Lesson Plan Tips #4: Solutions to Problems related to Speaking/Writing

Problem	Solution(s)
The learners might use their mother tongue instead of English (speaking)	· Monitor attentively and prompt learners to use English only so that they can practise their speaking
Lack of ideas (speaking & writing)	· Use a model text (either written or spoken) before the learners do the main speaking/writing task so that you can exploit this text for ideas · Allow some time for brainstorming of ideas before the learners do the speaking/writing task ·  Give learners prompts or a set of questions
Lack of language to express these ideas (speaking & writing)	· Use a model text (either written or spoken) before the learners do the main speaking/writing task so that you can exploit this text for language, e.g. phrases, lexis, grammar, etc. ·  Monitor attentively and help the learners with any language they need
Lack of knowledge as to how to structure a specific text, e.g. an email, a presentation, etc.	· Use a model text (either written or spoken) before the learners do the main speaking/writing task so that you can exploit this text for organisation ·   Allow time for the learners to get the ideas they have brainstormed in a logical order before they start doing the speaking/writing task
Learners produce texts which are not coherent (writing)	Same solutions as the ones listed above
Lack of cohesive devices, discourse markers, etc (speaking & writing)	See solutions as the ones listed above