Soft Skills For Teachers To Enhance Online Teaching

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Online Teaching is a new trend in education

But online teachers are still students!!!

Let us start talking about teachers first

Who is a Teacher?

A teacher or educator is the person who is responsible for helping students acquire knowledge, become competent, and instruct them in high moral standards. 

One special teacher can inspire and motivate the student so that he/she feels as though nothing is difficult to achieve in this world, once you set your mind for it. As a polar opposite, this same student can go into another teachers’ class feeling a sense of foreboding and no sense of self-worth. You can be that one teacher to grants your student the wings to soar the skies or the teacher who simply wipes the floor under their feet!

As a child, parents, and family are the first teachers. Then, there are a school, hobby classes, and private tuitions, and so on. There is always something to learn and as a teacher, you will have a significant impact on shaping the student.

Online Teaching 

Technology has created the opportunity to connect you to any teacher in the farthest corner of the world. Online teaching is the new norm for all teachers, especially in the new world climate. Both the teacher and student can do their job in a comfortable environment, this is the USP.

Online teaching makes the teacher draw from a deep well of teaching skills every single day. From the moment you press the start button on that computer, multi-tasking becomes your best friend. And you are often using several skills while teaching at the same time. Online teaching can often be an ingenious win-win activity for you as a teacher as well as for your learners. 

One of the most popular segments in online teaching is teaching English. It has become a sought-after job as people from every corner want to communicate efficiently in English to become more marketable. So, be your own boss and reach out to students irrelevant of their location. A TEFL certification prepares you with experience to instruct students in English in the foreign language classroom or online.

The well-Known Secret

You are a trained and qualified teacher, so are the other teachers albeit they may have been trained at a different institution. But what makes you better than them? Why do students want to attend your class? When someone asks what you do differently, the answer often is, ”Just teach”. 

So what is the secret? The mystery is all about something often referred to as ‘Soft Skills”.

What are Soft Skills?

“Your success in the classroom or online teaching will depend on soft skills.”

The definition of skills as per Wikipedia is, “Soft skills are a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes, career attributes, social intelligence, and emotional intelligence quotients, among others, that enable people to navigate their environment, work well with others, perform well, and achieve their goals with complementing hard skills.”

The Collins English Dictionary defines the term “soft skills” as “desirable qualities for certain forms of employment that do not depend on acquired knowledge: they include common sense, the ability to deal with people, and a positive flexible attitude.”

Thus, depending on who you ask, soft skills are a combination of how you interact with people, communicate, your attitude, personal qualities, habits, which make you accomplish your tasks, adjust to environments, and have a huge impact overall.  

These soft skills are very difficult to quantify, they fit the criteria of applied skill as opposed to basic knowledge skills. These include skills such as Work ethics, Professionalism, Communication (Both oral and written), Attitude, Teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and so on. These are the skills you try to teach your students without expressly teaching. 

An important viewpoint is that while these skills are innate, personal and professional assets that you can enhance, but these cannot be learned or taught 

Hard Skills Vs Soft Skills

The capability of effectively using soft skills can make or break a teacher’s career.

Hard skills are routinely taught all throughout all courses of all ages. These are skills that are easily quantifiable and can be tested as well. However, soft skills are very difficult to measure. For example, how can you measure Leadership? There is no specific degree or measuring unit for these.

The knowledge of the subject matter, i.e. hard skills is always considered while evaluating a teacher. But it has now been recognized soft skills for teachers are useful not only in the classroom but also while working with parents, performing administration tasks, and working as a team. 

Soft Skills for Teachers

As a teacher, you will talk to and deal with a variety of people daily. And Soft skills for teachers will be visible in your ability to successfully fulfilling the needs of those individuals. Soft skills for teachers include communication, both oral and written, for receiving and distributing information effectively.

Amongst soft skills for teachers, another cardinal one is teamwork. A group of students is a ready-made team, successful teamwork is necessary to complete even the simplest of the tasks like group projects, peer-to-peer interaction, etc. Other soft skills for teachers include critical thinking, Leadership, and problem-solving skills, without which a teacher is unable to manage the class session behavior or progress of students.

Soft Skills for teachers for Online Teaching

Online teaching is fast becoming the norm, especially with the new state of the world. You as a teacher are deeply driven and focused to deliver the online classes. But in the course of these classes, you are also practicing and honing your skills, developing new ones as well. 

These soft skills are discussed in details:

Communication 

Whether you are teaching online or in a classroom, it is by definition a form of communication, Thus, it is a given that you must be a great communicator, the primary attribute in many soft skills for teachers. These communication skills need to be both verbal as well as written to be a successful teacher. 

There are various aspects to communication apart from oral and written, like being professional yet friendly body language, active listening, maintaining eye contact, networking with all stakeholders, lesson plans, lesson delivery, and so on. Probably, most of the most import is that you must be able to explain the subject material so that it is both simple and meaningful to students.

Each student will be different, so would have to be your communication style to meet the needs of different student. This would depend on age, culture, ability, and learning style they are exposed to. Communication can also be extended beyond the realms of oral and written, like non-verbal gestures or facial expressions which must transmit positive emotions that will come into play too.

And the best part is, communication is a key skill in any profession, so it is a great example of transferable soft skills for teachers compatible with any job role.

Leadership

Taking an online teaching session, demanding and holding attention, making yourself heard and respected, is no feat. The visual impact or the physical impact of your personality is missing due to the virtual environment. As per human nature, students will form an opinion when you meet the first time. But it will change throughout your learning journey together, be it long or short. 

However, this can only happen after you manage lessons efficiently, and communicate effectively, especially if you insist on core rules in sessions. Rules should include punctuality; listening to peers, participation in-class activities; and discipline throughout the entire lesson time. will establish you as the leader. You will need to learn about your student(s), sink into their psyche, and be aware of what are the needs of each. 

Planning

Online teaching or any teaching for that matter is all about planning, planning, and more planning! And the soft skills for teachers have to include this in their arsenal. A lesson may seem incredibly long or short, but definitely not if you have an adequate plan in place gauging the time and content of your lesson.

It is always a great idea to have activities added on, and available which serve as ice breakers or breaks the monotone of the session. These are time fillers and are good tools to use when students lose focus, the lesson is wrapped up faster than you anticipated or even as part of the lesson. You will need weapons like these to deal with unexpected scenarios like high or low student turnout, distractions, a lackluster mood, lost focus, or too much energy in the class.

Being essentially prepared and resourceful while online teaching where you are leading a group leads to a good impression and positive takeaway for the students. 

Patience and Empathy

Online teaching definitely makes you learn the meaning of the word patience. You learn the definition of ‘How To Be More Patient’. This may sound tough for you, today or right now, but in the long run, it will become a valuable asset to add to your soft skills for teachers.  

Learning online can be frustrating at the time especially due to the time lapse in communication. This is a drawback of online teaching which teachers and learners are plagued by. So both online students and online teachers learn the being patient lesson as part of this process. 

It gets easier to as the patience threshold increases and the anxiousness takes a slight back seat. This also helps in online teaching especially when the student(s) need an explanation of the lesson or topic again when they are unable to grasp a seemingly simple concept. 

Empathy is another skill from the soft skills for teachers, which helps Online students to open up about their learning obstacles easily in a virtual environment. Students sometimes reveal personal and confidential information once they realize you empathize with them. This is all about the trust of the student and an amazing relationship. When there is a missed deadline due to an unfortunate circumstance or a life event, online teaching and your skill sets gives you the edge to tap into your empathy stores, and give students an outlet and a break.

Adaptability

 You had a planned lesson for an hour….but your student asked questions and the strict rime slot I and lesson plan is now disturbed! This should be an ordinary occurrence…. Did you have a backup plan? Whether online teaching or class teaching, you should be capable of conducting a lesson proficiently. This can mean many things, picking up dragging lessons, recapture the lost attention, the restabilizing focus of the students, and how to tie up loose ends before the class is over. Students can be of many types and can be in any mood, they may need some discipline or simply some attention. Some classes may be rowdy, while others may be quite or refuse to interact. You have to become familiar with these varied learners and be capable of switching gears to find the right tempo. 

Adaptability is another one of soft skills for teachers, bring out the storyteller, use creative resources to devise lessons that are adapted to the overall personality, rhythm, and needs to fit the online teaching session. It will always be this type of flexibility and creativity that would endear you to your students. You will learn just how resilient you are when these curve balls challenge you. The whole experience, in the end, will possibly give you a greater appreciation and capacity to adjust easier to new circumstances.

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Cultural Awareness

Online teaching can connect all corners of the world. And you also may be one of those teachers working according to this theme. Both you and your students will often be intrigued by each others’ cultural heritage and practices. Building cultural awareness and competence is another one of soft skills for teachers that establish mutual understanding and respect among both parties. It may come as a surprise that you know more about your own culture than you think and you get to learn about new ones too.

Things that you take for granted may be a source of curiosity or amazement to some of your students, while some things would be new for you. You have to remember to respect their culture and traditions, and you are sure will learn about their local habits, cuisine, places of interest, history, events. What a fantastic opportunity…learning about a country without actually have to visit.

Relationship Building

As an online teacher, you connect to your student virtually, so the physical presence and connect is missing. It is customary for the teacher to build trust and a relationship with your students. And this is one of the principal soft skills for teachers. You will no doubt do your best to ensure your students to warm up to you, expose their learning capacity, and are receptive of the activities and exercises that you do while online teaching. Your approach may differ in style and content from one student to another, but the basic premise will remain the same as you would need to observe their reactions and structure your lessons accordingly.

Teamwork

How is the online teaching session delivered? Well, simple with combined effort, with you at the front end. Thus, a good example of teamwork and collaboration. The emphasis on teamwork, collaborative working for innovation, and resolving challenges has become popular, especially when students are concerned. Teamwork in a class, physical or online involves parties working harmoniously together to meet common goals. And as a teacher, you have to lead by example, your ability to work well within and as part of a team impacts everybody like students, parents, colleagues, administrators, and other stakeholders.

Problem Solving

Do you come across issues while teaching online? These can have a negative impact and unless addresses with skills. Internal and external issues that arise in the classroom can negatively affect learning outcomes. Problems could arise from actual teaching subject matter, technology, disagreement between peers or students seeking advice on personal matters, and many more. So, you utilize another of the soft skills for teachers, Problem-solving skills. 

Critical Thinking

While doing online teaching, you will require to solve several problems, provide answers to myriad questions, some simple, and some not so simple. Some you will have to solve on spot, while others may have a deadline, diffuse conflicts, deal with parents, and revise lesson plans. As a teacher, you must know how to apply available resources to find solutions. Alternatively, even have the knowledge to search for new resources to answer questions successfully. These are classic uses of critical thinking to deliver a solution.

Teachers have to juggle several tasks, from teaching to attending meetings, lesson planning, and grading. Getting all of it done promptly requires excellent physical organization and time management.

How does it Work?

So, you have read the soft skills list. But how do these soft skills for teachers actually enhance online teaching? Let us discuss this.

1. Makes the Classes Interesting

When you have the required soft skills for teachers, your online classes have a powerful impact on the students and make their experience interactive and memorable, so teachers must-have soft skills. In the absence of proper soft skills, especially for online teaching, you will not be able to deliver classes and lectures in a correct manner and the student experience will be dismal.

Students are notorious for having a very low attention span and it is the teachers’ capacity to retain their attention and innovative techniques are called for. It is the soft skills for teachers put to use when by voice modulation, class activities, or props as required so that students can grasp the maximum knowledge.

2. Set an Example:

Soft skills cannot be taught by a book, only demonstrated with an example. These skills are in demand for all professions; so this is a great opportunity to improve soft skills by observing you as a teacher.

When you set a fantastic example there can be a domino effect, students then grow up becoming exemplary individuals who can make a succeed in life and also contribute very positively to the society. All teachers must know their impact on student roles which they have to play in the students’ lives and the recruitment process should reflect the same.

3. Student Interaction at Different Levels:

You may only teach one age group or different age groups. But you must remember that every student will be different and so will be their interaction requirements. These soft skills for teachers will enable the teacher to understand the students’ level and adjust classes. 

Whenever a learner is entrusted to an educator, the teaching skills should be very able and abounding. It is the soft skills that are responsible for your understanding of the students’ capability and cognitive capability.

4. Creating Future Leaders:

Leadership is an inherent soft skills for teachers. They should be able to command respect and obedience yet remain approachable, to students. When a teacher is frivolous and unable to have a serious demeanour, then students are going to end being undisciplined. 

When teaching online, this soft skill is vital. The class can remain on track and you can direct the class in the desired direction. You will inspire the can lead the students to become good leaders. Memorable lessons remain with a person lifelong, and that is why soft skills are imperative for a teacher. 

5. Become More Approachable:

The teacher and student must maintain a fine line in their relationship, especially if you teach adult students. This indicates that both should maintain a respectable distance between each other. Having said that, the student should feel comfortable and be at ease to approach you as a teacher. 

So how do establish these boundaries? Well, your soft skills are the answer. Your function is to be an advisor and guide to your students. It is only possible if you apply your people skills. You should be approachable yet be formal, thus you are available for them when going through a rough patch.

The Last Words

Online teaching is here to stay and is the future of education. Tech for online teaching is already available and becoming more sophisticated to make this mode a feasible option. You are already teaching online, so you have already become part of the journey.

You are a subject matter expert in your file, but to become a resounding success your soft skills need to be perfectly honed. These skills can’t be taught from a book nor can they be quantified, they can only be experienced.

Soft skills include communication, leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, planning, active listening, passion, empathy, cultural awareness, compassion, and many more. But these are things that make us human. And a great teacher embodies all of these qualities to bring the most memorable experience to the student.

Take these skills with you to be the best teacher, in any medium.

Happy Teaching!

Summary

A teacher or educator is the person who is responsible for helping students acquire knowledge, become competent, and instruct them in high moral standards. 

One special teacher can inspire and motivate the student. He/she feels as though nothing is difficult to achieve in this world, once you set your mind for it. Online teaching is the new norm for all teachers, especially in the new world climate. Both the teacher and student can do their job in a comfortable environment, this is the USP.

Why do students want to attend your class? When someone asks what you do differently, the answer often is, ”Just teach”. So what is the secret? The mystery is all about something often referred to as ‘Soft Skills”.

Soft skills are a combination of how you interact with people, communicate, your attitude, personal qualities, habits, which make you accomplish your tasks, adjust to environments, and have a huge impact overall.  

These soft skills are very difficult to quantify, they fit the criteria of applied skill as opposed to basic knowledge skills. These include skills such as Work Ethic, Professionalism, Communication (Both oral and written), Attitude, Teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and so on. These are the skills you try to teach your students without expressly teaching. A great teacher embodies all of these qualities to bring the most memorable experience to the student.

Take these skills with you to be the best teacher, in any medium.

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– What is TEFL Certification
– Top 10 TEFL Certification Program in 2021
– Top 5 Programs to Get Your TEFL Certification in South Africa
– Top 50 Best TEFL Certification Courses
– TEFL Vs. TESOL

 

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