Summary: I always get asked the same questions about what it's like to be an English teacher on Skype. In today's show I answer those questions for your listening pleasure. No listening questions today, just some new vocabulary. transcript here ---------- What countries do my students come from? I have clients from all over the world, but my Skype English lessons are most popular in Russia, Italy, and Brazil. Why am I popular in these countries? I'm not sure, but my guess is that professional people in these countries don't want hours of random English classes or boring lessons using a book every day. They are busy; they want a programme of classes that is tailored especially to their needs. Also, the people I work with have chosen to work with me. They have listened to my podcasts, they have got to know me as they listen to improve their English. They decide to take lessons with me because they know and trust me. What kind of teacher are you? Some people want a teacher who is authoritarian - a teacher who controls you and tells you what to do. They want a shouting, angry teacher because they had teachers like this at school. This is not my teaching style. I respect my clients; they are my equals. My clients are my equals no matter how fantastic their job is, or how rich they are. The people I don't teach want a teacher who stands in front of a board, talking, talking, talking. This is how their teachers were at school. They were very formal and serious. They stood in front of the board and looked down on their students. The teacher does all the talking. The student listens. But if you want to improve your English, you have to be very active in your lessons. Does it surprise you that I think you really should be saying more than your teacher? Why do you make videos and podcasts about learning English for free? Doesn't it take a lot of time? It takes a lot of time to make videos and podcasts about learning English. It takes hours. I always have something to record or edit. I enjoy making doing this work anyway so it is not a problem. It doesn't feel like work. I think I understand the way the internet works. People won't pay to listen to a podcast or watch a video on YouTube. It doesn't matter if you spent hours making that video or podcast, even if it is very useful. Anyone who makes content - anyone who makes videos or podcasts - has to accept that. When you have a big audience, when a lot of people know who you are, then you can sell some specialised products to your biggest fans. It is possible to make money, eventually. But most of what you make will always have to be free for people. What is it like teaching English on the internet? You won't meet many people who have a job like mine. People are always surprised when I tell them what I do. They don't understand how it is possible to teach English on the internet. They don't understand how I can teach a Russian person English without speaking Russian myself. Well, I can do this because I am a trained teacher. I could go and teach in Russia tomorrow if I wanted to, in a classroom, even though I don't speak Russian. It's the same on Skype. The worst thing about teaching English on the internet is spending a lot of time alone. I talk to clients every day-- and I have a great time speaking to them -- but it is essential to get out into the real world at least once everyday. The internet is wonderful, but meeting real-life humans is important too. If you like to be around people all the time, you wouldn't like this job. If you like to work regular hours and to have your evenings free, don't consider being a Skype English teacher. Internet classes can't be as good as face-to-face classes, can they? There are many ways to learn English. The way to learn depends on your circumstances and personality. Internet English lessons suit many people because they can do them from work at lunchtime, or after dinner when they are at home.
