Teaching Best Practices

Welcome to our comprehensive guide for tutors! This manual has been designed to aid you in delivering the most effective lessons, whether they are trial lessons for new students or regular sessions. Let’s start with everything you need to know about trial lessons.

 

1.Trial Lesson Tips

We offer trial courses to students. You can verify everything you need to consider in this guidance. P.S. Trial classes are an excellent resource for new students.

How to join for a trial lesson and what you need to know about it.

1. Before the trial lesson 

A student schedules a trial course: 

– In your calendar, this appointment is marked as a trial lesson. Click on the appointment to learn more about the trial lesson and the student. 

– Your manager will provide you with important information about the student. This may include the student’s age, level of knowledge, learning objectives, and any special requirements they may have. It is important that you review this information carefully before the lesson so that you can prepare appropriately and deliver an effective lesson. If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided, please do not hesitate to reach out to your manager for clarification.

Trial sessions will be scheduled based on your availability in the scheduling page („Availability“). Please keep in mind that trial sessions cannot be rescheduled, and you should keep your availability up to date. In the event of an emergency, please call your manager. 

Quick tip: Prepare thoroughly for your trial sessions! First impressions are important, and this is your chance to show what a fantastic tutor you are!

2. At the beginning of the trial lesson 

5 minutes before the session begins, enter the Google Meet room. If the student doesn’t show up, notify your manager about the situation (e.g. the student is more than 5 minutes late, cannot access Google Meet, etc.). 

The first five minutes are critical for establishing connection and trust with the student: Begin the lesson by introducing yourself and welcoming the student to the lesson. Take a few minutes to get to know the student and ask them some questions about their background, interests, and learning goals.

3. At the trial lesson, 

– Explain to the student what they can expect during the trial lesson. Let them know that this lesson is an opportunity for them to get a feel for your teaching style and for you to assess their level and learning needs.

– Use the trial lesson to assess the student’s current level of knowledge and understanding of the subject. This will help you tailor future lessons to their specific needs.

– Keep the lesson engaging and interactive. Use a variety of teaching methods, such as visual aids, examples, and activities to help the student understand the material.

The purpose of the trial lesson is to get your new student interested in you and online tutoring. Go over the student’s needs and show them how tutoring could work with you. Make sure the student feels safe and that they are interested. It’s also important to create moments of success and “aha!” They should have faith in you and know they will learn.

4. At the end of the trial lesson 

In the last 5–10 minutes of the session, offer feedback and encouragement throughout the lesson. Let the student know what they are doing well and where they can improve. If you can, schedule a follow-up session orally and tell the student that the customer representative will be in touch soon. Please always refer the student to the customer representative if they have questions about the different subscriptions. 

Remember, the trial lesson is an opportunity for both you and the student to assess if you are a good match for each other. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that the trial lesson is a productive and positive experience for everyone involved. Most importantly, make sure you teach great lessons! We will handle the rest.

5. Right after the trial lesson, 

1. Send your feedback to the WhatsApp group: 

  • Tell your manager how things went. You can type or just record a quick audio.  
  • Please give details and be right! It helps us a lot when we talk to the student again. 

Here are some questions for your reference: 

  • What did you work on, and how did the student respond to what you did? 
  • Was there one thing that stood out about them? What did they do well? Please explain. 
  • What are some ways to get better? 
  • Have the next steps with the student been talked about? (willingness to move forward, next meeting, etc.) 
  • Have any other thoughts for us? 


2. What will happen: 

  • The customer representative will get in touch with the student to talk about how the session went and the best subscription for them, if they are interested. 
  • The student’s choice will be shared with you. 
  • If they buy a package, they will be added to the group along with the student and customer support. 

Once customer representative sends a welcome message to the group, you should greet your student and start talking to them right away. Happy tutoring!

Please note: 

  • The purpose of the trial lesson is to sell them on you and online tutoring. 
  • The customer representative makes the first contact with the student and makes sure that the student gets the subscription that best fits their needs. 
  • Since the trial lesson is just between the tutor and the student, your evaluation and feedback are very important. Please be as clear as you can.
 

2.Regular Session Tips

Teaching Best Practices

  1. Engage in Active Listening:

    • When a student speaks, listen attentively. This builds confidence in students as they feel heard and understood.
    • Role-play Example:
      • Student: “I find it difficult to understand the difference between past and present tense.”
      • Tutor: “I understand. It sounds like you’re struggling with tenses. Let’s go over some examples to clear things up.”
  2. Use Real-life Context:

    • Contextualize your lessons to relate to real-life situations, making it easier for students to grasp and remember.
    • Role-play Example:
      • Student: “How do I ask for directions?”
      • Tutor: “Imagine you’re in a new city. Instead of simply saying ‘Where is the museum?’, you could ask, ‘Could you please tell me the way to the museum?'”
  3. Incorporate Visual Aids:

    • Visual aids such as charts, flashcards, and images can greatly assist in comprehension.
    • Role-play Example:
      • Tutor: “Let’s discuss family vocabulary. Here’s a family tree chart to help us.”
  4. Practice Repetition:

    • Repetition aids memory. Revisit challenging topics in subsequent lessons.
    • Role-play Example:
      • Tutor: “Remember last week when we discussed days of the week? Let’s review them again today.”
  5. Promote Interactive Learning:

    • Encourage students to actively participate. This might include speaking exercises, writing tasks, or interactive games.
    • Role-play Example:
      • Tutor: “I’ll start a story and you continue it using the vocabulary we’ve learned.”
  6. Assign Homework Thoughtfully:

    • Homework reinforces class lessons. However, ensure it’s neither too easy nor too challenging.
    • Role-play Example:
      • Tutor: “For homework, write a short essay about your weekend using the vocabulary and tenses we discussed.”
  7. Provide Constructive Feedback:

    • Instead of simply pointing out errors, offer solutions and praise effort.
    • Role-play Example:
      • Student: “Yesterday I goes to the store.”
      • Tutor: “Almost right! You should say, ‘Yesterday I went to the store.’ Keep it up!”
  8. Gather Feedback:

    • Gather feedback from students after each lesson. This feedback will aid in identifying areas for improvement.
  9. Stay Updated:

    • Languages evolve, and teaching methods improve. Regularly update your teaching materials and methods.
  10. Cultural Sensitivity:

  • Understand and respect the cultural backgrounds of your students. This can enhance the teaching experience and ensure a safe, inclusive environment.
  • Role-play Example:
    • Student: “In our culture, we have a special festival where…”
    • Tutor: “That sounds fascinating! Tell me more, and let’s learn how to discuss it in [language].”