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What do you want to get out of the training? What are your objectives? What are your long term plans and goals? These are questions that you need to answer before determining what kind of language training would be beneficial for you. Figuring out what your employees need is crucial in determining the content and best method of training.
Of course everyone has the same overall goal – to learn English – but many have specific goals that can be the focus of the lessons. Business is such a broad topic that narrowing it down can be quite a difficult task. Learning vocabulary related to telecommunications won’t be helpful for a company that sells medical supplies. Specialization and complete understanding of what a company is all about is important to achieve success.
Course content should cover a variety of things. Basics in grammar, vocabulary, idioms and expressions, practical application, and review of learning should be fundamental aspects in a lesson. Activities and exercises that stimulate the students instead of putting them to sleep is always a challenge – making everyone happy all the time is sometimes a difficult task – but appropriate content that connects and flows together, paired with an excellent teacher is a recipe for success.
Read these blogs about how TalktoCanada.com takes advantage of the online classroom and uses it to its full potential:
http://www.talktocanada.com/2010/03/how-to-be-creative-in-the-virtual-classroom/
Posts Tagged ‘hot new trend’
Part I Goals – What every corporation should know about Language Training
Thursday, June 24th, 2010Working Nine to Five, What a way to make a living! Getting a Job with TTC
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010Ok, this post isn’t going to be about working 9-5 because at TalktoCanada.com, nobody works 9-5. If you want to work 9-5, I suggest you find a nice cushy government job and if you think you can work 9-5 at TalktoCanada.com, you may be sitting around for a long time waiting for a call from us. We are always upfront and honest with teachers and try to be as open as possible with the long and hard hours that we work. Since TalktoCanada.com works a lot in Europe and Asia, you will be expected as a teacher to work nights. We aren’t talking about working up to midnight but rather through the whole night (Yes.. really people live in other time zones that are super different from Canada — Daily, I work in about 5 or 6 different zones – this is Jillian btw). Being an online teacher is hard, so don’t be surprised when we ask you for an interview and outline the job hours.
On some of our job ads, I feel like saying daytime junkies need not apply, we are just looking for hardcore night owls. We also look for staff who don’t mind working around the clock, if you’re only available limited hours and don’t like working like a maniac some weeks it’s best to avoid working as an online teacher (this is not just with us.. this is with almost ALL online jobs).
If you’re looking for that elusive cushy management job with TalktoCanada.com. Take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself, do I want to be available 24/7 (really I am available 24/7 – blackberry, skype, phone, chat — it’s all part of the job — and to juggle that job with real life sometimes is tricky — but OHHHH so worth it!). If you thought it was tough being a teacher with TalktoCanada.com, management jobs are 5-10 times tougher (ha! try 100 times harder Marc — this is Jillian again btw). Try being in bed (what??!! You get to sleep??!! – just kidding!!) and getting a call to replace a last minute teacher having connection problems or to do a last minute two hour demo for a new corporate client. For the record, TalktoCanada generally hires from within for management positions, so if you’re a teacher with TalktoCanada we may be watching to find those that meet the very difficult requirements for a management job. If you want to get a little glimpse into the jobs of managers at TalktoCanada.com, I suggest reading some of the multitude of posts by our favourite manager Jillian Zavitz (haha thanks Marc!) :) or by visiting the links below for our ‘Day in the life of Manager’ series.
Marc Anderson
Alysia Bartley
Jillian Zavitz
Thanks to Jillian for commenting on my post in RED.
Top 3 qualities that I look for in teachers who want to teach English online
Friday, January 22nd, 2010When hiring teachers for TalktoCanada.com, I look for the obvious things (basic requirements such as being a Canadian, having some kind of teaching experience, knows something about technology and computers) but I also look for things that don’t show up on “paper”.
Coolness factor
Are you cool? Do you have stories that will keep your students interested? Is your personality one that is approachable and fun? The coolness factor is one of the most important qualities that I look for in teachers. I can tell a little bit from a resume (experiences outlined etc) but during the interview I am usually able to tell who is cool and has the perfect personality for this job.. and who just won’t make the cut.
Flexibility — can you touch your toes? (just kidding)
Flexibility in the sense of understanding that this is NOT a 9-5 job. This is a job that sometimes requires you to work at “crazy hours” (in the middle of the night), or have classes that are spread out throughout the day… if you can work with that… then I can work with you! Don’t ask to have 9-5 hours because it’s just not going to happen…so save us both the trouble and look somewhere else.
Open to learning (don’t worry no heavy textbooks involved)
But yes, some training and ongoing learning is involved with this job. Every job needs some kind of training program that helps develop and fine tune your skills. It takes a while to become a star online teacher — and it also takes quite a bit of training.
Selecting teachers is a REALLY difficult task — but I love talking with applicants and learning about their experiences and how they can apply them to online learning. So far I have been quite successful, and have excellent teachers on board, that besides the general requirements meet these top 3 qualities and then some.
A Day in the Life of a TalktoCanada.com Manager — Marc Anderson – General Manager
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Marc Anderson
- General Manager
- Working at TTC since early 2006
What is a typical day for you at TalktoCanada.com?
Good question, not getting very much sleep..just kidding. I would say that a typical day starts with answering a lot of emails, keeping up on prospects and than talking with my other managers either on telephone or on Skype. After the usual stuff is done, I probably spend the rest of my time on the phone or in meetings with current and potential clients. Some of my time is spent supervising projects and making sure they are delivered in the way that the client requested which can sometimes get difficult depending on the highly specialized nature of the course materials. The rest of my time, is probably spent reading, which can include the latest business book or visiting several of my favourite websites including entrepreneur.com, searchenginewatch.com, msnbc.com and checking up on our industry competitors. My day doesn’t end at a specific time or start at the same time everyday, having to deal in so many countries around the world, some days I have to wake up while I am sleeping for a meeting or at supper time. You have to give up the 9-5 hours if you expect to be successful in this type of job.
What is the toughest challenge you have faced since starting with TalktoCanada.com in 2006?
I would have to say beyond a doubt, getting our first client was the toughest challenge. With such a new service by a very unknown company it’s hard to convince individuals and companies of your worth. Naturally the vast majority of those people interested in our services were skeptical and without my selling skills being full developed it took a while to get off the ground.
What would you say is your biggest triumph?
This would probably tie into the previous question. Getting our first client was the most exhilarating experience you could possibly have in a new business. A client was willing to give us the chance and I will never forget the name of this company for the rest of my life.
What is the best part of your job?
Meeting with clients around the world. I majored in accounting in university and seriously contemplated being an accountant but than thought if I am going to be in an office, I would rather do something more exciting. I haven’t looked back since and I love my job and would trade it for any other business job.
Part VI – Modifying the Dogme approach to accommodate your students’ needs – Putting a name to the methodologies that TalktoCanada.com uses to teach ESL online
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009The previous posts have described the Dogme approach and how TalktoCanada.com uses it with both their individual students and group lessons. This method is not used exclusively – as true Dogme approach is essentially material free.
What we do take from this approach is the focus that it has on the students leading the lesson. Not only does the Dogme approach require for both the student and the teacher to be on the same page – some students are unable to learn without material in front of them. They aren’t creative enough – they have “brain blocks” and just want to have a jump start with something that helps get the juices flowing.
TalktoCanada.com encourages their students to take advantage of the fact that they are learning with a native English speaker – and really put an emphasis on learning English through conversation, and this conversation being whatever the student brings to the table either with a jump start or on their own.
In my personal teaching experiences – I try to focus on the Dogme approach as much as possible – I ask my students to prepare things for the lessons – I go wherever they take the lesson – and help guide them through. But – sometimes a jump start can take you to places that you would otherwise not explore.
My jump start of preference are articles that deal with both random news, as well as serious topics that usually relate somehow to the student either geographically, or to their interests. Ideally, students read these articles ahead of time – and we can then go over the themes in class and discuss the ideas and opinions in the article and our own. This helps students learn about different topics that granted may be weird (“Oscar Meyer Wiener dog car crashes into house”) but it builds up useful everyday English vocabulary that can be used in a variety of situations.
Whatever your learning style – TalktoCanada.com will be sure to accommodate a style suitable to your needs. Working on the same page – and with the same goals in mind is always important in learning anything in life – not only for a language.
Part IV: Cookie Cutter Language Learning – Putting a Name to the methodologies that TalktoCanada.com Uses
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
Cookie Cutter and Language Learning should never be in the same sentence – actually scrap that – Cookie Cutter and ANY type of learning should not be in the same sentence – unless it is to describe what NOT to do.
The Cookie Cutter method – is basically that… putting people into a “program” that focuses on the cookie cutter rather than the student’s needs or personal goals. This method can be applied to all types of learning – from sports to life skills – it may give the impression that it “works” but really? – does it?
As a mother of two small children – it would be tempting to use the cookie cutter method to teach them different life skills as they are growing up… but out of all honesty – even if I wanted to do that – it would be impossible. Why? Because my children both have different ways to understand the same thing. Food introduction, discipline – all of those fun parenting skills that a first time round parent usually does “by the book” because that is what is normal to do, fall into the cookie cutter method. “Do this with your baby (and every baby for that matter) because all babies are the same.” Well hold on a second… Are all babies the same? Are all language learners the same?
Not likely… – I admit – in the past I have used the cookie cutter method – or perhaps I could call it the traditional textbook method of teaching languages. The results were not so great. It was boring for me, teaching vocabulary that was outdated, and that really in all honesty these students would never use in their entire life… EVER.
Trying to spice things up a bit or making the lessons more fun was difficult – because if someone is used to this cookie cutter – throwing in a free form without edges just makes them nervous, and feel like they aren’t accomplishing the “set goals” that someone else has outlined for them (ie: the textbook).
An example: Having students join facebook – and a special group created for them to practice their English with native speakers from around the world. Out of 25 students — maybe 5 joined — and out of those 5 that joined 2 engaged in some type of English discussion. Not very successful… Some would say it is “easier” to follow a book – to follow someone else’s action plan and set goals — like spoon feeding a baby – it is “easier” to get babies to eat like that. Or is it? I spoon fed my first child and it definitely was the farthest thing from easy. You can’t force someone to eat something – just as you cannot force someone to learn specifics of a language. You can try all day long, but if the person doesn’t want to do it the cookie cutter way it will never work.
With my second child it was a whole different story – I tried something else – where she was in control of what she ate – and how much she ate, my goals had nothing to do with it (obviously I did have an overall goal of her eating some solids – but not a set amount at a set time). The outcome was much more successful than when I spoon fed my first — albeit way messier — but 100% more successful. And this can be applied to Language learning as well – you give your students options – and they go with it as far as they want… at their own pace, to their own liking, with the overall goal of learning the language — messier because you don’t have the structure — but 100% more successful.
I am not saying any of this out of second hand knowledge or as information from a book I read, but from being on the front lines and teaching for more years than I can count. Say for example – a student has trouble expressing themselves in different past tenses – ok – what would be a more beneficial for them to learn the the past tense? Doing sentences in the past with random themes that may or may not relate to their real life or having them produce a picture (their own) and talking about that? I think we both know the answer, and we both can see which method produces the most accurate – and real life results.
I for one have gotten rid of all of the cookie-cutters in my life – from child rearing to teaching languages. Who’s to say that a star has to have 5 points? Who says language learning has to be from a book and who says you can’t teach outside the box? Just because the majority of English training companies will use cookie cutter programs, doesn’t make it right or even successful for that matter. Students generally want to spend as short a time as possible learning a language and TalktoCanada.com can definitely help students achieve that goal.
Part II – Key Principles of the Dogme Language Learning Approach – Putting a name to the methodologies that TalktoCanada.com uses to teach ESL online
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009The Dogme Language Learning Approach has a few key principles that Scott Thornbury (somewhat of a founding father of the Dogme Language Learning Approach) outlines in his various books and articles about this newly labelled teaching movement.
- Conversation = Learning: this is obviously the fundamental concept that is really the backbone of the Dogme Language Learning Approach. Conversation – usually has no structured path. True – you may have a specific topic that you prefer to focus on (daily topics to help get things started) but there is really no way of telling where that can lead you. Questions come up, opinions are shared, conversation is born.
- Emergent Language (vocabulary/grammar) = Learning: although this point ties in with the first point – it focuses on the learning aspect of conversation. The Dogme Language Learning Approach is not just a friendly chat with students. Quite the opposite. It is
conversation – but with learning. New vocabulary, grammar, concepts come out during a class that are not “planned out”. They happen as the class happens – and as the student learns. I’ve had classes were we’ve started off talking about the ever present apocalyptic theories of 2012 – to the grammar of speaking – do we say 2012 or 20 12. All prompted by the student – in charge of their own learning. - Relevance of materials = Learning: ideally the materials that you use in the class are ones that your students can relate to, and use in the “real world”. I’m sure as teachers or as students we have all experienced lessons where the topic – just didn’t make for a very exciting lesson. When are “typical” students ever going to use “tea party etiquette” if they don’t drink tea? This is where textbooks get put back on the shelf. With the Dogme Language Learning Approach – students can select their learning – and adapt it to their preferences and their specific needs.
TalktoCanada.com uses these key principles in their teaching methods.
Learning English Through Conversation
Incorporating different concepts and ideas and encouraging their students to take control of their learning.
Part I: The Basics of Dogme – Putting a name to the methodologies that TalktoCanada.com uses to teach ESL online
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009I was recently formally introduced to the Dogme language learning approach – although have unofficially been using it throughout my entire ESL teaching career. As mentioned in the previous article, the main principle behind the Dogme language learning approach is learning through conversation, rather than learning with a textbook.
Most online learners (actually truthfully ALL of my students) improve their English using this method. You may think – “Ok – Conversation – that doesn’t sound like learning” but really – it is and it has the most impressive results.
Through conversation teachers act as “facilitators” and shape the lesson – prompt questions – encourage discussion. But it’s really the student who is in the driver’s seat. They are able to select content (usually something that they are passionate about, or want to learn more about) and essentially create the lesson. The student comes up with the grammar questions, and vocabulary questions and comprehension questions. The students guide the lesson – and create their own learning. Teachers are there to facilitate that learning.
A complete 180* turn around from what traditionally ESL learning is/was. Textbooks and formal lesson plans lay everything out for you – and it is easier to just follow and do the exercises instead of thinking for yourself. You are still learning – but you are learning what someone else thinks is important.
Sometimes this is important for ESL learners. And sometimes it depends on the level. Would the Dogme language learning approach be as successful for a beginner/novice student? Or would the student get frustrated because they just don’t have the fundamentals in the language to hold a conversation?
There are many questions to consider – that’s for sure – but essentially ESL learning is shifting towards this direction – whether it be online or offline.
How TalktoCanada.com makes online English learning personal
Thursday, November 12th, 2009Usually when you buy a product or service you have an idea in your head of what you want and aren’t 100% convinced or satisfied until you get exactly what you want. This rings true not only for that new shirt that you bought, but as well as for online English learning.
TalktoCanada.com is a unique service in that it works with you in creating an educational plan that suits your needs and wants. We don’t try to push you into a cookie cutter solution. Each lesson varies and changes based on your needs, interests, and abilities.
Many of my students have different needs each week, and our lessons vary from just chatting about their weekly activities, to current events to helping edit different documents. Students like to be in control of what they are learning – so giving them a
choice and lots of options is always very important. It can’t just be black and white – we have to offer them a rainbow.
So many of my students are surprised that I take that extra time to help them, and come up with lessons that are current and related to them or that I don’t mind if something changes all of a sudden.
The key – as mentioned in previous blogs is to be flexible, and create an open dialogue with your students to ensure that they are happy with their learning and if anything is missing to let you know so that you can include it in your teaching.
The other method of how TalktoCanada.com makes your English learning personal is by assigning you the same teacher throughout your time with TalktoCanada.com. I’ve had many individual students comment that they find it really beneficial to stay with the same teacher throughout their learning. Some students continue taking English lessons for over a year – they include it into part of their weekly routine and just keep it up as they would any other extra curricular class. There are so many benefits to sticking with the same teacher – apart from the obvious of not having to re introduce yourself each class – your assigned teacher knows what you need to work on, and is able to continuously work on those areas – eventually mastering them.
TalktoCanada.com’s teachers are also really approachable, friendly people. We are helpful, and there for our students for whatever they need, whenever they need it. It takes a special type of person to meet these demands and TalktoCanada.com teachers excel at it.
Check out our testimonials page to see for yourself what our students have to say.
Working online from home… the HOT new trend
Thursday, November 12th, 2009Working online from home is the hot new trend. Everybody is doing it, and if you aren’t already doing it you want to do it. There are many things that sound attractive about working from home. No commute, no office politics or gossip, and being able for the most part to set your own hours. 
I’ve been teaching online from home for the past 2 years and don’t ever want to return to a traditional teaching environment. Teaching English online has so many benefits that a traditional teaching job just can’t compete with. However, having said that – teaching online is not as easy as just turning on your computer and rocking away. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind to be successful in this up and coming industry and especially if you are looking to start working as an online English teacher.
- Teaching online does not mean less work – lesson planning prep, email contact with the students, organizing your week and your schedule takes time – excellent time management is a MUST for someone to be successful in online teaching.
- Professionalism is a must – sometimes it is easy to forget that although we may be teaching from our homes – professionalism needs to be maintained. It is easy to forget that although all communication is via the internet – it doesn’t make it any less real. Treating is as you would any other job is a must.
- Knowing that the 9 to 5 work hours do not apply – of course working 9-5pm from home would be ideal – but that is usually not the case. Time zones are different – people’s schedules are different – and to teach online you need to give a little to get a little in return.
- Keeping up to date – your tools for teaching obviously need to be up to date and top of the line. You cannot teach on a computer that takes ages to load up, nor use equipment that is less than the best. Quality is the key to being successful.
- Understanding that not everyone can do it – teaching online is not for everyone. It’s not as easy as just setting up a website advertising your services. It’s hard, it takes time to get good and even after investing a lot of time and energy into – some teachers just don’t make the cut.
There are many people that excel at this teaching from home concept – they understand that it is a competitive business – and take the necessary steps to ensure that they stay one step ahead of the competition. It’s not easy to teach online – there are never any guarantees or security. It’s hard – but it’s worth it!
