The Silver Lining to Teaching Online in the Covid-19 Era

Have you ever heard a teacher say: "I teach. What's your superpower?" It is true that teachers, and perhaps language teachers specifically, are among the most creative, resilient, and resourceful people I have ever known. Even so, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for all of us. We could complain about the lost instructional time or lament the feeling of disconnection from our beloved students and our sense of what is "normal." The difficult nature of these past several months is certainly something no one will deny. But what if we tried to find the silver lining instead? What can we learn from these unusual times, and how can we keep transforming and creatively reimagining our classrooms to respond to these daunting challenges?

Perhaps some of the advantages below will help to reframe the discussion by reminding us to focus on the things we can control: showing our students we care for them and value their education; responding mindfully to setbacks; forging bravely into unknown circumstances; and choosing to view our current dilemma as an opportunity to sharpen our skills. Here are some potential advantages to online teaching.

Technology-Based Advantages

1. Technical competence:

Managing a virtual classroom encourages us to increase our technical competence in order to connect with our students, who, for the most part, belong to a technologically-advanced generation. For some time, we have known this skill set was necessary, but there is no time like the present to embrace the advantages technology can offer to language instruction. The goal is not to be familiar with every possible gadget, app, or useful website, but rather to find a few tools that meet our needs and to use them consistently to connect with students when physical meetings are not possible. Learning management systems such as Canvas and Schoology are a great place to start, as they provide a multi-purpose interface for announcements, assignments, gradebooks, voice recordings, and discussion forums. Most campuses have a dedicated technology expert who can provide technical support when needed, so do not be afraid to experiment with these tools if your school implements them.

2. Devices are all around us:

Most students have access to at least one device, whether it is a smartphone, a tablet, a Chromebook, or a laptop, and many school districts are also issuing devices to families as needed for use at home. Learning to leverage these devices while we are outside of the classroom, even in simple ways such as voice recordings and the use of websites such as lyricstraining.com for vocabulary and listening comprehension, is valuable and will still serve us well when we return to campus. The art of teaching may forever be impacted by what we learn during this pandemic, so why not encourage our students to put those devices to good use and discover what technology could contribute to our lessons?

3. Get that cherished "face time":

Many students and teachers alike have expressed sadness at not being able to see their friends and colleagues face-to-face during this shutdown. While we cannot actually be together, it can be beneficial to "meet" virtually through platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Rooms, and Google Hangouts/Meet, even if meetings are optional, brief, or even nonacademic. While not everyone will attend, many students will, and checking in to remind them that we care about them as human beings matters so much these days. It can boost morale and motivate students to keep going, even when everything seems uncertain. Many learners may benefit from that extra dose of motivation and encouragement, and it will lift our spirits too.

4. Technological vocabulary:

A virtual classroom presents an opportunity to teach and reinforce technology-related vocabulary, which is becoming increasingly relevant in today's world. We can easily share a Quizlet list that includes such terms as: un clavier, une souris, un écran, une application, un logiciel, un disque dur, une tablette, un fichier, enregistrer, télécharger, mettre à jour, démarrer, éteindre. Or we can ask students to create a list of the most useful French...