{{ post.title }}
{{ post.excerpt }}
Read full storyOnline ESL Step-by-step Curriculum is here!
We’ve released the first of the Off2Class ESL step-by-step curriculum! It’s our vision to create the best and most beautiful online ESL curriculum. Here’s a sample!
In the upcoming months, Off2Class will release an ESL step-by-step curriculum of lessons from A1 to C1, providing teachers with the opportunity to take students from beginner to advanced proficiency, all with our online digital content.
July 2020 Update: A1 to C1 is released! Check out the complete curriculum contents here.
First, a short video demonstration:
Now, some background info. Why are we releasing a step-by-step curriculum?
We released our first online lesson content over three years ago, and Off2Class now offers over 700 lessons in various categories. In those years, we received multiple requests from teachers and education institutions to put together a step-by-step curriculum. We’ve learned a lot in a few years, and we have teachers using our content in all types of learning environments. It seemed like the ideal time to move forward with an online step-by-step ESL curriculum. Early this year, we decided to invest the time and resource to plan, design and create a curriculum based on user expectation and current pedagogical theory.
At the planning stage, we looked at areas we wanted to improve, such as sequencing, flexibility, and adaptability. We also planned to integrate grammar and vocabulary with reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. Instead of constantly producing new lesson content and homework, we dedicated a substantial amount of time to researching the newest studies in Learning English as a Second Language. Then, the hard work started.
What will an online curriculum look like?
Obviously, we’re using a new template, and we think it’s both professional and engaging. We’ve improved our understanding of instructional design and matched this with an up-to-date pallet of colors. We’ve kept what you already liked about our content, and improved the flow, imagery, and sequence of exercises.
To create an online step-by-step ESL curriculum that works in current teaching environments, we’re doing what all ESL content publishers do today. First, there are modules: A1 to C1. Modules comprise Themed Units. Each Unit explores a theme through a number of lessons. Teachers will take varying amounts of time to cover a Unit. Rather than creating 1-hour lessons, our curriculum allows teachers to move at varying paces with their students. We estimate that teachers will need a minimum of 4 to 6 hours to cover each Unit.
In almost every lesson of our online step-by-step ESL curriculum, students will have the opportunity to practice reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. We’ve reduced the amount of explicit grammar, added professional audio recordings, and introduced vocabulary at a more appropriate rate.
When will the curriculum be available?
Three Units comprising 12 lessons are now available to our Premium subscribers on the site, and we’ll be releasing lessons at the start of each month until the entire online ESL step-by-step curriculum is available mid-2019.
The first three Units are entitled:
All About People,
What We Do, and
Your Life.
They are suitable for A2 students, or students with about 60-100 hours of English instruction.
What next?
We would love your feedback on these initial lessons. We think they are great, but we rely on your feedback. You’re welcome to leave feedback below, or if you want to get into the nitty-gritty of it, you can send an email to james {at} off2class.com.
More blog posts
41 Comments
David Valle says:
October 3, 2018 at 2:25 pm
Why does it start with unit 13? Will there be 1-12 at the lower levels once the rollout is completed?
James Heywood (Off2Class) says:
October 3, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Hi David,
Yes, Units 1-12 are currently underway for A1 students.
Lessons for A1 level require a much larger amount of planning and testing, so will release them at a later point in time.
Regards,
James
janna says:
November 30, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Hi James! I was wondering if you guys have gotten the A1 levels up and running yet? I teach online to EVERY age group and EVERY level. I am looking for good A1 level materials and good C level materials. Is this something that you think you guys are now prepared for? If not now, do you have an ETA? Thanks!
Nathan Martin says:
February 10, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Hi Janna,
Yes, the entire A1 curriculum is up and running. 36 full lessons. The entire library of lessons should support your learners through the entire journey.
-Nathan
Helen says:
October 7, 2018 at 11:14 pm
This is fabulous! I can use this immediately! Thank you for your continued resources upgrading.
Helen
James Heywood (Off2Class) says:
October 8, 2018 at 6:02 pm
Helen,
Glad to hear that you like the new curriculum. Please let me know how your students progress with the lessons!
Regards,
James
Pedro Julião do Nascimento says:
October 15, 2018 at 11:04 am
I have two syllables for you guys, “AWE-SOME”. I’ve used it with some students, and they loved the new lessons. They are much more conversational than before. It took one of my students, because she talks a lot, one hour to deal with 9 slides.
The structure is much better.
Thank you, guys.
James Heywood (Off2Class) says:
October 15, 2018 at 11:09 am
Hi Pedro,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
It’s always great to receive positive feedback from you. We’re looking forward to the next release on 12 lessons in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, we release the new content faster than you can use it with your students!
Best wishes,
James
Sally says:
October 15, 2018 at 5:43 pm
I like to defer and be revolutionary. Combining everything together and integrating the subjects is an amazing job! I really look forward to C1. It’s so difficult when you have an advanced student to find interesting topics to talk about every time. I’ve tried your lessons already, even with my B2 students.
I think they liked it. One of them said to me ‘I want to talk and talk all the time’. Maybe the lesson gave her the inspiration to talk more.
Thanks
James Heywood (Off2Class) says:
October 15, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Hi Sally,
Thank so much for your kind words. I’m really pleased that your students enjoyed the lesson. It makes me really happy to hear that your students feel motivated when using Off2Class!
Regards,
James
Stephen says:
October 29, 2018 at 7:30 am
Hello, Really enjoy the curriculum series. Not sure why the Three Units comprising 12 lessons are available only to Premium subscribers on the site. I hope that this is not a tendency in upcoming material. I have a limited amount of students and a long time user.
Kris Jagasia says:
October 29, 2018 at 8:05 am
Hi Stephen! So great to hear from you. Yes, when we changed our pricing structure over the summer we were super loyal to our old customers and let you stay on the old pricing. The new curriculum is only available to the new pricing plans as they contain new features/functionality and content quality that was not previously available. We’ve invested huge resources into this push, so we do need to limit them to Premium subscribers.
That being said, as such a long time friend of Off2Class, I’m sure we can help you out with a coupon to help on the upgrade. Please get in touch with me on our contact page to discuss!
Sharon Hadlow says:
November 4, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Thank you for the new step by step curriculum. I have two new students signing up. They are both from France and very beginners. I have started the first student on the A2 section as A1 was not yet available but she has done well on the few slides that she achieved on her very first lesson. The material was simple to understand and really helped her to feel that she knows a little English in her very first lesson. I will keep you posted at her progress.
Sharon
James Heywood (Off2Class) says:
November 4, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for your feedback. It’s much appreciated.
Best wishes,
James
C Yolanda Anderson says:
November 6, 2018 at 8:11 am
Hi, Kris
This is great stuff!
Thank you for the hard work you and your team have been doing. Thanks for sharing, also.
I was wondering, too, whether there are any plans to present the courses in British English. Or, is that asking for too much? [Hides face]
Cheers,
Yolanda
James Heywood (Off2Class) says:
November 6, 2018 at 8:18 am
Hi Yolanda,
Thank you for your feedback.
At this stage, we don’t have plans to release another version of the curriculum. However, we hope that British, Australian, New Zealand, South African, and other English speakers will still find the lessons useful.
Ideally, we would love to produce as many versions as there are varieties of English, though at this stage we’re just hoping that teachers will adapt the content as needs must!
Best wishes,
James
C Yolanda Anderson says:
November 6, 2018 at 8:32 am
Hi, James
Thank you for your response and you are most welcome.
I do respect and appreciate your position re the varying versions.
Best wishes to you as you continue to improve/add new content to the Off2Class lessons.
Cheers,
Yolanda
Thomas Arillotta says:
December 24, 2018 at 1:43 pm
I agree, this is fantastic. I’m looking for something like this for my ESL students. I’ll be going full-blown here on Off2Class!
James Heywood (Off2Class) says:
December 25, 2018 at 5:00 am
Thank you, Thomas! We hope that you and your students enjoy Off2Class.
Regards,
James
Catherine Savard says:
February 6, 2019 at 3:12 pm
Great idea. I think that this integrated skills approach to building an overall foundation is a very necessary addition. It may make a difference for me in accepting a couple of particular students who need more of this kind of foundational work into a format that I already have adopted. I can see a better way to integrate these students into what I am doing without driving myself crazy in terms of time or money investment.
Lon says:
February 24, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Hello, I’m considering using your resources to instruct students in English online and have some questions. Your project to organize a structured curriculum sounds excellent.
1.) If I understand correctly your curriculum will cover the six module levels A1-C2 with units and lessons in each module. Approximatally how many total units do you anticipate when you’ve completed this? Do they incorporate homework or any audio-video to supplement the lessons?
2.) Do you have suggestions on how to integrate your curriculum with beginning students for whom English is a foreign language? Would they need to pass an IELTS exam level 2 to be ready to begin your module A1?
3.) Do you know of online curriculums you could recommend for students preparing for module A1 and for whom their native language is; Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Japanese, Vietnamese, French, etc.? Is it possible to view some of your current units as an example?
Thank you
Chris says:
February 28, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Hi Lon,
Yes, all the lessons contain homework and many of them also contain listening activities, and they’re also suitable for beginners. Start your trial to learn more!
Amanda says:
June 4, 2019 at 11:32 pm
Hello,
This is a great resource, and I’m looking forward to using it with my students! Thank you for your efforts to continue to improve this platform.
I’m curious if there has been an update as to when the beginner step-by-step curriculum will be released.
Thanks once again!
Chris says:
June 11, 2019 at 8:29 am
Hi Amanda, thanks for the kind words. I don’t have a firm date, but EVERY level will be here later this year! Soon!
Clare Solomon says:
December 8, 2019 at 10:18 pm
Hi Chris and James, as you know I have already become a huge fan in just a few weeks, thank you so much for making all our lives easier.
The more professional templates are much better for my students, even my 14 year old loves them, I’m sure he feels more grown up with them…
Now, sorry to hassle, I know it’s not easy work, but any idea when the C1/C1+ courses are going to be released? I ask because I’m hoping to upgrade all my existing students in the new year, so starting them on this would be perfect.
Thanks a million.
Teacher Clare
Chris says:
December 13, 2019 at 2:05 pm
Hi Clare, soon and very soon! Can’t promise a date but it won’t be long!
Magnus says:
March 2, 2020 at 3:38 am
Howdee all,
I know it’s not easy work, but how’s the progress for C1 level curriculum?
Chris says:
March 3, 2020 at 7:58 am
Soon! We’re set to release the last of B2 imminently and then all the focus will be on C1. Stay tuned!
Audrey says:
September 8, 2020 at 8:21 am
Is it possible to see a list of what is actually in the curriculum? I like to show my students a plan so they know where they are going.
Chris says:
September 17, 2020 at 4:49 am
Hi Aubrey, you can see the latest version of our table of contents document here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1STsNJxCCdNMSU1-oOU_ugB958KzpR-N0/view?usp=sharing
Angie Miller says:
December 6, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Hello! I’m exploring the idea of teaching private lessons online. I am totally new here, where can I find more info? Is this built for adults or children? What A1, A2, etc.? Does it work with 1-on-1 tutoring, group classes, or either? Looks great from what I can tell!
Kris Jagasia says:
December 10, 2020 at 7:54 pm
Hi Angie, welcome! Sounds like a great journey. You can find all the info on this section of our blog:
https://www.off2class.com/category/lesson-content-blog/
And feel free to set up a Free Account to take a closer peek. On the Free Accounts, you can access around 150 different lessons.
Naomi Baker says:
March 11, 2021 at 7:18 am
Good day,
I am writing to gain more information about your course and to see how it can help my one student.
My student recently took the Duolingo English test and received and overall score equivalent to 4 IELTS. In spite of this, his understanding and use of English grammar varies from beginner to lower intermediate, hence his level of speaking and writing etc. is not entirely lower intermediate. Therefore, I would like to know if the Off2Class placement test will place him at a specific level, or can it suggest lessons that cater specifically for his needs, so that we can work on filling in the gaps where he lacks English skills, instead of going through an entire lower level?
Best regards,
Naomi Baker
Chris says:
March 14, 2021 at 4:49 am
Hi Naomi, the Off2Class Placement Test will do both — it places the student and shows you the lessons you should teach to fix the student’s errors. Give it a shot!
HEATHER LOSPER says:
May 25, 2021 at 8:00 am
Thank you! Finally a web-site worth paying a subscription for. I will definitely up-grade to a premium account once my studies are complete.
Clare Stubbs says:
September 14, 2021 at 4:24 pm
Ooh! Love this! Your curriculum is AMAZING!
I have sent out the placement test to my first student and I am getting ready for our trial lesson ( Personalized English plan)
So when I start giving lessons, should I address the specific errors from the placement test with the appropriate lesson or should I just start the curriculum at the level specified by the test results?
Thanks!
Regan says:
September 15, 2021 at 12:33 pm
Hi there!
Thank you so much, we are so glad to hear this. This decision is usually dependent on the direction a teacher wants to take. But you can find more information via our FAQ page ( https://off2class.com/faq/ ) or our video tutorials ( https://www.off2class.com/getting-started/ ). For more help, use the chat widget on the bottom right-hand side of the page to contact our friendly customer support team.
Have a wonderful time teaching your first student, you will do great!
Amira says:
January 8, 2022 at 4:00 pm
How can I get these curriculums and use them in my private online lessons?
Regan says:
January 10, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Hi Amira, thank you for your question.
You can get up-to-date information on every aspect of Off2Class via our FAQ page ( https://off2class.com/faq/ ) or our video tutorials ( https://www.off2class.com/getting-started/ ). For more help, use the chat widget on the bottom right-hand side of the page to contact our friendly customer support team.
Happy teaching!
Marissa Butter says:
December 5, 2023 at 12:10 pm
I live in Pennsylvania and I am teaching online ESL k-12 all levels. Our WIDA Access scores are based on a point system. Is there a way to match up your A1 level for example to my points system through our state testing? Do you think this could be a good fit for me?
Christine Chan says:
December 14, 2023 at 2:54 pm
Hi Marissa,
Great question! The Off2Class lesson library is benchmarked to different frameworks. You can filter the lesson library by CEFR, WIDA, and many other state-specific language proficiency levels.
Happy Teaching!
Christine