The thrill of starting an online teaching business comes hand-in-hand with the challenge of attracting and keeping students. Whether you joined a tutoring platform like Preply.com or are marketing yourself on social media, your first lesson is crucial. It’s your chance to shine, impress your potential student, and convince them to continue their learning journey with you.
Through countless trial lessons with students ranging virtually any age and nationality, I identified some key elements necessary to have successful first lessons. Today I want to give back to the teaching community by sharing everything that I learned!
This article will explore key strategies for conducting successful first lessons, from student interaction to lesson planning
Prepare for Success: Gathering Student Information & Crafting a Personalized Plan
Once a potential student contacts you for the first time, they will probably give some basic information about them, including their level in your subject and their potential goal.
While the information provided by the student is a valuable starting point, it’s crucial to go beyond it and actively engage by asking additional questions to gather in-depth information.
Let’s imagine a potential student, Michael Scott, who is excited to learn Jamaican Patois for his upcoming trip to Sandals, Jamaica, with his girlfriend Jan. He mentions mostly a basic level of the language, but try to delve deeper! Ask him about specific goals he hopes to achieve during his trip. Does he want to order food confidently? Understand basic directions? This extra information allows you to tailor the lesson to his unique needs and interests.
Do not hesitate to let the student know that you are asking these questions to give him the best possible first lesson you can: it will show how professional and proactive you are.
After the conversation is over, it is time to draft a learning plan based on the information you gathered. This will be useful and successively refined during the trial lesson.
Two Common Mistakes to Avoid in a Trial Lesson
A common mistake that a teacher can make is to underestimate the importance of a trial lesson. While often free of charge, it is invaluable for filling a weekly schedule in the future. Remember, a happy student after the trial lesson is a student who will likely choose to continue learning with you. Consider the trial lesson as the most crucial time you will have with any student.
One of the greatest strengths for teachers is the ability to engage and communicate with students, but it can also lead us astray if we end up focusing on ourselves and not the student. While it is your role to lead the conversation in your first lesson, involve the student by encouraging them to share about their background and personality. This way you’ll empower them, let them feel valued, gather valuable information, and cultivate a positive learning environment that benefits both parties.
Show Confidence & Adaptability: Key Traits for Online Tutors
Don’t forget that teaching is a craft, constantly refined through experience. Online teaching platforms offer a unique opportunity to connect with learners from all over the world, thus demanding a higher degree of adaptability: there is much less conventional structure, and it is going to test your flexibility on dealing with different students and situations in every step of the way.
It can sometimes feel overwhelming, but if mastered, it is an incredibly rewarding feeling which will make you not only a better teacher, but also a better person.
While you may encounter moments of doubt, projecting confidence is crucial. Maintain eye contact (through the camera), use positive body language, speak clearly with enthusiasm, and acknowledge student questions or concerns with positivity and solutions.
Understand How Your Students Learn: Tailoring Your Approach
Your ability to adapt is crucial when trying to understand the most effective teaching method for the student you are talking to. Everybody learns differently, and there is not a “one method to teach them all”. Pay attention to the time that each student can invest in studying the subject per week: you may want to switch to an agile learning plan for somebody with less time, compared to a more in-depth approach for somebody that can study more.
It’s now time to refine your pre-lesson plan based on the new information you gathered and share your proposed learning approach with the student. Explain your suggestions with practical examples on the subject and highlight the aspects that align with their goals and learning preferences.
Consider this the key step of a trial lesson, because it is also the moment where the student will most likely show their interest in keeping you as their tutor.
Wrap Up Strong: Leaving a Lasting Impression
Use the remaining time of the trial lesson to give an example of the way you teach, by doing a mini lesson on a specific topic suited for your student. This, combined with the rest of the lesson, will project your knowledge and personality to the student, and help them make an informed decision.
Don’t push it. Don’t ask for an immediate commitment. You are not selling a product. Thank the student for their time, express your hope to continue working with them in future lessons, and end on an optimistic note.
I guarantee you that if you follow all these steps, your chances to see the student again after your trial lesson will be much more promising!
Conclusion
The first lesson is your chance to set the stage for a successful learning journey. By actively engaging your students, demonstrating your expertise, and tailoring your approach to their individual needs, you can create a positive and effective learning environment from the very beginning. So, embrace the excitement, put these tips into practice, and get ready to embark on a rewarding adventure in online teaching! If you’re looking for a platform to connect with learners, consider using Preply.com.
And if you decided to use Preply, you may also want to read this review I wrote about it, after more than 1000 hours of teaching there!