Preparing For Your First Online Tutoring Session: An Actionable Guide

You have just decided to start tutoring and follow your passion for teaching. It has to be said – it’s an excellent career move!

You have also signed up to become an online tutor; you are all set to share your knowledge and skills with some keen students worldwide. The date for your first session is fast approaching, and excitement may be taking over. At the same time, a tinge of anxiety may also trouble you. You might be thinking about how to make that crucial first impression.

Preparing for your first online tutoring session may be quite daunting, but with the proper guidelines, everything can be smooth and rewarding. In this guide, we will help you ensure everything goes well. We will provide you with some powerful strategies to create the backdrop of a successful session.

How to prepare for your very first online tutoring session

If you are passionate about teaching but haven’t tried it yet, it’s absolutely normal to feel nervous. Here are some strategies to prepare for your first session:

Plan your lessons

When preparing to teach, begin by planning your lesson. Whether using a textbook, syllabus, or creating your own material, start here.

First focus on your student’s learning objectives. Decide on activities that follow a logical sequence, leading to a final task where students can demonstrate their understanding.

For online classes, it’s beneficial to have students complete practice activities before the class and productive activities during the session.

Some tips to consider for lesson preparation:

• Each lesson should have a clear learning objective. Share the class’s purpose with your learners at the beginning.
• Scaffold your activities, ensuring students have the necessary tools and knowledge before starting each task.
• Demonstrate or provide examples for new activities, which is especially important in online mode where communication can be challenging.
• Incorporate a variety of interactive resources, such as games, videos, and online quizzes, to make your lessons engaging.

Ultimately, your goal is to engage students as much as possible, regardless of the content you choose to cover.

Learn the tools and platform

Now that your lessons are ready, it’s time to get familiar with your teaching platform. Whatever tool you use (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or others) – find out how to set up your microphone, video, and chat options. You might want to send messages or files to students or mute them when you are playing a video.

You could also make the class interactive by sharing your screen or opening a whiteboard for students to put forward ideas. Breakout room features can be used for smaller group activities.

You can also test the functions out with others first. It lets you view the platform from the student’s perspective and can help you predict questions or issues they may have.

Note what features are available and how they work. This helps you better facilitate the session with the learners.

Create a productive environment

An important factor in keeping focused for the entire session is how your tutoring setup is. Here are the core tips you need to help minimise distractions, set up your space, and get the technology requirements right for an effective session.

Keep away from distractions:

One major challenge of effective tutoring is distractions around. So, do this:

• Identify and manage interruptions: Before the session, you should try to eliminate the major distractions that may impede your tutoring. This could be your cell phone or your social media. Disable any notifications and even track how you spend your time. This will help you to monitor how you are using your time.
• Communicate with others: You need to inform the people around you that you will be involved in a tutoring session and need quiet space. This will minimise the disruptions from family members or housemates.

Setting up the space

A well-organised and dedicated study area can make a world of difference in your focus and tutoring experience. Here’s how to do that:

• Pick the right location: Is a quiet corner available inside your home? The best spot is somewhere people don’t pass by often.
• Organise your workspace: Face your desk or table away from high traffic areas. Make sure that it is well lighted, comfortable and that you have everything you will need to minimise disruption of the session.

Technology essentials

In online tutoring, the technology you use is critical for seamless interaction. While you may already have some technology in place, first check that your:

• Check your internet: The internet should not be disrupted; thus, its availability should be checked in advance to avoid problems. You should test it in advance for assurance.
• Good quality audio equipment: This means a good microphone and headphones to guarantee clarity of communication. Being able to hear and be clearly heard creates a productive session.

Get to know your students with a student needs analysis

Once you are done with the setup, it’s time to start your tutoring session. To make it effective, understand your students and their needs first.

You can start getting to know your students by creating a student needs analysis using a set of questions:

Why are you studying this subject/language?

• For school exams or university requirements
• Personal interest in exploring the language/culture

What do you find most challenging about this subject?

• Understanding complex grammar rules
• Memorising vocabulary effectively

Which is your strongest skill?

• Speaking and conversing in the language
• Writing essays or compositions

Which activities do you like to do in class?

• Participating in discussions or debates
• Engaging in group projects

Adapt these questions to match the age and needs of your students.

Introduce the subject

Your very first tutoring session needs to focus on building a relationship with your students. It can be setting goals, playing games, or simply having conversations. However, use at least 10 minutes to introduce your subject. You don’t have to get too technical yet, but laying the groundwork will have huge implications for your next sessions.

This will not be based on any one subtopic but more of a time to see where your student is currently and where they may need the most attention. There should be a consideration of many elements associated with the subject to understand where the strengths and weaknesses of the students are.

This strategy will help you get valuable insights to fine-tune the upcoming sessions according to your student’s needs.

Make the session engaging

An engaging session breaks the ice and sets a friendly learning environment. Start with a couple of minutes of informal conversation to let the student get comfortable. Icebreakers are much better done through games while working virtually. Try some charades, tic-tac-toe, 20 questions, or even Pictionary to get you and your student both laughing and opening up.

You could add a few icebreaker questions to get to know them on a personal level—what they are interested in or like—particularly for older students or extroverted students. Here are some conversation starters you can use for that:

• What is one fun fact about yourself that people are always surprised to hear?
• What are some of your favourite books, movies, and television shows?
• Do you play any sports? If so, which one(s)?
• What else do you like to do in your free time? What does a typical day look like for you?
• What’s your favourite class in school, and why do you like that subject?
• What specific topics that you’d like to work on together?

These questions will help you to learn more about students’ interests, so that you can build a personal connection. Intermix these questions throughout the session, and this will create a very relaxed atmosphere where open communication will be promoted.

Assign homework

It is very important to set an assignment with clear and specific instructions on what should be done. Specify tasks to be completed by learners, when the assignment is due for submission, and how delivery should be done. When it comes to written assignments, learners can provide their completed work in the chat box itself by uploading a file. If submission by email is preferred, set up your email address for them.

Whatever you decide on, the students must be very clear about the requirements, deadlines, and modes of submission. Clarity in instructions and communication is the key to assignment submissions.

End on a positive note

Congratulations, you have just completed your first session! Ending on a positive note can energise and make learners feel elated. As they leave your class, they will know they are one step closer toward their goals. This sense of positiveness will also make them look forward to your next class.

With some preparation, you’ll quickly be on the path to success. It becomes easier to plan future sessions once you have completed the first one. Take time to celebrate your accomplished work and the memories you will create with your students.

Keep this momentum going, and enjoy the ride in guiding your learners toward their aspirations. Every session will represent the chance to grow and connect with the students. You are well on your way to make a meaningful difference!

Request feedback

You might want to know how you performed in your first tutoring session and its effect on the students. So, ask them to provide feedback. This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, along with creating an open communication channel and building healthy relationships.

• You can ask them what they enjoyed the most and what felt hard
• Encourage them to suggest topics or activities for the next session

FAQs on preparation for a first online tutoring session

Conclusion

Preparing for your first online tutoring session can be a smooth and rewarding experience with the right approach. Start by ensuring your technical setup is reliable and familiarising yourself with the tutoring platform. Gather all necessary materials and set clear, achievable goals for the session.

With preparation and a positive mindset, your first online tutoring session can pave the way for success in the online tutoring world. Further, keep yourself updated with the latest trends and build a strong online presence as a tutor to improve trustworthiness of your profile.

If you are ready with a plan but confused about where to start the online tutoring journey, trust Teach Bunny for an excellent start. To make a positive impact in the educational world, we connect students with the right tutors. Contact us now to kickstart your tutoring career!

Henrik Nilsson

Henrik Nilsson is an experienced finance tutor with a passion for education. He enjoys helping students reach personal and professional success through active mentoring. In his insightful blog posts, he shares his expertise and innovative tutoring approach, aiming to make learning accessible to everyone.