Teacher Training

Teacher Training Course (under construction 7-2008)

Teaching English in virtual worlds will be as normal as attending school online. There will be a lot of people calling themselves English teachers and a lot of students seeking trained experienced instructors. Do you know how to teach English in a virtual world? Do you have a mentor? Who do ask for advice or feedback?

Here are a few things to think about:

  • You will have to present yourself professionally.
  • You will have to create lesson plans entailing you to build objects in 3D.
  • You will have to troubleshoot computer problems in the middle of a class.
  • You will have to understand your students needs, deliver timely lessons, and assess their performance.
  • You will have to keep records of their attendance and progress which should be made available to them.
  • You will have to find more students.

Is this available to you in a book with a DVD? How do you know if you are doing everything right?

  • Learn from someone with experience (6 years at Berlitz, 5 years at universities, 2 years in SL)
  • Learn the tricks and tips for managing your time and retaining good student feedback
  • Learn grammar, methods, learning styles, and technical skills
  • Continue learning after you begin teaching with follow up meetings

A lot can be learned about teaching English simply by reading a book like The Practice of English Language Teaching by Jeremy Harmer. If you are self motivated and quite visual, that should be enough. But if you would like to be able to ask real world questions about what it’s really like to be in the classroom, and hear examples of techniques and frustration coping, you need someone to talk to.

How much is it worth to you? An online university course costs about $900. The book costs about $100. What do you get for that money?

I don’t teach you. I help you learn the material by applying what you have learned. We will discuss situations and best practices, techniques and methodologies.

I am available for two hour sessions. Each session costs ￥10,000 (about $100.00). You will need to purchase The Practice of English Language Teaching by Jeremy Harmer, which is about $50.00. You can purchase a block of sessions for a one time payment or pay per session. I accept Paypal, bank transfer or cash only.

You can also receive a certificate after completing 6 sessions and a test.

Here’s a list of subjects to consider:

Introduction to grammar, approaches to grammar, introduction to phonology, classroom management, learner differences, classroom observation, lesson planning, giving instructions, language teaching methodology, teaching writing, teaching speaking, teaching listening, teaching reading, teaching vocabulary.

There is also a technical component to teaching in SL. You would have to show a good command of Second Life through some projects assigned to you.

You might be saying this is expensive. Consider this, the future of English learning is in virtual worlds, and I’m not going anywhere. This is my career. If I could go back to school and get a degree in virtual world teaching I would, but I’m one of the only ones teaching on the subject in Japan. :-) Are you ready?

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Still under construction (7-2008)