Internet-based language instruction is on the rise. People used to join physical classrooms to learn a language, but things have changed. English language teachers have turned to technology and are finding new ways to make online learning fun and interesting.
Ever since COVID-19 started spreading, teachers and students were forced to stay at home. Schools and colleges prefer online classes to physical classroom teaching. Researchers are working on developing different tools to enhance computer-assisted language learning (CALL).
CALL is not just the future, it is a living reality. Physical classrooms gave teachers an opportunity to be creative. After giving a lecture for 40 minutes, they would give a break and hold an interactive session with the students. But now you have to do all of that on an online platform.
This article tells you about the different strategies to make online language learning engaging and effective.
To get started with your journey as an online English language teacher, you have to ensure that the internet speed is good. It should not be glitched or slow.
You have to de-clutter the working space so that the student does not see any mess behind you. Teachers are not just teaching the subject, they are also setting an example for students.
Make sure to eliminate any background noise and be presentable during the online lesson.
An online language instructor needs to prepare the lesson beforehand. You cannot start a class without knowing what you are going to teach.
Since your student will be looking at the computer screen and expecting a great lesson, you have to ensure that you are ready with some footnotes and activities. You must include visuals, write something on the whiteboard, share your screen, and do an engaging activity with your student.
You have to ensure that your facial expressions are neutral, and the voice should be clear. Students have a misconception that teachers are nerdy and boring. It is time to change that perception. Make the online class fun and interesting with your body language and facial expression.
Make sure your pronunciation is perfect because the student is in the learning process. Moreover, you are teaching English language, so the pronunciation should be perfect.
Your students come from different cultural backgrounds. You need to ask your students about their expectations and goals. Don’t start teaching immediately - ask them about why they want to learn English language and how you can help.
Make them feel included in the online teaching session. You can also ask about their interests so that you can include it in the next sessions.
A teacher requires a lot of patience. As an online language instructor, you must know that the student will learn in a comfortable space. They fear judgment in a physical classroom, but with you, they should feel at ease.
Be compassionate and ask the student whether they have any doubts or concerns. Every student has their own capabilities of learning new things. Some might take a while to learn how to speak and write, and others will pick it up quickly.
Do you have a hobby? Maybe you like to sing, cook, paint, or are interested in poetry. Include your interests in the lessons to make it fun and engaging. You can also ask your students about their hobbies so that you can include it in your next lesson.
Let’s take the example of acting/theater. You can ask your students to prepare a speech in English and read it out loud in different emotions such as anger, sadness, happiness, and worry. You can give them a quick example of how to do it.
Concluding Thoughts
With all these strategies, you can become an excellent online language instructor. Join an online language learning platform like Evopry and get started with your journey as an online teacher.
You will not just earn a handsome amount, but also gain teaching experience. College students and inexperienced teachers are welcome onboard!
