Tips for online lessons using Skype

Here are some useful pointers and tips for online classes using Skype for both students and tutors. Many of these are the result of providing thousands of Spanish classes via Skype over the years. Quality and reliability are the foundation to a successful online learning experience.

Although these tips were originally written for Spanish language teachers new to online teaching with Skype, we believe that many of them will be more widely useful to students as well as teachers, and other kinds of online interaction as well as online Spanish lesson.

  • When viewing yourself in the web cam check what is behind you. Make sure there is no trash, or other objects so only a professional environment shows.
  • Face towards the light to avoid a silhouette and use a light background if possible. (White is recommended.)
  • Make sure your head and torso are in the center of the frame and the camera has a steady base to prevent it from moving.
  • Whenever possible use a cable in place of wifi to eliminate potential connectivity problems.
  • Minimum speed should be 1 Mb/s for a high quality Skype call. (Use http://www.speedtest.net to test your speed.)
  • Satellite Internet has too much latency for using with Skype; so ASDL is much better.
  • Symmetrical Internet connection works best with Skype (same upload as download speed).
  • Remove any extra programs that are running on your computer to help increase processor speed; this will provide a much better video quality.
  • Check that you have the latest edition of Skype. (At the top of your Skype window, click help/check for updates).
  • Ensure your study area is free from interruptions or background noise to minimize distractions.
  • Have any files you want to share readily available, so you can quickly send them to your Skype partner.
  • When tutoring try to be more animated and dynamic than when teaching in a regular classroom.
  • Use a headset for better sound and to eliminate extra background noise.
  • If teaching via laptop, move the computer or camera to demonstrate a point and to bring more interaction and vitality into the classroom.
  • Familiarize the student or other party with all the features of Skype before the class. A short 5 minute mini-class works well to help avoid potential problems.
  • If you are going to be sharing files during the class, locate them first on your computer before the class, so you have easy acess with no down time searching for lesson materials during a class.
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