When most people think about how to teach online, the first question they ask is; Do I have to be a Computer Expert? However, a better question would be: what level of technical skill is needed for teaching online? To answer this, it is best to divide the question into two categories: the skills needed to teach a language (ESL) class online and the skills needed to teach an online college course.

The skills needed for teaching online ESL or language classes are pretty basic.

1. Download a program like Skype and install it. If you don't know how, go to Skype's main site and follow the easy to use instructions. (Or it's possible to use your phone service if your students want to use their phone)

2. Send an e-mail.

3. Attach a document to the e-mail.

4. Use a browser like Explorer or Firefox.

If you can do the skills listed above and maybe use a chat program like one included with Skype or MSN you can work teaching online! Or like I mention above, there has been a movement recently away from the computer and students want to have their lessons on the phone. This is especially true for students in East Asia. They will most likely be using their mobile phone, as it is convenient for the student to receive their online lesson anywhere. However, you may want to encourage your students to use an ear piece or blue tooth for their protection. You can get more information on that in my upcoming book, How to Teach Online.

If you asked yourself, How to teach Online College and University classes? The skills needed are a little more advanced.

1. Be able to learn a course management program.

2. You will need to be able to set up folders and directories on your hard drive.

3. Use a word processing program like Word. Be able to cut, copy, paste and save files.

4. Use a browser like Explorer or Firefox to work on the Internet.

The skills are a little more advanced then those needed to teach online ESL classes but are still pretty basic. Don't let the Course Management Program scare you off; most colleges offer a training program on how to use their Course Management Program for their online instructors.

But, always remember that it is not the tech savvy that make the best teachers online; it is much more important to have a passion for teaching and the ability to communicate with your students!

David C. Redman is an actor, writer, publisher and marketer living just outside of the ancient city wall of Seoul, S. Korea and within a missile toss of the North Korean border.

David was a lead actor on MBC's hit TV show 'Surprise' where he appeared in over 127 episodes. He became known for his portrayals of a detective, the Professor and his comedic roles. David was also a scriptwriter and actor for EBS' 'Go Go Giggles' and contributed to numerous ESL publications. He is part of the writer team, Redman/Kup that produced the innovative ESL comic book, 'Quantum Spies'.

You can get more information about how to teach online at David's blog, http://how-to-teachonline.com, or http://www.tepprogram.com.