{"id":7936,"date":"2020-04-08T18:01:40","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T18:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=7936"},"modified":"2020-04-08T18:01:40","modified_gmt":"2020-04-08T18:01:40","slug":"props-to-teach-english-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/props-to-teach-english-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Props to Teach English Online"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The recent trend among global teachers to transition from the classroom to teaching English online<\/a> still leaves a lot of questions open, especially among new teachers. We see an increasing need to share innovative ideas and methods within the global TEFL\/TESOL community in order to keep doing what we do best!<\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll shed some light on using props to teach English online. We explore the many different ways the usage of realia, and other props can enhance the learning experience. We also provide suggestions on how to create, use, buy, or make good props to ensure your online classes will be a success.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re new to teaching, you\u2019ll want to get initial training and qualification with a TEFL certificate<\/a>. You can explore our online TEFL courses<\/a> to get started!<\/em><\/p>\n

What are realia and props for teaching English?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First, let\u2019s clarify what we are talking about. Realia<\/em> are items from everyday life, such as an umbrella or an apple, which teachers use as teaching aids. In online teaching, realia are often used as props. Props also include educational materials such as flashcards, storybooks or maps.<\/p>\n

What makes a good prop?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A good prop for teaching online serves as a visual aid in order to teach learning content. However, props are not only for your students\u2019 benefit. They are also tremendously helpful for getting your point across. When you want to teach the word \u201cpencil\u201d to a low-level student, you could spend the next five minutes of your valuable lesson time describing it, and still not get any response. Or, you could simply hold up a pencil into the webcam saying \u201cThis is a pencil\u201d and your student will understand immediately.<\/p>\n

When you’re teaching children<\/h4>\n

When teaching children, you want your props to be colorful, fun, and engaging, in order to keep your four-year-old student happy in front of the computer screen. Online teaching props should make the room behind you look fun without being distracting and they should vary in shape, form, and color.<\/p>\n

\"Online

An online English teacher with her young student<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

When you’re teaching adults<\/h4>\n

When teaching adults, your props should be relevant to the topic and support your delivery of the lesson content in a professional manner. You probably want to use fewer realia than when teaching children. However, a good prop will save your students time in understanding the content and add a clean visual aid to your lesson.<\/p>\n

\"A

An English teacher with her student doing their first online class<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

What are some examples of props for teaching kids English online?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now, let\u2019s take a look at some examples frequently used by experienced online teachers across the globe.<\/p>\n

Props from everyday life (realia)<\/h4>\n

This is your chance to get creative. Depending on what you are planning to teach, you can prepare an umbrella, a pencil, a book, clothing, food, or point to some furniture in your home office space.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s assume you want to teach clothing vocabulary to your student. You can prepare one clothing item per word. Just wait for your five-year-old student to burst out laughing when you put on a goofy hat!<\/p>\n

Or, when teaching food items, you can hold up an apple and ask your student to bring a fruit of his choice to the table as well! You can eat them together, describing the taste of the fruits.<\/p>\n

\"toy<\/p>\n

Props you can make<\/h4>\n

Making props is especially fun if you want to release the artist within you. You can draw your own posters, maps, and flags. Some veteran TEFL\/TESOL teachers even create and use their own flashcard sets.<\/p>\n

With younger children, it\u2019s always a great idea to tape your flashcards on a stick and make them move or dance. This works especially well when teaching topics like emotions or animals.<\/p>\n

\"Popsicle<\/p>\n

If your budget doesn\u2019t allow for a fancy plush toy or store-bought hand puppet, you can make plenty of DIY teaching aids at home. If you need inspiration, you will find great ideas for homemade props on sites like Pinterest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When making your own props, the sky is the limit if you are a little crafty and creative. How about designing your own classroom mascot? Your students will love it and you can build a reward system around it, such as virtual hugs or high-fives, singing a song with it or having it read your student\u2019s choice of storybook.<\/p>\n

Props you should buy, if possible<\/h4>\n

When setting up your online teaching workspace, there are some items that you don\u2019t get around buying and some things that we recommend to buy if you can.<\/p>\n

Must-haves<\/h5>\n