Backward Design in ESL: Plan With the Outcome in Mind

🎯 Introduction:

What do you want your students to be able to do by the end of the lesson? That’s the question backward design starts with. Unlike traditional planning that starts with textbooks or activities, backward design puts learning outcomes at the center — making your lessons more focused and purposeful.

🔁 What Is Backward Design?

Backward design is a 3-stage planning method:

1. Identify Desired ResultsStart with your objective: What should students know or do after the lesson?

2. Determine Acceptable EvidenceHow will students show they've learned it? (e.g., written answer, discussion, activity outcome)

3. Plan Learning Experiences & InstructionOnly after steps 1 & 2 do you plan the actual lesson content, materials, and methods.
   

🧠 Why TEFL Teachers Should Use Backward Design

• Avoids filler activities — every step supports the goal

• Helps you assess students more clearly

• Builds student confidence through focused progress

• Aligns with curriculum expectations and real-world communication
  

✍️ Sample: Teaching Comparatives

• Goal: Students will describe and compare two items using “-er” adjectives.

• Assessment: Students write 3 comparative sentences (e.g., “Apples are cheaper than oranges.”)

• Activities:

  • Warm-up: Comparing classmates

  • Vocabulary intro

  • Pair work: Compare food items from a menu
    

💡 Pro Tip:

Always share the goal with your students (“Today we’ll learn how to compare two things”). It boosts motivation and gives them a clear sense of progress.