Can you relate?

if you’re anything like me…

I’ve been there

A few years ago, I was ready to ditch my commute and teach on my own terms, but I thought online teaching could never replace my job in a brick-and-mortar language school. I loved my work teaching students and training other teachers, but I was stuck working on someone else’s schedule, tied to one location, and had a cap on my income.

Then I took the leap and started teaching online.

Fast forward to today: I now work with students and teachers completely remotely. I make my own schedule, set my own rates, and create my own offers and courses. I have the freedom to live and travel where I want, and the joy of doing what I love.

You’ve probably thought about teaching English Online

(or maybe you already do!)

But you’re running into challenges…

Lack of Experience

“I need experience before I can get an online teaching job, but how do I get experience if no one will hire me?”

The Tech Transition

“I have in-person experience, but nothing seems to work online. How do I engage my students through a screen?”

Analysis Paralysis

“There are so many options, companies, certifications, and random materials out there. Where do I start? What works best?”

Competition

“These days, everyone is trying to teach online. How do I stand out, book students, and make money?”

I’ve been there, too!

I didn’t expect teaching online to be a big challenge when I started, because I already had years of classroom experience at that point. I was even a certified teacher trainer! But I was wrong - it was tough. I struggled with the tech. I made mistakes. I spent hours looking for and creating digital materials.

I realized that none of the resources, training opportunities, or certification courses out there were designed specifically for online teaching.

So I made it my mission to develop an online teaching method that really works. I came up with a system to simplify my lesson planning and cut way down on prep time. I figured out how to use common tools like PowerPoint and Google Docs in unexpected ways to bring my online classes alive. I learned how to book - and retain! - online students and built my own online business.

…because you took that first step today.

Course Content

MOdule 1: Introduction & Online Teaching Fundamentals

In this first module, we’ll take a practical and in-depth look at how to distinguish and plan different types of lessons, as well as the fundamentals of communicative online methodology. You’ll learn:

• The differences between lesson types and why this matters in your planning and teaching

• How to best use Zoom for teaching, including mastering those breakout rooms, the best ways to share audio and visuals, and other important features

• Strategies for engaging students and transforming online lessons from lectures into interactive workshops

• Troubleshooting for common online teaching issues

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also attend A Welcome/ Orientation Meeting and teach an introductory communicative lesson

 Module 2: How to Teach Reading Online

Reading lessons really can be useful and fun! This module covers how to make your students more confident and independent readers through communicative online reading lessons. You’ll learn:

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also plan and teach a reading lesson online.

 Module 3: How to Teach Listening Online

This module shows you how to develop your students’ listening skills by seamlessly integrating audio into your lessons. You’ll learn:

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also plan and teach a Listening lesson online.

 Module 4: How to Teach Vocabulary Online

In Module 4, I’ll show you how to help students master and remember new vocabulary words with well-organized presentations and fun, interactive practice activities. You’ll learn:

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also plan and teach a Vocabulary lesson online.

 Module 5: How to Teach Grammar Online

Ah, the dreaded grammar lessons! But don’t worry- in this module you’ll master the seemingly impossible: how to teach grammar in a way that’s fun and easy for students (and you!) to understand. Yes, even on Zoom. You’ll learn:

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also plan and teach a Grammar lesson online.

 Module 6: How to Teach Functional Language Online

Not sure what I mean by “functional language?” In Module 6, you’ll find out! You’ll learn:

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also plan and teach a Functions lesson online.

 Module 7: How to Teach Speaking Online

Teaching a speaking lesson is so much more than just getting students to chat. In Module 7, we’ll cover exactly what that entails! You’ll learn:

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also plan and teach a Speaking lesson online.

 Module 8: How to Teach Writing Online

Teaching writing online - it really is possible! But just because students are physically writing (or typing) in a lesson doesn’t mean their writing is actually getting any better. In this module, we’ll look at writing fluency as a skill to be developed and how to guide students through the writing process. You’ll learn:

+With the Live Practicum version, You’ll also plan and teach a Writing lesson online.

Module 9: Course Planning & Syllabus Design + Teaching in Different Contexts

Now that you’ve mastered how to teach different types of lessons, we’ll move forward and talk about how to plan full courses and tailor a syllabus to students’ needs. You’ll learn:

Module 10: Your Successful Online Teaching Career

At this point, you’re an expert in online English teaching methodology, resources, and tech tools. Great! Now let’s talk business. How do you find students and MAKE MONEY teaching English online? You’ll learn:

Bonus module: Online Boardwork and Visuals

Your lessons don’t mean much to students if they can’t actually see the material you’re teaching. In the physical classroom, you can hand out exercises and write everything up on the white board. But how does that translate to the computer screen? In this bonus module, you’ll learn how to make your material clear and visual for students over Zoom. You’ll learn:

Each Module Includes:

A Video Tutorial

Each module begins with a video lesson in which you get practical, step-by-step instructions and advice for how to plan and teach the lesson type covered in that module. There are optional brainstorming and note-taking tasks in the Guide chapter to help you get the most out of the video.

A reference chapter in the Online English Teacher Guide

The Online English Teacher Guide is your workbook and reference book throughout the course. With brainstorming exercises, sections for notes and reflections, resources, and a complete online activity bank, you’ll gain deeper insight into what you’re learning and have an online teaching library at your fingertips.

A Video Observation of an Actual Online Class

After you’ve learned how to teach the type of lesson covered in the module, you’ll observe an actual online class for that lesson type so you can see see exactly how the techniques you’re learning work with real students. There is additional commentary included about the lesson to answer any questions you might have about the methodology or material used in the class.

EXERCISES AND QUIZZES

A quiz at the end of each module will help you check your progress and celebrate what you learned. Each chapter in the OET Guide also includes a “DO or DON’T?” exercise for that particular lesson type. Test yourself by predicting the answers before you start, and then confirm how much you’ve learned when you check the answers at the end.

A FULL LESSON PLAN

You’ll be able to download the full lesson plan and all materials (including the PowerPoint presentation you can use yourself or edit as a template) for each video lesson you observe. You can follow along with the plan as you watch and even use the plan and materials to teach your own students, if you’d like. What’s not to love about 8 different done-for-you lesson plans? This is the course that keeps on giving— you can turn around and teach all these lessons yourself when you finish!

TECH TUTORIALS AND VIDEO EXTRAS

If you’re new to the tech aspect of teaching online, don’t worry! You’ll learn tips and tricks for PowerPoint, Google docs, Google forms, Google Jamboard, and more, through quick step-by-step video tutorials. I’m somewhat tech-phobic myself, so I’ve designed these to be crystal clear. If I can learn it, you definitely can!

Online English Teacher

• 10 course modules

• Video training sessions

• Step-by-step tech tutorials

• Online lesson observation videos

• Self-study training exercises & quizzes

• Online English Teacher Guide

• Membership in the interactive OET community

Online English Teacher +Live Teaching Practicum

• 10 course modules

• Video training sessions

• Step-by-step tech tutorials

• Online lesson observation videos

• Self-study training exercises & quizzes

• Online English Teacher Guide

• Membership in the interactive OET community

Plus

• 8+ hours of live online teaching with real students

• Verbal feedback meetings

• Detailed written feedback

• Teaching Reflection Workbook

• One on one guided lesson planning sessions

 Self-Study or Live teaching Practicum?

What’s the difference? Which one is the right fit for you?

Online English Teacher: self-study

Online English Teacher is a fully self-study course. You have the freedom and flexibility to work through the material at your own pace. You can can go through the modules as slowly or quickly as you’d like. It’s up to you! You get lifetime access, so you can sign in and review anytime.

The self-study version includes all 10 course modules (+ bonus module), access to all past webinar recordings, and ongoing membership in the Online English Teacher community group.

This version is a good fit for you if you already have online English teaching experience and you’re looking to refine your skills. You’ll gain insight into how to make your lessons more fun and communicative, how to use tech tools more effectively, tons of new activity ideas for your online classes, and much more.

This version includes everything in the self-study version, plus an eight-week live teaching practicum in which you’ll teach a different online lesson every week to real ESL learners, while I observe you.

This is the higher-touch version of the program. I’ll be there to coach you! We’ll meet for a one-on-one guided planning session before each lesson and a personalized feedback session afterwards. Just like the self-study version, the live practicum includes lifetime access to all course material as well as ongoing membership in the Online English Teacher community.

The live practicum upgrade is ideal for you if you’re a new online teacher or if you’re ready to seriously upgrade your current teaching skills through targeted, hands-on experience. This is practical, personalized training at its best!

 Teaching Support and Community

 What happens when I enroll?

Questions and Answers

How long does the course take?

The live practicum version of Online English Teacher is an 8-week certification program. You’ll work through one module a week and teach one live lesson a week. You’ll then receive your certificate and recommendation letter at the end of the eight-week practicum.

The timing for the self-study version of the course is completely flexible. You can follow the modules week by week or you can work through the material as quickly or as slowly as you want - up to you! 

With either version of the course, you get lifetime access to the material. So you can go back and review the modules, re-watch the videos, access the lesson plans and materials, and benefit from all the information as much as you want, whenever you want. You’ll have the full training course on demand! 

What’s the time commitment per week?

Each module on the course takes an estimated 4-8 hours to complete, depending on how much you like to review the material.

The live practicum involves teaching one 60-minute lesson per week and one 30-minute meeting with me each week for planning and feedback. You'll want to set aside several hours a week for lesson planning as well.

On the self-study version of the course, the time commitment is completely up to you! It’s 100% flexible, so you can complete the course as quickly or gradually you like, and take as much or as little time as you need. 

Do I need to have prior teaching experience? 

Nope! The course is perfect for someone just starting out. You'll get thorough training in ELT methodology as well as the confidence you need to run your virtual classroom on Zoom and teach communicative online lessons. 

I have teaching experience already. Will I still benefit from this course? 

Absolutely! If you have in-person teaching experience, Online English Teacher will show you the best ways to adapt to an online format. And you'll learn new teaching strategies in general, too!

Even if you've already been teaching online, I guarantee you'll notice a big difference in the effectiveness of your lessons and your students' engagement once you start using the techniques you learn in Online English Teacher. And it will help you cut down on your planning time!

Can I enroll in the self-study version now and then add on the live teaching practicum later? 

Yes. Once you've enrolled in the self-study version of the course, you're welcome to add on the live practicum later and then join the next upcoming session that works for your schedule. The add-on price for the live practicum is currently $350. This will increase to $497 starting in 2022. Make sure you book your spot on the practicum as soon as you decide to opt in, because space fills up quickly!

Can I enroll in just the live teaching practicum, without purchasing the self-study course?

No. The self-study course is a pre-requisite for the live teaching practicum. It’s ok if you haven’t completed all the self-study material by the time you start your teaching practice, but you do need to have access to all of that material along the way. I often refer to what you’ve learned in the videos and other online content during our feedback and planning meetings, so I need to know that you have access to this.

Remember that your access to the self-study material never expires! Online English Teachers in the program have found it incredibly valuable to go back and review periodically, even after they’ve finished their live teaching practice.

My teaching practicum was so helpful! I know I would benefit from getting even more practice and more feedback. Can I enroll in a second practicum session?

Yes. You are eligible to enroll in an additional teaching practicum. You’ll teach each of the seven lesson types again (different material, of course!). Your second practicum will be structured in a way that gives you a “next level” teaching experience, in which we’ll really build your independence in planning and lesson design.

How does Online English Teacher compare to other teacher training & certification courses?

• It was designed to be online. Other online certification courses are either cheap and of low quality (lacking a hands-on teaching practice & feedback option) or were initially in-person courses that were hastily crammed in to an online format. These courses lack built-in tech training and don’t cover the unique challenges and benefits of teaching in a virtual format, nor do they provide training on how to acquire and retain online students.

• Online English Teacher uses a unique “flipped classroom” approach. Traditional classroom learning first presents information in a live lecture or class, which you need to attend at a set time on a rigorous, external schedule. You are then left to digest and review the information on your own, hoping you understood correctly.

  “Flipped classroom” learning starts with independent learning. You take in the information through videos, exercises, and other curated resources at your own pace, on your own schedule. You then meet live with your trainer afterwards to receive further clarification, address any questions, and demonstrate your learning through hands-on practice (with feedback). This approach is more proactive, more time-efficient, and tailored to each individual participant to maximize development.

• You get lifetime access. When you enroll in the course, you’re not just purchasing an eight-week learning experience. You’re investing in all the material to have forever, plus lifetime membership in the Online English Teacher community.

I enrolled in the upcoming teaching practicum and then my schedule changed. Can I defer and join a practicum session at a later date?

Yes. You can transfer your enrollment to a practicum session at a later date. Every enrollment includes instant access to all the self-study material, so you can still start working through the modules whenever you want and then start the practicum when you’re ready.

Can I get a refund?

No. Because of the digital nature of the course and the number of downloadable materials and resources, there is a no-refund policy on Online English Teacher. If you enroll in the course and then realize now isn’t a good time, don’t worry - you have lifetime access, so you can wait and start whenever you’re ready. You set your own deadline for completing the self-study material.

What kind of support do I get in finding online teaching work?

Module 10 of Online English Teacher is all about how to find and retain online teaching work. You’ll get a comparison of different schools and companies you could work for, as well as step-by-step advice for how to market yourself and succeed as an independent online ESL teacher. Additionally, I have contacts in a variety of teaching organizations and often personally refer teachers from my pool of OET graduates.

 It’s time to take the leap

In the last year or so, we’ve discovered that online English learning is actually much more effective and in-demand than we ever could have imagined. Students can hand-pick a teacher from across the globe and achieve their language goals from home- no travel, visa, or expensive study-abroad program needed. Teachers no longer have to depend on language schools for employment or compete for students in the same local area. The world has virtually opened up.

Online Learning is here to stay.

Having the skills to make a living online is no longer just a plus - it’s becoming essential. Investing in yourself can feel scary, but think about where you’ll be a year from now if you don’t take that leap. What will you miss out on? What’s the real cost of inaction? It’s up to you -

you can stay in your comfort zone or take the first big step towards creating the life you really want.

Meet your Trainer

Hi, I’m Shannon - nice to meet you!

I’ve been an English language teacher and teacher trainer for over ten years. Like many of us in the ELT industry, I was first drawn to the idea of teaching ESL as a means to travel, explore, and connect with others from different cultures, but I quickly fell in love with the art of teaching itself. I realized that English language teaching wasn’t just a step on the way to my “real” career; it was my career! From there, I went on to complete my CELTA and DELTA certifications before becoming a certified CELTA trainer as well as an ELT course designer and consultant.

I love traveling, so it was important to me to build a career that allowed me to be location-independent while doing work I truly enjoy.

I created Online English Teacher so you can do the same thing (But a lot more easily!)

Nowadays, I work online to train teachers all over the world. Through live training sessions, online courses, and resources such as webinars and the Expand Your Horizons podcast, I love inspiring teachers with new ideas, sharing insight on methodology, and making sure both new and experienced ELT professionals have access to quality training and advice. In short, I want to turn you into the very best teacher you can be, so you can build the life you want while doing it!

 Ready to join me in Online English Teacher?