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The best AI prompts for ESL teachers name the CEFR level, the target language, the length and the format, then ask for an answer key you can check. Below are ten copy and paste prompts for reading texts, gap fills, discussion questions, concept checking questions and lesson plans, plus rules for keeping the level right.
Key takeaways
- Every good prompt states the level, the target language, the length and the format.
- Ask for an answer key, then check it yourself, because AI answer keys can be wrong.
- AI texts often drift above the level you asked for, so test them with a vocabulary check.
- Never paste students’ names or personal details into a prompt.
- Edit every output before it reaches a class.
What makes a good AI prompt for ESL teachers?
A good prompt tells the AI who the learners are and exactly what to produce. Four details matter most: the CEFR level (A1 to C2), the target grammar or vocabulary, the length, and the format. Without them, tools tend to produce generic text that is too hard or too easy.
Think of the prompt as a lesson brief to a colleague. The more specific it is, the less editing you do afterwards. For a wider look at the tools themselves, read our guide to AI for English teachers.
What are the best AI prompts for reading texts?
Ask for a short text at a stated level, using the target language and a topic your students care about. Add a limit on difficult words and ask for comprehension questions with an answer key.
Prompt 1. Write a [120 word] reading text at CEFR [A2] level about [a weekend in a small town]. Use the present simple and the past simple. Avoid words above [A2] level except for these five target words: [list]. Then write five true or false questions with an answer key.
Prompt 2. Rewrite the text below at CEFR [B1] level. Keep the meaning, shorten sentences, replace rare words with common ones, and list any words you changed. Text: [paste text without personal data]
What prompts create gap fills and practice exercises?
Ask for sentences where context makes the answer clear and where only one answer is correct. Controlled practice needs exactly that, so tell the AI to avoid items with several valid answers.
Prompt 3. Write 10 gap fill sentences to practise [the present perfect with for and since] at CEFR [B1] level. Each sentence must have only one correct answer. Give the answer key and a one line reason for each answer.
Prompt 4. Write 8 sentences that each contain one common learner error with [past simple irregular verbs]. Give the corrected version of each sentence. I will use them as error correction cards for CEFR [A2] learners.
Can AI write discussion questions and speaking tasks?
Yes, and this is one of the safest uses, because you can judge the output at a glance. Give the topic, the level and the language you want students to use.
Prompt 5. Write 8 discussion questions about [travel] for CEFR [B2] adult learners. Make them open, non personal and suitable for pair work. Group them from easier to more challenging.
Prompt 6. Create a role play for CEFR [A2] learners in pairs: [a customer returning a shirt to a shop]. Give role cards for Student A and Student B, with four useful phrases on each card.
If you need a warmer rather than a full task, ask the AI to adapt one of the twelve in our guide to ESL warm up activities to your topic.
How to use AI as a TEFL teacher: our webinar
How do you use AI to draft concept checking questions?
Give the AI the target sentence and ask for short questions with answers, then check each one against the meaning you intend. AI drafts are a useful starting point, but they sometimes ask about form or use words harder than the sentence.
Prompt 7. Write 4 concept checking questions for the sentence “[I have lived here for three years]”. Use only words below CEFR [A2] level. Each question must have a one word or yes or no answer. Give the answers. Do not ask about grammar terms.
Compare the output with the method in our guide to concept checking questions before using it.
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What prompts build a full lesson plan?
Ask for a stage by stage plan in a framework you already know, with timings and anticipated problems. PPP is a good default, and our PPP lesson plan guide shows what a good plan contains.
Prompt 8. Create a [60] minute PPP lesson plan for CEFR [B1] adult learners on [giving advice with should and shouldn’t]. Include a warmer, a presentation with concept checking questions, two controlled practice tasks, a freer production task, a review, anticipated problems and an extension task. Use a table with timings.
The TEFL.ai lesson plan generator does this from level, topic and duration without writing a prompt at all, and you can browse the rest of the free tools on TEFL.ai.
How do you differentiate a worksheet for mixed ability classes?
Ask for the same task at two or three levels of support. This is faster than writing separate worksheets and keeps the whole class working on the same topic.
Prompt 9. Take the exercise below and write three versions: one with a word bank and sentence starters for CEFR [A2] learners, one standard version for [B1], and one with an extension question for [B2]. Keep the topic and answers consistent. Exercise: [paste exercise]
For routines that keep large classes running smoothly, see our guide to classroom management strategies.
Can AI help give feedback on student writing?
It can help you plan feedback, though you should keep the marking decisions yourself. Ask for a short list of the most common error types in a sample, not a rewrite.
Prompt 10. Read the anonymous paragraph below written by a CEFR [B1] learner. List the three most important error types, give one example of each from the text, and suggest one short exercise to practise each. Do not rewrite the paragraph. Text: [paste text with no names]
How do you keep AI output at the right level?
Test the text rather than trusting it. AI tools often write above the level you request, so run three quick checks before using any generated material.
- Vocabulary check: highlight words your students would not know and swap them.
- Sentence length check: shorten sentences until they match the level.
- Answer check: do the exercise yourself and confirm every answer.
Also keep student data out of prompts. Use anonymous samples, remove names and never paste personal details. Our guide to AI for English teachers covers responsible use in more detail.
If you want a checkable record of your AI skills, the free AI-Skilled Teacher Certificate on TEFL.ai issues a code that a school can verify. It is not a TEFL qualification, but it sits well beside one.
For the full set of teaching tools around these prompts, see our complete guide to ESL teacher resources.
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Ola Flynn
Head of Marketing. Runs our webinars and information sessions, loves travel and sharing interns’ stories, and joined our interns in Thailand for orientation.
Last reviewed: 14 November 2026
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FAQs
Questions students ask us
State the CEFR level, lesson length, target language and framework, such as PPP, and ask for timings, anticipated problems and an extension task. A specific prompt produces a plan you can use with only light editing, while a vague one produces generic text.
Name the level, set a word count, list the only words above that level you will allow, and ask the tool to list anything it changed. Then check the text yourself, because AI tools often write above the level you request and need a vocabulary check.
Yes. Ask for sentences that have only one correct answer, plus an answer key with a short reason for each. Do the exercise yourself before class, because AI answer keys can contain mistakes and some sentences may accept more than one answer.
Use anonymous samples, remove names and never paste personal details. Follow your school’s or employer’s data rules, and avoid sharing anything a student or parent would not expect to leave the classroom. Our guide to AI for English teachers covers responsible use in more detail.
TEFL.ai offers free AI tools for English teachers, including a lesson plan generator that works from CEFR level, topic and duration. General chatbots also work well if you write specific prompts, such as the ten copy and paste examples in this guide.
It depends on the task. AI saves the most time on first drafts such as reading texts, gap fills and discussion questions. You still need time to check the level, test the answers and adapt the material for your class, so treat it as a drafting tool, not a finished product.
