10 Online Teaching Tips to Be a Better Teacher

You may dream of a job that allows you to travel the world and set your own schedule, but trying to build a business, become a social media influencer, or find your own clients can be difficult. So what other jobs are out there? One option is teaching English online with a company.

With the online teaching market growing, many digital nomads find this option a great way to have a side hustle. So what exactly does teaching English online from home entail?

There are hundreds of online English teaching companies that connect you with students whose first language is not English. Students come from all over the world, but a lot of companies are based in Asia and South America.

Some companies have adult clientele while others focus on teaching kids online. Most of these companies provide one-on-one classes, though some companies have up to four students in a class.

So why else should you teach English online? And how can you be a good online English teacher?

WATCH: How to Turn a TEFL Course into a Paid Job at Home

Why teach English online?

• You’re not tied to a specific location. You can travel to your heart’s content while still having a source of income. As long as you have a quiet space with good lighting, internet, and equipment needed for online teaching, you’re set to teach.
• Many companies allow you to set your own hours. This means if you don’t want to teach for a week or two, you don’t have to open up your teaching slots. This isn’t true for all companies, so check first! 
• You don’t need to be an Education or English major to teach. Some companies simply require a Bachelor’s degree. Others only require that you’re a native English speaker or are from a certain country. Keep in mind, most DO require a TESOL certification.  
• A lot of companies provide their own curriculum and platform. No hours spent planning online teaching strategies or creating resources for your classes!

10 online teaching tips for making you a good teacher

Knowing how to be a good online English teacher comes down to understanding the best practices for online teaching, as well as the equipment needed for online teaching.

1. Invest in the right technology equipment.

You’ll need a good computer, strong internet connection, a webcam, good lighting, as well as a good headset with microphone. And no, those Airpods won’t cut it for most companies.

This doesn’t mean you need to run out and invest in expensive light boxes and a new Macbook (though if you do, you can usually write it off on your taxes). Instead, start small with a selfie camera light ring and an ethernet cable.

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a headset and a webcam. Just find something within your budget to start with.

2. Use props to bring your lessons to life.

One of the best online teaching tips is to bring props into the equation. While some online teachers make it their second job to collect toys and puppets, you can use what’s around you.

Teaching a lesson on clothes? Dig in your closet. Have a lesson on fruits? Open up your fridge. Make a sock puppet and get a cheap small whiteboard from the dollar store.

Another great tool is Manycam, which lets you incorporate digital props and pictures. They have a free version, but you may want to consider purchasing it if you’re serious about online teaching.

One benefit of using digital props is that you won’t need to lug around props that would take up your precious luggage space. 

3. Have high energy and enthusiasm.

In all honesty, teaching online can require a lot of energy during classes because you need to be animated and friendly. Overly friendly. Create a positive learning environment by encouraging your students, giving high fives, and smiling.

Remember, a smile is the same in every language. The more fun you have, the more fun your students will have, creating better rapport and making your lessons more satisfying for both parties.

4. Use TPR (that’s Total Physical Response).

TPR is one of the best practices for online teaching. So what’s Total Physical Response? TPR is using your body language and facial expressions to convey meaning when speaking English. It helps make language more understandable so students can connect the words with actions.

TPR can still be used with adults as well. While it may not be so exaggerated, having a clear speaking signal (pointing your finger to your mouth) and a clear listening signal (cupping your hand to your ear) helps your students understand when they are expected to watch you speak and then to respond.

TPR is best explained visually, so find more info on YouTube.

READ MORE: How to Use TPR Effectively as an Online English Teacher

5. Use positive correction.

Students don’t want to learn the incorrect pronunciation of words. The reason they are choosing to learn from YOU is because they want exposure to and practice with a native or near-native English speaker.

Rather than brushing past errors, circle back to them and practice to help students. Bring your mouth close to the camera so students can see how your mouth forms the sounds (so make sure to brush your teeth!).

Praise your students when they get it, and if they don’t after a few tries, praise them for trying and say, “We’ll keep trying!” 

6. Be patient with your students.

Remember, your students are learning a new language, so before jumping in to help, give them a few seconds to respond before answering your own questions.

Imagine learning a new language. You’d first have to listen to the question in a foreign language, translate that into English, answer the question in your head, then translate it into the foreign language, and then speak it!

That’s a lot of steps, and it takes time, so don’t rush your students. If they seem stuck, help them out, but don’t speak over them. 

7. Be mindful of speaking speed and clarity.

One of the best online teaching tips? Enunciate your words. Speak slowly AND naturally, so don’t drag out your words. You don’t want students to think that “morning” is pronounced “moooooorrrrrnnniiinnggggggg.” Imagine your student in the future trying to actually communicate to English speakers.

You don’t want them to make a fool of themselves. It’s a lot to juggle, but these are skills you can practice and perfect. In addition, simplify your language to the appropriate level, but don’t use incorrect grammar.

For example, instead of saying, “Can you please read this passage for me?”, you can simply say, “Please read.” 

8. Increase student talking time.

While it may be easy and natural to do most of the talking, especially when your student is quiet, this lesson is for your student to practice their English skills, not you!

One of the best practices for online teaching is to encourage your students to speak in complete sentences—and don’t interrupt when students speak, even if they make mistakes.

Instead, circle back and practice the words and phrases that posed difficulties after.

9. Nail your demo lesson.

Most online teaching companies require a demo lesson once you’ve passed the first round of interviews. This means that you will teach a lesson to a seasoned teacher from the company acting as a non-native English speaking child.

You’ll generally use the company’s platform and lesson. This can be nerve-wracking, but preparation is key! Take some time to review what you will be teaching, planning out exactly how you would teach each section, even thinking through the exact phrases you would say.

Consider obstacles you might face, including mispronunciations, and practice actually teaching the lesson. Yes, it’s a bit weird to watch yourself teaching, but the more comfortable you can get, the easier it will be. 

10. Join an online community.

There are numerous Facebook groups for different companies, as well as for teaching online in general. These are great resources with job opportunities, online teaching tips (and tips for teaching abroad too), and a source of camaraderie. Go join them for support, to ask questions, and to learn more about how to teach English online from home.

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Your online teaching strategies will take you from good to great!

Now that you know how to be a good online English teacher, it’s time to get out there and find your first job!

There are many online companies to choose to work for, so find one that fits you in terms of work culture, schedule, and qualifications. You can generally work for more than one company as well (but check the terms in your contract).

You can also find endless resources and people on the internet who are more than happy to help you with getting an online teaching job (partly because they get a bonus if you join using their referral).

So get a headset, sign up for a TESOL course, put on your best smile, and go get an online teaching job! 

Browse ALL Online English Teaching Jobs on GoAbroad.com

This article was written with help from the Ninja Teacher Academy. Ninja Teacher Academy is a leading TESOL/TEFL education company based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Founded in 2013, they have trained TESOL teachers through their monthly in-person programs as well as their 120-hour online course, a requirement for most online teaching companies. Ninja Teacher Academy has helped over 750 teachers get jobs in top schools throughout Vietnam through their network. Their focus is to create a personal and supportive community for teachers as well as prepare you with high quality training, enabling you to earn, travel, and make a difference.