How to successfully teach one-to-one young learners online: careful preparation is key
This is the first post in a series about teaching languages online to young learners in a one-to-one environment. The tips are applicable not only for ELT but all languages. In fact, this post has come about as a result of my teaching Portuguese online!
In the past, teaching languages on a one-to-one basis for young learners was generally in the form of tutorials to meet the needs of the learner outside regular classes. Perhaps the learner needed extra support or extra challenge, or maybe the learner wanted to study a language that wasn’t taught in the regular curriculum. Tutoring was a solution to meeting a specific learner need. But now that all forms of teaching have moved online, many parents and carers, for diverse reasons are also choosing online language tutors. Covid-19 being of course the number 1 reason, and for countries now starting to move out of restrictions, convenience is another. Like thousands of language teachers around the world, I found myself in a new situation trying to transfer successful classroom skills to the online one-to-one situation. In this first post, I look at some important aspects to consider before starting out.
Plan
You probably don’t have a coursebook and so planning is very important. Aim to plan a series of lessons around a theme or a language topic. For example, transport, animals, or colours. Try to include a song, a story, an arts and craft activity and a game in each topic. When planning individual lessons, check your timing and make sure you are ready with some extra activities if necessary.
Routine
This is just as important online as in the live classroom. Songs can be a good way to start, or a quick revision game from the previous lesson. I like to start my lessons with something familiar usually a vocabulary game. A song to check we have all the materials is also a good way to begin.
Balance and variety
As with any lesson, ensure you have a balance of skills and a range of activities. This is crucial in the online environment where the constant is staring at the screen. With very young learners, you probably won’t include reading and writing, but you can vary speaking and listening activities. I also try to always incorporate a visual activity, an auditory activity and also a kinaesthetic activity into each class. Planning in this way ensures variety.
Preparation for parents/carers
Send anything to be printed in advance. Parents and carers are usually more than happy to help out and to print if necessary, but they need time. You also need a back-up plan in case they are unable to print out a document. With such young children, parents/carers will often be in the same room. This is really useful especially if a button is inadvertently tapped, or if you lose connectivity.
Preparation for the learner
Make sure that your learner has all the materials necessary for the lesson. You want to avoid an unplanned break to go and find scissors halfway through. Many times, I have been faced with children sitting in front of a screen with no materials and so now I send parents/carers a list of what materials they need to supply. Encourage a special box/pencil case to store materials in (shoe boxes are great), a folder for any worksheets and a notebook/drawing book for any work done in class. A large envelope to put things like mini-flashcards and mini-books in is also useful. It’s as important for learners to be organised for the online class as for a live class.
Preparation for the teacher
For me, the most versatile tool is the mini whiteboard. I have one and I encourage my learners to have one too. I know that many platforms have online whiteboards, but I just don’t find it as convenient in the one-to-one young learner situation. Switching between screens isn’t that easy with some platforms and devices, especially for young learners.
Records
Keep a record of what you’ve done in an online format and give access to parents/carers. This is a great way for them to see what you’ve taught and if they can, to practise with their child during the week. You can add any homework assignments here too, or any materials needed for the following lesson.
Virtual classroom
There are many sites where students sign up for individual classes. These sites have their own virtual classrooms, and sometimes their own materials. These also have booking systems in place. If you are not using this, then I recommend sending parents/carers details for your own virtual classroom in advance to avoid time wasting. I use Zoom and have WhatsApp contact for any changes to class times, or sudden connectivity loss during class!
One-to-one online teaching of languages to young learners follows the same principles as any other language teaching. Preparation and planning are key. It’s a part you can’t skip, gloss over or think a vague idea in your head is enough. When you are teaching online, you have nowhere to hide. There are many quotes on the value of preparation time and I’m sure you have your favourite! I think mine is simply that preparation time is never wasted time.