This week I was very successful in expanding my online global teaching services to students in Taiwan. I was so happy because I have a large group of Chinese students that I also teach online and I am excited that I have penetrated a new market. Although I was excited about having Taiwanese students, they wanted to have an hour and a half lessons and they wanted me to teach them right after the other. So, I have a question! What's the best way to have a successful teaching schedule?
1. You do not let your students create your teaching schedule.
This may sound strict; however, your students are not taking into consideration they are not your only student. This especially applies when teaching online students because there is more flexibility. Teaching online is different from teaching in person. Teaching only requires even more energy than teaching in person because you still have to convey excitement even though you are not there physically. Also, teaching online causes strain to your eyes and also can be emotionally draining. At least it is emotionally draining for me; therefore, I do not teach one-on-one lessons for more than one hour.
2. You should take breaks when teaching adults English students online.
Teaching online to adult students consecutively can be stressful and mentally and emotionally tiring. What I prefer to do is to teach my online adult students and then teach my online children because it gives me a mental break from the seriousness of teaching online adults. Also, my online children lessons are only 25 minutes, whereas my online adult lessons are one hour.
3. Require your students to give you a three month schedule in advance.
I require my students to do so. This may sound a bit pushy; however, when you let your students know that your time is valuable and that you will not teach them if they cannot give you a schedule this allows you to weed out the non-serious students. I talk about in my book `Teaching Private Lessons in Japan.` If a student cannot give me a an advance schedule then he or she is unreliable. Remember this is your salary we are addressing-this is not your hobby.
References
Oden, C. (2018). Teaching Private Lessons in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Private-Lesons-Japan-Lessons-ebook/dp/B079HX92SQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535329983&sr=8-1&keywords=teaching+private+lessons+in+japan
Oden, C. (2018). How to Teach Private Lessons in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/teach-Private-Lessons-Japan-Workbook-ebook/dp/B079HWFHHD/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1535329983&sr=8-2&keywords=teaching+private+lessons+in+japan