Are you the proud parent of a student who's taking online English classes? Whether your child is just starting out or already making strides in their language skills, there are a few key ways you can support their success. And the best part is, these tips are easy to implement!
Pro-tips for Parents of Online English Language Learners:
Encourage active participation.
Don't let your child sit back and be passive during their online tutoring sessions. Encourage them to ask questions and engage with the material. This will keep them interested and motivated. To make sure your child is giving their full attention to the tutor and lesson materials, parents should be sure to set up a quiet and distraction-free environment for the student. Older students can be tempted to be distracted by looking at other material during the class, so it is important that they close out all other windows on their devices or computers and remain only in the classroom window or looking at the class materials as guided by the teacher.
Also you can help students to avoid the distractions of doing other homework or using cell phones during tutoring. It is so easy to pick up a cell phone and start doing something else during the lesson, so parents may even want to consider having students put their phone or other distractions in another room.
Be there for support.
Your child may have questions or concerns before, during, or after their online tutoring sessions. Make sure you're available to offer a listening ear and a helping hand.
If you have a new or young learner, it's helpful to be within listening distance during the lessons in case they need help during the lesson. This could mean helping with the technology or refocusing on the class lesson.
By exposing your child to a variety of English input, you can help them reach that "i+1" and acquire language more quickly.
Unlock the Power of Comprehensible Input - Help Your Child Soar in English with Stephen Krashen's Theory!
According to Stephen Krashen, language acquisition is all about receiving input that's just beyond our current abilities. This is the essence of his "i+1" theory - where "i" represents our current language level, and "+1" signifies a language that's slightly more challenging. By exposing students to input that's "i+1", we challenge them to stretch their language skills and help them acquire more language. So, as a parent of an online English tutoring student, you play a crucial role in promoting their success by providing them with daily exposure to English input at home. "English input" refers to any form of communication in the English language that a student is exposed to. This includes listening to native English speakers, reading English books, watching English movies or TV shows, or having conversations in English. By incorporating a variety of "i+1" English input into their daily lives, students can continuously challenge and improve their English skills.
Although our class time focuses on both input and output in English, language acquisition actually takes many more hours of listening than can be accomplished during the tutoring sessions. Parents can support their children's language acquisition by giving them more English input at home. There are a variety of ways to provide input that you can try including:
Keep track of progress.
Regular check-ins with your child can go a long way in helping them stay on track. Here are some questions that parents could ask their child as a follow-up or check in after lessons:
It's important to remember that Now Speak English Online reports goals and progress to parents regularly, so parents should pay attention to the information that comes home in the reports and can ask their child about the class topics or be in communication with the office if they have questions or concerns. As students begin their tutoring, parents should also think about their own class expectations and goals for their child and communicate those with the office so that the tutor can be sure to plan class activities that support the goals parents have.
Celebrate achievements.
Help your child set goals and celebrate their achievements along the way. A supportive and encouraging home environment can make all the difference in a student's success. Be their biggest cheerleader and celebrate their successes along the way.
To set goals with your child:
- Listen to the student and ask questions to try to hear what his/her goals may be related to English. Repeat back what you hear to communicate that you are listening and value his/her thoughts.
- Work together to set goals based on their ideas and add your own ideas as a parent.
- Discuss with your child the steps they can take to reach the goals, such as committing to do assigned homework, speaking confidently, taking risks even if it means making mistakes.
- Work together to come up with a reward for when they reach their goals.
When setting goals, it is important to make them "SMART":
- Specific: An effective goal should be ultra-specific and leave no room for misinterpretation or vagueness.
- Measurable: Your goal should be quantifiable and the progress easy to track, so you know when you hit a benchmark or the finish line.
- Achievable: Ensure that your goal is attainable and realistic.
- Relevant: The goal should contribute to your bigger overarching goals.
- Time-bound: SMART goals should have defined start and end times, and, if large enough, should also have incremental dates to meet specific objectives.
Imagine a parent and child sitting down at their favorite restaurant, enjoying a meal before starting their English classes. They start chatting about the classes and the child mentions that they're feeling a bit nervous about speaking English in front of others. The parent listens closely and nods in understanding.
The parent then shares their own ideas and encourages the child to think about what they'd like to work on in their English classes. The child thinks for a moment and says, "I really want to be able to order my own food in English next time I come to this restaurant.”
The parent listens and then suggests setting a goal for the child to be able to order their food in English on their next visit to the restaurant. The parent and child work together to make the goal SMART:
- Specific: The child will be able to order their food in English on their next visit to the restaurant.
- Measurable: The child's ability to order food in English will be evaluated by the server's understanding of the order.
- Achievable: The child has been practicing English in their lessons and has a good foundation, so ordering food in English should be attainable with a bit more practice.
- Relevant: Ordering food in English is a practical and relevant skill that the child wants to improve.
- Time-bound: The goal will be achieved on the child's next visit to the restaurant.
The parent and child then agree on a reward for when the goal is achieved. They decide that if the child successfully orders their food in English, they will order a special dessert to share as a celebration.
In conclusion, as a parent of a student taking online English tutoring, you're the secret ingredient to their success. By creating a quiet, distraction-free environment, you'll make sure they stay focused. And when they have questions or concerns, you'll be there to offer a helping hand. With daily exposure to English and regular check-ins, you'll see their progress soar. And when they hit those SMART goals, you'll be able to give them a high-five and celebrate their achievements together. So, let's make English tutoring a fun, supportive, and exciting journey for your child!
