24 Feb 7 Things to avoid in Italian online classes
Starting a course and it’s Italian online class? That’s wonderful, we look forward to seeing you. Remember these simple rules to make learning easier for yourself and others.
1. Lateness
Lateness, of course, is better avoided always, but online it can be more troublesome. Joining online, you draw more attention to yourself than quietly entering a classroom. It’s harder for the instructor to discreetly bring you up to speed. So, it’s better to be on time! Remember, though, it’s always better to be late than to miss the class entirely.
2. Microphone On
If you’re not speaking, turn off your microphone. Echoes and sounds from your room really disturb others. Imagine this situation: 4 people in an online class, one has a meowing cat, another a crying child, a third has neighbor’s renovation noise, the fourth is joining from an office with an echo… An extreme situation, but it gives you something to think about. When you’re not speaking, turn off your microphone. It’s just one click, and it greatly improves everyone’s comfort.
3. Unpreparedness
We know, we know. Everyone always feels they could have prepared better. Learned more, spent more time. That’s not the point! We ask for purely technical preparation for the class: check if your microphone and camera work, prepare your textbook, notebook, and materials sent by the instructor. For your own good: don’t waste class time on frantically searching for your book or testing your microphone.
4. No Water
Trivial, but true: we need to drink water! Prepare it before class so you don’t waste time during the session. Make yourself coffee beforehand, prepare iced orangeade, whatever you fancy. But before class.
5. Phone On
Trust us: the world won’t collapse if you don’t check your phone notifications for 90 minutes of class. This small, innocent gesture is very distracting. These 90 minutes are for you, make the best use of them! And if you’re expecting an important call? Set notifications only for that important number. Silence the rest.
6. Other Pages Open
When you have Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and email open next to the browser window where the class is taking place… it will be hard for you to focus on the class. Turn off other pages, can’t other matters really wait an hour until you finish the class? When you get distracted by notifications, you’re depriving yourself of the time you want to dedicate to Italian.
7. Pretending Everything Is OK
Online, the instructor doesn’t see your mood as well. They can’t always tell from your expression that something is unclear. Therefore, clearly and promptly let them know if you don’t understand an instruction. Don’t pretend everything is clear when it’s not!
Avoiding these seven behaviors will allow you to fully focus on the class during its duration.
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