GO ONLINE AND NEVER RETURN — INTERVIEW WITH AN EXPERT
We interviewed the founder of Everyday English Online, Aaron Figurski, to find the secret to learning English online effectively.
— Aaron, is going online for English language schools a positive global change?
— Of course, and first of all, for students. Think about the possibilities that are now available to a huge number of people! Before, if you wanted to study English with a qualified and experienced teacher, you had to live in a larger city and hope to find a school near your home so you don’t spend half a day to get there and back. It means options were considerably limited for many people.
Now it doesn't matter where you live! The next-generation online learning format has erased geographical boundaries, and this is a true blessing for the education sector. All you need is a computer and access to the Internet; you can literally study anything from anywhere.
— If we speak about your school, what is the main advantage of learning with Everyday English Online?
— Going online gave us the chance to recruit an extremely strong teaching staff — again, this is thanks to the fact we are not limited by geographic locations anymore. It's not always easy to find a great teacher who is willing to relocate.
The new online format, in a sense, has become our lifeline, and we have found many dedicated language experts — native speakers and qualified foreign teachers from various countries. Now they work with us and help our students all around the world achieve their big language goals.
— Is the process of teaching English online different from the offline method?
— Not at all. Our teachers still don't speak the native language of our students, only English. This may be a little scary at the beginning, but in fact it gives students a powerful boost and increases their progress speed.
We take students by the hand and show them how to overcome their fear of speaking English, and to actually start enjoying it. Another thing is that during online lessons students feel more confident and open. They don’t experience as much anxiety as offline, which means they get faster results.
— How do you find teachers for your online school? How would you describe the "ideal teacher"?
I am actually a real stickler! I am very serious about recruiting teachers and it shows. All of our teachers must pass through a multi-step selection process. It is crucial that the teacher shares the values of the school and of an educator. We are focused on the results of our students and a teacher must always have those results in mind. This is why so many people trust Everyday English Online with such an important goal — English language proficiency.
I didn’t even mention our teachers' qualifications and great experience, simply because I feel that is such a basic and essential requirement. It goes without saying and should be expected no matter what.
Our use of the communicative language teaching approach lets students start speaking from day one. And of course, the psychological environment during lessons is of great importance too. If you want to have a strong internal motivation to start speaking a foreign language, you need to feel relaxed, not afraid, yet interested at the same time.
— By the way, many people think that online schools are just some kind of entertainment rather than actual learning. Is this true?
— Unfortunately, this stereotype still exists. Not long ago people used online resources mostly for entertainment — movies, music, YouTube, social networks. So it's not easy to believe that online learning can be more effective than traditional educational settings.
Real online learning is not "edu-tainment", it's a system of knowledge and skills that we give to our students. To do this we use the most technically convenient methods possible with the help of online platforms and digital materials.
— It seems like online learning is an ideal format for people of all ages. Were there any problems you faced when going online?
— Yes, we still haven’t figured out how to teach children under 6 years old with consistent results! :) We did try hard to find a way to work with children aged 3-6, but failed miserably. During the lessons, these young creative minds were interested in everything but the lesson itself. :) So I admit this experience was fun, but unproductive and not ideal for the students themselves, even if the parents really really wanted it.
Another problem is that the effectiveness of online learning depends not only on teachers, but also on technical factors. We never needed any technical specialists before, but now we are looking for the best in the industry. If there are constant issues with the sound or the study material doesn’t load during the lesson, we probably won't see that student ever again. That's why in this new reality we need to pay attention both to the IT-sphere and English grammar. :)
— Aaron, do you think online learning is just another trend?
I believe that online learning is a powerful transformation of the entire educational system. I am truly glad that we are now a part of it. Our current format is probably the best thing that has ever happened to Everyday English Online in terms of transforming the school. Even students who were doubtful in the beginning about going online gave it a try. When they saw the results and enjoyed the benefits of online, they decided never to go back!
Join one of our open lessons and see how online learning opens a whole new world of possibilities for everyone.