Online Teaching Introduction
To start out our course we will ask some simple questions that you will be able to answer at the end of this course such as:
What does it take to teach English online?
Why should you become an online teacher?
What things and resources will you need to teach online?
Should you work for a teaching company or yourself?
What skills do you need as an online teacher?
How can you build a relationship with students online?
How can you manage your online class?
How can you make engaging lessons for online classes?
What kind of learners will you teach?
Online teaching can be various types of teaching and it all depends on the type of students and groups that you aim to teach. It can be just teaching in a one-on-one setting, a small group of students, or even a big group of students. For us we have had the experience of teaching groups for business, young students, and even older adult learners online and in person. The levels that you teach can be varied so it is important to remember your learners' level and to make plans around each class and group that you teach. Also remember the difference in choosing to teach yourself as your own business or if it is through a company where you sign up as a teacher and deliver lessons to your students just like you would in a face-to-face classroom. Usually when you sign up through a company, they have a curriculum and lesson plans prepared.
When it comes to teaching through your own business versus teaching for a school you should remember that if you are teaching through your own company you will need to spend a lot of time preparing and planning for lessons. The context should also be remembered for each level and area of the learners. Learners will also have different schedules that you will need to work around for your own business. If you have business English students they may be travelling around and have a constantly fluctuating schedule and time zone changes.
Understanding the difference of levels is also huge in an online setting. If you are teaching younger learners you will need to have a lot of visual materials prepared, even if it is just through PowerPoints or images that you can share with them. For the younger learners it’s best to focus on vocabulary and phonics in their classes to help build a strong foundation of English for them. Which means focusing on things like basic vocabulary, numbers, the alphabet, the sounds of each alphabet letter, colors, shapes, and other basic things like this are essential for helping to build your students up.
Then when it comes to having adult learners it is very important to work together with them to form a curriculum that works for them. There is no reason to teach greetings and basics if your learner is a higher level and is looking for something specific. Make sure to always take notes when you have adult learners and work to make the best lesson plans that you can make for what they actually desire to learn.
Also remember that the environment for teaching will be different for each student that you have. Some will be in their living room, in an office, in a café, or even in a crowded place. Online teaching is all about being adaptable and making sure that by the end of the lesson you have taught your student something that they were unable to do before their class with you if and when possible. Always be presenting new information during each different class so you can ensure your class quality.