General Tips in teaching
1. Always start and end the lesson on time.
2. Make sure that the connection is clear by asking the student he/she can hear you clearly after the greetings at the beginning of the lesson.
3. Begin the lesson with a short small talk (free-talk) to put your student at ease. Avoid giving long self-introductions and focus on creating a student-centered conversation. Give more time for your student to speak and use this opportunity to assess their aptitude level. Ask questions systematically and avoid allowing dead air.
4. Transition smoothly from free-talk to the lesson proper by asking questions related to the topic.
5. Provide the English material to your student at least a day before the lesson.
6. Give clear instructions during the lesson so that the student can follow the pace.
7. Listen carefully to what the student is saying and be sensitive to their needs.
8. Provide corrections politely and discreetly. When the student makes a grammatical or pronunciation mistake, kindly inform them that there is a better way to say it. Frame corrections in a positive manner and avoid using negative terms. Limit corrections to prevent demotivating the student.
9. Remember the 3 C's in giving explanations: Correct, Clear, and Concise. Avoid using jargon and technical terms.
10. Maximize the use of the chat box for citing corrections and explanations.
11. Show enthusiasm and cheerfulness. Encourage the student by giving praise and plenty of opportunities to practice their skills.
12. Be polite and friendly. Address the student using "san" at the end of their name to show courtesy (e.g. Hiro-san). Sound natural and sincere to make the student feel comfortable. Show interest in what the student is saying through affirmative responses and follow-up questions. Avoid asking private or personal questions.
13. Avoid spoon-feeding during exercises. Acknowledge effort even for incorrect answers and encourage the student to try again by giving hints or leading questions.
14. Wrap up the class within the given time limit without being abrupt. Monitor the Skype call duration to manage time effectively.
15. Provide specific feedback to the student regarding their strengths and areas for improvement. Base your comments on what the student displayed during the lesson.
Additional Tip
✱Encourage your student to ask questions.
Take note of the Common Errors During the Lesson
✱ Not starting and ending the lesson on time.
✱ Forgetting the student's name.
✱ Forgetting to add ~san at the end of the student's name.
✱ Not having an introduction or a small talk at the beginning of the lesson.
✱ Over-explaining, which can lead to loss of interest from the student.
✱ Plain verbal reading of the 'Grammar Review' part of the material.
✱ Spending excessive time on the 'Previous Lessons Review' part of the material.
✱ Not listening attentively to the student's answers, resulting in missing their mistakes.
✱ Not utilizing the chat box.
✱ Not apologizing when the trainee commits a mistake.
✱ Not wrapping up the lesson properly.
✱ Not providing feedback.
Article Discussion (TIPS AND GUIDELINES)
NOTE: The English level of the student is intermediate to advanced.
Ideal flow of an Article Discussion
1. Introduction/Rapport-building
✱✱Establish rapport with the student to encourage participation.
2. Smooth Transition (from Introduction to Lesson Proper)
✱✱Achieve this by asking simple questions related to the topic.
3. Lesson proper
✱✱Article Reading
✱Teacher reads the article and asks the student to listen carefully and read along.
✱✱Pronunciation Practice
✱Practice pronouncing words. Provide corrections when necessary and praise the student for any improvement.
✱✱Vocabulary Words Review
✱Ask the student if there are any unfamiliar words in the article. Give simple definitions, using the chat box if necessary. You may ask the student to use the word in a sentence if time allows.
✱Make use of the chat box so that the student can understand you better. You may also ask the student to use the word in a sentence when there’s enough time.
✱✱Comprehension Check
✱Prepare at least 5 comprehension questions to gauge the student's understanding. Ensure the questions are relevant, challenging, and clearly phrased.
✱✱Viewpoint Discussion
✱Prepare at least 5 open-ended questions related to the article's topic. These questions should encourage the student to express their ideas and opinions. Include 2-3 follow-up questions.
✱✱Free talk
✱If time permits, engage in a free talk session. Discuss topics related to the article or the student's interests.
4. Wrapping-up of the lesson
✱✱Conduct a quick review of any new vocabulary words that the student can practice after the lesson.
5. Giving Feedback to the student
✱✱Provide a summary of the student's performance. Point out strengths and areas for improvement. Offer suggestions for improvement.