It’s Hard to Hit What You Don’t Aim For

When it comes to teaching English—or any subject, for that matter—one of the most critical aspects of lesson planning is setting clear objectives. These objectives serve as a roadmap for both teachers and students, ensuring that everyone knows where they’re headed and how to get there. In this blog post, we’ll break down the concept of “objective discussions,” why they matter, and how they can transform your teaching practice.

What Are Objectives?

In the context of teaching, objectives are specific, measurable end goals tied to a lesson plan. They represent the smaller, actionable steps that contribute to a larger goal—in this case, helping students learn English. While learning English as a whole is a massive undertaking, lesson objectives break this overarching goal into manageable competencies that students can achieve one step at a time.

For example:

A broader goal: “Learn English fluently.”
A lesson objective: “Students will be able to use 10 new vocabulary words in sentences by the end of the lesson.”

By focusing on these smaller competencies, teachers can track progress and adjust their methods to better support student learning.

Why Are Objectives Important?

Clarity for Teachers: Knowing your objectives allows you to plan your lessons with purpose. You’ll have a clear idea of what content to teach (the “what”) and which techniques to use (the “how”).
Clarity for Students: Students perform better when they understand what they’re working toward. Clear objectives provide them with a sense of direction and motivation.
Customization: While published curriculum guides or textbooks often come with pre-set objectives, it’s important for teachers to tailor these goals to their unique classroom needs. Different teachers may have different priorities based on their students’ abilities, cultural contexts, or course requirements.

Why Discuss Objectives with Students?

Engaging students in an objective discussion—where you explain the goals of a lesson or course—can significantly enhance their learning experience. Here’s why:

Motivation: When students know what they’re aiming for, they’re more likely to stay motivated.
Context: Explaining how smaller objectives fit into the larger goal of learning English helps students see the bigger picture.
Accountability: Clear objectives make it easier for both teachers and students to assess progress.

For example, instead of saying, “Today we’re going to practice grammar,” you could say, “By the end of today’s lesson, you’ll be able to correctly use past tense verbs in sentences.” This gives students a tangible target to work toward.

Objectives in Action: The Teach English Now Approach

The concept of objective discussions is central to the Teach English Now program. In this course, instructors not only guide participants through lesson planning but also emphasize the importance of having a concrete outcome at the end of the learning process. This approach is inspired by educational theorists Blumenfeld and Krajcik, who advocate for meaningful projects that start with a driving question and culminate in a tangible artifact.

For example:

Driving question: “How can I prepare teachers all over the world to teach English effectively?”
Tangible artifact: A professional teaching portfolio that includes lesson plans, teaching philosophies, practicum observations, and more.

This portfolio serves as proof of participants’ skills and can even help them secure teaching jobs worldwide.

Common Pitfalls in Writing Objectives

While objectives are essential, they are often misunderstood or poorly written—even by experienced teachers. Some common mistakes include:

Being too vague (e.g., “Students will improve their grammar”).
Focusing on activities rather than outcomes (e.g., “Students will complete a worksheet” vs. “Students will demonstrate understanding of subject-verb agreement”).
Setting unrealistic or unmeasurable goals.

In future posts (or lessons), we’ll delve deeper into how to write effective objectives and avoid these pitfalls.

Final Thoughts

Objective discussions are more than just a formality—they’re a powerful tool for guiding both teaching and learning. By setting clear goals and communicating them effectively with your students, you create a structured yet flexible framework that fosters success. Whether you’re designing a single lesson or an entire course, always keep your objectives front and center.

So next time you plan a lesson, ask yourself:

What do I want my students to achieve?
How will I measure their success?
How can I communicate these goals to them?

With these questions in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating impactful lessons that truly make a difference!

You’re a smart Banana! *sticks gold star on your forehead*