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Read full storyIndependent ESL Teacher Story – Marti Hatos
Welcome to our first Independent ESL Teacher Story.
Over the coming weeks and months we’ll use the Independent ESL Teacher Story series to highlight teachers who are using Off2Class to grow their own independent ESL teaching businesses. This week we have Marti Hatos, originally from Hungary, who found herself transplanted to a new life in Montreal, Canada.
Welcome Marti to the Off2Class blog, and over to you!
‘I’m originally from Hungary and I used to teach French and English there. Now, I have been living in Montreal for 18 months with my husband and our three kids.
I really love teaching English so in November I came up with the idea to try my hand at teaching languages via Skype, mostly to Hungarian students. Since Montreal is 6 hours ahead of Hungary, I’m able to teach my students while my kids are at school. I’m done teaching by the time my kids return. One of the nicest things about being an independent ESL teacher is all the time I get with my kids!
As a first step, I searched the Internet and found many useful sites covering independent ESL teaching: advice, what to avoid, how to use Skype, what materials to use and so on.
I gathered so much information while searching that I started to write a blog in Hungarian about my experiences. The idea was to help out teachers who do not speak English but want to teach online using Skype. You can take a look at my Hungarian language teaching blog here.
There’s a couple of things I’ve loved about my Off2Class experience:
- The idea that I got a 30-day free trial. It meant I had time to try out Off2Class and get to know the possibilities the site offered
- The webinars on how to use Off2Class while teaching online with Skype, because I’m not a computer expert!
I haven’t found any other sites which offer independent ESL teachers placement tests, teaching materials, homework-sending capabilities and an easy-to-use student management system. All at a reasonable price. I am happy whenever I get a mail from Off2Class because I know that you’ve uploaded a new lesson or tried to improve the site to make it better in some way.
So far, I have two students that I’m using to gain experience before I really get into online ESL teaching. I hope this year will be the beginning of my new teaching career!’
Thanks a lot to Marti for providing us with her Independent ESL Teacher story! If you have any questions please get in touch with Marti on her blog or in the comments section below. If you’d like your story featured as the next Independent ESL Teacher Story, get in touch with us by email: kris@off2class.com!
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7 Comments
Przemysław Jankowski says:
February 9, 2016 at 8:33 am
Great article Marti. I think it’s amazing you’ve decided to help your fellow teachers discover the online teaching environment. I’m proud to be the part of ESL community reading such teacher stories. Good luck with new students and have fun using off2class in your teaching.
Kris Jagasia says:
February 10, 2016 at 5:11 pm
Thanks for stopping by and offering some encouraging words Przemysław!
Sunita Shrivastava says:
February 9, 2016 at 9:11 pm
I am an English language teacher but tech pulls me back . And that is one reason inspire of having s command on my subject, I cannot proceed further. Your story is inspiring as well as motivating.
Kris Jagasia says:
February 10, 2016 at 5:11 pm
Cheers Sunita, which elements of “tech” do you find are pulling you back?
Sunita Shrivastava says:
February 10, 2016 at 8:36 pm
It’s just about taking the first step! Will soon report taking off!!
Pip says:
February 10, 2016 at 10:59 am
Well done Marti! I am also trying the gentle introduction approach, with two students (non paying at the moment) who came to me from my time spent in the education rooms of an online Chat site. I ran simple exercises for a ‘room’ full of non-native English speakers from all over the world, who were at differing levels of competency. Off2Class is a wonderful way to give personal and directed attention to those that are really keen to learn and as you say, most of the planning and lesson structures are done for us! My students love it! especially the one-to-one and I love the professional layout.and new features being added.
Kris Jagasia says:
February 10, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Hi Pip, thanks for your comments! I think you’ve nailed a great online means to find new students. I’m glad that you’re students are enjoying our lesson structures. Good luck!