Being a language teacher is extremely rewarding. Passing on your language skills has a very enriching and beneficial impact on the adults, teenagers, and children you teach. With those able to speak a second, third - or even fourth language able to get so much more out of their personal and professional lives.
Here at Lingoo, we connect people who are passionate about language learning with the homestay teachers who can help them to unlock their potential. But being a highly effective language teacher comes down to more than just having the right qualifications.
Discover the top tips that will enable you to be the best language teacher you can be and in turn, successfully immerse your students in the ultimate language learning experience.
Get to know your students
Every student is different. Each will have their own unique way of learning, absorbing and memorising the information you are teaching them.
Spend some time simply listening to your students. Learn more about their needs, strengths and weaknesses, and even get to know more about their home country and lives. Using this information, you can adapt your classes and teaching style to suit their exact requirements.
Chatting with your students is another great way to increase exposure to the language that they are learning. Soon enough you and your student will be fluently conversing about all manner of topics in their target language.
Increase student involvement
An interactive teaching style provides a more effective way of learning for every student so bear this in mind when planning your lessons. There’s nothing worse than an inattentive, withdrawn, and disengaged student, and these students have a lower level of performance than engaged students.
Hands-on activities and continuous communication between teacher and student have been proven to guarantee student success. A recent study found that more than 70% of students recognised the positive relationship between their own participation and learning, so don’t be afraid to get your students stuck in.
The same study noted that increasing participation boosts engagement, improves knowledge retention, clarifies previously learned skills, and deepens understanding.
Take your lessons outside
A lot can be learned by taking your language lessons outside the classroom. Regular field trips give your students the opportunity to practice their newfound language skills.
A simple trip to the local supermarket, the cinema, or a nearby restaurant can help students hone their skills. In fact, exposure to everyday scenarios is imperative for improving accuracy and fluency.
British Council offers their advice on consolidating language learning beyond the confines of the classroom:
“The more you learn, use and practise the language, the more accurate and fluent you become. Repetition and practice are essential to many skills, and this is especially true when learning a language. In order to consolidate classroom learning, you must repeat and revisit grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation work regularly with your students.”
Open up your home
Just as a lot can be learned outside of the classroom, many language skills can be perfected at home. The homestay provides the perfect immersion experience for those wishing to learn a new language and take in all that the culture of the country associated with that language has to offer. And what better immersive language environment than your own home?
More and more language teachers are becoming homestay hosts. Hosts provide meals and accommodation alongside personal tuition to accelerate language learning for their students.
Whether your student is a complete beginner or an eager improver, the homestay gives you the power to teach in an intensive - yet highly effective way.
Want to become a homestay teacher? We can connect you with the students who need your help Join Lingoo today to get started.
