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Online Teaching Essentials for Your 2021 TEFL Virtual Classroom
High-quality TEFL worksheets, activity books, teaching frameworks, lesson plans, and English teaching resources are invaluable online teaching essentials.
Don’t settle for scrappy, disorganized lesson planning and poorly worded worksheets.
Create a tailored English learning curriculum that embraces all facets of the language learning process using digital TEFL resources.
In the embrace of worldwide pandemic, online teaching has become the norm. If you’re teaching online, it’s wise to get your online teaching essentials in order to ensure you’re delivering engaging, fruitful English lessons.
But what exactly do you need for a streamlined EFL virtual classroom?
While teaching from home doesn’t require much, without the basic online teaching essentials you’ll suffer disrupted English lessons and poor performance from your EFL students.
Luckily, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you organize your virtual classroom with these 2021 online teaching essentials.
Online Teaching Essentials: Accredited TEFL Certification
There’s no two ways about it. If you want to teach online, you’ll need a TEFL certification.
TEFLPros graduates rave about our 120-Hour online TEFL course:
“If you’re overwhelmed by all the options, I was too and I am SO glad I chose TEFLPros. I’m teaching online now with plans to move abroad toward the end of the year.” – Karen
“TEFLPros was without question the right choice for my TEFL certification. Not only did I feel prepared after going through the course, I got an offer to teach online almost immediately.” – Marcus
“I plan to teach online so at first I wasn’t sure if this was the right course because it has a lot of in-person stuff. BUT the reality is that they teach you how to adapt your lesson plans for any group so I truly feel like I can teach pretty much everyone right now.” – Eric
You can see more reviews by heading here
If you’re not sure what to expect from a TEFL or would like to try before you buy, our FREE 2-Day TEFL course gives you real TEFL training modules, worksheets, assessments, video footage and more.
Online Teaching Essentials: Robust virtual classroom software
Of course, a laptop or desktop is essential. A tablet may do but a phone won’t really cut it.
Beyond the hardware, you’ll need a virtual classroom.
Depending on the online language school you work for, some online TEFL teachers will be given their virtual teaching suite. Some language companies have their own software which are easy to use and link to the school’s curriculum.
For others, especially independent teachers, you’ll need your own software.
Choose a virtual classroom software that:
- All your students can access
- Allows audio and visual communication
- Has a chat function
- Allows you to share your screen
- Enables you to save and share documents
- Supports handy features, like a whiteboard or draw tool
While Zoom is particularly topical right now, it has its drawbacks.
Luckily, we’ve got a comprehensive list of alternative virtual classroom softwares along with their pros and cons.
Online Teaching Essentials: Engaging IRL classroom displays
While your EFL students may not be in the same room as you, this doesn’t mean your teaching environment shouldn’t be stimulating.
Don’t leave your English students exposed to bare walls.
One of the top online TEFL teaching essentials for all virtual learning is a coordinated and inspiring back-display.
Behind your head, your teaching station should be a colorful testament to learning English as a foreign language.
Use vocabulary displays that tie together words and imagery or pin up giant key phrases. Try putting up a different star chart or learning journey for each student.
Alternatively, tack up a whiteboard to use during your lessons for an authentic classroom feel.
Whatever you do to inspire visual learning, ensure that it can be easily read by your students.
TOP TIP! We use Pinterest for inspiration!
Online Teaching Essentials: Find high-quality digital teaching resources
Your TEFL curriculum should be a multimedia English learning experience that combines engaging new English language material, hands-on language skill practice, and regular assessment.
High-quality TEFL worksheets, activity books, teaching frameworks, lesson plans, and English teaching resources are invaluable.
Don’t settle for scrappy, disorganized lesson planning and poorly worded worksheets.
Create a tailored English learning curriculum that embraces all facets of the language learning process using premium digital TEFL resources.
Online Teaching Essentials: Wear a headset
Haven’t you always wanted to feel like a 90’s Britney Spears or Aaron Carter? Great, now is your chance.
Nothing makes learning English harder than constant cracking feedback.
A headset will prevent crackling on the line and will keep the sound crisp.
This is why some language schools insist you wear a headset. Aside from looking professional, it’s key to a clear, uninterrupted English lesson.
Even if it’s not compulsory with your online English lessons, use a headset anyway.
Online Teaching Essentials: Introduce engaging age-appropriate props
The age group you teach will dictate which props you use for a kinesthetic online English learning experience.
Younger children will often respond excitedly to puppets and stuffed toys, star charts and pop-up books.
Teenagers and adults will find flashcards and real-world objects useful in learning vocabulary and context.
Mix up what you’re using to keep your TEFL online lessons fresh.
Online Teaching Essentials: Use interactive EFL tools and apps
Kids love games and teenagers love technology. And we all love convenience.
Digital ESL tools and apps bring an interactive dynamic to your online English lessons by engaging your ESL students in dynamic ways.
Take TEFLTunes, for example. You can teach musical English classes with lesson plans that use a whole library of popular songs.
Alternatively, consider tools for assigning homework or sharing documents. What about tools for making comic strips or creating posters?
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide has given you a little insights into what’s essential for online teaching.
It’s important to remember that it’s your responsibility to create an inspiring virtual classroom so that you EFL students engage in learning.
