Kamala Kannan

There are a few very simple strategies to improve students' engagement in the online tutoring sessions.

1. Always keep the video turned on - it plays with the mind of the students and forces them to be more attentive (at least pretend)

2. Arrange for a room with very less distractions - neatly organized space with well lit and ventilated space

3. No Noise Pollution - avoid playing tv and music systems during the study hours, provide with noise cancelling headsets to prevent from unavoidable noises such as kitchen sounds and external noises from the surroundings

4. Minimize Distractions in the gadget - especially if the student is taking up online classes from your mobile handset, ensure to disable all notification pop-ups and sounds

5. Keep them hydrated and adequately nourished - let them have some light snacks before the class so that the tummy remains quiet. Do not over feed or else they end up feeling sleepy. Always have a bottle of water beside them

Cheer 'em up - before they take up the class. Let them know they can expect some kind of reward after their classes - (buying them their fav. food item, watching their favorite tv program together, taking them out for a quick ride)

These are easy to follow tips. Let me know if you agree with my points

Hi,

The fear of public speaking and as a non-native English speaker, the fear of speaking fluently in English are two very different and mutually exclusive phobias. Hence, you need to train yourself separately to overcome both the fears. If you are scared of public speaking then it is irrespective of what language you speak, even while using your native language, you will panic. To overcome this, you can start with speaking to yourself in loud tone and then gradually addressing larger groups such as your friends, neighbors, classmates etc.

But if you feel that you are confident about public speaking but it's the lack of language skills that cause the panic, then focus on improving it. Again begin with the same drill, stand in front of the mirror, choose a random topic and speak to yourself for at least three minutes. Most importantly, do not worry about the grammar. It will eventually fall in place with consistent practice. 

Hi,

It is because the language has established itself as a global trade language which was possible becaus of the British colonization of Asia, Africa and America starting from the 16th century till the mid of 20th century which had a lasting impact even after all the countries were declared independent from the British colonial rule. The same is the case with French, Spanish and Portugese but the only difference is that expanse of the British colonies was so huge that it enabled English to become the International trade language.

Hope this answer will be helpful!

Grammar is indeed essential for fluency of speaking but that alone can't guarantee the fluency. It depends on various other factors such as self confidence, practice, having no fear of speaking in public, vocabulary etc. 

Start practicing in front of a mirror, read books everyday and practice thinking in English instead of your native language. These are simple yet effective ways to improve your fluency.