New skills for new classrooms: Training tutors to teach languages online
Abstract
While online teaching in post-compulsory education is the focus of much research today, the training of online tutors has largely been neglected. Most papers do not go beyond dealing with the technical skills that are needed to teach in an online environment. This article outlines a framework for tutor training, starting with a brief overview of benefits and challenges for online language tutors. On the basis of several years' experience with teaching languages using a synchronous online environment and training tutors for online language courses, we suggest a pyramid of skills necessary for successful online teaching. These include the more general skills of dealing with the technology and using its advantages, the social skills of community building, language teaching skills, and the skills to teach creatively and develop a personal teaching style in an online medium. The article then suggests how these skills can be implemented in a training programme, which includes both pre-course training and ongoing staff development.
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Socialization and community building are fundamental to engagement with a language and language learning.
“Socialization and community building-fundamental to engagement with a language and language learning-are not accomplished in the same way as they are in traditional classrooms”
From Task-based language teaching online: A guide for teachers (2017) · cites this paper as Hampel & Stickler, 2005
Socialization and community building are not accomplished in the same way online as in traditional classrooms.
“Socialization and community building-fundamental to engagement with a language and language learning-are not accomplished in the same way as they are in traditional classrooms”
From Task-based language teaching online: A guide for teachers (2017) · cites this paper as Hampel & Stickler, 2005
Cites
Task-based Language Learning and Teaching
Ellis, R. (2003) · Asian Journal of English Language Teaching · doi:10.65961/ajelt-2003-1-009 · Cited by 3,601 · see citing works
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Task-based language teaching online: A guide for teachers
Baralt, M., & Morcillo Gómez, J. (2017) · Language Learning & Technology · doi:10.64152/10125/44630 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
“…for language learning, and these can be more challenging for the teacher to promote online (Baralt et al., 2016; Compton, 2009; Gleason, 2013; Hampel & Stickler, 2005; Stickler & Shi, 2015); (d) learners may feel more self-conscious in video-based interaction (Coverdale-Jones, 2000); and…”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
- Authors
- Hampel, R., & Stickler, U.
- Affiliations
- The Open University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hampel, Regine
- ORCID
- Stickler, Ursula
- Venue
- Computer Assisted Language Learning
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2005-10
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 311-326
- ISSN
- 0958-8221 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-3210
- OpenAlex
- W2088344330
- Cited by
- 387
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 33.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Computer Assisted Language Learning (publishedVersion)
- Open Research Online (The Open University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Saskatchewan
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Foreign Language Teaching Methods
- Social Sciences › Education › Online and Blended Learning
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › English Language Learning and Teaching
- Keywords
- online language teaching, tutor training, synchronous online learning, community building, technological competence, employee development, post-compulsory education
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