Lesson Planning on the Go: My Quick and Flexible Approach

Teaching English online isn't just a job but a gateway that allows you to earn an income while seeing the world. Equipped only with a laptop and Wi-Fi, though, teachers have turned their lessons into opportunities for travel, flexibility, and freedom. I know this firsthand. Armed with our TEFL certificate from ITA’s 11-week course, we’ve made a laptop and strong WiFi our ticket to living in places around the globe, such as Shenzhen, Buenos Aires, and Warsaw.

Life “on the go” means balancing adventure with responsibility. While we’ve loved immersing ourselves in new cities and cultures, our main source of income is teaching, which requires real commitment beyond the classroom. Lesson planning, as any teacher knows, can eat up hours if you let it. That’s why we’ve learned to streamline and plan effectively, “working smarter, not harder,” so we can sustain both our travels and our students’ learning.

TIP #1:Using the Internet to Your Advantage

Firstly, I want you to think about all the things you can do on the internet. You really don’t need to take that much time to understand that the internet is a database of anything and everything. Regarding teaching English online, there are endless resources available for lesson planning. You are not the first and certainly will not be the last online English teacher. This means that many teaching libraries offer pre-set lesson plans for use, some of which are free and others are paid. Of course, none of this is relevant for many platforms that already provide teaching materials. While we have worked with some of these platforms (primarily Cambly and former Chinese companies that have since ceased operations), we primarily conduct private lessons, in which we are responsible for providing the materials. We have 5 minutes for each class to prepare. We are not paid for planning, so we try to be quick and effective.

• Minute 1: Objective: Decide the main goal of the lesson (e.g., “students will practice ordering food in a restaurant”).
• Minute 2: Warm-up: Pick a quick, engaging activity (question, picture, or game) that connects to the topic.
• Minute 3-4: Main Activity: Choose one focused activity (dialogue practice, role-play, or short reading/listening task) that drives the lesson objective.
• Minute 5: Wrap-up & Homework: Plan a 2-minute recap or “exit ticket” question + one simple task they can practice after class.

Additionally, as we travel frequently, we have had to complete quick turnarounds between online classes or finalize lesson plans just before a class begins.

Disclaimer: This routine and the following resources are primarily relevant if you are teaching privately. If you are teaching for an online company, use its library, if available, for lesson planning; it’s there for a reason.

For adult classes, which we primarily offer, we use the News in Levels website (free and featuring several daily articles) for short, everyday English articles across three levels. Each article includes key vocabulary and a video from a news source to provide additional visual support for students. This is an ideal resource for working with your students on a topical basis. With its three levels, it can be used effectively for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. After the reading and video, we discuss the students’ reactions, which indicate student engagement. With multiple students in a class, you can facilitate debates and encourage further discussion.

TIP #2: Find Out if You Want to Pay for a Monthly Subscription

Secondly, we pay together for Ellii, our favorite online resource. With a monthly subscription of about $14 (if you subscribe yearly) or $19 (if you subscribe monthly), you have access to an ever-growing library of everything from engaging grammar lessons, conversation-led lessons, to spotlights on current events, holidays, or people. After spending the last 2 years online teaching, we give our 100% guarantee that Ellii is the best resource because it’s so easy to follow. The lessons are organized into modules that require only a screen share to present to your students. At the end of each lesson, you can then download the PDF and send it to your student to review. Ellii offers a 2-week free trial that allows you to evaluate whether it is the platform for you. Of course, there are numerous free resources on the internet, but after spending time using these, we have discovered that Ellii is well worth the price. It is essentially a growing library of resources, and all you need to do is share your screen from the website- this means less time planning for you and more time presenting the most engaging material out there!

Overall, using both News in Levels and Ellii, we can plan quickly. One time, when our flight was delayed, and we were cutting it close to a class, I took my aforementioned 5 minutes to prepare my lesson and be ready to present on short notice. Of course, if you are more comfortable planning far in advance before a class, this works as well. Either way, whenever you decide to do planning, make sure you don’t spend so much time on it because, unlike being in a traditional classroom, you don’t have to worry about printing or physically putting anything together. Use the internet to your advantage. This allows you to use your time wisely and plan effectively on the go.

TIP #3: Have an Emergency Plan

Thirdly, as you can imagine, problems can occur with faulty connections or materials not being presented correctly. Although this is rare, as a teacher, you should have a contingency plan. This means always keeping some emergency materials on hand for this. In my experience, I have encountered difficulties sharing videos in my lesson plans. However, I did not fret; rather, I pulled out my emergency game (20 questions can be your best friend) to occupy the time and avoid awkward silence, in which the student is watching you fumble for a filler. Do yourself a favor: always be prepared for online issues!

And remember, preparation doesn’t just enhance the student’s experience—it also saves your confidence. Having those go-to backup activities means you remain calm and in control, regardless of what technology presents to you. Students won’t remember the glitch; they’ll remember how smoothly you handled it. Ultimately, flexibility and quick thinking are as important as lesson planning for being an effective online teacher.

TIP #4- Have fun with it!

By keeping things simple, using the appropriate tools, and staying organized, we can balance both work and travel without burnout. If you're considering this lifestyle, know that it's entirely doable and, honestly, incredibly rewarding. So grab that laptop, plan smart, and get out there. The world is waiting!

Go Further:

• How Much Money Can You Make Teaching English Online?
• 5 Reasons Why Teaching English is One of the Best Digital Nomad Jobs
• 10 Best Locations for Digital Nomad Online English Teachers in 2026