Online instructors have the advantage of working from home virtually anywhere in the globe, but they also face a unique set of challenges, especially if they haven’t undergone online cultural sensitivity training.

Of course, specific challenges are comparable to those encountered in classrooms, but online teachers must deal with them differently. Here are some of the most typical errors that online teachers make in virtual teacher certification courses.

Inadequate feedback

It is critical to offer written comments and evaluations to pupils. It might be difficult to arrange this without homework or examinations, but students should keep track of their progress and be allowed to evaluate their mistakes on their own time. Online students must perform some self-study tasks and take online classes, but it can be challenging to decide what to focus on without guidance. Giving pupils feedback allows you to discover the areas they struggle with and offer additional practice tasks to assist them.

A scarcity of diversity

Online teachers devote the majority of their time to speaking and listening. These are vital abilities to have, but to learn English, students must concentrate on all elements of the language, including writing and reading. To make the most effective use of your time, you might encourage students to study materials before your class to prep them for lessons and periodically give written work as homework. Some students may not desire to improve their writing abilities, but you should find out what they want to gain out of their courses to organize classes accordingly. Encourage pupils to think about the relevance of these abilities and explain how incorporating them into classes will not take away from other activities.

Excessive chatting

Online teachers frequently speak too much during sessions, mainly if they are not used to one-on-one lessons. Because online sessions are typically brief, teachers should make the most of their students’ speaking time. Allow pupils to read directions and anything else you may be tempted to read for them if you utilize specific instructional materials. Make the most of your speaking time by asking questions, prompting lengthier replies, providing criticism, and modeling pronunciation. Students should be encouraged to ask questions. Rather than having a student repeat each word on a vocabulary list, have them read the words aloud, rehearse the pronunciation of any terms they struggled with, and ask if there are any new words on the list. This saves time since you have to focus on what the learner requires assistance with.

Positioning of the microphone

Another critical factor that teachers must consider is microphone placement. A headset is required for online instructors. Students will be sidetracked by clicking, typing, and other sounds if you do not use a headset, but utilizing a headset minimizes the number of different noises they hear and helps them focus more on what you are saying. The location of your microphone is critical since it affects the sound quality of your lessons. If it is immediately in front of your lips, your speaking and breathing will lead students to hear noises similar to those heard if a caller is outside on a breezy day. You should verify your microphone location by taping yourself speaking into it or by inviting a family member or friend to do so with you using a tool such as Google Voice or Skype. This will give you an idea of where it should be put. In general, the microphone should be placed to one side, either below or above your lips.

Camera

Please consider your look and backdrop if you utilize a camera for your lessons. Just because you work from home does not give you the right to wear your pajamas to class. Dressing correctly and professionally will help you win the respect of your pupils and set the tone for your interactions with them. Keep in mind that pupils will see everything behind you as well as you. Beds and toilets should not be visible in the backdrop. Locate a peaceful, neutral location that conveys minimal personal information. It is lovely to get to know pupils, but they should not be allowed to view specific areas of your home, family members strolling behind you, or pets. You must demonstrate that you approach your task professionally and that you value their education.

Attempting to accomplish everything at once

With more teachers learning to teach online by taking up intercultural training programs and a plethora of new materials becoming available, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. One approach for staying organized and producing high-quality material taught in cultural training programs is to focus on one method at a time.

Take one step at a time, whether it’s online meetings, assigning homework, audio recordings, instructional videos, or live classes! You’ll gradually get more familiar with each way of generating material and identify the ones that work best for you and your students.

Introduce a new learning approach to your class after you are comfortable with it. Including diversity in your course will assist inspire students and keep them engaged while they learn at home. Having a range of materials on hand can help kids focus while keeping them from becoming bored or restless.

These are only a few of the issues that online educators should be aware of.

Bonus tip: It’s helpful to know what time it is for your pupils. This is easy to remember and very much stressed in culture workshops, but the lesson you teach in the morning may be in the evening for your student, so adapt your greeting accordingly. This might be not easy, but it shows students that you care about them enough to know what day and time your class is in their nation. It merely adds a bit more flavor to your experience.