The science behind Smart Lesson Generator: Making teaching easier with AI

Thomas Gardner
A woman on her laptop smiling and working
Reading time: 4 minutes

It's 6 AM on a Monday morning. Ms. Lopez wakes up early to prepare for the day ahead. She spends the morning reviewing lesson plans, making sure everything is ready for her students. By lunchtime, she is preparing for the afternoon, grabbing a quick bite between classes... but it doesn¡¯t stop there. The school day finishes but Ms. Lopez stays late marking assignments. Finally, on Sunday night, she sits at her kitchen table, surrounded by papers, course books and lesson plans.

Does this sound familiar? You are not alone.

The challenge teachers face

In 2024, ɫèAV research found that?76% of teachers spend at least one hour of their personal time on lesson planning each week, with 43% spending more than three hours. This is a lot of time that could be spent on other important tasks. Teachers need a solution that helps them plan lessons fast, is connected to their course books and is built by learning experts.

AI-powered lesson planning made simple
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ɫèAV can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Meet Smart Lesson Generator

Smart Lesson Generator is an AI tool that cuts the time that teachers spend on lesson planning.?It uses AI to create activities in seconds based on the learning objectives, topics and vocabulary you plan to use.

Whether you're using ɫèAV courseware or designing your own lessons, this tool ensures that the materials match your curriculum and your students' skill levels.

How it works

There are key steps to generate activities with Smart Lesson Generator:

1. Selection: Teachers choose the type of activity they want to generate, such as a Lesson Hook, Vocabulary, Grammar, Conversation Starter, Reading Comprehension, or Exit Ticket. They then specify whether they are using ɫèAV courseware or a custom lesson plan. This flexibility allows teachers to tailor their approach to suit their unique classroom dynamics.

2. Generation: AI generates activities using a Large Language Model (LLM) based on the teacher's input. The content is then filtered through GSE checks to ensure it is at the appropriate level. This step is crucial as it ensures that the generated material is not only relevant but also pedagogically sound.

The role of the Global Scale of English (GSE)

Smart Lesson Generator is aligned to the Global Scale of English (GSE). This powerful scale, ranging from 10 to 90, is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and provides detailed learning objectives for each proficiency level. ?The GSE ensures that the content generated by the Smart Lesson Generator is appropriately levelled.

Think of the GSE as a precise filter. It meticulously checks every piece of content to ensure it meets high standards. This means that the activities created are challenging yet achievable for students. With the GSE powering the Smart Lesson Generator, teachers can confidently deliver lessons that match their students' skill levels and help them progress.

Supporting English language teachers into the future with AI

The Smart Lesson Generator helps teachers create high-quality activities quickly, which allows them to spend more time focusing on their students. The tool also helps teachers develop personalized learning paths that enhance student progress and engagement, and is continually updated with input from ɫèAV's experts and teachers worldwide. All this means that you can confidently plan lessons, knowing that the Smart Lesson Generator is your reliable partner in your quest to nurture the minds of tomorrow.

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • Three individuals are engaged in a discussion around a table in a library, surrounded by books, with one person gesturing with their hands.

    Ready to study in the USA? Not all tests are created equal

    By
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you¡¯re planning to study in the USA, you¡¯ve probably looked into English proficiency tests for university admissions. And you¡¯ve probably noticed ¨C they¡¯re not all the same.

    • Some are more expensive.?
    • Some take weeks to deliver results.?
    • Some require you to travel to a test centre.

    The ɫèAV English Express Test is different.

    What makes the ɫèAV English Express Test special??

    This online English test is designed for international students who want to move quickly and confidently through the admissions process.

    • Take it from home?¨C No travel needed. The ɫèAV English Express Test is fully online, so you can complete your exam from anywhere in the world.
    • Get certified results in 48 hours?¨C No long waits. Receive your official English proficiency scores fast, so you can meet university deadlines with ease.
    • Pay less?¨C It¡¯s one of the most affordable English tests for US university applications, helping you save on costs.
    • Accepted by a growing number of US universities?¨C Use your results to apply to top institutions across the United States.
    • Built for momentum, not delays?¨C Designed to help you move forward, not slow you down.

    Why this test matters

    When you¡¯re applying to study in the USA, every day counts. You¡¯re juggling application deadlines, coordinating with universities and planning your next big move. You need an English language test that supports your ambitions, not one that holds you back.

    What makes?ɫèAV English Express Test different?

    • AI scoring for fairness and consistency?¨C Advanced technology ensures your results are accurate and impartial.
    • Security inbuilt?¨C Take your test with confidence, knowing your identity and results are protected.
    • CEFR and GSE-aligned results?¨C Trusted by universities and colleges, your scores are mapped to international standards for English proficiency.

    It¡¯s everything you need for your US university application, without the stress.

    Ready to take the test?

    If you¡¯re searching for an English proficiency test that fits into your life and helps you move forward, the ɫèAV English Express Test is ready when you are. Take your test today and start your journey to studying in the USA with confidence.

  • Teacher and pupils in classroom

    Designing learning with a horizontal syllabus

    By
    Reading time: 7 minutes

    In this final blog, I want to pull together the content of the previous two blogs ("What is a Horizontal Syllabus?" and "Seven characteristics of young learners that shape our assessments") and my recent webinar in August 2025 by applying them to a?horizontal syllabus?for a unit of study from the My Disney Stars and Heroes series. The unit of study is taken from Book 2, Unit 6 entitled "My Day¡¯" The unit focuses on daily activities and times of day. There are 11 classroom hours of study for this unit. The unit plan is depicted below with the 11th?hour for reviewing and the unit test. Please refer to the key below the table about the types of tasks in this syllabus. These are explained below.??

  • Grammar 101: insider tips and tricks to instantly improve your writing (part 4)

    By
    Reading time: 7 minutes

    Punctuation makes your writing easier to read and understand, but it can be tricky to master. As an editor and proofreader, I often notice people confusing semi-colons and colons, so we'll explore the difference between them. And because both are often used in lists, we'll also look at the humble comma ¨C and its sometimes-controversional cousin, the Oxford comma.?

    Semi-colons and colons both connect phrases in a sentence but are used in different situations.?

    Understanding colons

    Colons introduce important information and explanations. They're often used before lists as a replacement for phrases like "they are" and "which is":

    • He offered me a choice of drinks: tea, coffee or hot chocolate.?
    • I packed the essentials in my bag: water, pens and a magazine.?
    • She speaks three languages: English, French and Portuguese.?

    You can also think of a colon as a spotlight, with the phrase that comes after the colon explaining or expanding what came before it.?

    • In 1903, travel was changed forever by an important event: Orville and Wilbur Wright's first successful flight.
    • He loves visiting the animals at the farm: cows are his favourite.?
    • There is one rule I live by: I treat others as I wish to be treated.

    The secrets of semi-colons

    A semi-colon links two ideas that are closely related and that would be two complete sentences if you used a period instead. They give a softer transition than a period would, and they're often used instead of conjunctions like "and", "but" and "because":

    • I love eating pizza; my sister loves eating burgers.
    • I wanted to go for a swim; I couldn't find my goggles.?
    • I'm going to the park; the weather is beautiful.

    Semi-colons also seperate items in long lists to make life easier for the reader and stop a sentence becoming a sea of apostrophes. For example:

    • I've got my shopping list ready: peppers, carrots and oranges from the market; toothpaste, shampoo and pain relief from the drugstore; and a newspaper, snack and drink from the newsstand. ?

    Standard comma or Oxford comma?

    An Oxford comma goes before "and" or "or" at the end of a list. The first example has an Oxford comma, the second doesn't.?

    • Please bring me a sandwich made with cheese, lettuce, and tomato.?
    • Please bring me a sandwich made with cheese, lettuce and tomato.?

    American English generally favors the Oxford comma, British English typically omits it, unless needed for clarity. Compare:

    • I love my parents, Taylor Swift and Keanu Reeves.
    • I love my parents, Taylor Swift, and Keanu Reeves.?

    As with many areas of punctuation, whether you choose to use the Oxford comma is a matter of personal preference. However, the most important thing is to be consistent in your usage.?