Effective Teaching Methodologies for Online English Lessons
A budding ESL teacher must know how to tutor English online to boost engagement among students. Teaching English online lets you develop numerous opportunities for your students. You get the chance to plan and organize an engaging classroom session for your students.
With online ESL teaching, you can easily automate the otherwise strenuous formative assessments. It allows the teacher to access more time for meaningful interactions. However, you should be aware of the following teaching methodologies to make your online English lessons engaging.
Focus on a Task-Based Approach
If you are wondering how to teach online to foreign students, focusing on the task-based approach is the best bet. This type of teaching approach relies mainly on how you communicate with your students. Here the task you will assign must be relevant to the interests of learners.
To make this methodology work, teachers are required to comprehend the expectations and needs of their students. Language skills and grammar are the key components that teachers should focus on while using this approach.
Presentations Can Make a Visual Impact
Like physical classrooms, you can use presentations to make your online teaching sessions fruitful for students. Nowadays, simply relaying information won’t help your students to succeed. While using this teaching approach, teachers must be aware of the usage of videos, GIFs, and images.
The presentation-based approach allows you to explain the core concepts of English grammar correctly. Teachers also get the flexibility to share their presentations with students after the class for self-studying purposes. Listed are some of the standard presentation tools to help you get started.
- SlideShare
- Google Slides
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Project-Based Approach
Learning how to teach English online can make your life easier as an online ESL teacher. One of the most effective ways to teach English online is the project-based learning method. It allows your learners to develop skills through interactive projects based on challenges they may face.
One of the key highlights of project-based learning is that it lets students apply their theoretical approaches. Before adopting the project-based teaching approach, ESL teachers must assess the current needs of their students.
This type of teaching methodology is also commonly referred to as experiential learning. Some of the key features of project-based learning are as follows.
- Offers opportunities for revision and feedback
- It is inquiry-based and stimulates curiosity among students
- Allows students to be vocal about their current problems
Game-Based Teaching
The game-based learning model has become popular to optimize engagement among students. It can assist the students in reducing anxiety. Moreover, if there are students of various skill sets in your class, leveraging this teaching method can be an ideal option.
In online English teaching, games can help plug the gaps present in one-to-one interaction. Here are some best practices that every ESL teacher should follow while implementing game-based learning.
- Try to utilize the chat feature to address common concerns among your students.
- Give students sufficient time so that they can analyze their answers.
- Make sure that every student in the online class has access to consistent data.
- To make game-based teaching productive, use responsive video conferencing and screen-sharing tools.
Content and Language-Integrated Learning – Aspects to Know
If you want to learn how to teach English language online, knowing about content and language-integrated learning is crucial. It is a popular pedagogical approach that involves students learning the English language through content.
In this method, students learn language based on acquisition. So, you are not forcing them to learn anything. As an ESL teacher, you will use this method to develop fluency in English in students. Non-native English speakers know how to speak, write, and read in English with this approach. Some advantages of content and language-integrated learning are:
- Increases the motivation among learners
- Develops multilingual interests
- Makes your students adapt to the cultural context of English
- Optimizes the ability of learners to improve the key competencies
The content and language-integrated learning approach can help address the requirements of each student in your online class. Teachers should try to make students conversant with the key learning areas to ensure their overall development.
The Use of Pre-Recorded Video Lectures
The use of pre-recorded video lectures can help you explore how to teach English online for beginners. With the help of pre-recorded video lectures, you can allow the students to learn at their own pace. Moreover, this teaching methodology lets students access material to revise.
You can use the videos to ensure that nothing is repeated between two online classes. Following are some key things you should consider while developing pre-recorded lectures.
- Maintain a consistent flow while developing the video. It is crucial to create a pre-recorded video based on a specific script.
- Make sure that the video is shorter than 20 minutes. If you are recording a longer video, try to break it down into smaller portions.
- If you are recording a lesson from the screen, ensure that all the unnecessary tabs are closed.
- Always maintain uniform eye contact with the camera along with a modulating tone.
Your Expectations as an ESL Instructor should be Clear
While teaching English online, you should set clear expectations. To know how to teach English as a second language online, you must be TEFL certified. A TEFL certification lets you gain essential teaching skills with which you can make the classroom environment engaging.
You must make the overall grading system clear to the students. On the other hand, maintaining a transparent approach is also integral to your success as an ESL teacher. For instance, let the learners know when you can respond via email.
ESL teachers should also share the correct type of resources with their students. You can set a frequency or specific day on which you will share the essential resources and notes.
Instructing Students Through an Online Whiteboard
Online whiteboards are becoming popular nowadays because of their ability to explain concepts lucidly. Moreover, it can virtually emulate the in-person classroom experience between students and teachers. With an online whiteboard, you can select charts, images, diagrams, etc., to make the learning process seamless for your students.
One of the key highlights of online whiteboards is reusable content. In other words, you can easily share the content among several groups of non-native speakers. ESL teachers can use online whiteboards to collaborate with students on a real-time basis. An online whiteboard allows you to review homework and provide feedback. It also lets you encourage students to brainstorm ideas on a specific topic.
Rely on Discussions to Know the Viewpoints of Your Students
Are you wondering how to be an online ESL teacher? The best way to become an online ESL teacher is by getting a TEFL certification. To make your online ESL lessons interactive, you can encourage students to discuss specific topics concerning the course. For instance, you can ask them to express their views on a particular concept of grammar. During online classes, you should use synchronous discussions. One-to-one discussions can also help build rapport with your students. To make ESL classes engaging, you can use a class message board.
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Get a checklistTips for Managing Online Classrooms and Engaging Students
To help students achieve a productive learning environment, you must use effective classroom management strategies. As an ESL teacher, your first job must be to keep the atmosphere encouraging in the online class.
Online classroom management refers to the collection of strategies instructors use to boost engagement among students. It can include various types of activities like tracking attendance, grading tasks, providing feedback, etc.
Aspirants wondering how to become an English teacher online should get a TEFL certificate to learn the intricacies of teaching online. With the best classroom management strategies, you can keep your students engaged. Listed are some of the top tips to manage online classrooms and engage students.
Communication Must be Clear and Concise
The way in which you communicate can influence the success of students. For instance, during video conferencing, you should set clear expectations and standards. While developing your own expectations, ensure that they align with the point of view of the students.
Note that some parents may get confused by the new learning methods. Moreover, some of them may be working remotely to manage the schoolwork of their kids. Therefore, you must always make the communication process simpler.
Experienced online ESL teachers display the core information in a prominent location so that parents can retrieve them correctly. Communicating uniformly can decrease confusion among your learners. It will also boost engagement in your online English class.
Foster Connections with a Small Group of Students in the Initial Stage
You should be aware of how to teach foreign students online to gain experience. In the initial stage, you should focus on connecting with a small group of students. By connecting with them, you will learn about their expectations and thought processes. You must also listen and act on the feedback provided by them on your teaching style.
Appreciate the Accomplishments of your Students
Ensure that you recognize your students when they’re productive, engaged, and learning properly. Moreover, you should note that the students aren’t in a real classroom where you can appreciate their achievements.
To learn how to teach English from home, you must be aware of the intricacies. For instance, you can consider rewarding them with virtual awards for their achievements. The ultimate aim of all these activities is to encourage students. With proper motivation, your students can hone their English language skills.
Use the Right Type of Support Technologies
ESL teachers should know how to teach English to foreigners online to increase their chances of going abroad. Using the correct type of technological platform can help you simplify the concepts in an online class.
Besides using the correct type of technological platform, try testing it beforehand. The last thing you want is to derail your online learning session by fumbling with apps and software platforms. First-time ESL teachers typically find it tempting to get familiar with the latest tools and technologies.
If you are conducting an online class in realtime, it is essential to invest in a conferencing app. Most online tutoring platforms will allow you to use their learning management systems. However, if you are freelancing, you must use a good-quality conferencing app compatible with all devices.
For the purpose of presentation, you can use traditional slide-making tools. These tools can help in simplifying the complex concepts in an online English class.
Try Using Multiple Learning Modes
To learn how to be an ESL teacher online, you should be using multiple learning modes. Non-native English speakers can enhance their skills with a variety of learning materials like lectures, simulations, etc. It allows the students to learn at their own pace.