How to Create Video Lessons: Why English Teachers Need Them

How can you create video lessons in English that grab your students’ attention from the very first seconds and truly support their learning journey? 🎯 Today, the profession of an English teacher offers countless opportunities, and one of the most powerful tools is the video format. By recording our own video lessons and sharing them online, we make learning more flexible, interactive, and inspiring. However, creating a successful lesson requires careful planning — from scripting to video editing — and an understanding of how YouTube promotion can help you reach a wide audience. 

How to Create Video Lessons: Why English Teachers Need Them

You might already be teaching in a classroom but want to reach audiences beyond it or give your students the chance to learn at their own pace. This is where video lessons for English teachers come in — recorded lessons that can be replayed anytime. 😊 Why are they valuable? They’re perfect when students learn at different speeds or miss a class. With video, learners can pause, rewind, and rewatch difficult parts — that kind of flexibility is priceless for mastering a language.

Moreover, video lessons allow you to step outside the classroom walls. You can share your lessons with your own students or even the entire world through YouTube! 🚀 This not only expands your students’ horizons but also builds your reputation as a teaching professional. Plus, the video format is naturally visual: you can add images, audio, gestures, and facial expressions — things you can’t capture on paper. It makes your lesson dynamic and engaging, especially for younger generations used to TikTok and YouTube.

And here’s another huge benefit: once you’ve created a collection of video lessons, you’ll save time in the future. Record a grammar explanation once, and you can reuse it as ready-made material over and over. For instance, you might record a video explaining the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple, and then during live classes focus more on practice instead of repeating the same explanation. Convenient, right? 😉

How to Create Video Lessons: Planning and Preparation

So, you’ve decided to film your first lesson. Where do you start? With planning, of course. Creating a video lesson in English is much like preparing a traditional lesson: you need a clear topic, a goal, and a structure. This is something I learned during my TEFL/TESOL certification: always begin with a clear aim, then choose exercises and the format to match. 💡 Tip: open with a thought-provoking question or interesting fact. For example: “Why are articles a/an so important?” or “What’s the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple?” This instantly engages viewers and keeps your own teaching goal in focus.

Step 1. Choose a topic and audience. Think about who your video is for. Beginners? Intermediate learners? Adults? Teenagers? If you’re teaching teens, use topics like music or movies; for adults, focus on real-life communication. Keep it narrow and specific — don’t try to cover too much in one video.

Step 2. Write a script. Even if you know the topic well, jot down a plan. You don’t need to write every word (please don’t read from paper 🙅‍♀️), but structure helps. Decide how you’ll introduce the lesson, explain the material step by step, and which examples to use. Think of interactive questions like: “What do you think…?” and pause, so viewers can reflect or answer aloud. This makes even one-way videos feel engaging.

Step 3. Choose format and materials. Will your lesson be a “talking head” video (you explaining on camera), or a screen recording with a slideshow? New teachers often feel more comfortable recording a slideshow with voice-over, while appearing on screen builds stronger trust. You can combine both. Prepare visuals, examples, maybe even short clips. Just make sure you respect copyright: use free sources (e.g., Unsplash, Pixabay) or your own materials so YouTube won’t block your content.

Also decide where you’ll record. Silence is crucial — no background noise. A neutral background works best. I once filmed in front of a bookshelf and later a friend admitted she spent the whole lesson reading the book titles behind me! 😅 Lesson learned: keep the background simple and distraction-free.

How to Create Video Lessons: Technical Setup

You don’t need expensive gear to start. My first video was recorded on a laptop camera! What matters most is a few essentials:

• Good microphone. Audio is more important than video quality. If you’re on a budget, even smartphone headphones are better than nothing. But if you can, invest in a USB mic or a lapel mic.
• Stable camera. Place your device on a tripod or books. 720p resolution is fine to start, but 1080p looks more professional.
• Proper lighting. Record near a window or use a lamp facing you. Avoid light from behind — otherwise, you’ll look like a shadow in a horror movie.
• Quiet space. Ask family not to interrupt, close windows, silence phones. Even a vacuum cleaner or construction noise can ruin a recording.
• Recording and editing software. Free programs like OBS Studio, Zoom, or Screencast-O-Matic are great for screen recording. For editing, you can start with simple free editors like Clipchamp or CapCut.

💡 Tip: Always record a short 10–15 second test clip. Check sound, lighting, and video quality before recording the full lesson. It will save you hours of frustration.

How to Create Video Lessons: Recording Tips

Now comes the moment of truth: hit “Rec” and start teaching! Feeling nervous? Totally normal. Here are some strategies that helped me:

• Imagine you’re talking to a real student. This warms up your tone and makes your explanations natural.
• Don’t fear mistakes. If you stumble, pause, restart, and cut it later. Viewers won’t notice.
• Watch your pace. Speak clearly and not too fast, but keep your tone lively and conversational.
• Use visuals and interactivity. Hold up flashcards, use gestures, highlight slides. Ask questions and encourage viewers to pause and think.
• Keep it short and clear. Aim for 5–15 minutes. If the topic is too big, break it into separate videos.

When you finish, don’t upload right away. First, move on to editing — an essential step to polish your video.

How to Create Video Lessons: Editing

Editing is where your recording becomes a finished product. No need to be a pro editor! Here’s what works:

• Cut and trim. Remove pauses, mistakes, or off-topic moments.
• Add titles and text. Show keywords, grammar rules, or key phrases on screen. Add intro/outro slides with your name or channel.
• Music. A quiet background track can help, but use royalty-free music (YouTube has its own free library).
• Transitions. Simple fades are enough. Don’t overdo flashy effects — they distract from the lesson.

Watch your edited lesson twice before publishing. Ask a colleague or friend for feedback — fresh eyes often spot details you miss. Over time, editing becomes faster and easier. Practice makes perfect!

How to Create Video Lessons: Promoting on YouTube

Your video is ready — now it needs an audience. Upload it to YouTube and optimize it for search:

• Title: Use clear, searchable keywords like “How to Create Video Lessons – Instructions for English Teachers” instead of “Lesson 5.”
• Description: Add relevant keywords (English grammar, TEFL video lesson, ESL learners). Write in English to reach the widest audience.
• Thumbnail: Create a bold, clear cover with the lesson title.

After publishing, share it with your students, post it in English teaching groups, and link it on social media. Consistency is key — upload regularly to build an audience. Over time, your channel can become your teaching portfolio and attract job offers, collaborations, or new private students. 🚀

💡 Ask viewers to like, comment, and subscribe — interaction boosts visibility in YouTube’s algorithm.

Conclusion: Don’t Fear Imperfection

To wrap up: how to create video lessons is something you learn by doing. Your first video might not be perfect — mine wasn’t either! But each attempt improves your confidence and technique. Remember, your goal is to help students learn, not to produce Hollywood movies.

And one last note: earning a TEFL/TESOL certificate helped me structure my teaching methods and gave me confidence to teach both in-person and online. With an accredited certificate, you can teach worldwide — online or abroad. Learn more here.

Now it’s your turn! Create your first English video lesson — even if it’s on your phone with simple editing — and take that step in your teaching career. 😊 If you need more ideas, our TEFL/TESOL courses cover interactive and creative teaching methods that are perfect for video. I believe in you — your students will thank you for making lessons engaging, modern, and inspiring!