Our virtual volunteers who had their first-hand experience teaching English as a second language to children in local communities in various countries. After a couple of months, they have a few tips up their sleeves on teaching English as a second language online more effectively.
Teaching English Online
With the pandemic and school closures, we’ve got to make use of what online learning can offer. Virtual volunteer alumni, Michael Ishak shared that it’s about perseverance if you want to get over the hurdles of teaching English online. Be sure to address people by their name and it is important to keep their attention. So, speaking clearly and loudly as well as encouraging them to be more energetic so that you’re engaging them.
1. Prepare in advance
You should always prepare lesson plans or even exercises that suit the students. Ben Worthington from IELTS Podcast (www.ieltspodcast.com) recommends that you “have a very clear idea of what you want them to take away – to learn – in each class.” That’s especially when teaching children they learn by doing things–learning through play. They need to be physically involved in doing things like drawing, completing word puzzles, matching pictures and words, playing games, listening to and singing songs, doing physical activities such as movements in response to commands, in other words, all activities that combine listening, seeing and doing,
he elaborated. Similarly, Michael included skits as an activity in his study materials for his students in Japan to be more engaged with him.
2. Break the ice
Krishna Jayaram, virtual volunteer alumni, did her online teaching Quest in Romania working with a smaller group of students over two months advised that starting the lesson with conversations of getting to know one another, so they could also connect better despite the language barrier. In addition, Kimberly Zhu, virtual volunteer alumni, shares that she introduced the game Sudoku (which they fell in love with) to the students in Romania before she started her English lessons with them.
3. Observe and engage
When teaching English you really need to step into the shoes of the people you’re tutoring and you have to structure things based on what you observe,
Michael expressed. He explained that he takes note of the mistakes that the students make to structure future lessons.
Watch: Krishna, Michael, and Kimberly shares the impact they’ve made
4. Learning the students’ native language
Krishna recommends learning the students’ native language which she found helpful after attending United Planet 5 Pillar of Global Citizenship. She took the initiative to learn and practice Romanian every day. She then practiced her Romanian with her students and in turn got them to translate what she says into English.
5. Asking for feedback
Kimberly was on a three-month virtual volunteering program teaching English online to around 20 students. She asked for their feedback to better prepare teaching materials that might be interesting to them. I learn more about their dreams, some wanted to become teachers, and others wanted to help their parents when they’re older to support their siblings. Also, quite a lot of them were curious about American and Canadian culture, like pop culture and fashion. Rather than teaching at them, I created fewer pages for the slides and then have conversations with them.
6. Encouragement
Kimberly suggested that instead of correcting the students’ mistakes, encouraging them instead. I learn some encouraging words in their language like ‘bravo’. If you say it often, they’ll sense your sincerity. They’ll express it by smiling more or sitting more comfortably during lessons,
Kimberly enthused.
Read More: A Day in Life As A Virtual Volunteer and Productive Tips
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
