Creating a home classroom can often mean converting a small space to enable you to teach English online. To achieve this goal, you’ll need to consider location, furniture, background and technology, all of which have a key part to play in being able to deliver effective lessons to your students.
Once you’ve obtained your TEFL certification from a reputable organisation like The TEFL Org, you’ll be on the lookout for your first teaching job. While one option is to find an in-person position at a school or language college overseas, a popular alternative is to teach English as a foreign language (or TEFL) from the comfort of your own home via the internet.
A remote career has long been the goal of employees from all walks of life due to the many benefits that working from home can bring. Becoming TEFL-qualified opens the door to a multitude of home-working possibilities thanks to the growing number of online language schools as well as plentiful opportunities for private online English tutoring for learners all over the world.
While teaching English online from home represents an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy a flexible career that offers the advantage of being able to fit teaching commitments around responsibilities such as caring for children or vulnerable family members, there are some unique challenges that arise from working in this way.
One potential problem lies in setting up a suitable area where you can deliver your lessons. Creating the perfect home office space has a vital part to play in successfully teaching English online from home, so we’ll look more closely here at how to get started with this crucial task.
What Are The Potential Problems With Teaching English From Home?
Some potential problems that TEFL professionals encounter when teaching English from home include challenges with internet stability, lighting issues, cluttered backgrounds, or even just finding an environment that is quiet enough to be suitable.
When teaching English in a school or college, you have the benefit of a ready-made workspace with all the key equipment you need to teach your classes effectively. When teaching from home, you’ll need to put the work in yourself to bring your home office up to standard so that it is as practical and professional as a standard classroom.
What Does An Ideal Teaching Environment Need?
The best online teaching environments will be quiet, distraction-free, well-lit, comfortable and properly equipped.
Considerations to keep in mind include:
· Location – think about privacy and keeping distractions to a minimum.
· Noise – you need to be able to hear your students, and they need to be able to hear you.
· Lighting – good visibility is important, so making sure your chosen environment isn’t too dark or too bright is key.
· Equipment – making sure you’ve invested in high-quality equipment that will stand the test of time and be capable of withstanding the rigours of daily use is crucial.
· Comfort – when you’re working, you need to feel comfortable. The importance of choosing the right furniture should never be underestimated.
How Do I Choose A Location?
You should choose a location that is private and quiet, preferably with a source of natural light and no undue distractions.
One thing you will learn when obtaining your TEFL certification with The TEFL Org is the importance of being able to focus is vital when delivering classes. That that in mind, selecting the right location in your home couldn’t be more important. It’s also essential to avoid undue distractions such as loud noises or people moving around in the same room, so whenever possible, use a spare room with a door that can be closed to ensure privacy and to minimise external sounds.
Lighting is another consideration to keep in mind. Opting for a room that has a window to allow natural light in is a good choice, but take care when positioning yourself, as you don’t want your students to experience glare or have difficulty making out your expressions. For this reason, you should avoid backlighting.
What Should My Background Be?
The best backgrounds for delivering online English lessons are simple, distraction-free and professional.
A top choice is a simple, plain wall, preferably in a light colour such as white or cream. Alternatively, you could use an educational poster or even position yourself in front of a bookcase. Another option is to use a whiteboard, allowing you to write examples or display resources effortlessly.
What Kind of Technology Do I Need?
As an absolute minimum, when working as a TEFL professional from home, you’ll need a PC or laptop with a webcam and a high-quality noise-cancelling headset. You’ll also require a strong, fast internet connection for effective online working.
When setting up your home classroom, you’ll need to invest in:
· A laptop that is reliable and fast. The capability to handle video calls smoothly is a must.
· A reliable internet connection with a minimum of 10Mbps download/upload speed.
· A pair of headphones that come with an integrated microphone and that have noise-cancelling built in so you can hear your students clearly.
· A webcam – although most laptops come with an integrated camera, they aren’t always of the best quality. Investing in an external USB webcam will ensure maximum video quality.
· A ring light – if you’ll be working in the evenings or if your available space is quite dark or lacks natural light, a ring light will ensure your learners are able to clearly see you.
How Do I Stay Comfortable While Teaching From Home?
Choosing the right furniture will ensure maximum comfort when teaching English from home, so make sure you select a quality desk chair and always work from a desk for better ergonomics.
When you’re teaching, it’s likely you’ll be working for several hours each day, so ensuring you’re comfortable throughout is key. Working from your sofa or bed will lead to aches and pains and won’t help you develop the right professional frame of mind. Choosing a desk at the right height for you is essential, with sit-stand desks being a top choice thanks to their flexibility.
You’ll also need a good-quality office chair that offers sufficient support for your back and that offers the ability to raise or lower the seat to suit your needs.
With all of these measures in place and equipped with your TEFL certificate from The TEFL Org, you’ll be ready to deliver outstanding English lessons to students of all ages, from all across the globe.
