What Skills Do You Need To Teach Online Effectively?

There’s an online teaching job to suit everyone, but whether you’re a seasoned educator or just getting started, quality of teaching should always be a priority. With the flood of new instructors entering the online teaching space, even the best subject knowledge won’t cut it. Online teachers need to be all that and then some!

So, what skills do you need to teach English online effectively?

We spoke to Vanessa, a TTA alumna and experienced online teacher who runs her virtual classroom like a boss. She shared the core skills she believes make the biggest difference when teaching online—and why mastering them is key to online teaching success. 

Meet Vanessa, a savvy online English teacher.

Hi! I am Vanessa Willemse, a 27-year-old teacher from South Africa. I did my Bachelor’s degree straight after finishing high school. It was a difficult four years, but what I didn’t expect was how difficult it would be to get work after I got my degree. 

I got a temporary position that lasted a year, then spent months looking for another position. I completed my 120-hour TEFL course through The TEFL Academy and signed up with Preply. It took quite a bit of effort to fine-tune my profile but soon I started to get interested students. I taught teenagers and adults from all over the world: Colombia, China, Paris, and more. 

Read more: Teaching On Preply: What You Need To Know

I may have taught them English, but they taught me so much about their daily lives. We connected in a way that strangers from different places sometimes do. People may lead very different lives, but  connection exists among people from all walks of life.

After teaching on Preply for three years, I taught on Britmates for a few months, and UCT Online High School for two years. For the past year, I’ve been teaching in person at a private school in South Africa. I do miss the online platform, but I had to make the shift for personal reasons.

Wow, that’s quite the teaching journey, Vanessa! We decided to grill her more on the specific skills needed in the online teaching space. Let’s dive into what it really takes to thrive behind the screen.

What makes communication skills essential for online teaching?

Online teaching comes with many benefits, but a definite setback is the limited communication. In virtual classrooms, effective communication is dependent on tone, clarity, and active listening. Without body language, one relies on clear instructions and friendly but professional communication to build trust and prevent miscommunication. 

Ensure that you speak clearly and set clear expectations when doing activities. This will create a safe and engaging environment.

An example of a “rules slide” used for online teaching sessions

How important is digital literacy when teaching online?

Very important! You need to navigate the various online platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom, Teams. The use of these platforms will indicate how professional you come across. 

Virtual whiteboard

When using these platforms, you need  to manage virtual whiteboards, breakout rooms, screen sharing, and so much more. There is a large variety of features available. 

Tech confidence not only maintains lesson flow but also builds student trust, as a well-prepared teacher can handle disruptions and keep students focused.

Why is adaptability a key skill for online teachers?

Online teaching sites change regularly, and new features are added. You need to learn and adapt quickly. Sometimes, a specific function will glitch mid-lesson, and you’ll have to think on your feet. Other times, you’ll realise your lesson is too advanced for your student and need to pivot on the spot.

What role does student engagement play in online success?

The focus of lessons is for the student to learn, not for the teacher to teach.

Mic drop! Read that again!

The lesson is usually one of the few opportunities that a student has to converse in the English language. Keep teacher talk time to a minimum and increase student talk time. 

Ask open-ended questions, keep explanations and input short and sweet. Use visual aids and have a variety of interactive tools for the quieter students.

How can time management improve the online learning experience?

Time management ensures that online lessons are focused, balanced, and efficient. Teachers must plan pacing carefully, allowing time for introductions, activities, and wrap-ups. 

Strategies like using timers, setting clear timing goals, and having buffer time for questions help classes stay on track. 

Tools such as digital planners, alarms, and agenda slides can support timekeeping, helping educators handle late arrivals and finish sessions with a sense of completion.

How do online teachers need to approach classroom management differently?

As someone who taught high school and primary school-aged learners, it’s very different teaching students online, for a variety of reasons. It’s important to treat each person with respect and make it clear that you expect respect in return: respect for your preparation time and lesson times. 

Set clear boundaries beforehand about cancellations, disruptions during lesson times, and focusing during lessons. 

If your student doesn’t respect the boundaries that you’ve set, have a chat with their parent or guardian. If it’s an adult student, ensure that you communicate what’s expected of them, what they’ve done incorrectly, and make it clear that you cannot continue having lessons with them if they cannot respect your boundaries.

Read more: How To Teach English To Adults

Rescheduling

 

Why is cultural awareness important in an online teaching context?

Teaching people from all over the world is thrilling and exciting. Rarely are you able to interact with people all over the world daily, but with this type of job, you can. But you need some level of cultural awareness.

What’s the norm for you in your country might not be the norm for someone who comes from a different country. It’s important not to make assumptions about their life or the choices that they make in their life. 

Without probing, ask about their lives and be open to learning from them. Base your lesson content on the information that you have learned, and share from your own local experiences if they seem open to it. Be careful when approaching controversial topics like religion and politics. 

It’s generally recommended to stay far away from these topics to ensure you don’t offend or make the student uncomfortable. The rule of thumb is to follow their lead—talk about topics they are comfortable talking about.

What is the role of self-motivation in teaching online?

Doesn’t it sound nice: sleeping late every day and only waking up when a scheduled lesson starts, then logging off and climbing back into bed with a takeaway on the way and your favourite series ready?

The problem with this type of routine is that it can negatively impact the quality of your lessons and the likelihood of your students rebooking with you.  It’s obvious to any student, young or old, when the teacher is unprepared. So don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for the next lesson!

As with any job, you’re expected to bring a certain quality of work to the table. Missing lessons regularly and showing up unprepared is unprofessional. 

You’ll need motivation to:

• manage your time effectively,

• prepare for each session in advance, 

• update student notes (something you should have as an organised teacher),

• track your lessons on your calendar. 

It’s also a good idea to get eight hours of sleep,  eat healthy and stay active. 

Why is self-management important for teaching online successfully?

Self-isolation and burnout can rear their ugly heads when you work from home. It becomes easier to order food, get groceries delivered, and miss social gatherings due to scheduled lessons. What you don’t immediately realise is that going out, having the sun shine down on you while you go for a walk, and interacting with people in real life is exceptionally important. 

Work smarter, not harder.

Don’t spend hours preparing for lessons, taking on extra sessions, and sleeping less, as this will inevitably lead to burnout. 

Preply has a calendar section where you can book off specific times or days. Take some time off now and then. Attend those family or friend gatherings and take your self-care time seriously.

What organisational skills are required for effective online teaching?

Staying organised from the beginning is exceptionally important. It’s easy to miss a session or forget what you’ve already covered with a specific student if you don’t keep proper track of it. 

I updated my Google Calendar to track all of my scheduled lessons. I also had an alarm set to go off 10 minutes before the lesson to start prepping my space for the upcoming lesson. 

A running Google Doc for each student and the content covered in each session helped me tremendously.

If you’re teaching ten or more students at a time, it’s necessary to keep track of what they struggled with, what was spoken about during the sessions, and what you want to cover for the next session. 

Many of my adult students wanted to learn English for travel purposes or because they planned to live abroad. They didn’t care much about tenses or the rules of punctuation. They just wanted to expand their vocabulary and conversational skills. 

I made sure to prep content and topics to discuss beforehand. Prepping for your lessons is an important part of staying organised.

How can online teachers continue developing their professional skills?

Some online teaching platforms offer courses to help you further your online teaching skills. You can learn what works best, the correct structure of an effective lesson, how to ensure your learner progresses, tips and tricks of the trade, and lots more.

It’s important to be a lifelong learner in any career that you’re in, but especially in one that is ever-evolving, like online teaching. 

You want good reviews, repeat students, and to be good at your job, so continuous professional development is exceptionally important.

Would you recommend teaching English online?

It depends on what type of person you are. Some people need in-person contact with others to drive them, so online teaching might cause them to feel isolated. Others know how to balance a healthy social life outside of the online space and get sufficient stimulation from connecting with people online.

Thanks for the useful information, Vanessa. 

Vanessa’s insights on the key skills needed for online teaching helps clarify what aspiring teachers should focus on. If you’re thinking about taking your TEFL career online, these tips are a great place to start!