The kind of videos I like:
- teacher only speaks in the target language
- teacher explains their teaching method
But I've also booked classes with teachers whose videos didn't meet these requirements and I was nevertheless satisfied with their classes. If I don't like the video, it doesn't necessarily mean that I won't like their teaching style.
You forgot one, Phil.
You should demonstrate the ability to show the camera the correct number of fingers every time you say a number.
"I'm the perfect English teacher for you. Why? Because I've been studying Japanese for THREE months ( hold up three fingers in a meaningful fashion), so I know how hard it is to learn a language."
This was so mean it made me feel sorry for the teachers. Most of them are just humans after all and try to do as well as they can. Making a good video is not easy either.
I just remembered some other points that I'd recommend teachers doing introduction videos:
- Take the videos in a quiet environment and a setting that is similar to the classes so that students get a realistic idea of the sound quality. Videos taken outside (or in a coffee shop) often have background noise and as long as the teacher doesn't do the classes while sitting in nature (I know there is at least one italki teacher who actually does so), I don't see a point to record the videos out in the nature.
- Don't use music in your video. It makes the teacher's voice hard to hear and especially students who are hard of hearing might have trouble understanding anything the teachers says.
- If possible use subtitles in English and the target language. That way, even beginners can follow.