How should I structure a 1-on-1 online ESL lesson?

A reliable 30-minute structure for young learners:

1. Warm-up (3-5 min). Greeting, "how are you," weather, day of the week. A predictable routine signals "class is starting" and reduces transition anxiety.
2. Review (3-5 min). Quick recall of last lesson — flashcards, one or two production questions.
3. Introduction of new content (5-7 min). Target vocabulary or grammar, with visuals and clear modeling. Cap it at 5-8 new words or one new structure.
4. Guided practice (5-8 min). Drilling, repeat-after-me, fill-in-the-blank, controlled question-and-answer.
5. Production / freer practice (5-8 min). Student uses the new content in a game, role play, or open prompt. This is where real learning shows up.
6. Wrap-up (2-3 min). Quick recap, sticker or point reward, preview of next lesson, "goodbye" routine.

For 45- or 60-minute lessons, lengthen the practice and production phases rather than adding new content. The most common lesson-planning mistake is introducing too much new material in one session — kids look engaged, then retain almost none of it.