Using Skype    in 3 easy steps:  

I. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS

1) If internet connections are weak, use voice without video.
      To turn your video on or off, click the camera icon (the far left button).

2) If your work space is noisy, use headphones to cut out background noise. (They are better than earmuffs unless your room is cold.)
3) The next best thing to chocolate is patience. If a student isn’t on time, it’s often because they are trying to connect and cannot. You have to be very forgiving about late starts or missed lessons and just keep going! The students are hungry to learn. They are as frustrated by internet problems as you are. Try to remember what a miracle it is that you can connect with them at all.
4) When you speak or type messages, use simple, short sentences.
5) Use simple, short sentences. 
6) Simple, short sentences. (Repetition is helpful too.)
 
II. GETTING STARTED

Use Skype messenger or e-mail to connect with your student and decide on the time and day each week for your lessons. Start with 30 minute lessons and move to 45 minute (if you want) as your student progresses. [HOW TO OPEN SKYPE MESSENGER]
 
2) Learn how to open several windows on your computer. This will be a very helpful tool. [HOW TO OPEN SEVERAL WINDOWS]
 

3) Choosing translate languages.  For Afghan students select “Persian”. For Syrian students select “Arabic”. You can google any country to learn what the primary language is.                           

III. TEACHING BY SKYPE

1) Before a lesson begins, open up at least two windows: your lesson plan and an online translator. Have a third “reserve” window open so you can quickly go to another site if needed. 
2) When the lesson begins, use Skype messenger to send the links you’ll be using for the lesson.  [HOW TO OPEN SKYPE MESSENGER.]

3) If your student cannot open the links you sent, you can “share your screen”.  That means the student will see your screen and not you. The student will not be “on” [or “in”] your computer! They will only be viewing your desktop.  [HOW TO SHARE YOUR SCREEN]

4) Be flexible and creative. If one day the video is causing a poor connection, then use only voice. If on another day even the sound is poor you can still keep going. Use the message box to do a written lesson that day. See the example below—a writing game called “Internet Tales”. (The story below was teaching a student how to use the word “how”.)

The teacher begins a story by typing 1 or 2 sentences and sends them to the student. The student then replies with one or two sentences (highlighted in the example) and sends them back to the teacher. The teacher corrects the student’s mistakes and continues the story. These “spontaneous stories” are one of the most effect tools we use. Please note in the example at the left, there was a word the teacher knew the student would not know and so she looked it up on Google translate (in Persian) and copied and pasted it into the story.
4) Using Google Blogger, we often make an individual blog for a student. The student can return to his or her blog to review lessons. Here is an example of a student blog: http://mashalsenglishgym.blogspot.com/  

* INTERNET RESOURCES: Here are the type of sites we use when teaching with Skype:  RESOURCES

Please don’t worry!
You have time to learn along with your student. 
Just go step by step and send us your questions!

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