Teaching English to children through online platforms (like Zoom, or through companies such as Outschool, Cambly Kids, and Allschool- to name a few of the hundreds out there) has become an increasingly popular and effective way to connect with young learners all around the world.

With the right strategies and approach, you can create engaging and impactful lessons that foster language development and make learning enjoyable for children. What are the best ways to teach English to children virtually? Here are some tips that I've learned through my experience being an online ESL teacher that will help you create an enriching experience that supports their language-learning journey.

***Hey, just a heads up! In this post, we might sprinkle in a few links to some neat products on Amazon. These links are what they call 'affiliate links,' which means if you decide to snag something through these links, we might earn a little commission. It's kinda like giving us a virtual high-five for sharing the good stuff with you. But hey, no pressure – feel free to explore all the fantastic tips and tricks we're dishing out, whether you click on those links or not. Your trust means everything to us, so we'll always keep it real with you. Thanks for joining the learning adventure with us!***

Establish a Welcoming Atmosphere:

Creating a warm and friendly environment is crucial for engaging young learners. Begin each session with a cheerful greeting and use visuals like colorful backgrounds or virtual stickers to capture their attention and make them feel comfortable.

Think about the age of your learners, and create a background that is appropriate for them. Many online teachers will create a background using things they have printed or drawn themselves, sometimes including a printed nameplate (for example: it might say "Teacher Jillian."

I personally love to use a green screen for my lessons. By using a green screen, I can quickly and easily change my background virtually, and can update it for different students (maybe I have one class where my student loves dinosaurs, and we can have a dinosaur classroom, and the next student is in Unicorn Land), or different holidays and seasons.

In the past, I have also used photography backdrops (this was one that my students loved), but green screens are my favorite now. I don't even use these anymore, it's so easy to create a backdrop for your green screen using Canva.

Utilize Interactive Materials:

Incorporate interactive materials such as flashcards, games, and videos that are age-appropriate and cater to various learning styles. These resources can help reinforce vocabulary, grammar concepts, and language skills in a fun and engaging way.

One of the best resources I've found is through Twinkl. They have a very affordable membership (the cost varies depending on where you live, but for me, it's $5 USD a month), but they also have a free membership. You can't access everything in the free membership, but you CAN access A LOT.

As a paid member, I'm able to offer 5 free month-long memberships a day (so you can access the paid membership for one month) to new members. If you'd like me to send you one, fill out this form. I will send them out in the order I receive them!

If you want to know more about Twinkl, you can check out this video I made. It's one of my favorite resources, and they have so much in there!

Incorporate Visual Aids:

Children are visual learners, so use visual aids to explain concepts. Visuals help children grasp new words and ideas more effectively and enhance their overall understanding of the language.
You'll hear a lot of teachers call these "props." Again, it's going to depend on the age group that you're teaching, but you can use stuffed animals, whiteboards, your kids toys....or even stuff that you'd normally throw in the trash!

Engage with Stories and Role-Playing:

Stories and role-playing activities are fantastic tools for language acquisition. Choose age-appropriate stories that captivate their imagination and encourage them to participate in role-playing exercises to practice real-life conversations.

Maintain Shorter Session Times:

Children have shorter attention spans compared to adults, so it's best to keep your sessions shorter and more focused. Aim for sessions ranging from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the age group and their attention span. Many online ESL teachers opt for 25 minute lessons for the younger children, and 55 minute lessons for the older children.
In my experience, children tend to do better with two 25 minutes sessions a week than with one hour long session.

Integrate Movement and Gestures:

Incorporate movement and gestures into your lessons to keep children active and engaged. Encourage them to mimic actions related to vocabulary words or use gestures to demonstrate meaning. This not only aids retention but also adds an element of fun.

Have you ever heard of Total Physical Response (TPR)? It's like adding a dash of fun to learning! Basically, you get kids moving while they learn English. You say a word, they act it out – simple as that! Imagine teaching action words by having them jump, clap, or wave as you say the words. It's like a language dance party! TPR is a secret weapon to keep kids engaged and help words stick in their minds.

Foster Interaction and Participation:

Encourage active participation by asking open-ended questions, playing language games, and creating opportunities for children to express themselves. Providing chances for them to speak, ask questions, and share their thoughts helps build their confidence and language skills.

Generally, you want students to do the majority of the speaking in class. When you ask them a question, stay away from asking things that can be answered with "Yes/No." Get a conversation going!

Use Rhymes and Songs:

Children often respond well to rhymes and songs. Incorporate catchy songs and rhymes that teach vocabulary, grammar rules, and pronunciation. The rhythm and melody can make learning more memorable and enjoyable.

This isn't going to work with EVERY child. Pay attention to how each student reacts to songs. When I was working for Palfish (an old ESL company that was based in China), we had a LOT of songs on the slides that they asked us to teach the students. I had one particular student who would roll her eyes every time we got to a song page.

If it's not enjoyable, it's not going to benefit them as much, so learn what works for each student. Which brings us to....

Adapt to Individual Learning Styles:

Each child has a unique learning style. Some are visual learners, while others may prefer auditory or kinesthetic methods. Try to incorporate a variety of teaching techniques to accommodate different learning preferences.

Have you ever heard of differentiated Instruction? It's like tailoring your lessons to match each student's unique style. So, in your online ESL class, you mix and match teaching strategies based on what clicks with each kid. If one student learns better through visuals, toss in some snazzy graphics. If another rocks at learning through stories, bring out the adventure tales. It's all about customizing the learning experience to fit each student's groove. By doing this, you make sure every student gets a chance to shine and learn their own way.

Encourage Parental Involvement:

Parents play a significant role in a child's language development.

Sometimes, you may want to encourage parents to be present during lessons. Other times, you may not want to encourage this. Read the room, and make the decision for each student.

You can ask any veteran ESL teacher...we've all had that parent that sits next to their child and takes over the lesson, talks over you, and corrects you (often times with incorrect corrections). If this is happening, you may want to have a conversation with the parent about how they can assist in their child's education. They aren't doing this to be invasive or annoying...they're doing it because they want to be involved with their child's education.

Find ways that you can involve the parent outside the classroom. You can ask to have the lesson privately (You can just tell them it's to eliminate interruptions and to keep them focused, and that in each class you are constantly assessing their progress and improvement so that you can best cater the lessons to their needs, and it makes it much easier to do if a parent isn't sitting right there with them).

To reassure them, you can always tell them they can stay within earshot, and that you'll provide them with a recording after class.

After class, provide the parents with resources to continue practicing English with their child outside of your sessions. It can help them remain involved without negatively impacting their child's lessons.

By doing these things, and communicating with the parents, it will help keep their trust and faith in you as both an educator and a professional.

Teaching English to children on Zoom is an exciting journey that requires creativity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of young learners' needs. By creating a welcoming atmosphere, using interactive materials, and tailoring your approach to individual learning styles, you can create meaningful and engaging lessons that support children's language development. With these top tips in mind, you'll be well-equipped to guide your young students towards English proficiency while making the learning process an enjoyable adventure.

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