Online teaching is all about providing constant, focused, and student-specific engagement. Since classes last from 25 to 30 minutes, you will have to optimize the teaching process without having to sacrifice the quality. With that, learn how you can successfully conduct classes online and be one of the best ESL teachers in the online education industry. From simply preparing for the class ahead of time to obtaining ergonomic furniture for comfort, here are some ESL teaching tips to help you get started.
Invest in Suitable Equipment
Working remotely as a teacher requires you to have the right equipment to efficiently perform your job. When applying for online teaching, companies initially test your equipment to know whether you will be able to provide the best online learning experience for students. A fast and reliable computer desktop or laptop with at least 1 Gigahertz processor and a minimum of 256 ram MB for Windows. Take note, these numbers are only the minimum. If you can obtain a faster system, more reliable system, the better the service it will be.
Other technical requirements include headphones with a microphone, high-definition cameras, and high-speed broadband internet with at least 400 kbps of internet speed. When buying headphones, make sure to look for ones that have noise and static sound cancellation features. Apart from that, consider lightweight for comfort. For web cameras, you must use at least 720p at 30 frames per second for clear video quality.
Obtain Ergonomic Office Furniture
Online teaching is similar to any other desk job. You are required to sit down for hours in front of the computer. With this, you may be at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders such as damage to the neck’s joints and back pain. By obtaining ergonomic office chairs, standing desk tables, and chair mats, you can tremendously increase your productivity.
- Office chair
For the office chair, obtain ones with flexible mesh material for the backrest to give you sufficient mid to upper back support. The mesh takes the form of the body. With this, you can find a comfortable position for your back. Apart from the backrest quality, the arms of the chair must also be considered. Look for ones with soft armrests for extra comfort when leaning on them.
- Standing desk tables
Height-adjustable or sit-stand desks allow you to stand up comfortably while working. Many offices use these kinds of desks so that employees may either sit or stand depending on their mood and what their body needs. These desks can greatly improve your mood and energy levels to perform better in teaching.
Make Each Class Unique
If you want students to rebook your classes, allow them to feel special. Before you begin with the lesson, have a 3 to 5-minute conversation and talk about your student’s day or their interests. In short, get to know them better. This way, they will feel more comfortable having you as a teacher.
On a final note, make sure to jot down notes about each student. You will be working with a lot of students. No matter how frequently you see them, you might still forget a few details and shuffle bits of information. Aside from keeping a few notes about the students, you can also jot down the English words they are struggling to pronounce or understand.
Prepare for the Class Ahead of Time
Set up your lights, equipment, and turn on your laptop at least 30 minutes before your class starts. Usually, companies will require you to be online 25 minutes before your first class. This allows them to know whether you will be able to attend your classes or not. Finally, preparing your lesson slides and application software needed to carry on with the class will enable you to check if the student made changes regarding schedule and subject.
Use Other Visual Aids
Apart from the lessons and chapters provided by the company to you, having your own visual aids can make the class more fun, immersive, and engaging. Your goal should be to enhance how students learn. Working as an online teacher means you will meet young and old students having different ways in which they learn best.
For children, you can use toys such as puppets, puzzles, and costumes to capture their attention. On the other hand, adults may only need real-life props to understand how something works. For instance, you are teaching an adult how to properly answer a phone call. Having a mobile device as a prop will allow them to imagine themselves doing it.
Collages of posters and pictures make great tools for learning. Especially if you are teaching places, animals, food, and body parts. Having pictures around enables you to save time. Instead of typing your explanation or sending the pictures through the chatbox, you can simply point at the picture.
Key Takeaway
If you are planning to take the journey of being an online teacher, take these ESL teaching tips into consideration to become one of the best in the industry. Take note of the challenges that you meet along the way and always go back to the tips that you have learned. On a final note, always evaluate and assess your teaching style after every class to know whether you were able to provide the best learning experience for your students or not.
