The ESA Framework — Engage, Study, Activate
ESA is another popular lesson framework that works for a wide range of lesson types. It was developed by Jeremy Harmer and is widely used in American and international TESOL programs.
The three stages
✓Engage
Capture students' attention and get them interested in the topic before any new language is introduced.
- Show a picture and ask questions
- Play a short video clip
- Ask a personal question related to the topic
- Play a quick game or do a fun warm-up activity
Goal: Students are curious, interested, and ready to learn.
✓Study
Introduce and focus on the new language — grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation.
- Present the target language clearly
- Check that students understand the meaning and form
- Do controlled practice activities
Goal: Students understand how the language works.
✓Activate
Students use the language freely in a communicative activity.
- Role plays
- Discussions
- Problem-solving tasks
- Creative tasks
Goal: Students can use the language independently.
ESA vs PPP — what is the difference?
Plan a simple ESA lesson on a topic you enjoy. Start with an Engage activity that you would genuinely find fun. If you enjoy the warm-up, your students probably will too.