Lifestyle

How to be Successful in Teaching English Online

Published

6 years ago

August 30, 2020

Teaching online is the new normal after the Coronavirus lockdown, whether you are a travelling TEFL teacher whose plans for 2020 have been thrown into disarray or, someone who has been keen to sidestep into online teaching for a number of reasons other than Covid.

Taking TEFL online requires an understanding of some considerations which just don’t apply to face to face in the classroom. These can make or break a successful online TEFL career. For many TEFL teachers, their focus is often all about how to deliver effective online content but there are other aspects which are less obvious and which are worth considering if you really want to make a success of your digital teaching career.

Be aware of the separate concept of digital literacy

The level of digital literacy is going to vary from student to student based mainly on their age and where they are in the world. You may find they are much less familiar with online tools or, in the alternative, have a knowledge that far exceeds your own. It is important not to pitch the digital input from the student too high or you will just ultimately end up in putting them off and losing customers. It can be easy to get wrapped up in techniques like asking pupils to annotate on the screen, add their own images or upload other things which may simply be beyond them.

Some researchers say that too much emphasis on technology can actually distract from the learning so maybe just introduce one tool and let that bed in before you move onto something else, Use a demonstration if you think that would help by sharing your screen or pre-recording a short clip.

Always understand what the learners are seeing on their devices; compatibility is important and you also need to make sure students know how to edit, annotate, share and save documents whether they are using a phone, tablet or laptop – never assume knowledge. If you are pairing students together in an online classroom setting, try and match students who are similarly placed from an IT perspective so that one of the two is not placed at a distinct disadvantage.

Engaging online learners

When you are teaching online, the usual classroom dynamic is missing, this is the time that students would normally chat to each other before and after lessons when they are physically in the same location. It can be really helpful to foster these social interactions so that the class can relate to one another – learning will be significantly enhanced as a result. Here are some helpful techniques:-

Use ice breakers and personalisation tasks to create an online presence for each student – these activities are often used at conferences and conventions where a group of people are introduced to each other for the first time. This can work equally well online and is probably even more essential to the separation imposed by remote learning
Be enthusiastic about your students and the different topics – it can be easy to let the screen become a barrier, work hard to create a real classroom atmosphere
Know your students and refer to elements of this knowledge during the tasks and activities on the curriculum – this fosters empathy and inclusiveness
Find out what is worrying or concerning your students and address their fears and suggestions positively
Give ongoing feedback which is continuous and regular
Make space in the sessions for humour and social interaction

Understanding the digital medium

For book purists, a Kindle or indeed any screen will never replace the real thing. Apart from the feel and scent of a new book, the concept of turning the pages and handling the book is totally different from reading the same words on a screen. We process the information differently which is why writing and presentation for the internet are completely different from how the same information may be presented in a book, magazine or hard copy document.

Blocks of text will blur the eyes of your students and switch them off. Keep sections of text and the length of sentences much shorter than you might otherwise. Introduce varied digital techniques but don’t introduce too many new things at once otherwise it can become muddled and confusing for the students.

Students’ progress needs to be checked more frequently

It is harder to read body language online than when you are sitting in a classroom so remember to check with your pupils how they feel they are progressing and learning. Concentration also dips faster online than in a real classroom so the structure of lessons may well have to alter to reflect this. Test learning through fun quizzes which are interactive and break up the teaching sessions.

Feedback methods may need to change to reflect the virtual classroom

The usual cues of body language from the physical classroom are absent in the virtual setting, indicators such as body language or simple gestures. Feedback in the digital setting can be done collectively and still name individual students or it can be done in private chat messages and groups. Use video feedback if you are marking assignments rather than necessarily a paper response; this personalises your lessons and invites learners to ask questions, building the dynamic of two-way trust.

Mix synchronous and asynchronous tasks

Synchronous tasks happen within the whole group with the teacher so essentially the online lesson situation whereas asynchronous tasks allow students to work at their own pace either on their own or within small study groups. Using asynchronous tasks allows learners more time to reflect and prepare. The concept of the flipped lesson can work really well for digital learning as this combines both synchronous and asynchronous tasks with learners completing individual activities before the synchronous lesson. This is particularly effective at managing a broad span of learning abilities without some people feeling they are floundering because they lack understanding and speed of learning.

Teaching online successfully involves a holistic understanding of how people learn in the digital environment and the unique challenges and also benefits which this medium presents. Teaching in the virtual world can bring new and fresh techniques to the online classroom and introduce teachers to innovative new tools which they can make use of in a physical classroom as well as online.

Lifestyle

When a Simple Gesture Turns a Difficult Day Around

Published

23 hours ago

March 13, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some days feel hard in ways that are difficult to explain. A person may be dealing with illness, stress, grief, or plain exhaustion, and even the smallest task can feel bigger than usual. From the outside, it may not always be clear what to do. Still, one thoughtful act can shift the mood of the whole day.

That idea is easy to miss in a busy world. People are used to quick texts, rushed check-ins, and good intentions that never quite turn into action. Yet the gestures people remember most are usually simple. A handwritten note. A meal that shows up at the right time. A small gift that says someone thought ahead.

These moments matter because they make a person feel less alone. They do not fix everything, but they change the emotional temperature. They soften the day. They create a pause in the middle of stress, and that pause can mean more than people expect.

Why Small Acts of Kindness Feel So Powerful

When someone is going through a rough patch, support works best when it feels easy to receive. That is part of why a thoughtful get well care package can stand out. It does not ask much from the person receiving it. It simply arrives with comfort, warmth, and a quiet message of care.

That message matters. According to the CDC, social isolation and loneliness are linked to serious physical and mental health risks. Feeling supported is not just emotionally nice; it plays a real role in overall well-being. A caring gesture can remind someone that they are still connected to others, even on a day when life feels narrow and heavy.

There is also something powerful about specific care. A generic “hope you feel better” may be appreciated, but a practical, thoughtful gesture tends to land differently. It shows attention. It tells the recipient that someone slowed down long enough to think about what might actually help.

That could mean comfort food, a cozy blanket, tea, soup, or a short note with the right words at the right time. It could also mean sending something that helps a person rest without making another decision. On difficult days, reducing stress is often just as meaningful as offering encouragement.

The emotional effect of that kind of support can last far beyond the moment itself. People may forget what was said in a hard week, but they usually remember how others made them feel. A kind gesture says, “You do not have to carry this day by yourself.” That feeling can last for a long time.

Thoughtful Support Works Better Than Big Support

One reason small gestures work so well is that they do not need to be dramatic. In fact, the best support is often the least complicated. It does not draw attention to itself. It does not demand a big response. It simply meets a need with care.

That makes a difference in both personal and professional settings. In families and friendships, thoughtful support builds trust. In business, it can strengthen relationships in a way that feels human instead of transactional. Clients, coworkers, and partners notice when kindness feels genuine.

A large gift can sometimes miss the mark if it feels too polished or too distant. A smaller gesture with a personal touch often feels more sincere. Timing matters too. The right support at the right moment will usually mean more than something larger that arrives late or feels generic.

Health experts also note that giving can benefit the person who offers support. Cleveland Clinic cites research showing that helping others can lower stress and support emotional well-being. That helps explain why kind gestures often feel meaningful on both sides. The person receiving care feels seen, and the person giving it gets to turn empathy into action.

There is another reason thoughtful support matters. Many people struggle to ask for help, especially when they are used to being dependable for everyone else. A gesture that arrives without pressure can break through that pattern. It gives the recipient permission to pause, rest, and accept care without having to explain or organize it.

That is often what turns a hard day around. Not a big speech. Not perfect timing. Just one clear sign that somebody noticed.

What People Remember After the Hard Part Passes

Most people do not remember every detail of a difficult season. They remember the moments that made it easier to breathe.

They remember the friend who sent something warm and comforting. They remember the colleague who checked in without making it awkward. They remember the family member who helped practically, rather than saying, “Let me know if you need anything” and leaving it at that.

Those moments stay with people because they feel personal. They show care in a form that can be felt right away. They also create a ripple effect. One act of kindness often inspires another, which is how support grows in families, teams, and communities.

That is what makes simple gestures so valuable. They are not small in impact, only small in scale. On a difficult day, that can be exactly what someone needs most.

The Gesture That Changes More Than a Moment

A hard day does not always call for a grand solution. Sometimes it calls for one thoughtful interruption, something warm, useful, and kind enough to remind a person they are not alone.

That is why small gestures matter so much. They bring comfort without noise. They create connections without pressure. They stay in a person’s memory long after the moment has passed. Whether it is a note, a meal, or a carefully chosen get well care package, the right gesture can do more than brighten a day. It can help someone feel cared for when they need it most.