When I quit my teaching job more than ten years ago to strike out on my own as an online language teacher, I was met with stares of consternation. Old acquaintances warned me of the perils of pennilessness and urged me to re-enlist in the federal education system. Online learning? Why, that’s just a fad, young…
How To Start An Online Book Club
If there ever was a perfect time to start an online book club, this is it. Everyone is looking for inspiration, distraction, anything to feel like life as we know it continues. We finally have the time to tackle books we “always wanted to read”, so no more excuses! Why not read a book together…
IT Skills Each Online English Teacher Should Have a Firm Grasp On
Technology has slowly crept its way into almost every classroom, compelling teachers to gain IT skills and enhance their way of teaching, effectively engaging and empowering their students. More and more educational technology tools are being developed, helping teachers provide their students with as many learning benefits as possible. However, when it comes to teaching…
How To Improve Your Social Media Game If You Teach Online
Imagine a brand new suitcase with a broken handle. You can’t throw it away because it’s new, but can you use it? There’s a saying in Russian about “a suitcase without a handle — heavy to carry, but hard to throw away,” which refers to something we can neither let go nor keep. Does managing…
Benjamin: “The main challenge is to focus on what truly matters”
Is It Better To Work With Your Own Students, Work For A School Or Build A Profile On A Tutor Site?
When I started my business, I thought I’d be working for language schools. I did work for one briefly, but once I started learning about the world of online teaching, it’s not the road I decided to take. Now, five years later, I only work with my own customers. I’m not going to argue that…
The 3 Most Effective Ways To Keep Your Learners Engaged
In the world of self-paced online courses, drop off rates amongst learners is very high. A majority gets distracted midway and never really completes the course. Furthermore, as Jennet mentions in her blog, course creators don’t always provide their learners with the structure, support, and motivation required to complete the course. Fortunately, there is a…
3 Things Online Teachers Worry About For No Reason
About 10 years ago I got into crocheting. I felt like this was one skill I had to work on if one day I wanted to be a “good wife and a mother.” The project ended up being a total disaster because in my over-confidence I thought I would start with the most ambitious task:…
Alba Castro: “The human factor is still irreplaceable.”
“Why don’t my lessons sell?” – Marketing Tips For Online Teachers, Tutors and Trainers
A few weeks ago I did an intense 2-part #GetStrategy training for online teacherpreneurs, and one of the questions I received prompted this post: “I have no problem recruiting students on italki. Why can’t I do the same on my own site?” This goes in line with other questions I have been asked where teachers…