Lesson Planning Resources for Newly Qualified TEFL Teachers
Entering your first TEFL job is exciting—but planning lessons from scratch can feel overwhelming. The good news? There are dozens of high-quality online TEFL resources designed to help new teachers save time, deliver engaging lessons, and build confidence in the classroom.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up some of the best TEFL lesson planning websites, ESL worksheets, and ready-made activities that every newly qualified teacher should know about. Whether you’re teaching adults, teens, or young learners, these tools will help you create effective, communicative lessons with ease.
1. Ellii – Premium ESL Lesson Plans for New Teachers
Website: https://ellii.com/
If you want professional, classroom-ready materials, Ellii is one of the most reliable TEFL resources available. It offers:
beautifully designed printable lessons
clear grammar presentations
speaking and pronunciation tasks
functional language roleplays
business English units
Its structured approach makes it ideal for new TEFL teachers who need quality materials fast. Although it’s a paid platform, many teachers consider it an essential investment.
2. Breaking News English – Free Lessons Based on Current Events
Website: https://breakingnewsenglish.com
Breaking News English is perfect for TEFL teachers looking for free, engaging content—especially for intermediate and advanced learners. Every lesson includes:
graded news articles
listening files
vocabulary and comprehension tasks
speaking and discussion questions
grammar practice
The site publishes updates frequently, making it one of the best free TEFL resources for real-world content.
3. Teach This – Communicative ESL Activities for All Levels
Website: https://teach-this.com
If you want to increase speaking time in your classes, Teach This is packed with communicative activities, games, pair work tasks, and roleplays. You can search by:
CEFR level
grammar point
skill (speaking, writing, listening, etc.)
real-world communication function
It’s easy to navigate and highly practical for teachers running conversation-focused lessons.
4. ESL Games+ – Fun Interactive Games for Young Learners
Website: https://www.eslgamesplus.com
For energetic warm-ups or end-of-class review, ESL Games+ offers:
interactive online games
vocabulary quizzes
printable board games
grammar review activities
It’s especially useful for young learners, but teens enjoy it too. A great tool for making lessons more dynamic.
5. ISL Collective – Free Worksheets and Downloadable PowerPoints
Website: https://islcollective.com
Used by thousands of TEFL teachers worldwide, ISL Collective is a goldmine of teacher-created materials. You’ll find:
creative worksheets
holiday-themed activities
video lessons
full PowerPoint classes
Because the resources are user-generated, there’s a huge variety—great for fresh ideas and engaging visuals.
6. BusyTeacher.org – Huge Collection of Free Worksheets for TEFL Teachers
Website: https://busyteacher.org
If you need fast lesson fillers or backup materials, BusyTeacher provides:
grammar and vocabulary worksheets
warm-ups and icebreakers
ESL writing tasks
speaking prompts
printable activities for every level
It’s one of the best free TEFL websites for teachers who need something last-minute but still effective.
Why These Resources Matter for New TEFL Teachers
When you’re starting out, lesson planning can feel daunting and take longer than necessary. These trusted TEFL websites help you:
reduce planning time
improve lesson structure
deliver engaging activities
build teaching confidence
stay adaptable with ready-made backups
Using high-quality materials also helps you focus more on teaching skills—classroom management, scaffolding, feedback, and student engagement.
Build Your TEFL Toolkit
These lesson planning resources form a strong foundation for any new TEFL teacher. As you gain experience, you’ll develop your own teaching style—but these tools ensure you always have something effective, communicative, and engaging to use in class.