If you’re able to speak a second language and understand the mechanics of language learning, then teaching languages online could be your ideal remote job. In this post, we will discuss how to teach a language online, the process of getting started, and how to find your clients – students.
The online education market is growing and language learning will always be a popular choice. However, with all the online tutoring platforms out there, it can be hard to know where to start, and how to make your lessons effective for all learners. This guide can help summarize the most important elements of how to teach a language online.
Choosing A Platform to Teach a Language Online
Your first step towards teaching a language online is to choose which platform you’ll use to conduct your lessons. Some of the most well-known free platforms are:
- Zoom
- Skype
- Google Hangouts
When just starting out, Skype will probably be the most familiar to you and your students, therefore making it the most logical choice. Skype gives you the ability to call and message your students, as well as share relevant helpful links and documents inside the platform.
Google Hangouts is also a great choice because it allows you to easily link your lessons to Google Drive. With Google Drive, you can create a shared drive and folders for each student, where you can store documents and any work you may do or assign during your lessons. Just like Skype, it’s very easy to use. When I was learning Slovenian last year, the online teacher would put all of our lessons in Google Drive so that we could easily go in and access them.
Each platform has their own benefits; take some time to play with them and explore your options before you decide which one you’ll use.
Find Language Students
Marketing your services as an online language teacher may be one of the most challenging aspects when you’re first starting out. Start locally by checking with the community colleges, high schools, and community centers if they need tutors and teachers who can help supplement their language programs. Perhaps you can also check with the libraries about what types of programs are being offered there, and look for local community bulletin boards. You can also check with local companies and advertisements.
Once you have put out feelers locally and regionally, then you should get your online presence built. Create a website, make a Facebook page and an Instagram account. Join language learning pages on Facebook and create relationships. Don’t step on anyone’s toes, and there is plenty of business for everyone, so be collaborative and follow their lead.
Make Sure You Have the Right Equipment and Tech Setup
A good headset is an important investment for online teaching. Clear pronunciation is a key part of language teaching, which means it’s important that students can hear you clearly. A headset with a microphone will reduce background noise, which will help to give your voice more clarity.
Another important part of preparation is to make sure you are confident in the video-conferencing technology that you are using. If you’re starting from scratch with technology you’re not familiar with, take advantage of tutorials available online. Also have a friend or family member volunteer to practice with you so you can get comfortable with the settings and familiar with where things are in case you need to change things mid-conference.
Video conferencing technology has made some fantastic improvements since Zoom was invented, but it’s still not a straightforward replacement for standing in front of a class. We are getting closer, and everyone’s online interaction during the Pandemic of 2020 helped most people to be more comfortable with distance video conferencing and online learning. Being present onscreen is different from being physically present in front of a class, and you’ll need to adjust your teaching style.
Communication Style Tips
Exaggerate your body language to come across on screen, and make sure you are enunciating slowly when you speak. Think the communications equivalent of “stage makeup”; when you’re not face to face, it can be harder to see the nonverbal cues that need to come across while communicating, so amp things up a level or two. It may feel over the top, but it will be easier for your students to understand you, and in time you will find the right balance. Ask them for feedback in the beginning so you can determine habits and practices that work best for you.
Make sure to look at the camera. It’s going to feel weird at first, but if you look at your students’ faces, then they will perceive you as looking down. Put a sticky note on your computer screen to remind you where to look. It’s a tough balancing act, but the more you practice, the better you’re going to get at it. Be patient with yourself because it’s going to be a bit uncomfortable at first.
Consider giving more written direction than you would in a classroom. It can be harder to pick up the cues that a student hasn’t understood the instructions over video. When you put a word on the screen tell them to say it, then write it down, then take it away and have them type it. This gives them three ways to reinforce remembering it; speaking, writing, and typing.
Keep exploring and figuring out what works for you and your teaching style. Share useful language study information on your social media pages to help others while attracting new students. Stay involved in your community, both online and locally, and make some great friends. A network of like-minded people will continue to bring you more like-minded people, and new students often come via word-of-mouth recommendations. Most importantly, remember, you’re helping people, so have fun!
Subscribe for more business, sales, and investing posts. Have a lovely day.
