For ESL Teachers ·
What you'll accomplish
Open your Claude Project and generate a vocabulary activity in 30 seconds — no setup paragraph, no re-explaining your class. This guide loads your teaching context (learner demographics, proficiency levels, curriculum topics, CASAS standards) once, so every material you generate is already calibrated to your specific class. Over a semester, the time savings add up fast.
What you'll need
What you should see: The Claude interface with a Projects option in the left sidebar.
What you should see: A project workspace with a chat panel and a sidebar for Project Instructions and Knowledge.
This is the most important step. Click Project Instructions and paste in a customized version of this template:
You are an ESL materials creation assistant for [Your Name], an ESL teacher at [Program Name — e.g., "Lincoln Adult Learning Center"].
TEACHING CONTEXT:
- Program type: [Adult education center / Community college / K-12 school district]
- Class level: [e.g., "CASAS Level B (215-225), approximately A2/B1 CEFR"]
- Class size: [X students]
- Student population: [e.g., "Adult immigrant learners, primarily Spanish-speaking (70%), also Haitian Creole, Somali. Most have limited formal education. Work in food service, agriculture, and domestic work."]
- Class schedule: [e.g., "Monday-Thursday, 6-9pm, 60-minute sessions"]
- Curriculum focus: [e.g., "CASAS life skills competencies: health, employment, consumer, community, family"]
MATERIALS GUIDELINES:
- All vocabulary should be level-appropriate (A2/B1 — avoid idioms and complex grammar)
- Example sentences should use real-world contexts (work, home, health, community)
- Cultural references should be broadly accessible to immigrant adult learners from multiple backgrounds
- Reading texts should be between 100-200 words for this level
- Activities should be practical and connect to learners' actual daily lives
CASAS COMPETENCY AREAS (reference these when appropriate):
- Employment (job applications, workplace communication, job safety)
- Health (medical appointments, symptoms, medicine, insurance)
- Consumer (shopping, banking, housing)
- Community (civic participation, services, transportation)
- Family (childcare, school communication, family health)
WHEN I ASK FOR MATERIALS:
1. Generate content appropriate for A2/B1 level unless I specify otherwise
2. Keep vocabulary simple and high-frequency
3. Include an answer key for any exercise with right/wrong answers
4. Note the target skill (reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar)
5. Format clearly so I can paste directly into a Word document
Type a simple request in the project chat:
"Generate a vocabulary list and matching activity for a lesson on renting an apartment. Include 12 words relevant to our learner population."
What you should see: Claude generates a vocabulary list calibrated to your stated level and learner context, not generic vocabulary, but words relevant to adult immigrant learners navigating housing. It includes a matching activity with simple definitions and an answer key.
Over the next few sessions, save the prompts that produce the best results. Keep a simple Google Doc with your best prompts:
Best prompts for generating materials:
[VOCAB + ACTIVITIES] Generate vocabulary activities for these 12 words: [list]. Create: matching, fill-in-the-blank, Quizlet pairs. Level: A2.
[LESSON PLAN] Create a 60-minute lesson on [topic] for our level. Include warm-up, vocabulary, reading, speaking activity, and exit ticket.
[DIFFERENTIATION] Take this reading text and create 2 versions: (1) simplified for A1 beginners in our class, (2) extended questions for the B1 students.
[PROGRESS REPORT] Draft a 150-word progress report narrative for [student data].
[ROLE PLAY] Create a role play for our level on [topic]. Include Partner A/B cards, target phrases, model dialogue.
When Claude generates materials you like, save them. Create a Google Drive folder organized by unit:
Over a semester, you'll build a library of high-quality, calibrated materials you can reuse and adapt.
Generate [X] vocabulary words with simple definitions and example sentences on the topic of [topic]. For our A2/B1 adult learner class.
Create a 150-word reading text about [topic]. Include a vocabulary box with 5 key words at the top. For adult newcomer learners.
Design a 20-minute speaking activity on [topic] for our class. Include Partner A and Partner B roles, 4 conversation prompts, and useful phrases.
Click Save. Customize every bracketed section for your actual class.
Create a grammar handout on [grammar point] for our level: brief explanation, 3 examples, 10 fill-in-the-blank sentences, answer key.
Draft a 150-word student progress report narrative. Student info: [CASAS scores, attendance, strengths, goals].