Native speakers of a language can also have doubts about their native language. Some words look very similar and others sound the same. Here are 10 pairs of words that are commonly confused by native English speakers, so if you come across these words in your English classes, make sure to clarify the difference to your students!

1. Affect vs. Effect

Affect: A verb meaning “to produce an effect on”.

Example: Sitting all day will negatively affect your health. 

Effect: A noun meaning “the result of a change”.

Example: The effects of smoking are detrimental. 

2. Anyway vs. Any way

Anyway: An adverb meaning “in any case” or “nonetheless”.

Example: Anyway, I still went to that party. 

Any way: An adjective meaning “in any manner”.

Example: You can do that in any way. 

3. Complement vs. Compliment

Complement: Something that completes something else. 

Example: You two really complement each other. 

Compliment: An expression of praise, admiration or respect. 

Example: I complimented her on her beautiful dress.

4. Everyday vs. Every day

Everyday: An adjective meaning “ordinary” or typical”.

Example: I’m shopping for some everyday clothes. 

Every day: A phrase that means “daily”.

Example: He goes to the gym every day.

5. Lie vs. Lay

Lie: A verb meaning “to recline” or “rest in a horizontal position”.

Example: They lied on the bed with their dogs.

Lay: A verb meaning “to put or set something down”.

Example: She lays the plates on the table.

6. Lose vs. Loose

Lose: A verb meaning “to misplace” or “to fail to win”. 

Example: He always loses his keys.

Loose: An adjective meaning “not tight”. 

Example: Her shirt is very loose.

7. Passed vs. Past

Passed: The past tense form of “pass”.

Example: She passed by the gas station on her way home. 

Past: A noun that talks about times before the present. 

Example: He had a very dark and horrible past. 

8. That vs. Which

That: Used in defining clauses (meaning the rest of the phrase is a necessary part of the sentence).

Example: Students that don’t study will do poorly on the exam.

Which: Used in non-defining clauses (meaning the phrase that follows is not an essential part of the sentence).

Example: His car, which has been recently bought, is located right over there. 

9. Then vs. Than

Then: Used to indicate time.

Example: Then, we went to the cinema.

Than: Used to compare two things. 

Example: His dog is bigger than my dog. 

10. Who vs. Whom

Who: A pronoun that is used as the subject of a sentence. 

Example: Who is going to the game today?

Whom: A pronoun that is used as an indirect object. 

Example: To whom did we assign this task?

Are there other words in English you commonly mix up? Share them in the comments below! 

The post 10 Pairs of Words Commonly Confused by Native English Speakers first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

Language learning is not easy. However, it is so worth the struggle as it opens up your world to new opportunities and friendships. You’ll certainly come across many moments of embarrassment, but it’s alright. A big part of the experience is making mistakes and laughing about them in hindsight.

If you’re learning Spanish, there are many “false friends” to be aware of. These “false friends” – also known as “false cognates” – are words that sound and look similar in Spanish and English but have very different meanings. 

To help you avoid some embarrassing moments, here are 8 “false friends” in Spanish you should be aware of:

1. “Embarazada” 

What you may think it means: Embarrassed

What it actually means: Pregnant

The language learning journey is filled with embarrassments. However, when you want to express your embarrassment, please don’t say “Estoy embarazada”, unless of course you’re actually pregnant and want to use that opportunity to announce the good news. 

If you want to say you’re embarrassed, say instead “Estoy avergonzado/a”.

2. “Introducir”

What you may think it means: To introduce

What it actually means: To insert

If you want to introduce a friend to another, do not say “Te quiero introducir a mi amiga.” It sounds vulgar and can be taken the wrong way. In Spanish, we use “presentar” to introduce ourselves or others. 

In the situation of introducing your friend, say instead “Te quiero presentar a mi amiga”. 

3. “Delito”

What you may think it means: Delight

What it actually means: Crime

Say your boss wants to honor your hard work and gives you a promotion to which you respond, “Es un delito recibir esta promoción!” Your delight may soon turn into dismay when you realize you just said, “It’s a crime to receive this promotion!” 

What you should actually have said is, “Es un placer recibir esta promoción!” 

4. “Soportar”

What you may think it means: To support

What it actually means: To put up with 

You want to express your lifelong support to your friend, so you say “Te voy a soportar toda mi vida!” What you actually just said is “I’ll put up with you for all of my life!”. Your friend may take that the wrong way and think maybe the friendship isn’t meant to be. 

What you should say instead to show your support is, “Te voy a apoyar toda mi vida!” 

5. “Constipado/a”

What you may think it means: Constipated

What it actually means: To have a cold

When someone in Spain has a cold, they may say, “Estoy constipado/a”. Too much information? Well, you must have had a cold at some point in your life also! In the rest of the Latino countries, people will say “Estoy resfriado/a” instead, but if you’re traveling in Spain and hear the word “constipado”, chances are the person is not sharing about their bowel movements with you. 

If you want to say you’re constipated for whatever reason, you can say, “Estoy estreñido/a”.

6. “Excitado/a”

What you may think it means: Excited

What it actually means: “To be turned on (sexually)”

Say you’re going to meet your friend’s mom for the first time and you want to express your excitement. Do not say “Estoy excitado de conocer a tu mamá!” unless you want to lose a friendship by telling your friend you’re turned on at the thought of meeting his mom. 

Say instead, “Estoy emocionado por conocer a tu mamá!”

7. “Molestar”

What you may think it means: To molest

What it actually means: To annoy

If your friend tells you, “Mi profesor me molesta todos los días”, don’t freak out and jump to the conclusion that your friend’s professor is touching your friend inappropriately. All it means is that your friend feels annoyed about the professor. 

To say that someone is being molested in Spanish, we say “abusar sexualmente”. 

8. “Preservativo”

What you may think it means: Preservative

What it actually means: Condom

If you’re a bit of a health freak and like to ask restaurants if their food contains preservatives, do not say “Esto tiene preservativos?”, because you just asked if there are condoms in the food! 

In Spanish, preservatives is “conservantes”, so be sure to know the difference between these words! 

We hope you had a good laugh with these “false friends” in Spanish and that you’ll save yourself some embarrassment and trouble down the line. Know some other “false friends” in Spanish or other languages? Share them in the comments below! 

If you’re interested in learning Spanish for free, click here to check out a previous article by LatinHire. 

The post 8 “False Friends”​ in Spanish You Should Watch Out For first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

The following 12 activities are more suitable for intermediate to advanced English learners, but you can tweak some of them to use in beginner classes as well. Not only will these activities help improve your students’ English skills, but they will also help prepare your students for life beyond the classroom.

Activities to develop CRITICAL THINKING:

The ability to think critically in a world of false information, fake news and scams can be life saving. Here are three activities to develop your students’ critical thinking skills in your English class: 

1) Present a news article to your students and have them analyze its validity. Then discuss as a class how to verify external information to determine whether it’s true.

Example: Have students read an article that has false information and ask students questions like “How do you determine if this is true?” and “What makes you doubt this article?”

2) Ask open-ended questions and have students share their ideas and opinions. You can ask follow-up questions to get them to think deeper. 

Examples of follow-up questions: “How did you come up with this answer?”, or “How would your opinion be different if you were on the opposing side?”

3) Conduct a class debate on a specific topic. In the first round, students can choose which side they want to defend, but in the second round, they have to defend the opposing side. 

Examples of debate topics: Is college necessary to get a good job? Is social media beneficial to society?

Activities to enhance COMMUNICATION skills:

Being able to communicate well verbally and in writing is essential in all social and professional relationships. Here are three activities to help your students’ enhance their communication skills in an English class:

1) Have students role-play different scenarios, so they know what to say and how to behave in various settings.

Examples of role-play scenarios: Meeting someone new at a party, ordering food at a restaurant, attending a job interview.

2) Host a public-speaking contest. It could be in the style of a TEDTalk where students present a speech on something they’re passionate about. This activity can also be impromptu, where students choose topics at random and have to present about them on the spot.

Example: Each student can give a 2-3 minute speech about something they love, whether it’s music, sports, traveling or anything. Or they choose a random topic out of a hat and have to talk about it for one minute.

3) Teach students how to write letters and emails (both formal and informal). 

Example: You can show students different letter samples used in different situations and students can practice writing a letter or email to a long-distance friend or relative.

Activities to increase COLLABORATION:

Being able to work well with others opens up many opportunities in life and helps build strong relationships. Here are three activities to help increase your students’ collaboration skills in an English class:

1) Ask the students to plan an event/trip as a team. They can decide among themselves who’s responsible for what and then decide on a plan that everyone is satisfied with.

Example: Tell your students that they are the planning committee for a concert that will take place in their city. They must plan everything from tickets to food to entertainment and everyone must chip in.

2) Show the students a picture and have them build a story around it.

Example: One student starts with an introductory sentence and the other students can take turns adding a sentence, eventually creating a coherent story that is aligned with the picture. 

3) Present students with different scenarios and ask them what they would do. Each student can share their ideas, then the class has to come to an agreement at the end. 

Example of a scenario: If your team was stranded on a deserted island, what five things would you bring to help your team survive until help comes along? 

Activities to promote CREATIVITY:

Creativity is a necessary element of problem solving and it opens our minds to new possibilities. It’s what drives society’s advancements and is crucial for long-term success. Here are three activities to promote creativity in your English class: 

1) Train students’ divergent thinking by doing activities that make them “think outside the box.”

Example: Come up with as many uses for an object (e.g. paperclip) as possible. 

2) Have students present a business pitch, Dragon’s Den style. It doesn’t have to be a new product or service, they can also try to “sell” a common object.

Example: Ask students what problems they deal with on a daily basis and what new product could be invented to help them fix that problem. Or ask students to find a common item in their room (like a pen) and then try to “sell” it to the class.

3) Have students explain a more complicated concept in simpler terms. “Explain to me like I’m 5”.

Example: Ask students to choose a concept that 5 year olds normally would not understand and find a creative way to explain it so that 5 year olds can understand. 

All 12 of these activities above will not only give your students plenty of speaking and writing opportunities to practice English, but they will also enhance your students’ 21st century skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. If you found this article helpful, please share it with your fellow teachers! 

The post 12 Activities to Promote 21st Century Skills in an English Class first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

With the help of the internet, traveling is cheaper and easier than ever. You can reserve flights, places to stay, restaurants and fun activities with the touch of a button. At first glance, everything may look expensive and discourage you from taking that vacation, but if you dig just a little deeper, you’ll find a whole slew of money-saving strategies in the world of travel.

Keep in mind that you may be trading some comfort for these savings, but often the experience will be more authentic and makes for a better story.

Here are seven travel hacks you can experiment with to travel cheaply:

1) Be flexible with when to take your flights (if you can).It’s no surprise that flight tickets and other travel expenses are more costly during peak seasons (e.g. Christmas, summer break, etc.), so if you can plan your vacation outside of these times, you’ll save a lot of money (plus there’ll be less tourists around). 

Even the day of the week you fly can affect the price, as flights are usually more expensive on the weekends. The more flexibility you have for when to travel, the more money you’ll save.

2) Check flight prices daily and book in advance. 

If you check the price of the same flight over a number of days, you’ll notice that there can be wide fluctuations. A good tip is to give yourself plenty of time in advance to book your flights so you can track the prices over a week or so and then buy the ticket when it gets to the lowest point again. 

You can even set up a price alert on most flight purchasing websites to let you know when prices drop below a certain number. Skiplagged and Trip.com are great sites that will help you track the cheapest flights. 

3) Stay with locals for FREE! 

If you’re traveling to a new country or city and want to live like a local rather than pass through like a tourist, try couchsurfing! Most of the time you won’t actually be sleeping on a couch, as different hosts offer different types of accomodations. Some will even give you your own private room! Couchsurfers usually stay with their hosts for one night up to a week (although this can be extended longer, depending on your dynamic with the host…just don’t overstay your welcome)..

Many locals (and expats as well) like to share their home with travelers as a way of cultural exchange and giving back to the travel community (as they likely have done couchsurfing themselves). The “free living” part is not even the best part of couchsurfing, but rather the experience of immersing yourself in a new place and making long lasting connections.

4) Help someone house/pet-sit in exchange for a FREE stay in their home. 

If you want a longer-term stay for free, you can consider house/pet-sitting. It’s very expensive to travel with pets and not many pet owners like to leave their babies in someone else’s house, so the next best solution is to invite someone to live in their home and take care of their pets while they’re away! 

You can look for house/pet-sitting opportunities in the cities you’re planning to visit to see if you can find someone who needs a sitter during the same time that you’re there. If your travels are flexible, you can even plan your travels around the demands of house/pet-sitting! There are various websites that offer these gigs, such as TrustedHousesitters or Nomador.

5) Eat at local restaurants and cook your own meals. 

Get recommendations from locals rather than tourists regarding where to eat. The food will be more authentic, likely more delicious, and cheaper. You can ask your Airbnb host, couchsurfing host or any other local friends to recommend you some local restaurants. 

There’s no need to spend a ton of money on food during a trip. In fact, if you live in an Airbnb or are couchsurfing or house-sitting, you’ll likely have access to a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals and save a lot. Even if you don’t have a kitchen, once in a while, you can make yourself a sandwich or a simple meal and save even more.

6) Join free walking tours or local tours. 

Many major cities offer free walking tours in multiple languages so you can get to know some of the famous landmarks in the area. At the end of the tour, you have the option to tip the tour guide, but it is completely voluntary (although it’s strongly recommended you tip at least a little). 

If you decide to take day-tours that are farther from the city or for a specific activity, try to join local tours rather than tourist tours. One disadvantage of this is in a local tour, the tour guide probably only speaks the local language, but if you speak that language as well (or don’t really care for the guide’s explanations and just want to get to the destination), you’re good to go. 

7) Take public transportation and find out the expected prices of taxis (or take Uber). 

In all countries, public transportation (e.g. buses, subways, etc.) is cheaper than a taxi ride. With Google Maps, you should be able to navigate most public transportation systems and get to your destination with no problem. 

If you prefer taking taxis, avoid being ripped off by taxi drivers by finding out ahead of time how much a taxi ride should roughly cost for a certain distance. You can find out this information by asking your hosts, joining some expat groups on Facebook or just doing some digging on the internet. It is also a good idea to use Uber, Beat or other taxi service apps, which have standardized fees and are generally safer. 

We hope these seven travel hacks will help you save lots of money in your future travels! If you have other tips you like to use to travel cheaply, feel free to share them in the comments below. :)

The post 7 Travel Hacks to Travel Cheaply and See the World! first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

Bolivia is home to the highest capital city in the world – La Paz – with an altitude of 3,600m above sea level. This country has a fascinating cultural mix of indigenous history, Spanish influence and a growing young population that gives some of the bigger cities a modern vibe. Many sites across the country look like they’re straight out of a movie and the cable car public transportation system in La Paz is absolutely mindblowing.

If you decide to take a trip to South America or are choosing your next country as a digital nomad, here are seven reasons why Bolivia should be near the top of your list:

Reason #1: Breathtaking sites. 

Bolivia’s natural sites are astounding and you will have countless moments of complete awe in various parts of this country. For those who love to take pictures while traveling, you’ll find lots of ‘Instagram worthy’ spots to capture your unforgettable experience. 

Here are a couple of sites you cannot miss while you’re in Bolivia:

Salar de Uyuni: An 11,000 square-km area of salt flats, with sections of melted salt that show a mirror reflection effect. You will feel like you’ve arrived at a whole new world. 

Copacabana: A quaint little town around Lake Titicaca (across Peru) that is full of charm with its mountains and cute shops. If you enjoy seafood, you’ll be able to try a lot of fresh seafood here. There are various islands in Lake Titicaca that you can visit on a day trip or stay overnight, such as Isla del Sol. 

Valle de la Luna: An area in La Paz that has gone through years of erosion, resulting in these pointy clay figures. The name translates to ‘Valley of the Moon’ as it looks like you’re literally walking on the Moon.

These are just a few of the many beautiful sites that Bolivia has to offer. You should also check out Sucre, Potosi, Oruro and many more if you have the chance to visit this amazing country.

Reason #2: Low costs of living. 

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America and as bad as this sounds, that’s a great thing for tourists and digital nomads as living costs are a bare minimum. You can comfortably live in this country for just $700USD a month. Everything from lodging to transportation to food and entertainment are extremely cheap, especially if you live like a local. 

However, this doesn’t mean travelers, expats and digital nomads are deprived of good living standards. In fact, most major cities have great infrastructure and excellent WiFi. You’ll be able to find multicultural restaurants as well as bars, cinemas and malls, just like you would back home.

Reason #3: Rich with culture and history. 

Bolivia’s streets are full of color and life. 60-80% of its people are of indigenous descent – highest of any South American country. You can see traditional clothes being worn by women on the streets. These women, called “cholitas”, were once marginalized in society, but after years of fighting for their rights, now they wear their traditional clothes proudly. 

Bolivia was the first country to fight for independence from Spanish rule, but the last to achieve it. This country has a fascinating, yet heartbreaking history and today, there is a high sense of resiliency among the people, as their will to fight for a better future for their country is stronger than ever. 

Reason #4: Convenient transportation. 

Getting around the different cities in Bolivia and the country as a whole is quite convenient as buses and taxis are available at all hours in the day. The capital city of La Paz even has 10 lines of cable cars that can take you almost anywhere in the city for just $0.50USD! Some long distance buses are also available to take you almost anywhere or to neighboring countries for quite a cheap price. (Just remember to get your passport stamped when you cross the border!)

Reason #5: Welcoming locals.

Locals in Bolivia are overwhelmingly friendly and welcoming. This is not to say there are no exceptions, but generally the locals are happy to see foreigners and are willing to offer a helping hand when needed. You will quickly feel like home if you make some local friends as they’ll often treat you like part of their family from the first encounter. The locals are very willing to share what they have, even if they have just a little. Bolivians certainly have some of the biggest hearts in the world.

Reason #6: Lots of outdoor activities for the adventurous. 

Bolivia has many hiking trails where you can do day hikes or overnight hikes. They vary in difficulty and length, but no matter what physical shape you’re in, you’ll be able to conquer a few of them! The scenery is always stunning along the trails and you’ll find many places to set up camp. There are even houses along the way that you can stay in if you want to be more comfortable.

If you enjoy biking, you’ll definitely want to check out North Yungas Road, also known as “Death Road”. It’s a 60-km biking route that used to be extremely dangerous, but with improved infrastructure and road conditions, it’s now fairly safe. As daunting as the name sounds, don’t worry, you’ll still be alive by the end of it!

Reason #7: This country has not been ruined by tourists.

As Bolivia is not well-known in the travel community, this country has not yet been flooded by tourists. Many popular tourist sites around the world have suffered from high levels of pollution, endangered wildlife, damaged natural sites, and ruined infrastructure just from the sheer number of people going in and out. 

So pay Bolivia a visit before the rest of the world catches on and be one of the first to experience its raw charm. By visiting Bolivia or living there for a while, you’ll be helping the local economy as well as receiving a unique and unforgettable experience. 

Text translation: “Bolivia is waiting for you.”

Have you been to Bolivia before? Tell us about your experience in the comments below. If you haven’t been, would you like to go? (The correct answer is “yes!”)

The post Bolivia: One of the most underrated countries for travelers and digital nomads first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

You might say, “Well, I can just travel for a few weeks out of the year, rather than uprooting my life and starting over.” However, it’s very different to visit a place for a few days as a tourist compared to immersing yourself in the culture for months or years at a time. 

To support yourself financially, you can either look for jobs in foreign countries or take your remote job abroad. For example, schools across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America are always looking for foreign English teachers. Even if you teach English online, you can consider moving to another country (especially one with cheaper costs)!

Living and working abroad certainly comes with its challenges, but all of this will push you to develop new skills and become a better person. Here are 7 reasons why everyone should experience living and working abroad at least once in their lives. 

Reason #1: Step out of your comfort zone. 

Growth is what happens outside of your comfort zone. What better way is there to expand your comfort zone than to move to a new country where you will start over in an unfamiliar environment. Your surroundings, the people, the food and the local customs will all be different than what you are used to back home. When you become more comfortable in your new environment, this means you’ve developed the ability to cope with new situations. By expanding your comfort zone, you will gain skills and experiences that you would never have had the chance to develop back home. 

Reason #2: Become independent and improve your self-confidence. 

Moving abroad often means you have to learn many new skills out of necessity. This includes cooking, cleaning, paying the bills, looking for an apartment, completing administrative paperwork, etc. Without your regular support network of family and friends, you will surely develop a higher level of resilience and adaptability. These are valuable skills no matter where you are. When life abroad throws challenges at you and you’re able to deal with them independently, your self-confidence will improve and you’ll be able to tackle more life challenges that come your way. 

Reason #3: Expand your mind and broaden your horizon.

Living in a different country will bring you new perspectives on life. There is so much to learn from other cultures and no matter where you go, your worldview will be enriched. Observing and interacting with people from other places will teach you about new ways to deal with life situations. It will challenge your own thinking and long-held beliefs, eventually leading you to open up your mind, with a better understanding of different cultures.  

Reason #4: Challenge yourself to learn a new language.

Chances are if you move abroad, you’ll be in a country where you don’t speak its local language. You may have been preparing in advance to learn the language by taking lessons or self-studying, however, no matter how many hours you spend doing those things, it will never be as effective as immersing yourself in a country that speaks the target language. Learning a new language is excellent exercise for the mind and will make you feel a huge sense of accomplishment as you progress towards fluency. 

Reason #5: Easier and cheaper travel to other countries within the same continent. 

If you live in Canada or the United States, getting to other parts of the world can be expensive and time-consuming. However, if you move abroad and live somewhere in Europe, Asia or Latin America, you’ll be much closer to many other countries where you can visit for a few days by taking a cheap flight or bus ride. If you love to travel, moving to another part of the world will open up many more travel possibilities. Being on the lookout for cheap flights and taking a weekend trip to another country will no longer seem like a crazy idea. 

Reason #6: Save money and reach financial independence earlier. 

This depends on which country you move to and which currency you are earning. If you are earning a strong currency (like the USD), and spending it in a country with weak currency (like the Mexican peso), you’ll be reducing your spendings drastically and each dollar you earn has a much higher purchasing power. This means at the end of the day, you’ll have a lot more money left over, which you can save and invest or spend on travels and other luxuries (I recommend investing it so you can retire earlier). 

Reason #7: Professional development and networking. 

International experience automatically gives you an advantage over other candidates. The ability to live abroad shows that you are adaptable to change, determined and open-minded. Not only does living and working abroad boost your resume, but during your time abroad, you will likely meet a lot of new people that you would never have had the chance to meet back home. Expats tend to form close groups, and within these groups are people from all over the world. By developing a large, international network, your job prospects increase and so do your communication skills, both of which are invaluable to your career development. 

We hope these reasons will inspire you to take the leap to live and work abroad. If you’ve had this experience already, feel free to share about it in the comments below!

The post 7 reasons why you should live and work abroad at least once in your life first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

Getting all students to participate in a traditional classroom can already be quite challenging, but with the physical distance and screen barrier between the teacher and students in an online class, the challenge deepens. 

How can you make sure all your students are participating and engaging in your online class discussions and activities? Here are eight tips to help you with just that:. 

Tip #1: Give students more time to think and then ask them to share when ready.

When asked to answer a question on the spot, it can be nerve wracking. To get students more ready to participate, give them some time to think about their answers before asking them to share their ideas with the class. You can even give the students a list of discussion questions ahead of time, so they can make some mental preparations before entering the class.

Tip #2: Use a Conversation Circle to have students choose who goes next. 

Rather than the teacher always choosing the next student to speak up, students can be given that responsibility. The current student who speaks gets to choose the student who goes next. Every student knows they will have a turn soon, so they must pay attention and be ready with an answer when called upon. 

Tip #3: Assign students different tasks. 

One student can be responsible for reading while other students are responsible for giving answers to questions or giving feedback to answers. By having a responsibility, students are more likely to pay attention and to feel part of the conversation. The roles can be switched up on different slides and not every student has to participate on every slide.

Tip #4: Have students participate in activities together. 

Some students feel extremely nervous speaking up alone in an online group class, so why not pair up the students or put them in groups of threes to participate in activities together. If you teach on Zoom, you can use Breakout rooms to put students in smaller groups.

Tip #5: Model the answer. 

For open-ended questions, either the teacher or a student can provide a model answer to give the other students some ideas. Often when students see what’s expected of them, they’re more willing to share their own ideas.

Tip #6: Provide positive feedback.

Students often look to their teachers for approval, so use positive feedback to reinforce that your students are doing a good job. This will certainly encourage them to speak up more. You can also ask students to provide each other feedback. When they know they have to give feedback, they are more likely to actively listen to each other. A feedback session can also lead to more meaningful conversations about the topic.

Tip #7: Let students know it’s okay to make mistakes.

Students often feel pressured to appear perfect in front of their peers and don’t want to say anything wrong or embarrassing. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to create a classroom environment where students are not afraid to make mistakes. Make this clear at the start of class that everyone is there to learn and making mistakes is all a part of learning.

Tip #8: Give each student one free pass if they want to skip a question. 

Giving students a free pass can make them feel more relaxed during class and actually increase their overall participation! If there’s a question a student absolutely doesn’t want to answer or doesn’t have an answer for, they can use their free pass. 

We hope these tips will help increase student participation in your future online classes! If you have more tips and ideas, leave them in the comments below!

The post 8 Tips to Increase Student Participation in an Online Class first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

If you haven’t checked out “5 Tips to Optimize Zoom Annotations in an Online English Class (Part 1)” yet, click here to take a look! 

Tip #1: Need extra space to write? Draw a white box somewhere on the page to create a whiteboard and type/write over that.

Original slide:

This original slide does not have much space to record student answers. You’ll have to squeeze in their responses around the content on the slide, which may look messy. How can you create more space to write? Draw a white box using the Solid Box Draw tool to cover part of the page so you can create a whiteboard anywhere! 

Example:

Now you have plenty of space to write your students’ answers and when you move on to the next question, just clear the page and create a new white box! 

Tip #2: Use the chat box to collect student responses and questions. 

The chat box is a great tool to get everyone to participate. If you want to collect responses from every student, but there isn’t enough time for everyone to speak, ask them to type their answers in the chat box and you can make corrections there. If students have questions, they can also type them directly in the chat box to not disrupt the class. 

Another function of the chat box is that you can play games with your class and run competitions! For example, ask a question and the first student to get the answer correct gets a point. This can make the students more engaged in class as everyone can participate at the same time and most students seem to love a friendly competition.

Tip #3: Use the Stamp Tools to emphasize different parts of the page. 

The stamp tools are useful for marking different parts of the page. Here’s how you can use them:

Arrow stamp: Draw student attention to a particular part of the page.

Check mark and X stamps: Use when making corrections.

Star stamp: Emphasize important parts of the page.

Heart stamp: Show that you really like something on the page. 

Question mark stamp: Use when you want to ask the students a question or if you don’t understand something a student typed/said.

Tip #4: Guide student attention on the page through the Magic Wand and Vanishing Pen Spotlight tools.

If you want to draw student attention to part of the page, but don’t want to make permanent annotations, you can use the Magic Wand or Vanishing Pen tools. The Magic Wand is a red light – like a laser – that can attract your students’ attention to wherever it’s pointing. 

The vanishing pen can be used to underline or circle certain parts of the page, but this line disappears in just a few seconds. Using these Spotlight tools will save you the trouble of having to erase and clear the page each time when you just want to draw your students’ attention for a short time! 

Tip #5: Allow students to directly annotate on your slide. 

Allowing students to draw and write directly on your slide can make them more involved in class. You may have activities that require matching, circling or drawing, so instead of you doing the annotations on the page, you can ask a student to do it. 

Think of this like asking students to go up to the front of the class in a traditional classroom to write on a chalkboard or whiteboard. Allowing students to annotate on the slide directly can be a fun way for your online classes to be more interactive! (However, if it gets out of hand, you can always turn off this option.) 

We hope this article has given you some new ideas to spice up your online classes on Zoom! For five additional tips, check out Part 1 of this article by clicking here! If you have extra Zoom tips, feel free to share them in the comments below.

The post 5 Tips to Optimize Zoom Tools in an Online English Class (Part 2) first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

If you’re debating about getting into or staying in this industry, but aren’t sure if online English classes will remain in demand, take a look at these six reasons why online English teaching is here to stay!

Reason #1: Despite English being the universal language in business and travel, only 18% of the world currently speak English. Hundreds of millions, if not billions of people, have a goal of learning English for reasons of work, studies, personal development, travel, etc., so the student-base is large and constantly expanding. 

Reason #2: As companies are becoming more international, many will pay for English classes for their employees. People across the world are realizing the importance of learning English for career opportunities and development, thus the need for English teachers will continue to grow. Developing countries are advancing quickly and moving into the global arena, so many of their citizens are taking English classes to have a better future for themselves and their families.

Reason #3: Traditional classes have slowly extended into online learning over the past decade and this was greatly accelerated by the COVID19 pandemic. As English teaching can be done 1-1 or in small groups, it is very convenient for students to take classes online and for teachers to teach students from anywhere around the world. 

Reason #4: People are travelling more nowadays as travel has become easier and cheaper. In 2010, there were 940 million international tourists and by 2019, that number reached 1.47 billion! Most countries tend to accommodate travellers who can speak English, so this is another source of motivation for people to take English classes. 

Reason #5: The internet is in English. More than half of the homepages on the internet are written in English or can be translated to English. As we live in an era of technology, knowing the English language can better help people navigate the internet and use it to their advantage. 

Reason #6: Online English teaching is hardly affected by global uncertainty. During COVID19, when many people lost their jobs and had to stay home due to lockdowns, online English teachers were still able to keep their jobs and have a steady stream of income. So despite external factors, English teaching will always be a viable option as long as you have good WiFi, a laptop and microphone. 

In short, the answer is “yes”. Online English teaching is here to stay. Not only is it a dependable source of income, but it can be a very rewarding job as you’re helping students across the world get closer to their dreams and open up more opportunities in the future.

The post Is online English teaching here to stay? first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.

The Present Tenses

Simple Present: 

1) Things that are always true. 

The sun shines bright in the sky.

2) Habits or regular happenings.

I play football every Saturday.

3) Permanent situation (at least for the moment).

I live in México.

4) Describing short action happening now.

He dribbles the ball and scores!  

5) Future schedule. 

The train leaves at 6pm. 

Present Continuous:

1) Actions happening now. 

She is meeting with her boss. 

2) Temporary situation. 

I am working at Google. 

3) Temporary habits. 

He’seating a lot these days. 

Present Perfect:

1) Action started in the past and hasn’t finished yet. (Uses ‘for’/’since’)

She has known him since she was 5 years old.

2) Action happened at an unspecified time in the past. 

We have visited Paris already.

3) Repeated actions in the past. 

They have gone to the zoo three times.

4) Past action which has an effect on the present. 

I’ve misplaced my phone. 

Present Perfect Continuous:

1) Action began in the past and is still continuing.

She has been studying English for two years. 

2) Action began in the past and just finished.

I’ve been waiting for you.

3) Repeated actions that began in the past and still continue. 

They’ve been visiting Disneyland every year since she was 5! 

4) Recent habits. 

We’ve been cleaning the house more frequently!

The Past Tenses

Simple Past:

1) Finished action in the past at a specific time. 

We watched a movie at the cinema last night. 

2) Facts from the past.

Mozart composed Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. 

3) News about the past. 

He fell off the bicycle!

4) Hypothetical situation. 

If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.  

Past Continuous:

1) Overlapping actions. 

He was walking home when it started raining. 

2) Giving background information in storytelling. 

The sun was shining and the birds were singing. 

3) Past habits. 

She was constantly arriving to work late. 

4) Describe what was happening at an exact moment in the past. 

At 10pm, they were getting ready for bed. 

Past Perfect:

1) Action finished before another action in the past. 

When we arrived, they had already eaten.

2) A period of time before a point in the past. 

By the time he graduated, he had lived in New York for 4 years.

3) Unreal situation in the past. 

I wish I had studied harder! (Meaning I didn’t study hard.)

Past Perfect Continuous:

1) Action that started in the past and continued until another past action. 

She had been studying at that school for two years when she met her boyfriend. 

The Future Tenses

Simple Future:

1) Future events/plans.

I will go to a party tonight.

2) Future prediction/promise.

I think it will rain tomorrow. 

3) Future conditional.

If it doesn’t snow tomorrow, we’ll go to the park.

Future Continuous:

1) Overlapping future actions.

I’ll be waiting when you arrive. 

2) Something that will happen in the future and continue for a period of time.

The president will be making his speech tomorrow.

Future Perfect:

1) Action began in the past and will finish before some time in the future. 

By 10p.m, she will have finished my work. 

2) Prolonged action until a point in the future. 

When we get married, I’ll have known my husband for 10 years. 

Future Perfect Continuous:

1) Action that started in the past and continues to a point in the future. 

In December, he will have been teaching for 10 years.

2) Action continued up until a specific time in the future.

At 6 o’clock, I will have been waiting for an hour. 

We hope this guide will be useful in your future English classes!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Teaching English Verb Tenses first appeared on LatinHire Online Tutoring.