Zoom - a new kind of class room.

When the Corona shutdown hit - I was under shock. Like for so many people, my livelihood - my whole existence was about meeting with people - and was in serious crisis! The first 48 hours were like a bad dream that I was sure to wake up from - but here we are, 2 months later, and there is now clear end in sight. They say, "necessity is the mother of invention" and the optimist's response is to see this crisis as a chance for innovation. For some things it works and for some it just doesn't. Is there really any substitute for simple night out with friends at your favorite bar? But what about other things? I decided to start doing my English classes online. But only my business classes - also my English classes for kids. What did I find out? Some things are even better! For business classes this may not be such a surprise - but even there, the advantages are not what you think - I'll come back to that later. For kids, however, I would never have believed that it would work.

So what are the advantages?

- We play games that would not be possible in a class room.

- Using media is so much easier.

- On that note, I can create my own videos tailor made for each class.

- I can make quizzes.

- Kids can participate, no matter where in Germany they are. This opens up a whole new worlds of opportunity. So that ...

- Kids have the opportunity of interacting with other kids from all over Germany. :)

Business classes had unexpected advantages.

The step to online classes was logical for many businesses. However, some still had to be convinced and in general the attitude was, that online classes were second rate to the usual in-company option. I, too, was of this opinion. Thankful to be able to continue working - I was more than happy to opt for this inferior online option. But here is the surprise - it isn't! I am still developing my theory as to why this is, but here are my ideas so far. (Please see my next blog post on left brain/right brain activity when learning a language.)

- I am able to control exactly where the attention of my student goes. Using slides, pictures, quizzes and videos, my student is fully focused on the screen in front of him or her.

- There is a more direct interaction between the information delivered (on the screen) and the mind.

- I can use media in a new way and more flexibly.

- PowerPoint presentations are more easily taken in - because of the direct proximity through the screen.

Final word

The human interaction is not replaceable - and that is a good thing. But this pandemic has forced us to open our minds to stretch our comfort zone and try things like virtual interaction - and it has defintely opened doors we didn't know existed. This is one option I will not be giving up - even after this Corona nightmare is over.