Teaching Space Makeover: Creating the Ideal Home Office Setup for Online English Teachers

An ideal home office setup for online English teachers does not only include your background during lessons but also your equipment, surroundings, and teaching aids. All of these help you teach effectively and efficiently during lessons, so it’s important to have the right teaching space. So, how do you create the perfect work-from-home setup? Follow these simple tips and learn which items you should “add to cart” now to make teaching at home more productive.

Find a teaching space

One of the most important aspects of a perfect work-from-home setup is where you will be teaching. It doesn’t have to be a whole room, but you need to find a space in your home that is quiet and spacious enough for your equipment and for you to teach and move around. Make sure to also avoid having reflective surfaces or walls, doors, and windows show up in your background. A clean, plain wall as your backdrop is best to keep you and your students from getting distracted during lessons.

Invest in other work-from-home essentials

Aside from your basic computer setup, a fast Internet connection, and a headset with a noise-canceling microphone, there are other work-from-home office essentials that you may want to invest in to make your home office setup more comfortable and productive. These include an ergonomic chair for back and neck support, a printer for printing teaching aids, and a power strip to keep wires in one place. However, one of the best investments that online teachers can make is buying a generator set. This will save you from missing or halting any lessons during power interruptions.

Make your teaching space well-lit

A bright teaching space not only helps you see your surroundings clearly but also allows your students to see you better during lessons. Buying a ring light helps light up your teaching space easily and evenly. Otherwise, aim to position your teaching space near a bright light source or place lamps near you. Overall, make sure your video is not too dark and there are no shadows as you teach.

Decorate your background

A typical home office setup for online English teachers should include a plain white wall. However, if you can, add some color or decor to liven up your lessons and pique your students’ interest. Decorate your wall with a select number of printable decorations, stickers, images of animals and characters, or colorful fabric to add appeal to your lessons. Colorful numbers and letters also catch your students’ attention and can be used as teaching aids during lessons. Just make sure there aren’t too many of them.

Use fun teaching aids

Teaching aids are an important part of online English teaching as it helps you engage with students and teach them effectively, especially young learners. Prepare a variety of props, toys, and teaching aids, so you can use the right one in every lesson. A whiteboard is also a handy tool to quickly spell out or illustrate a word. Don’t forget to prepare fun treats or rewards for your students to praise and encourage them whenever they do well.

Create your ideal teaching space

Remember the following home office makeover tips and create the best work-from-home setup that allows you to teach effectively and comfortably. Making these adjustments and investing in some more equipment will also allow you to better communicate with and teach your students.

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