English Lessons Online: How To Choose The Right Provider And Make It Work For Your Child
Photo by YY TEOH
As most of the world went digital, it was only a matter of time before English lessons went online too.
The days of tutors writing hard and fast grammar rules across a whiteboard in a tuition centre may seem far away. Today, many English teachers and private tutors in Malaysia have moved away from the traditional and gone online.
The shift from offline to online is exciting, but it can also be hard to navigate this new era of education – especially for parents. Everything we know about what makes a good English lesson has changed. And, the ocean of available options can make it difficult to make a decision.
That’s why we’re here to help! Here’s our advice on choosing the right English lessons online for your child, and how they can make the most of these lessons.
How To Choose The Right English Lessons Online
Find lessons suited to your child’s English level
Traditionally, students were grouped according to their age and year level. However, students should instead learn at a level best suited to their individual needs.
To gauge your child’s level, there are free online tests they can take or the centre will be able to assign a student to their appropriate level. It is important to get a precise understanding of their level to avoid registering for lessons that are too difficult or too easy.
Once you’ve identified your child’s level, you should then find a course that allows them to begin at the right point in their learning – whether they’re new to the language or an advanced learner.
2. Find personalised lessons
Following Tip #1, a good online English lesson will consider a student’s level and provide support according to their needs.
Much like Netflix suggesting films you would like or Shopee displaying products based on your recent purchase, online lessons should be tailored to each student. This is the beauty of moving online! These modern methodologies can even reduce the time a student would typically take to master a language.
For example, the GuruLab app uses data analytics of a student’s work to allow tutors to create targeted strategies for students to improve in specific areas.
3. Ensure lessons are live
Although pre-recorded lessons may have their benefits, you want to make sure the online English lesson you choose includes live teaching. Despite the digital setting of the lessons, it is still important for tutors to reinforce language learning with real-time interaction and instruction.
A student may be attending online English lessons purely for grammar; however, without a real tutor behind the screen, student progress may take longer. They won’t receive proper guidance as to why they’ve made a mistake, or be able to practise their oral English skills.
The ideal combination for a course would be live lessons online with the option to access a recording of the live session later.
4. Look for qualified and experienced online tutors
A key influencing factor in choosing the right online lesson comes down to the tutor.
Beyond being a good English tutor, there is now an added criterion to look out for: a good online English tutor. Tutors need to be able to engage students and hold their attention on a device that offers a whole world of distractions.
Weekly Zoom meetings where students work and tutors supervise may be enough for some. However, there are countless ways for tutors to interact with their students over a screen – and a digitally savvy tutor would know all the tips and tricks.
So, as your child embarks on their online English lesson journey, be sure to ask tutors what their experience is with online learning.
Photo by stem.T4L
How To Make The Most Of Online English Lessons
Find a way to stay motivated
The online learner is quite different from the traditional classroom learner. With virtual learning, it’s quite easy for the student to become passive and stop engaging in their lessons.
Beyond the need for a good tutor, students also have to develop a proactive mindset to stay engaged and truly benefit from online learning. If your child is easily distracted, you can always seek out tools to improve their online learning experience or have a discussion with the tutor.
Get familiar with the platform
Students often fail to take the time to get to know the platform their online English lessons are held on. This is a common mistake that is proven to get in the way of virtual learning.
Once a tutor introduces the platform, students should invest time in exploring and navigating the platform. There are often tools and features that can improve their online learning experience. As a parent, you can encourage your child to do this as soon as they get access to the provider’s platform.
Talk to the tutor
The distance between an online student and a tutor can make a student shy. If your child isn’t showing improvement, don’t be afraid to message the tutor and ask for their help – as you would in a face-to-face setting.
It can be difficult to build a connection with tutors across a screen. To overcome this, be sure to engage in ongoing contact with your child’s tutor to ensure they access the right guidance over the course of their lessons.
Organise a study space
Photo by lucas law
We’re all guilty of doing this. But, lying in bed with our laptops is not the most conducive way to learn. And as much as students think they can study in noisy cafés, the harsh reality is that they can’t.
Getting in the right space – physically and mentally – before a class will really help your child make the most of their English lessons online. We’d suggest creating a quiet, dedicated corner for your child, away from both human and technological distractions.