Teaching Harry Potter: Designing a Syllabus
I often receive requests for guidance on how to create a syllabus from scratch, particularly for literature-based courses. Most of my courses are tailored to specific contexts—for business students or individual learners—but designing syllabi centered around literature is especially rewarding. The complex worlds that novels offer open up endless opportunities for exploration, making the learning experience far more engaging.
One of the most compelling reasons to use literature in language teaching is that reading for pleasure has been shown to be one of the most effective ways for learners to improve their English. By incorporating enjoyable reading material like Harry Potter, we nurture students’ language skills and encourage independent learning and a lifelong love of reading.
This series of posts guides you through designing a syllabus specifically based on the first book in the Harry Potter series. Below, you’ll find an overview of the posts in this series, each tackling a different aspect of teaching Harry Potter in the EFL/ESL classroom:
- Teaching Harry Potter: The Challenge
This post explores the pros and cons of using graded readers versus unedited texts. It discusses why you might choose one approach over the other depending on your learners’ levels and goals. - Teaching Harry Potter: Using Chapter Books
Here, I discuss strategies for teaching longer texts, focusing on how to break down a chapter book like Harry Potter into manageable sections that keep learners motivated and engaged. - Teaching Harry Potter: Grammar Work
This post focuses on how to exploit the Harry Potter text to target key grammar structures. I provide practical examples of how the language in the book can serve as a springboard for grammar lessons. - Teaching Harry Potter: Optional Homework
How can we make homework more motivating? In this post, I explore strategies for gamifying homework assignments, making them more interactive and rewarding for students. - Teaching Harry Potter: Vocabulary Expansion
This post looks at how to use the book to introduce and reinforce new vocabulary. I share strategies for teaching both common and more specialized words, idioms, and expressions found in the text, making vocabulary learning both fun and effective. - Teaching Harry Potter: Reading Aloud
This post discusses the benefits and challenges of incorporating reading aloud into your lessons. I weigh the pros and cons and suggest when it might be particularly useful or less effective. - Teaching Harry Potter: Speaking Activities
Learn how to maximize speaking opportunities using Harry Potter. This post provides ideas for engaging students in meaningful discussions, role-plays, and debates based on the book’s themes and characters. - Teaching Harry Potter: Writing Activities
I explore how the Harry Potter text can be used to inspire writing activities, from creative story-writing to opinion essays, all while reinforcing language skills in an imaginative way. - Teaching Harry Potter: Using Multimedia and Adaptations
This post looks at integrating different media into your lessons, such as the Harry Potter films, audiobooks, and fan adaptations. I discuss how to use these resources to complement the text and keep students engaged in a variety of ways—through visual learning, listening practice, or discussions on how the media adapts the written word. - Teaching Harry Potter: Dealing with Vocabulary
- Teaching Harry Potter: Hagrid’s Speech
I hope you find these posts helpful in designing your own syllabus for a literature-themed course.
I’ve also written posts designed for students of B1 level and above:
Points to Keep in Mind When Designing a Syllabus
Designing a syllabus is more than just planning lessons—it’s about creating a framework that meets your students’ needs, keeps them engaged, and fosters meaningful progress. Here are some key considerations to guide you as you craft your syllabus:
- Start with a Needs Analysis
A successful syllabus begins with understanding your students. Conduct a needs analysis to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and goals. This could include:
- A short piece of writing to assess grammar, vocabulary, and coherence.
- A recorded speech sample to evaluate pronunciation, fluency, and confidence.
The results will help you tailor your syllabus to focus on the areas your students most need to improve and will also serve as a benchmark to assess progress throughout the course.
- Create Consistency
Establishing a consistent rhythm for your classes provides structure and helps students feel comfortable. It also saves you planning time.
- Begin each lesson with a familiar activity, such as a vocabulary review or a recap of the previous chapter.
- For a Harry Potter syllabus, starting with chapter summaries works well to check understanding before introducing new material.
A predictable structure is especially helpful in larger classes or when students arrive late, as the opening activity ensures everyone can settle in quickly.
- Online vs. Offline
When teaching online, group work like pair or breakout room activities takes longer to set up and monitor. Limit these to no more than three transitions per hour to avoid losing valuable time. Offline, transitions are quicker, but it’s still important to streamline activities to maintain momentum.
- Use a Class Platform (e.g., Padlet or Google Classroom)
Whether teaching online or offline, a shared platform can keep students engaged between lessons. Platforms like Padlet or Google Classroom allow students to:
- Share their work.
- Discuss the book and exchange ideas.
- Ask questions and clarify understanding.
This is especially useful when students are reading independently, as it fosters collaboration and peer support outside of class time.
- Build Up to Larger Activities
Larger projects like essays, discussions, or performances should be introduced gradually. Breaking them into smaller, manageable steps over several lessons helps students build confidence and skill, and the final piece becomes part-revision.
For example:
- If the goal is to write and perform a script, earlier lessons might focus on vocabulary, character analysis, and brainstorming.
- Subsequent lessons could focus on drafting the script, then practicing intonation and expression before the final performance.
This incremental approach ensures that students are well-prepared and not overwhelmed.
- Be Flexible
A syllabus is a guide, not a rigid rulebook. Be prepared to adjust based on your students’ needs and interests. For instance, if they’re struggling with a concept or show enthusiasm for a particular topic, adapt your plan to spend more time where it’s most valuable.
- Balance the Four Skills (Based on Needs Analysis)
The balance of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities in your syllabus should reflect your students’ specific needs. Use the needs analysis to determine where to focus. In a Harry Potter syllabus, this might mean emphasizing listening and discussion activities for some groups while focusing on creative writing for others. The goal is a personalized balance that supports student progress.
- Encourage Student Autonomy
Help students take ownership of their learning by including self-study opportunities in the syllabus. This could involve:
- Guided independent reading.
- Reflective journaling.
- Online forums for class discussions.
- Optional additional homework activities.
By encouraging autonomy, you equip students with the tools to continue learning beyond the classroom.
- Vary Your Teaching Methods
Keep lessons engaging by incorporating a variety of teaching approaches. Combine traditional methods like grammar exercises and comprehension tasks with more interactive activities such as:
- Games and quizzes.
- Role-plays and debates.
- Multimedia tools like audiobooks, film adaptations, or fan-made content.
This variety ensures that all students—regardless of their learning style—find something that resonates with them.
- Set Clear Objectives and Outcomes
Every lesson should have specific, measurable goals so students understand what they’re working toward. Clear objectives help students track their progress and stay motivated.
By starting with a thorough needs analysis, building consistency and flexibility, and designing lessons that are varied, balanced, and engaging, you can create a syllabus that both challenges and supports your students. A well-crafted syllabus isn’t just a plan—it’s a roadmap to a rewarding and effective learning experience.
