This is the last part of my Ultimate Guide To Being An Online English Teacher.
In this part I would like to talk about the challenges of teaching online.
You might be teaching for one of the platforms or flying solo and getting lots of students. They could be very happy with how you teach them and your online teaching life could be great.
But that is not to say that there are no challenges in your day to day working life as an online English teacher.
These challenges could range from technical issues to unreliable students to a fluctuating schedule and unmotivated learners.
All of these kinds of issues can disrupt your life.
But if you adopt the right mindset and have the right practical solutions, you can easily navigate these difficulties very effectively and continue to thrive as an Online English Teacher.
In this final section — section eight — we will explore some of the most common challenges you may encounter and I will offer you actionable strategies to help you overcome them.
Are we ready?
Let’s get into it…
Common Challenges
I want to look at the most common kind of challenges you will encounter.
I have divided these into three sections:
Technical Issues
No-Shows and Last-Minute Cancellations
Managing a Fluctuating Schedule
Technical Issues
Technology. It can be a saviour. And a complete nightmare.
These are some of the things you will have to deal with as an Online English Teacher.
Internet Connectivity:
You are teaching English online, so at some point, you — or your student — are going to have some internet connection issues.
Now, if you are working on one of the platforms, they very conveniently find a way to prove that this is the fault of the teacher.
Not the student and certainly not the platform, so how dare you suggest such a thing!
And if you miss a class due to a faulty connection, then there could be fines and a bad review from the student just for the hell of it.
If you are independent, then there is a much better chance of you being able to cover this with your student via a simple explanation and the promise to make up another class next time.
Poor connections are not common. But they do happen.
Nothing much we can do about it.
Possible Solution
You could invest in a mobile hotspot as a backup.
This can be a lifesaver in an emergency if your internet connection suddenly goes down.
You could also set a hotspot up via your phone.
Software/Hardware Problems:
You might also have problems with the software or hardware that you use in your classes.
If you are using Zoom, there might be an issue using this.
I think most of the time, Zoom is very reliable, but if there is an issue using the app — by you or your student — then unfortunately, it’s just one of those things.
But if your microphone or webcam malfunctions, then this is all on you.
You must ensure that your equipment is working well and in order.
That might mean periodic updates where you invest in a new piece of equipment.
None of this machinery lasts forever…
Possible Solutions
If one platform is giving you trouble, then familiarise yourself with others.
Zoom might fail on you one day, but then you might be able to quickly switch to Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.
Have backups for everything!
Get your own hardware checked periodically.
Have it tested by an expert — or do tests yourself.
No-Shows and Last-Minute Cancellations
Another inconvenience for Online English Teachers is when you have NO-SHOWS or LAST-MINUTE CANCELLATIONS.
Unfortunately, this is inevitable. It WILL happen to you — and not just once or twice.
You could be sitting in front of your computer, waiting for your student to join the class, and no one appears.
Or you get a message thirty minutes before class is due to begin saying that the student cannot make the class.
If you are working for one of the platforms, then you just don’t get paid. Simple as that.
But if you are independent, you need to create some rules about students not turning up to class.
If it is a no-show, then you can make some arrangement where the student loses that class completely.
Or if it’s a last-minute cancellation, you can do the same.
The problem is, these students are customers, so you want to keep them happy. But if they cancel classes more than once or simply do not show up at all more than once, you can think about losing that student completely and finding other more reliable students.
Make sure the class rules are in place before the student begins the first class.
They must know what these rules are.
Possible Solutions
Write up a list of rules for the student — or the student’s parents — and get them to sign for it.
Ensure there is a cancellation policy of telling you 24 hours in advance.
I mentioned earlier how Calendly has automated reminders.
Use this to ensure that your students do not forget the class times.
Sending emails can often be missed.
Try to send an SMS to their phone if you can. Or a message to WhatsApp or whatever messaging service they use.
If the student simply doesn’t turn up for class, then you could implement a fee for this.
Students must understand the implications of failing to appear in class or not giving you enough notice.
But, like I said above, you have to be a little flexible with this.
It’s just one of the things about teaching English online that happens.
Unmotivated Students
Another common issue with students is being unmotivated.
This could especially be true of teenagers who are there because their parents insist on them having English classes.
The two main problems with these students are below.
Lack of Engagement:
Like I said, I think the most common students to feel this way are teens.
Young kids can be like this — but this can easily be solved by having more games or visual elements in the class.
(Like I said much earlier, make sure the classes centre around their interests…)
With teens, it could be that they have had a full day at school, maybe exams too, and then they have to have an online class with you.
Yes, make sure the material is engaging.
But unfortunately, you could be competing with their very hectic schedule — especially if they are from China, Korea or Japan.
Try to be sympathetic. That can go a long way.
And if they are really struggling, maybe have a ‘time-out’ class where you do something fun and much more engaging.
Difficult Behaviour:
And you might also have to deal with students with behavioural issues.
If the student is very young, talk to the parents. Find out what is going on.
If the student is a teenager, address the issue with them first. If they don’t respond well to this, then you have to talk to the parents.
Difficult behaviour can range from being easily distracted to resistance to following instructions to being just very rude.
Nip this behaviour in the bud.
If you have adult students being like this, then they have no right to be in the class at all!
Possible Solutions
A good idea is to set clear short-term and long-term language learning goals for the student.
If the student has clear measurable goals that they can then track themselves, this can help them stay motivated.
Make sure the classes are personalised to the student’s goals, interests, likes, etc.
Incorporate pop culture, sport, travel, games or their own professional goals into the curriculum.
The more the classes are relevant to their own lives, the more likely they are to be engaged.
Incorporate games into the class.
Tools like Kahoot, Quizlet or even Duolingo can make some lessons more fun.
Always give the student positive reinforcement.
Make them really believe they are doing well and outline why and how.
Try to boost their confidence when they need it most.
Managing a Fluctuating Schedule
You are an Online English Teacher.
And as such, there will be days when your schedule will be chock-a-block full of students.
Then there will be other times when it is like a drought.
This is just something you have to accept.
On top of that, you have to balance multiple time zones and irregular booking patterns.
This can make it difficult for you to maintain a consistent routine or plan anything during downtime.
Unfortunately, this is just the way it is.
Possible Solutions
As I said before in this guide, make use of Calendly, Google Calendar and Todoist to make sure you are up to speed with all the things you need to do.
Make plans for downtime.
If you have a slow period, with fewer students, use this time to create new lessons, and do some marketing or professional development.
Conclusion
Every job comes with its own set of challenges, and Online English Teaching is no different.
These can range from technical issues, student no-shows, or scheduling difficulties and this can make things seem very frustrating for you.
But they are all manageable with the right preparation and the right mindset.
If you have the right backup plans, clear policies for booking classes and ensuring that you make your lessons engaging, then you can certainly minimise the disruptions and create a much smoother teaching experience.
The key is to stay adaptable, flexible, proactive and focussed on your long-term goals.
If you have the right approach, you can turn all of these challenges into learning opportunities and continue building a successful life as an Online English Teacher.
Many thanks for reading!
I hope this was useful for you.
If you like what I have written in this guide, then please leave a comment below.
