Teaching English Online with Skype: The a hundred and one Guide

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You’ve decided to start out teaching online and also you’re prepared to start out finding some college students, nice!

But what’s the most effective software program to connect together with your students?

You’ve heard of Skype and need to get set up. Or… Likely you've been using Skype for some time however need to be able to do more with it.

In this text, you will study every little thing you need to learn about teaching English on-line by way of Skype and getting probably the most out of it.

After studying, it is possible for you to to offer skilled lessons and know precisely what to do if you encounter any technical issues.

Why Teaching English Online with Skype?

So why must you even use Skype? After all, there are plenty of decisions when it comes to video call software.

Well, first of all, it’s free. You don’t have to pay to install it and also you don’t need to pay any subscription expenses to maintain using it.

Secondly, it’s available across the majority of platforms: PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. So, it’s doubtless going to run in your chosen system, no matter that could be.

It also has plenty of customers so it’s likely your students will have already got an account, meaning much less work for them to do to take your class.

Skype can also be the usual for lots of online instructing platforms so you'll want to make certain it is put in for these lessons (should you haven’t already put in it for the interview stage or private use).

Finally, it has loads of useful features corresponding to display screen sharing, session recording and sending files, and so on. which give you extra tools to work with in your lesson.

Hardware Requirements

So what do we need to be able to run Skype?

The very first thing you want is a pc. Skype isn’t a serious resource hog so that you don’t want to worry too much about RAM (512MB+) or CPU power (1GHz+). 

However, if you are utilizing other teaching assets and have multiple tabs and functions open then you certainly don’t want issues freezing in the middle of a class as a result of a gradual computer so try to get no less than a mannequin from the last 5 years.

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A bigger display is another thing to contemplate so as to help you balance using Skype along with your other instructing resources. This is particularly the case with a laptop the place screens can get quite small; I couldn’t think about utilizing anything less than my 15” screen on my laptop.

There is so much more we might go into with computers, though there isn’t room for it on this article, here is a superb have a look at the.

Which Headset and Camera to Choose

Another essential factor you’ll want is a good high quality headset to ensure your communication is clear. Theis one of many standards and in addition to being a quality USB headset, it’s also fairly low-cost! 

If you can spend a little extra, theis one other nice alternative. It comes with a couple of extra bells and whistles such as the power to end and begin Skype calls right from the headset’s controls.

Finally, you have to ensure you have a webcam set up so your college students can see you. Most laptops will have this function built in but if not (or if you are on a desktop) then theis an excellent, low-cost choice for quality 720p video.

Installing and setting up an account

With the hardware sorted, now we're able to set up Skype and this process couldn’t be simpler:

1. Download

from the website. You can’t miss the big “Get Skype…” button on the homepage. If the page hasn’t detected your operating system then go to the “Downloads” page at the top to select the proper model.

2. Create Account

for Skype. Go to the top proper of the screen and within the “sign in” part you'll be able to click on “enroll”.

3. Sign In

utilizing your particulars. Once your obtain has completed you can open up the app and click “check in” with the main points from before. 

Remember! These particulars are going to be shown to every pupil and employer you contact so watch out with the knowledge you use. Keep it skilled and pleasant.

When you create your username simply pick your first and final identify. “sk8rBoi69” doesn’t scream skilled teacher. 

On the identical topic with profile footage, make certain the lighting is nice, don’t hinder your face and remember to smile.

Workplace

Once your system and account is about up we have to take a look at your office.

You wish to see your setting via your student’s eyes. Would you favor a trainer who had a messy room with tacky posters? Or would you favor to see a clear, skilled environment? Exactly!

Background

First of all, you need a tidy background. It doesn’t have to appear to be a Cambridge library however on the very minimum needs to be impartial with none distractions.

You need enough lighting. You need your college students to see you clearly however an excessive amount of mild is usually a little unflattering. Experiment with having the curtains open at different amounts or having extra lamps to get a light-weight level that works for you.

Noise Level

You additionally need to concentrate to noise levels. 

If you have a selection of rooms in your house then find the one that's the quietest. 

If you don’t have a selection then attempt to maintain the home windows closed. Also, inform anybody else dwelling there that you may be doing a lesson (if they are noisy) and ask (politely) to be quieter for the following hour or so.

Another factor, don’t do your classes within the local starbucks! 

Sure the espresso’s arguably great however your college students won’t love the background noise and I don’t think the other prospects will recognize your overly-passionate lesson about prepositions! 

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If you want issues corresponding to realia or a whiteboard for your classes then make sure they are nearby and easy to succeed in. You gained’t want to be rummaging around within the next room trying to find your flashcards midway through your class of 15 preschoolers.

Comfort

Lastly, we additionally want to take a look at comfort. You will (hopefully) be spending plenty of time at your workstation so that you want to reduce the stress on your body as a lot as possible.

Make sure you've water nearby, this is important when you use your voice all day. Have a great quality chair and set it accurately; this will reduce any strain on your back and so on.

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In order to avoid eye pressure, display screen brightness shouldn’t be set too excessive. 

Volume shouldn’t be too high on your headset either to avoid ear fatigue. I generally discover a setting where I can hear a scholar nicely however without it being excessive. 

If I really need to concentrate on their pronunciation for a selected half then I can flip the volume up briefly to hear higher and then flip it again down afterward.

Clothes

Wear appropriate clothes. 

For a class of business students, it could be appropriate to put on extra formal clothes. 

For a class of preschoolers though it would be best to be sure to are carrying one thing comfy, for example, a polo, so you may be expressive.

Tips for Conducting Great Online Lessons

With every little thing set up let’s look at some methods to offer one of the best lessons on skype.

Before the Lesson

“By failing to prepare, you're getting ready to fail.”

The very first thing you need to do is to plan the lesson. How lengthy is it? What matter will you cowl? What workout routines will you do?

Here is an instance of a lesson plan I use:

Activities are added with the period of time taken for every one. The more information you could have within the lesson plan, the more likely a category will go in accordance with plan.

Always have a backup exercise or two in case you end every thing extra early. There’s nothing worse than ending every thing you had deliberate and realising you could have twenty minutes left till the top. 

The Start of the Lesson

For adults, you'll be able to heat up by asking them about their week. For children, you can warm up with a game or perhaps even a song. 

Reviewing previous courses is usually a good suggestion near the start. You can’t anticipate a pupil to always revise in their very own time and in the event that they don’t, then they could easily neglect what they've previously discovered.

The End of the Lesson

Be conscious of the time during class, you don’t have to stick perfectly to your lesson plan but try to keep near make sure you achieve your objectives. 

Have the homework ready and ready to give on the end of the class. 

Check the date and time for the subsequent class on the finish, this could be a good reminder if a scholar regularly forgets to e-book.

Now you’re all arrange with the basics however there’s still extra we can do to get essentially the most from Skype.

Familiarise yourself with the following tools and so they can add heaps of value to your lessons.

Screen Sharing

Using screen sharing is a very helpful (typically time-saving) software whenever you need to present your scholar’s a particular useful resource. 

I use it to share exercise books, spotlight sections on a website for reading workout routines or simply to troubleshoot. 

To activate display sharing during a name, press the “overlapped squares” icon in the bottom right of the screen throughout a call. 

When you might be using two screens, you possibly can choose which screen to share with the scholar.

Send Documents

Sending audio, video, and PDF information may be very simple to do in Skype.

Just drag and drop a useful resource into the chat, hit enter and off it goes. Or click on the “share information” icon and choose a file out of your exhausting drive.

That’s how the student receives the recordsdata in his chat window:

If your recordsdata are huge then it might be an concept to send it ahead of the lesson so that you don’t spend too long ready for your student to obtain it.

I usually ship audio essentially the most. I report myself reading a listing of words for pronunciation after which ship this to the student so they have a reference to practise with.

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It’s attainable to record a Skype session. This is a great tool for your college students to be able to evaluation the category. You can also use it to reflect on the class and see if there’s anything you possibly can improve in the best way you educate. 

Bear in mind, this isn’t carried out automatically. You might want to set the recording at the beginning if you wish to make certain the session is captured. 

Start the recording from the “other options” menu inside the video window:

After canceling the call, the report file is saved to your computers exhausting drive. This could take some time, relying on the length of the recorded session.

If this is the first time you might be doing it with a student then it’s also well mannered (and more importantly authorized) to inform them you are planning to record the session.

Online Whiteboards

You can even use a digital whiteboard with Skype, likeor considered one of these.

This may be one other means to enhance interaction and can be great for partaking youthful college students.

There are premium plans which cost but principally you're additionally in a position to strive it out or use primary features for free.

Shared Workspace via Google Drive

This guide wouldn’t be full with out mentioning the shared workspace in. In case you haven’t heard of this already, it is an internet space for storing with a few nifty tools for word processing and spreadsheet enhancing, and so on.

Here’s a homework folder from considered one of my scholar’s on Google Drive:

The advantage with this is that you can share a hyperlink to a doc you are engaged on and the scholar can see what you might be editing and vice-versa. 

This can all be carried out in real-time which can!

I use this with most college students to mark homework, essays, etc. It has a fantastic “suggesting mode” which retains a record of what you mark so that the scholar can see the earlier than and after. 

I even use Google Drive a lot that I ended up doing all of my lesson plans in there too, it’s simply so easy!

Common Technical Issues

Sooner or later you will encounter technical issues. You have to plan accordingly with the mindset of “when this stuff happen” and never “in the event that they happen”.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most typical points and their attainable options:

You Can’t Hear Your Student 

Use the chatbox to communicate when you aren’t positive they will hear you.

Get the coed to check the audio settings on their working system after which check the audio settings inside skype.

If these don’t repair it then ask if they've a spare headset they'll try.

Your Student Can’t Hear You

Go through the same routine as above. Make certain to inform your pupil what you are doing by way of the chat and ask them to be affected person when you repair the issue.

Your Student Can’t See You

Check if the sunshine is in your webcam. If so then it is on and dealing.

Check the video settings in Skype and ensure your digital camera is selected.

Seeing the student isn’t as essential unless you might be doing some pronunciation work that requires you to see their mouth. As such, I have a tendency to not spend too long attempting to repair a state of affairs if I can’t see them.

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Audio or Video Quality is Bad

This is often a connection drawback. Check that you just don’t have any other applications open that are using lots of bandwidth. Make sure you are as close to an web router as attainable (preferably wired). Check this stuff with your scholar.

Battery Dying on Laptop

This is something that occurs with my college students generally. You usually received’t know what happens as the call will drop immediately.

If the call abruptly cuts then wait some time. The pupil will often name back from their mobile or as soon as they have a charger to let you understand what happened. 

When Everything Else Fails

These are all specific fixes to common issues. If they don’t fix the state of affairs then you can all the time strive the classic – hold up and call again!

For peace of thoughts, always have a backup web connection (I use my mobile), have a backup gadget (once more a cellular can be utilized in a difficult state of affairs) and it might even be an thought to have a backup headset in case that fails.

Skype Alternatives

This guide is aimed toward Skype and while the majority of users use this software, it’s worth understanding some of the others in case your student has a preference for something else.

Zoom 

has a number of more tools for viewing paperwork in addition to more functions during group calls such as “digital hand-raising”. Bear in mind that group calls exceeding forty minutes require a paid subscription. 

Google Hangouts 

The great thing aboutis that it may be used directly from an internet browser without needing any set up. However, it is slightly extra limited in that you could’t ship information apart from photographs.

Mobile Video Call

This possibility isn't that professional. Not to mention, some folks really feel much less comfy about providing you with their cellphone number than their Skype username. 

That being mentioned, I have used this feature more than once as a backup when I have had issues with my computer. 

Teaching Platform Software

Some instructing platforms such as Verbling have built-in video software which could be actually helpful as the instruments are more targeted in direction of teaching performance. 

The draw back is that stability and speed are normally never as excessive as one thing like Skype.

Getting Your First Students

Okay so now you’re arrange and ready to get educating. The only factor we'd like now could be some students! Let’s take a look at some of the commonest methods of discovering them.

Work for a Teaching Company

Working as a subcontractor for anis a fantastic possibility for guaranteed work. You signal a contract with an organization and agree to work x hours a week. 

Quite typically you will even get the supplies and syllabus which implies less prep work. 

However, it can take away a number of the freedom of setting your individual hours and having the ability to educate in a method that you simply favor.

Find Students on a Teaching Platform

In this case, you might be basically self-employed. English as a second language school instructing platform will put you in touch with college students for a payment. You then set your hours, price and design your personal lessons. 

This one provides you more freedom than working for a company but the fee is much less stability as you aren’t assured a minimum number of hours a week. 

For this cause, It could also be an idea to sign up to a couple of educating platform so as to “not put all of your eggs in a single basket”.

Find Students Yourself

If you would prefer to not pay a 3rd party for every lesson you give then try discovering your own students. 

You might make your personal web site, use social media or even submit classifieds in newspapers or on-line on web sites like Gumtree. 

Once you are in contact with a possible student, supply the primary lesson free or heavily discounted. Students prefer to “strive earlier than they buy” and this provides you an opportunity to convince them in a trial class.

These are just some ideas to get your first students. There is lots extra material right here on
.

Conclusion

There you could have it, you need to now have your Skype account arrange excellent in an setting conducive to studying. If accomplished correctly this could hold your lessons stress free and efficient for a few years to return.

Make certain to play about with the instruments in Skype and keep on top of updates for any juicy new additions that may make your classes even better.

Bear in mind, Skype is just the supply system that connects you with your college students. Once you have this space mastered you possibly can concentrate on the content itself, excessive-high quality instructing!

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