Some language teachers travel the world while conducting online lessons. With just a laptop and an internet connection, it’s possible. I’ve often thought about living that lifestyle myself. But is it really feasible?
Recently, I took a three-day trip to Yokohama. I briefly considered rescheduling my lessons but decided to test whether I could teach from the hotel instead. It was a great opportunity to see if I could conduct lessons effectively outside my home, so I gave it a try.
The result? As long as you choose accommodation with a stable internet connection and do a little preparation, you can conduct online lessons without any problems.
Essentials for Conducting Lessons from a Hotel
Here’s what I brought with me. Everything fit in my backpack and wasn’t too heavy:
- Laptop
- Foldable laptop stand
- Foldable lighting
- Wireless keyboard and trackpad
- Wired microphone
Setting Up in the Hotel
This is what my setup looked like on the hotel desk:
The laptop stand brought the camera to eye level and improved heat dissipation. The desk already had lighting, so I didn’t need my own. It’s amazing how modern work can be done anywhere with just these devices and internet access.
Points to Consider
Although I could conduct lessons almost as usual, there were a few things to be mindful of.
Check Camera and Microphone Settings
I checked the camera and microphone settings in Skype, but for some reason, the camera didn’t work in Preply Classroom. After updating my browser, it worked fine. Next time, I will verify the settings directly in the Preply Classroom interface.
Hotel Wi-Fi Speed
The hotel Wi-Fi was decent for general browsing and video calls. I often share my browser during lessons and use Google Image Search to illustrate difficult words. Aside from noticing a slight delay in loading images, there were no major issues.
The Importance of Wired LAN
Stable internet is crucial for seamless online lessons, which made me appreciate my usual setup even more. Despite the trend towards wireless connections, wired connections are still more stable and preferable for work.
Although the hotel Wi-Fi was good this time, the quality can vary depending on the hotel or room location. To avoid unnecessary stress, it might be worth finding hotels with wired LAN. In Japan, some older hotels built before Wi-Fi became widespread offer wired LAN in rooms. Post-pandemic, many hotels have upgraded to include wired LAN for teleworking guests.
Wired Microphone Is Essential: Don’t Use Wireless Earbuds
I use a wired microphone. Some online Japanese tutors who teach while traveling use AirPods, finding them convenient due to their portability and noise cancellation. However, wireless earbuds often have poor sound quality, so I never use them for lessons. Bluetooth’s data transmission limits mean even the best wireless earbuds have subpar microphone quality.
Long Online Calls with Poor Sound Quality Are Unbearable
Have you ever clicked on an interesting YouTube video only to back out immediately due to poor sound quality? While video quality can be overlooked, sound quality is crucial for viewers. For 50-minute conversations on Preply, tutors should ensure their microphones do not cause stress for students.
Carry a Wired Microphone Even If It Adds to Your Luggage
I always carry a microphone and wired earphones as a backup when teaching outside. Wireless devices have the risk of forgetting to charge, presenting more disadvantages.
Use Krisp for Noise Cancellation
Rather than relying on noise-canceling wireless earbuds, using software like Krisp ensures clearer audio. I don’t need it in my quiet home, but I plan to use it if I ever need to teach in a noisy environment.
Recommend Krisp to Learners
Krisp is beneficial not only for tutors but also for learners. Its free plan allows up to 60 minutes of daily use, perfect for a 50 minute Preply lesson. For tutors, it’s easier to identify and correct pronunciation mistakes with students who have clear audio. Poor audio quality from learners leads to more repetition and less efficient lessons, so I highly recommend trying Krisp!
Conclusion: With Proper Preparation, Lessons Are Possible While Traveling!
I was nervous about conducting lessons on the road, but it worked out well. Addressing potential issues like internet and microphone quality by using smartphone tethering or having a backup microphone helps ensure a smoother experience.
During my stay, the hotel room was on a high floor, which affected my phone signal. However, I had researched rental telework spaces near the hotel just in case.
For online language tutors, fast internet is critical, so I’ll always check the internet facilities when booking accommodation. If traveling to areas with unreliable internet, rescheduling lessons and taking a vacation might be better.
Some of my students take lessons while traveling or on business trips. It’s exciting to see their surroundings and hear about their experiences during lessons. I also hope to teach from abroad someday once the current weak yen situation improves 😭
