In this video, I walk you through the part of lesson planning that new ESL teachers ask me about the most: how to start an ESL lesson plan in a way that hooks students right away. After 20+ years in schools, I can tell you the opening minutes matter. If students don’t know what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, you lose engagement fast—especially with English language learners who need clarity, structure, and a low-stress entry point into the language. I outline several strong ways to open your plan for maximum participation, including quick ESL warm-ups, “Do Now” (bell ringer) activities, and anticipatory sets that build curiosity before you teach the main objective. I also share an ESL lesson plan template so you’re not starting from scratch, and I point you to extra resources for warm-ups and closure ideas so your lesson has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The goal is simple: start with something students can do immediately, make the objective obvious, and set the tone for meaningful language practice from minute one.