Is it better to learn ESL online or in person?

Question

Many students think online is impersonal because the student isn't in the same room as the teacher.

Are there any advantages to online learning?

Answer 1

I have tutored ESL, emphasizing reading and conversation, both online and in-person.

While in person is effective, because I'm with the student and can interact with him or her on a personal level, online tutoring has advantages.

In online tutoring, I'm "in" the student's home and they are "in" yours. You can note the artwork on their walls and how they decorate their homes and that can be a source of conversation. Sometimes students are more relaxed at home and less worried about making mistakes.

Answer 2

One benefit of online learning that I and many other teachers have noticed is that it can be less stressful for students to have that barrier of a screen between them and the teacher. When meeting a teacher in person, and especially in a group setting, usually students feel a certain level of anxiety. Online, through a video platform, students can learn from the comfort of their own home, and they can choose to look away from the face on the screen if they are nervous. They also don't have the distractions of a physical classroom to worry about. This is a great advantage to learning online, and some of my students have shown great improvements, especially with their English speaking skills, since we've moved to remote learning. So, while I do enjoy meeting with students in person and in a classroom, and appreciate being able to use more kinesthetic learning techniques in person, I have found that being online has its benefits.

Answer 3

Online learning has some advantages for ESL students. It gives a more accurate real-life setting for life during the pandemic when we conduct business and school online. Often it is more difficult to communicate on video chats, so this reveals the true, underlying weakness of the ESL student (especially in the area of pronunciation). The teacher can more accurately assess a student's strengths and weaknesses in this modern age of technology.