ESL Teaching Online – A Brave New World
ESL Teaching Online – Moving online helps you take control of your teaching, income, and where you live and work. It’s a lot of fun, and as you probably know, many teachers have decided to teach English online.
In the last decade or so, the ESL teaching industry has been changing. A teacher no longer has to travel across borders to teach foreign students. Better yet, a teacher doesn’t even have to struggle to find a classroom or workspace to meet in person. Instead, it can teach ESL online from home! And it doesn’t even have to get out of your pjs! Strike that. On second thought, a teacher should always throw on something a bit more professional because it still wants to look the part. After all, teaching English online is a paid job and it’s one you should take seriously.
Ups and Downs
Teaching English in person and teaching ESL online from home are super different. Forget using outdated textbooks and photocopying boring worksheets! Teaching English online kicks because you can access so many cool resources including YouTube videos, blogs, and online ESL language apps and games! However, you may hit a few snags regarding how to teach English online.
First of all, when you teach a student in person, you can rely on verbal and nonverbal cues (like body language) that happen in real time to let you know if you’re on the right track. With online teaching, this is also doable but more challenging.
Another roadblock is tech issues. Here’s how to teach English online badly. Use a really bad connection so that in the middle of your lesson, your screen freezes and you sound as though you have a really bad stutter. Don’t get me started on bad audio. Teaching and learning English is primarily about listening and speaking so if you and your student can’t hear each other well, it can quickly turn into a train wreck. You need to know your software inside out and to be able to do basic troubleshooting. Also, one skill you must have in any online environment is patience.
Another thing that makes teaching English online different is the fact that you and your students will most likely be operating in two different time zones. This is awesome if you’re a night owl or work shifts. It goes without saying that you have to be able to manage your time and schedule very well to avoid missing classes and those essential.
What to do about ESL Teaching Online?
As you probably taught in classrooms before, this transition can be a bit too much. But remember, you are adapting to new technologies and it is not the strongest that survive but the ones who are willing to adapt.
The main thing you should have in mind is that you are now a brand. And, as a brand you gonna need to settle, to have a homebased, and that is your website. To create a website you will need to learn how to buy a domain name, I suggest HostGator, and you will need to learn about WordPress.
Once you are settled and can show the world who you are, it is time to work on your social media. Be smart about how you present this. Focus on offering valuable lessons, and by putting yourself out there, in order to attract learners.
It is good to point out that in general, teaching English online pays between USD10 – USD25 / hour. It could be a nice addition to your current income. This is especially true if you’re basing yourself in a country with a low cost of living.
In some cases, you must commit to a certain amount of hours each week, while in others, you set the teaching schedule.
For whom is ESL Teaching Online Good?
Not only is teaching English online a great job for digital nomads and remote workers, but it’s also an excellent gig for stay at home parents and retired people who want to keep busy now that their careers are finished.
Time is the most important thing in life. In North America, people are taught tou work hard until they are around 60, 65 or 70 years old and then reap the rewards of retirement afterwards.
Doesn’t that seem strange to start living your life during an age when one’s body and mind are no longer at the optimal state? It simply might not be possible to do that epic trek you’ve been dreaming about, or that scuba diving certification you’ve wanted to complete.
For most teachers, this job is coupled with another form of income (such as travel blogging), or at least supplemented with free accommodation through house sitting or some other sort of exchange.
First things first. If you haven’t already, you better get TEFL certified stat! Now, you may be thinking, I don’t need any qualifications to teach English because I help my baby sister with her English homework all the time! Wrong! Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a totally different ballgame! Remember this: teaching English to native speakers is not the same as teaching English to non-native speakers. If you want to learn how to teach English online and get money, a good TEFL course will give you a solid grounding in TEFL-specific teaching methodology and other essential skills.
Teaching English online from home is one option…
When most people think about teach English online jobs, they automatically picture someone in their bedroom chatting away with a foreigner who’s more than a couple time zones away. This is certainly true in some ways. If you choose to teach ESL online from home, it definitely has its perks.
Reason number one: you never have to leave your comfy digs! That means no gridlock, no mascara-wand-in-eye mishaps, no hustle to get a cup of Joe at Starbucks, no soggy packed lunches, no long lines at your favorite food truck! Plus, you get to play with Sparky or Simba all day as he snuggles your feet under the table! You can also plan your teach English online jobs around your personal schedule (gym, me-time, picking up dry cleaning etc.) because you’re your own boss. Hell yeah!
Teaching English Online From WHEREVER!
Teach English online jobs mean that you aren’t limited to teaching from home! You heard me right. You can take that side gig/career with you, wherever you roam in the world! If the digital nomad lifestyle is a-calling you, consider searching out the best online ESL jobs to make top dollar while you travel around the globe.
Because many teach English online jobs are freelance, you can clock in as many hours required, whenever you want! Unlike teaching apps abroad that come with contracts that mean you have to be rooted in a particular place for a particular time, teaching English online is perfect for nomads who are always on the move. The best online ESL jobs are super convenient and flexible, open 24/7, whatever time zone you’re in.
If you want to learn how to teach English online and get money quick, you have to invest in the right gear. That means you need a decent PC/Mac/laptop, a high-quality webcam and headset, a comfortable workspace (you’ll probably be sitting most of the time), and a super quiet room. Sorry but that means kicking Sparky and Simba out during classes. Fast internet speed is also a given. Check that you have enough RAM to run certain software programs. Also, make sure you are based in an area that has a reliable electricity supply or at least a backup generator.
Where to look for a job?
Now that you’re bent on online English teaching, where do you look for a job? First off, there are several organizations who’ve jumped on the teaching English online bandwagon. Your job is to separate the good from the bad. Start by reading reviews on the provider’s website and other external sites. Talk to people who’ve actually worked with the companies.
Depending on where you decide to work and what type of arrangement you are looking for, it’s important that you “shop around” for teaching English online jobs before you find the right one for you. Be sure to look at the fine print, communicate expectations clearly, and talk with other ESL teachers to ensure the org is legit and that money WILL end up in your bank account.
Is the business reputable and accredited by an external body? Scan its website. Grammatical errors and bad writing style should be a dead giveaway that these people should not be in the business of teaching English—online or otherwise! Once you’ve settled on a company, get the WiFi password and start teaching.
Resources
Finding jobs for teaching English online is no easy task, but when you find the one, you’ll know it. Ready to plug into the Matrix? Here are some more resources to help you decide if teaching English online is for you!
- This is why English language teaching is a dream career.
- But wait! There’s more! Here are easy-peasy activities for ESL students.
- The Ultimate Guide to TEFL Certification for Americans
- The First ESL Book You Should Get!
Whether you’re teaching ESL online or in-person, many games and activities can translate easily. Just get a little more creative and feel comfortable operating in the one-on-one space versus the world of large learning groups.
We know you’re in it not only for the professional experience, but to also make some cash-money, right?! That Euro Trip isn’t going to pay for itself. Enjoy!
The necessary qualifications
Teaching English is a rewarding and enriching experience – both in-person and online. There are lots of online teaching jobs out there. But if you want to teach English online, you need to make sure you’re going with a reputable company. Unfortunately for those of you who aren’t from Canada, the US, or the UK you won’t be able to work with the companies that pay better.
Wondering what is the best company to teach English online? It depends on your qualifications. In most cases, no previous experience is required, but it helps if you have worked with younger children in the past and have taken a TEFL course — which will give you a proper understanding of lesson plans and how to run a class.
You can teach English Online if you meet these requirements — almost all of the companies will require the following:
- Native English speaker, or near-native English speaker
- Solid internet connection, microphone, webcam, and quiet space for lessons
- You have a Bachelor’s degree or you are currently enrolled (in some cases this isn’t obligatory)
- A TEFL Certificate (in some cases this isn’t obligatory)
- You’re from Canada, the UK, or the United States (in some cases all first language English countries)
- You are enthusiastic, passionate, and positive
These are the basic requirements to teach English online. And yes, you do need a TEFL certificate to teach English online for higher paying companies.
When applying to teach English online is to submit your application to more than one company. The more places you apply, the greater your odds are of getting hired.
The Companies
I really don’t think having a university degree in any subject should be a requirement to teach English online. Plus, if you have a TEFL certificate, are a native English speaker, have a good internet connection, and are enthusiastic, your odds of getting accepted for the job will be much higher.
However, there are some great companies to consider if you don’t have your TEFL: PrePly, Cambly, and Skimatalk don’t require a TEFL certificate. EF Education First only requires a 40 hour TEFL which you can easily (and affordably) obtain here.
If you’re currently living in the USA or the UK, EF Education First or PrePly are great options for you!
There’s also the opportunity to earn bonuses and referral pay. Plus, if a student cancels on you, you will receive compensation.
Some companies pay via PayPal or Payoneer, while others do a direct deposit to your bank account.
After reading “ESL Teaching Online”, you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs. You can also visit my channel on YouTube.