ITALKI PROBLEMS YOU MAY FACE | HOW to TEACH ENGLISH ONLINE with ITALKI 👨‍🎓 | THE TAO OF DAVID

[@davidostrowski679]

*I have a NEW Ebook OUT NOW!* Just in time for 2022, it's a Conversational Business English eBook for teachers and students (or coaches and learners), particularly focusing on over 40 post-pandemic topics such as remote and hybrid-working, gender equality, women in leadership, gender pronouns, and so on! The eBook is available in pdf format and has fully editable text boxes and clickable links! *AVAILABLE AT -* www.thetaoofdavid.com/the-tao-of-david-shop/p/2022-business-english-ebook You can also check out my other eBooks on the same site!

[@davido499]

Hi David. Useful set of videos for me. Looking at teaching on line full time after almost 10 years in a language school in Mexico. Did one year on line with school because of Corona .. opened up a new world. Thanks!

[@Trithiel]

Thank you for doing this series on italki. I'm planning on applying soon, and it was helpful to hear about different italki topics. Thanks!

[@davidostrowski679]

You're welcome!

[@petsnvibes]

Thanks for sharing your ideas David. Stay safe,,,

[@infra2552]

thanks for your videos. you are great!

[@davidostrowski679]

You're welcome Jennifer!

[@marcarcoria7672]

Excellant discussion on problems many people dont want to talk about the possible negatives.

[@simpleoxfordenglish]

Thanks for the video series. It has helped me a lot.

[@davidostrowski679]

You're welcome man

[@pjhoury2072]

Brilliant David. Watched the whole series. Thank you. I'm just about to send in my application and found your series. Slightly perturbed by the Chinese experience as it's in my local timezones. But will roll with the punches...Let me know if you come to Kanchanaburi :)

[@davidostrowski679]

Thanks man! I still only have 1 student in China, most weeks she is unable to access Skype and it can be a total nightmare. No issue with my plethora of Russians. Usually Chinese students will book lessons, don't reply to messages then don't show up for lessons, literally 9 times out of 10!

[@davidostrowski679]

PURCHASE MY EBOOKS - PAYHIP How to Teach English Online to Adults with Italki - payhip.com/b/O4Au How to Teach English Online to Adults with Italki - Lesson Material - payhip.com/b/4lCB £5.99 GBP EACH however if you purchase one you can purchase the other with 20% off and vice versa. If you share the Facebook link when purchasing, you and anyone who uses that link will receive a total of 25% off. EMAIL/DROPBOX/PAYPAL Email me at [e-mail] and pay £10 for both on Paypal (Paypal is the same as my email). Send a screenshot of the payment on email and I will send a downloadable Dropbox link within 48 hours. NOTE THAT PRICES AND OFFERS MAY CHANGE

[@rossm6607]

Great videos David. Do you ever use the instant tutoring feature in iTalki? Does it work well?

[@davidostrowski679]

Hey man, I've never really had to as my slots are normally pretty full luckily. I did use it once just to try it out, i guess it's good if you have a gap of free time between lessons!

[@happycreation3515]

Thank you so much .. great video.. please make more video about this just in case you come across other problems... Because it really helps when you know what to expect. N thank you again 👏👏

[@malice41414]

I had the ole "bait and switch" happen to me the other day. I was suppose to teach a nine year old student and the parent put her four year old boy. The thirty minutes of class was hell since he was not interested in learning. Not fun at all. Well, I hope that you feel better. If it's a cold, I recommend you eating "caldo de rez" (beef soup). It's my fave and of course there's, "caldo de pollo" (chicken soup), which is quite delicious too. Thanks again Dave.

[@davidostrowski679]

Omg bait and switch! That's the worst! If a child appears on screen, I end the call! Jajaja

[@malice41414]

@@davidostrowski679 Wow! I wish that I would have ended the lesson. ; ) Btw, I like your Spanish hahaha. My cousins and friends in Juarez write that. : ) David, if ever you're brave enough to visit Juarez Mexico. Do a meet up so that your many video fans and I, can meet up with you. I'm about 2 or so hours from the border of Juarez. Just a thought.

[@davidostrowski679]

@@malice41414 definately! I plan to be back long term at some point in march/april and there's so much more to see!

[@malice41414]

@@davidostrowski679 That would be great! Hopefully, Juarez will have improved by then. : )

[@mchobbit2951]

@@davidostrowski679 I'm 29 and I look like a teenager. I hope teachers wouldn't end the calls on me if they saw me and thought I was younger.

[@akireztrella]

How long do they take to pre-approve your profile?

[@Travelingjoe]

Today I had a student who didn't show. Do you typically just wait around or give up after 15 minutes or so? I suppose the payment would be lost? I am just hopping it doesn't look bad upon the teacher...

[@davidostrowski679]

Hey, with the new rules announced at the end of March you now have have to sit and wait for the whole lesson, but I refuse to. 10 minutes max and make sure you message them on italki and skype and take screenshots. Mark the lesson as student didn't show up and it should be fine. I've never had any disputes from students. You can demand the payment is transferred to you, but normally for first times I let them off. Italki have also deleted the teacher specific terms and conditions, but I ignore Italki these days and do what I want!

[@Travelingjoe]

@@davidostrowski679 Thank you for the fast reply! I am actually waiting now I will be sure to take screenshots.. I hadn't thought about that!

[@sofiet8783]

This is so useful, thank you so much for the information! I have a question I’ve been trying to find the answer to: are you supposed to use your own material to teach students on italki? If so, do you create practice exercises in Google Classrooms for example or just send the e-version of the textbooks to your students? Thank you beforehand!

[@davidostrowski679]

hi, Italki is generally conversation based esp with intermediate to advanced so I don't use textbooks or exercises, students don't want that. It's mainly converstaion topics. Some don't even want lessons to be planned in any way so you have to be very adaptable! yes you have to plan your own material like topics, videos or articles to discuss. The key is error correction they don't get in a classroom

[@sofiet8783]

The Tao of David thank you so much for your answer! Wow, this is actually amazing! But if a student is having problems with certain grammar structures, you could potentially give them homework or practice it during the lessons, right?

[@malice41414]

Hi Dave! Here's an italki question for you...when do you raise your prices? By how much? Thanks!

[@davidostrowski679]

At saturation point! When your schedule is being filled 1-2 weeks in advance and your regulars are finding it difficult to book lessons, it's time to increase your prices

[@teachercarla7831]

Can you send me the link to teach Trial classes.

[@davidostrowski679]

What link?

[@xpunkchic]

Hi David, I'm a complete beginner teacher on iTalki. I'm super nervous as I don't know what to expect from students or teaching materials that may be helpful. Do you recommend any specific materials before starting? @TheTao of David

[@davidostrowski679]

i can recommend my ebooks! the links are in the description. The second one has loads of material/conversation topics to get you started. Note they are focusing on intermediate to advanced so there are no grammar exercises etc

[@claudiasmith700]

Hi, my application has been pre-approved and I'm curious about the group video call. Could you tell me what happens in the group video call?

[@davidostrowski679]

It's a very new thing (I didn't have a call) but someone at Italki told me it's 'additional training'. It's not like an interview or anything as far as I know

[@claudiasmith700]

@@davidostrowski679 ok thanks for the reply :)

[@theresapaulse877]

@@claudiasmith700 What was your experience like? I have the group video call next week. Does this affect your approval or is it guaranteed?

[@claudiasmith700]

@@theresapaulse877 I don’t think it affects your application at all. I didn't even have to speak in my group video call. It was more like an orientation.

[@theresapaulse877]

@@claudiasmith700 Aww, thanks so much for this response. I'm really eager to begin this journey as I've waited almost a year to finally be approved. I hope your experience has been fun and fruitful on italki. It's nice getting feedback from people.

[@JWB1979]

Do lessons have to be one hour? Or can I decided my own time limit, such as 45 minutes?

[@davidostrowski679]

Back when I did this there were 4 options - 30, 45, 60 and 90, but from April there have only been 2 options - 45 and 60. 45 mins is perfect for students who might not be so confident, after all speaking another language for 1 whole hour can be tough. Italki tried to remove 45 mins as an option due to 'low demand' of under 5%. My demand is around 40% for 45 minute lessons. Luckily they kept that option. Back to back 60s are tough as you get no down time at all between lessons.

[@JWB1979]

Tao of David ありがとうございます😊Thank you!

[@eliem9900]

Wait, you're saying italki do'sent handle time changes ?? let's say a student books a lesson two weeks ahead but then within this period time changes in their country so the slot they initially picked is shifted to one hour later or earlier for us ?? What i'm dreading the most is if a student is a bit shy or not so good with communication and then i run out of ideas it would be quite awkward.. ever happened to you ? I need to send you an email about your conversation topics pdf. Thanks again for these tips

[@exodous02]

Are most of your students from Asia? My native language is English but I speak Spanish and Portuguese and was wondering how many people that speak those languages wanting to learn English I would get.

[@davidostrowski679]

Mostly Russia/Ukraine. Only a handful in Asia. I've had quite a few Brazilians but very few Spanish speakers

[@exodous02]

@@davidostrowski679 Do you speak Russian? Do you ever get students that don't speak English well and find it difficult to teach them?

[@davidostrowski679]

@@exodous02 no, the whole point is that they only use the target language, so only English is spoken. It will really defeat the object if you speak Spanish or Portuguese with them. I don't teach beginners - to use something like Italki they need to at least be at B1 level in my eyes

[@november132]

Do you need a webcam for Italki or is using your phone ok?

[@davidostrowski679]

As long as you have a tripod to mount it on and you type on the skype chat on your laptop

[@setokaiba2351]

I'm curious if you new with 0 students how long it takes to get students

[@davidostrowski679]

for me I was lucky and had requests almost immediately, but that was 4 years ago, there is a lot more competition now so it may take longer

[@alex87013]

Do you get many messages from students asking for free lessons? Also I've noticed a pattern, if a student messages you first they probably aren't going to book a lesson they just want free messaging practice. Is this the same for you as well? Great series by the way!!

[@davidostrowski679]

hey alex! that's weird i've never had that issue!