During the COVID-19 pandemic, all my university classes shifted online, and I enrolled in two advanced Chinese courses. The stark difference in the teaching styles of my two teachers left a lasting impression on me. Now, as an online language tutor, I find that these experiences have greatly influenced my current teaching approach.
The Two Chinese Teachers
Teacher A
- A Japanese teacher in his 50s
- Extensive teaching experience
- Teaches in Japanese
Teacher B
- A young Chinese teacher who had just graduated from graduate school
- Limited teaching experience
- Not very proficient in JapaneseI
Initially, it seemed that Teacher A would be the more effective teacher due to his extensive experience and ability to teach in Japanese. However, to my surprise, Teacher B’s online classes were significantly more understandable and engaging.
Differences in Teaching Styles
Teacher A
- Did not use digital tools, opting instead for a traditional whiteboard setup as if in a physical classroom.
- Placed a light in front to illuminate his face, but it reflected off the whiteboard, making it difficult to read.
- Struggled to utilize Zoom features effectively.
He was a confident and sometimes intimidating presence in face-to-face classes, but appeared less confident in the unfamiliar online environment.
Teacher B
- Prepared for class by typing the textbook content into Word, eliminating the need to switch between the textbook and the screen.
- Typed during class, which was well-suited for Chinese, as writing characters can be time-consuming.
- Used a Word feature that displayed pinyin when typing Chinese characters, allowing us to read without constantly looking up words in a dictionary.
- Despite having less teaching experience, was well-prepared with summaries of key grammar points and Japanese translations for complex explanations.
- Though not fluent in Japanese conversation, provided well-crafted Japanese explanations that made the class run smoothly.
Watching the class use Word’s pinyin feature, I realized that the days of relying on paper are over.
Lessons Learned
Teaching in a physical classroom and teaching online are entirely different experiences. Many teachers are not well-versed in IT. For Teacher A, who had relied on a whiteboard for decades, digitizing lessons was a significant challenge. Teacher B, lacking classroom teaching experience, compensated with thorough preparation, resulting in effective online classes.
I have three years of teaching experience, but many tutors on Preply have more. To compensate for this, I utilize digital tools and prepare extensively for my classes. I ask students to read explanations in English before class, which not only helps them understand complex grammar but also allows for more conversation practice during class, as less time is spent on grammar explanations. In this digital age, if you only want to listen to grammar explanations, YouTube might be a better option than an online tutor.
Some students have left reviews saying my materials are easy to understand and that I am well-prepared. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my efforts appreciated. I intend to continue improving my classes and adapting to new teaching methods in the future.
