Engage, Study, and Activate

“ESA” means Engage, Study, and Activate.

Roughly equivalent to PPP, ESA is slightly different in that it is designed to allow movement back and forth between the stages. However, each stage is similar to the PPP stages in the same order.

Proponents of ESA method stress its flexibility compared to PPP and the method as defined by Jeremy Harmer (its major advocate) uses more elicitation and stresses the engagement
of students in the early stages of the lesson.

ESA is a superior method to PPP when both are looked at from a rigid point of view. But, EFL is not rigid and you should not adhere to any one viewpoint or method. PPP is often an easier method for teacher- trainees to get a handle on.

Below are an excellent set of pages for reading about and understanding the major methodologies in TEFL.

A good review of a variety of EFL teaching methods so you don’t get stuck in just one is at the website of

Dr. Jill Kerper Moran of San Diego State University: Second Language Teaching Methods