20 Tips for How to Be a Good Teacher of English to Online Students

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Are you an ESL teacher or tutor who works with freelance students? Are you looking for ways to improve your teaching skills? If so, you have come to the right place! In this blog post, we will discuss 20 tips for how to be a good teacher of English to online students.

We will cover everything from creating a lesson plan to interacting with your students. So, whether you are a new teacher or an experienced one, read on for some helpful advice!

How to Be a Good Teacher of English

1. Be Organized

An important quality of a good English teacher is organization. When it comes to teaching English online, one of the most important things you can do is create good lesson plans and be able to keep track of your student’s progress.

This will help you to stay organized and focused while you are teaching. It is also a good idea to create a schedule for your lessons so that your students know what to expect each week.

If you subscribe to a curriculum, this cuts down on the need to plan lessons in advance while maintaining high-quality lesson content for your students that flows in a cohesive pattern.

2. Student Interaction

Another important tip is to make sure that you interact with your students. Get to them and their interests, so you can tailor your lesson themes or props to their interests.

Interaction means more than just answering their questions. It means engaging in conversations with them, listening to their concerns, and providing feedback on their progress.

In addition, it is also important to be patient with your students and remember that everyone learns at different speeds. Some students may need more time than others to master a concept.

3. TPR

Use Total Physical Response. Also known as TPR, this technique involves using physical movement to help students learn new vocabulary words.

For example, if you are teaching the word “jump,” you would demonstrate the meaning of the word by jumping up and down. This is a great way to get your students engaged in the lesson and help them to remember new vocabulary words.

4. Correcting Student Mistakes

When it comes time to correct your students’ mistakes, do so in a constructive way. This means avoiding comments that could hurt their feelings or discourage them from speaking English. One of the best ways to motivate your students is to be encouraging.

This can be done by providing feedback that is both positive and constructive. Focus on correcting their mistakes while simultaneously providing positive feedback for their efforts.

5. English Language Mastery

Have excellent English skills. As an ESL teacher, it is important to be a role model for your students. This means having excellent English pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar skills.

If you make mistakes, don’t worry – everyone does! Just take the opportunity to correct yourself so that your students can learn from your mistake as well. Don’t beat yourself up about mistakes when you make them. It will help your students to see that you don’t know everything.

6. Be Confident

This will help you to give motivating and interesting lessons to your students. If you are not confident in your teaching skills, your students will likely pick up on this and it could affect their motivation to learn. Remember that confidence is infectious. Emulate the behavior you expect.

7. Keep Learning

Ongoing professional development is important for all teachers, but it is especially important for ESL teachers. This is because the methods and theories surrounding ESL teaching are constantly changing.

By keeping up with the latest developments in the field, you can ensure that you are using the best possible techniques in your lessons. Often there are teacher training courses presented online so that English teachers and tutors can easily complete professional development programs.

8. Get a TEFL

A TEFL certification is not required to teach English online, but it can be helpful. This certification will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective ESL teacher.

Plus, it will show your students that you are committed to teaching English and helping them to improve their language skills.

Even if you have other teaching certifications, having an English Teaching Certificate will help potential students to see that you are serious about being a good teacher.

Are you seeking certification for teaching English?

If you are or want to be an online ESL tutor, then certification is required by many companies & desired by many private clients.

We recommend this TEFL course! They even offer post-completion job support and resources.

9. Upskill Yourself

Gain new practical and technology skills. In order to be a good online teacher, you need to be comfortable using technology. You can start by reading our articles on helpful technology tips.

Pro Tip: The Tutor Resource Youtube page has a growing library of tutorials to help you develop your skills.

This means having a basic understanding of how to use video conferencing software, such as Skype or Zoom. You should also be familiar with other online teaching tools, such as Genially and Classin.

10. Stay Positive

Maintain a positive classroom environment. One of the most important aspects of being a good teacher is maintaining a positive classroom environment.

This means being patient with your students, encouraging them to participate, and providing feedback that is both constructive and positive. Remember, you are the expert.

When teaching English to non-native speakers, it is important to be patient and understanding. This can be challenging at times, but it is essential for maintaining a positive classroom environment.

11. Find a Balance

Balance spontaneity with structure. While it is important to have a lesson plan, it is also important to be flexible and spontaneous.

This will help to keep your students engaged in the lesson and prevent them from becoming bored. Try to find a balance between spontaneity and structure in your lessons.

12. Multimedia

Make use of multimedia. Generally, interactive online lessons can be a great way to engage your students and add variety to your lessons. There are many different types of multimedia that you can use, such as videos, podcasts, and images.

If this feels overwhelming, then incorporate media one step at a time. Find a rhythm that works for you. Edpuzzle and Word Wall are also great ways to engage your students.

13. Be Yourself

Have a great personality. Being a good teacher is not just about having the right qualifications – it’s also about having a great personality. This means being friendly, approachable, and positive.

Show empathy when they struggle. Remember, your students are learning English from you – so make sure that you are someone that they want to learn from!

14. Change Things Up

Use a variety of teaching methods. When teaching English, it is important to use a variety of different teaching methods. This will help to keep your students engaged and prevent them from becoming bored.

Try to use a mix of activities, such as games, role-plays, and discussions. Also, ask interpretive questions to higher-level language learners. Help them to analyze the information their learning rather than just repeat it back to you.

Change up your style and adapt it to student needs if you want to know how to be a good english teacher.

15. Be Patient

Be patient. One of the most important qualities of a good teacher is patience. This is especially true when teaching English to non-native speakers. Remember, your students are learning a new language – so be patient with them when they make mistakes.

16. Know How to Teach

This may seem like an obvious point, but it is important to remember that not everyone knows how to teach. In order to be a good online teacher, you need to have a good understanding of pedagogy, or the science of teaching.

This means being familiar with different teaching methods and knowing how to apply them to the English language.

To be a good English teacher, you need to know how to teach.

17. Encourage Learning Outside of Class

While it is important to have face-to-face time with your students, it is also important to encourage them to learn outside of class. This can be done by assigning homework, providing extra resources, and setting up independent study groups.

It can also be more informal, such as having a chat with them about the news or their favorite TV show. Ask them to make a presentation for you about one of their hobbies or interests.

18. Use Technology

Technology in online classes can be a great way to engage your students and make your lessons more interactive. There are many different types of technology that you can use, such as online quizzes, games, and videos.

However, it is important to use technology wisely. Too much extraneous technology can be distracting and overwhelming for students.

The best headset for online teaching varies by teacher needs.

19. Develop Student Study Skills

Don’t just teach the lesson plan. Incorporate ways for your students to develop basic study skills that can be used for learning about any topic. This could be done through activities such as note-taking, brainstorming, and summarizing.

Comprehension questions after videos or reading are also great ways for students to improve their study skills.

20. Have Fun!

Last but not least, have fun! Teaching English should be enjoyable for both you and your students. If you are having fun, your students will too. If you are not enjoying yourself, it will be difficult to keep your students engaged in the lesson.

Remember, learning should be fun for everyone!

Being a good English teacher includes having fun!

Conclusion: How to Be a Good Teacher of English

These are just a few of the many things you can do to be a good teacher of English to online students. Just remember to be patient, use a variety of teaching methods, and have fun!

With these tips, you can create enjoyable lessons that will be sure to engage your students and help them to learn the language effectively. You’ll be a good English teacher in no time!