part, and you can monitor to get a feel for their level, noting corrections for later. Why not start with a simple getting-to-know-you game, such as one of those listed here? A good warmer is your best friend in a first lesson. Before you know it, you’ll be into the lesson with the class engaging in a task – goodbye nerves!
First-lesson plan that always works
If in doubt, follow a simple, balanced shape. This plan works for almost any level and gives you a fallback when nerves strike:
- Open with a warmer. Start with a short, no-prep getting-to-know-you activity so students are speaking English within the first few minutes and the atmosphere relaxes.
- Do a communicative activity. Run a simple pair or small-group task so you can monitor, gauge everyone’s level and note corrections for later.
- Do some solid ‘work’. Include a focused stage – a page from the coursebook or a short listening lesson – so the class sees that real learning happens with you.
- Take a short writing sample. Have each student write a few lines about why they need English and their goals; combined with the oral work, this shows their level and feeds future lessons.
- Finish on a high. End with a quick, enjoyable review or game so students leave wanting to come back.
4) Vary the material and have a clear objective. If the first lesson is all chat and no heads-down work, the class may expect that every time. Mix individual work with pair and group work for variety, and keep the lesson moving. Do some solid ‘work’ too – perhaps a coursebook page or a listening lesson. Taking a short writing sample from each student, alongside the oral work, gives you a good idea of their general level and, if they write about their aims, useful ideas for future lessons.
5) Have fun. Enjoy it – this is your class and you have a big say in the atmosphere. It doesn’t have to be laugh-a-minute or full of gimmicks (try keeping that up all year!), but a class that enjoys the material with a human for a teacher, rather than a robot, is likely to learn well and have fun at the same time. The first lesson is a great place to start building that healthy learning atmosphere. Good luck!
How to plan the timing of a first lesson
Worried about filling – or running out of – time? This rough timing for a 60-minute first lesson keeps things balanced and gives you a plan B if an activity finishes early:
| Stage | Time | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome & warmer | 0–10 min | Greet, settle, no-prep speaking game |
| Getting-to-know-you task | 10–25 min | Pair/group activity; you monitor levels |
| Focused ‘work’ | 25–45 min | Coursebook page or short listening lesson |
| Writing sample | 45–55 min | A few lines on why they need English |
| Round-up | 55–60 min | Quick review game; set the tone to return |
What if it goes wrong?
It probably won’t – but if an activity flops, don’t panic. Have one spare no-prep game in your back pocket (a warmer works perfectly), be honest and warm rather than flustered, and remember that students forgive a nervous new teacher far more readily than a cold one. Note what didn’t work, tweak it for next time, and move on. Every experienced teacher has survived a first lesson that didn’t go to plan.
Frequently asked questions
What should I teach in a first English lesson?
Prioritise getting to know the class and getting them speaking over covering lots of content. A reliable first lesson has a warmer, a communicative getting-to-know-you task, one focused ‘work’ stage (a coursebook page or short listening), and a brief writing sample so you can gauge levels. The real aim is to set a positive tone and learn who your students are.
How do I introduce myself to an English class?
Keep it short, clear and graded to their level. Say your name, where you’re from and one or two friendly personal details, then quickly turn it into a task – have students ask you questions, or introduce themselves in pairs. Don’t spend ten minutes talking about yourself; the sooner the students are speaking, the better the lesson goes.
How do I calm nerves before teaching?
Preparation is the best cure: know your plan, have a spare activity ready, and arrive early to set up. Remember that a little adrenaline is normal and even helpful, that students want you to succeed, and that limiting your talking time takes the spotlight off you and onto them. After a class or two, the nerves fade fast.
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Updated 2026.