Everything should ultimately be oriented around the individual needs of a student, but there are some formats for lessons that are broadly useful. When it comes to English as a subject, essays act as an external model for your analysis and understanding of a text. They are the most important aspect of a class because they are a mechanism by which students can constructively express themselves. Consequently, it makes sense to focus English lessons on both improving writing ability, and developing a measure of enthusiasm for the process of writing. Not only does it teach students how to score higher in an exam, but it also develops lifelong skills by honing their ability to effectively articulate themselves. This can positively influence their engagement with any number of domains, and isn't limited to English.

Most lessons with me would probably involve a prior homework assignment that involves writing about whatever texts the student is studying. We would then review this in class, and talk about the various ways in which the student can develop their skills and thought process.