Do’s & Don'ts & Don'ts

Staying focused Your voice is your greatest tool in the classroom and all emotions can be heard. Focus and listen to what the students are saying. Be a responsive teacher. Ask follow up questions.

Lesson Closing Close the lesson naturally, politely and professionally. Review of the lesson aim/focus. Let students ask questions regarding the lesson. Give feedback in a variety of mediums. Don’t ask the students to give you a high SE score.

Enter the class 10 minutes before the start. Complete an audio check. Check your slides & audio files. Tech check This is not going to work in an online classroom. Be prepared.

Tech check - WiFi Ensure that you use an Ethernet cable to connect to the internet. Use a headset with a 3.5mm pin connection to teach classes. Don’t use WiFi, 3G or any other wireless devices/methods to connect to the internet. Additionally, don’t use a wireless headset, and headsets that have a USB interface can prove unreliable if used.

Focus solely on the teaching task at hand. Do not engage in any other non-teaching activities whilst in class. Multi-tasking Don’t run other programs while teaching, it is distracting and can slow down your internet.

Background noise Choose a quiet, peaceful location in which to teach. Minimize background noise by closing doors and/or windows and make sure TVs, music and/or telephones are switched off. Avoid teaching in places where there are potentially distracting background noises. If this changes throughout the day, it should be taken into account when you’re setting your availability.

Don’t criticize the materials or lessons to the students. The Code of Conduct for EF online teachers states that teachers must “always act in the best interests of EF, remaining positive towards the company, its products and procedures.” Teachers criticizing lesson materials are not acting professionally or responsibly and therefore disciplinary action will be taken. Lesson Material Do read the Teacher’s Notes before the lesson so you are aware of the lesson aims. Remember the labels show the focus of the slide and tells you where you are in the lesson. If you have stronger students, extend the activities with follow up questions. If you want to provide feedback on lessons or materials, please create a case on the Hub where the information will be sent to the relevant team.

Don’t type everything that is said in the lesson. Don’t type while speaking. It is very distracting. Written feedback Do provide students with written examples. Highlight common mistakes and provide a correct model. Do provide a written record in the Note Pod of student generated vocabulary.

Use the icons in the tool bar as a way of giving non-verbal feedback. Use the Chat Pod to communicate with students as a group and one on one. Adobe Tools Don’t give out your etteachers address to GL students. Don’t ask students for their personal information or try to contact them after the class has ended.

Don’t spend too long on introductions as this can disrupt the flow of the lesson. If students enter late, acknowledge them and carry on with the lesson. Timings Title Slide1 minute Let’s go5 minutes Vocabulary 7 minutes Intro task10 minutes Practice 10 minutes Final task12 minutes Do follow the GL timing guidelines

Don’t forget to complete the Final Task (GL) or Task (PL) as this allows students to confidently use the language practised in the lesson to achieve a real-life, communicative goal. Timings Do follow the PL timing guidelines Title Slide1 minute Let’s go3-4 minutes Listening5-6 minutes Vocabulary 8-10 minutes Grammar8-10 minutes Pronunciation 8-10 minutes Key language8-10 minutes Speaking10-14 minutes Task14-16 minutes Summary1-2 minutes

Check the MP3 files before your lesson and, if needed, upload them. The audio files are there for a reason, to expose students to different voices, accents and information. Audio If the audio files are not working, read the script to the students, make it fun.

Please do not smoke, chew gum, eat or drink whilst teaching. Speak clearly during each class and try not to rush, mumble or unnecessarily repeat yourself. Grade your language and ensure that this is comprehensible to the students but not overly simplistic. Audio