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Is your internet speed fast enough while teaching online?
A slow internet speed on your side is going to be a problem when teaching online. It’s up to you know beforehand what speed you’ll need to teach your classes.
If you’re living in a country like South Africa, be aware of load-shedding where electrical power is cut for certain periods of time. This will hamper your online classes and can either get you fired or they simply won’t be interested in hiring you.
Remember, there’s always a solution in the end, so don’t just throw your hands in the air and give up too quickly.
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Do you have enough lighting?
If your face is too dark and your students can’t see you properly, you will lose their attention while teaching online. This will make teaching them more difficult because it’ll be too hard for them to see your face. The clearer your features are, the easier and more willing they will be to look at you. As simple as that.
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Have you mastered the teaching online platform you’ll be working on?
It’s important that you learn what each button does before you start your actual classes. Some employers provide training for their teachers on certain platforms but in the end, it’s still up to you to know how everything works.
Make sure you master this, so that you don’t come across as being incompetent during your lessons, while teaching online.
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Have your lesson plan in front of you – don’t try to wing it!
It’s always a good idea to have a song or an activity ready for exactly those moments when you feel your students have lost concentration and you need to change direction. I have found that students who lose concentration thrive when you suddenly change the mood of the lesson, even if it’s only for a very short time.
As teacher, you are constantly reading the signs, checking your time and assessing when to change the pace and what to do to keep your students focused and interested. If you’re new to teaching, don’t fret. This timing, pacing and decision-making routine will come with practice and experience.
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Be Entertaining
Be entertaining and an extrovert from the word ‘go’, even if you’re not one. There’s nothing worse than a teacher who is boring and uninspiring. You can’t expect your students to set the tone for you. This is your class and you are the one who is going determine in what direction it goes.
So, tap into your inner child, that uninhibited side of you that sometimes cuts loose and simply gesticulate and crank up your facial expressions. Everybody has that side to them, even the terribly shy and I should know because I’m one of them. I’ve been play-acting now for more than two decades!
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Keep an eye on your time
Probably, the biggest no-no when teaching online is logging in late. Along with that faux pas, is leaving the class before your time is up. Also remember to never go over time unless you’ve arranged it with your students.
Just because you’re available to carry on teaching them now, it doesn’t mean your students or their families, don’t have somewhere else to be or something else to do. Be considerate in all directions when you’re dealing with people’s time.
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Use as many props and realia items as possible while teaching online
Using the real thing, helps students, especially children remain focused for longer periods of time. Many online teaching companies will emphasize that they want you to use as many real objects as possible.
Realia is preferred above flashcards because they have found that students respond better to them and retain vocabulary for longer periods of time. So, look around your house and see what you can use in today’s lesson.
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Don’t sing too loudly!
If there’s a song in the lesson plan that you must play for the students, don’t audibly sing along at the top of your lungs. Your sync will probably be out on their side and you’ll sound like a cat being strangled even if you have a voice like Mariah Carey. Simply mime along to the song as if it’s the most natural thing in the world to do.
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Keep a pleasant expression on your face at all times
Remember, when you’re teaching online, the students will be looking at your face the entire time. If you’re a scowler or a frowner, then start training your face now to remain pleasant-looking at all times. No-one wants to be confronted with someone who looks like he or she has been been sucking lemons all day! Check out my post on how I was forced to teach with Dengue Fever, using make-up to cover my blotches.
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Start and end your class with a bang!
When entering your class, come in strong and on a high note. Doing this will set the tone for the rest of your lesson. You can start with a song or a funny moment using a mask, a wig, funny glasses or a puppet.
When you end your class, send them off with something to think about like a puppet saying goodbye or by showing them your dog or cat. First impressions will help determine the success of today’s lesson. Last impressions will enable them to look forward to their next session with you.
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Use an in-ear headset while teaching online
I have seen many online teachers use over-the-ear headsets while teaching their classes. You can do this if it makes you feel comfortable but I have found that it can limit you while you’re teaching.
Let me explain: As an involved and dedicated teacher, you want to reap the full benefits of teaching children online, right? In order to do this, you will want to use props and gimmicks which include masks, glasses and hats.
With large headphones on, it is extremely difficult to add more objects to your head. I have found that in-ear headsets allow you to do all of this with practically no restrictions. However, in the end, you must decide what makes you feel the most comfortable while teaching.
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- For more information on how to teach online, check out this course on Udemy.
- For ideas for TEFL classroom games, see this course, also on GRINFER and Udemy.
- Also, check out my videos on YouTube.