💻 Mistakes I Made Teaching ESL Online – and What I Learned

Teaching English online can be fun and rewarding. But like many teachers, I made some mistakes when I started. Here are a few things I did wrong — and what I learned from each one.

1. Using Textbooks or Boring Resources

Mistake: I used textbooks or boring materials that didn’t engage my students.

What I Learned: Students learn better when lessons are fun and interesting.

✅ Solution: Use ESL Pals — they have ready-made, fun, and easy-to-use materials.

✅ Tip: Try to pick resources that include games, pictures, and real-life topics.

2. Doing Everything Myself

Mistake: I planned every lesson from scratch and spent hours preparing.

What I Learned: It’s okay to use good resources to save time and energy.

✅ Solution: Use ESL Pals — a great way to get ready-made lessons and ideas.

✅ Tip: Focus on adapting materials instead of creating everything from zero.

3. Skipping Warm-Ups

Mistake: I used to jump straight into the lesson without any warm-up.

What I Learned: Warm-ups help students relax and get ready to learn.

✅ Solution: ESL Pals lessons always include warm-ups you can use easily.

✅ Tip: Start with a simple question, game, or picture to warm up your students.

4. Not Giving Enough Speaking Time

Mistake: I talked too much and didn’t let my students practice speaking enough.

What I Learned: Students improve when they get to speak and practice often.

✅ Solution: Use ESL Pals activities that encourage student talk and interaction.

✅ Tip: Ask open questions and give students time to answer fully.

5. Not Checking Technology Before Class

Mistake: I sometimes had tech problems during lessons like mic or internet issues.

What I Learned: Technical problems waste class time and frustrate students.

✅ Solution: Prepare and test your equipment before every lesson. ESL Pals also offers tech tips for teachers.

✅ Tip: Keep a backup plan ready, like a phone hotspot or extra device.

6. Forgetting to Give Clear Instructions

Mistake: Sometimes I gave instructions that were too fast or confusing.

What I Learned: Clear instructions help students understand tasks quickly and easily.

✅ Solution: ESL Pals materials include simple, step-by-step instructions you can follow.

✅ Tip: Always check understanding by asking students to repeat or explain the instructions.

Final Thoughts

Every mistake helped me grow as a teacher. If you're new to online ESL, don’t worry — we all learn by doing. Just be patient with yourself and your students.

✅ Final Tip: Keep a short journal after each class. Write what worked, what didn’t, and one small thing to improve next time.

👇 What about you?

Have you made any similar mistakes while teaching online? What did you learn from them? Share them on Instagram or via email - [email protected]