In ELT, aims state the broad purpose of teaching, objectives outline what learners are expected to learn, specific objectives define the measurable actions learners will perform, and learning outcomes indicate what learners will be able to do independently after learning.
AIMS in ELT
Aims are broad, long-term goals of teaching. They describe the overall purpose of a lesson or course.
Features
- General and long-term
- Not directly measurable
- Focus on overall development
Example – For Language Skills Lesson –
- To develop learners’ communicative competence
- To improve overall language proficiency
- To enable learners to use English in real-life situations
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES in ELT
Objectives are more specific than aims. They describe what learners are expected to achieve by the end of a course/lesson/unit.
Features
- Clear and focused
- Can be observed
- Short-term
Example – For – Listening Lesson –
- Students will be able to identify the main idea of a short audio clip
- Students will answer comprehension questions based on a listening task
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES in ELT
These are precise, measurable, and performance-based objectives. They are expected to be achieved by the end of a class/lesson/topic.
Features
- Measurable and testable
- Use action verbs (identify, describe, write, compare)
- Time-bound
- Usually, for a single specific lesson/topic.
Examples
For Speaking Lesson –
- Students will describe a personal experience in 5–6 sentences
- Students will participate in a role-play using at least 3 appropriate expressions
For Reading topic –
- Students will skim a passage and state the main idea in one sentence
- Students will scan a text to locate 3 specific pieces of information
LEARNING OUTCOMES in ELT
Learning Outcomes describe what learners will actually achieve after learning, often in terms of competence or ability. It could be after a class, a lesson, a unit or a course.
Features
- Focus on the result/achievement
- Measurable and demonstrable
- Often linked to real-life performance
Example – For Integrated Skills Lesson –
- Learners will be able to understand and respond appropriately in everyday conversations
- Learners will be able to write a coherent paragraph on a familiar topic
Given below is an example of aims, objectives, specific objectives and learning outcomes related to teaching the poem – ‘Daffodils. ‘
WORKS CITED
Richards, Jack C., and Theodore S. Rodgers. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. 3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.
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