What do language objectives in a lesson plan specify?

Language objectives in a lesson plan are designed to specify the language skills that students are expected to acquire during the lesson. These skills may include speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the target language, and they focus on how students will use the language in practical contexts and engage with the content of the lesson.

Typically, language objectives help to ensure that English language learners (ELLs) not only understand the content area being taught but also develop their language proficiency in relation to that content. For instance, a lesson on science may include language objectives that outline the specific vocabulary, phrases, or grammatical structures students will learn to effectively communicate their understanding of scientific concepts.

In contrast, other aspects of lesson planning, like content expectations, materials needed, or classroom management strategies, do not directly pertain to the language skills students are supposed to develop. Such elements serve different purposes within the educational structure and do not prioritize language acquisition in the same way that language objectives do.