Are you looking for a way to make some extra money from the comfort of your own home? Then you’re in luck. Online teaching platforms have made remote work more accessible than ever. And, in the midst of the global pandemic, online English teachers are in high demand.
Students who would normally take English lessons at school are studying from home. Online English teachers are therefore necessary to cover the needs of countries with big TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) markets.
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How to Teach English Online
By: Erin Honigman
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the virtual English industry was booming. Work from home teaching fun, hardworking students? It almost sounds too good to be true. But it’s not!
If you’re a native English speaker, finding a teaching job online is easy and doable no matter what your expertise is in.
If you don’t have a degree, don’t worry. It’s still possible to land the perfect online teaching job, so keep reading to learn how.
Why teach English online?
You might be thinking to yourself, “But I’m not a teacher.” Well, even if you don’t have an education degree, bachelor’s degree, or any degree at all, teaching English online can be a fulfilling career. You don’t have to have experience teaching English online to earn a living.
Online Teaching – Convenient and Flexible
First and foremost, working remotely is incredibly convenient and flexible. It enables you to control your own schedule; you can work as little or as much as you want to. Need a day off? You’re the boss!
Independence
Another plus is location independence. As long as you have a strong WIFI connection, you can prepare a classroom on the go. You can teach from anywhere in the world. So, if you’ve been dreaming of that digital nomad lifestyle that you’ve envied on instagram, now’s your chance.
Are you not convinced yet? Let’s talk numbers.
Earning Potential
Teaching English online has huge earning potential. As an online teacher, you can expect to earn anywhere from $12USD (£9.25) to $24USD (£18.50) per hour with regular bonuses and exciting pay incentives.
Your actual income will depend on the company you choose to work for. That’s a lot of money you could be making without having to adhere to a formal dress code.
Make New Friends
Teaching English online also offers the unique opportunity of meeting and interacting with someone from across the globe. It’s a great way to introduce your culture to others while simultaneously learning about theirs. And, who knows? After meeting online repeatedly, you might even become close friends with your students and their families.
Can you teach without a degree?
Although it might be easier to find a job if you have a bachelor’s degree, it’s not impossible to teach online without one. Certainly now, with such an increased demand for English teachers, fluent English speakers can expect to find online work. It’s easy to get started, just follow these steps.
How to Teach English Online
The first step to a lucrative career in online teaching is to make sure you have the proper qualifications.
Get TEFL Certified
Even if you don’t have your college degree or are currently in the process of getting one, you can become a certified TEFL teacher in no time at all. Becoming TEFL Certified only takes 120 hours, to be exact. Although you don’t have to obtain your TEFL certification, it’ll be difficult to find work without one, especially if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree.
Not only will completing a TEFL course help you to get ahead of your competition it will also provide you with the expertise needed to embark on your new career. You’ll learn different teaching methodologies, how to plan a lesson, classroom management, and other invaluable teaching skills. And, even if you aren’t planning to teach long term, putting forth the effort in a TEFL course will look great on your resume.
There are plenty of accredited TEFL courses to choose from, and most offer a variety of classes, both online and in person. One good option is the UK’s most experienced TEFL course provider, The TEFL Org.
You can browse through their array of certification courses and find one that suits you at https://www.tefl.org/tesol/.
For more options, check out the courses at https://www.tesol.org.
Check Your Hardware
Although it seems obvious, it’s important to check that you have the proper equipment before you embark on any job interviews. The hiring process with most online English companies includes a video interview and a mock lesson. Throughout the process, the interviewer will be checking if your virtual classroom looks good from the student’s perspective.
In order to pass your interview and teach successfully, you need a high quality web-cam. Check your lighting and your background to make sure they’re suitable for your future students. You might want to have some simple props, like a map or the alphabet, hanging in the background (depending on the students’ ages, of course).
You’ll also need a headset with a functional microphone. Communicating with nonnative speakers is hard enough; imagine what it’s like with poor sound quality. Check that your sound is clear and understandable before you start teaching.
Apply to the Right Company
There are a number of online companies that are willing to hire someone without a degree, provided that you pass the interview (and bonus points if you’re TEFL certified!). Here are some options to get you started.
Palfish
An online English marketplace, Palfish enables teachers to market their best skills in order to attract students. If you work with Palfish, you can choose the age range you’d like to teach, what kind of lesson, and schedule your own hours. Best of all, you don’t need a degree in order to be hired, and the hiring process is said to be as quick as two hours. Simply download the app, upload your certification, and record a quick introduction. You’re well on your way!
Requirements: You need a TEFL certification for this one, as well as a positive and upbeat attitude. For more information about Palfish and how to apply, visit their website at https://www.ipalfish.com/teacher/.
iTalki
Italki is a unique online tutoring platform. You can apply to be a general tutor in any language that you speak with no degree and no extra certifications. If you are certified, you can create a special professional profile.
Requirements: There are no requirements to be an iTalki teacher other than 18 or older. However, it is important to note that teachers with TEFL certification or higher qualifications will have job priority. Check out the company’s application process at https://teach.italki.com/application?hl=en and see which languages are currently in need of more teachers.
Cambly
Cambly has great reviews and is known for being a fantastic company to work for. Unlike most online teaching companies, Cambly’s classes are conversation based and more laid-back. The goal is to improve your students’ speaking skills, and the method is by speaking. Most of your students will be adults, too, giving you the opportunity to talk about a wider range of subjects.
Requirements: There are no special requirements to work with Cambly, not even prior experience. See for yourself at their website, https://www.cambly.com/en/tutors?lang=en.
SkimaTalk
SkimaTalk is a great option because it allows you to set your own pay rate as well as your own schedule. However, make sure you’re making your students happy. This platform focuses heavily on student satisfaction, so you need those five star reviews.
Requirements: SkimaTalk hires native English speakers who are ages 18 and up. Prior experience is preferred, but not required. Head to https://www.skimatalk.com/en/teacher_info to apply today.
Yourself!
Of course, another great option is to work for yourself. Once you are TEFL certified, you can start your own business by posting a classified ad and holding lessons over Zoom or Skype. Choose which age group you want to teach and a method of teaching, and you’re ready to go!
No Bachelor’s Degree? No Worries!
So, don’t let your lack of degree deter you from embarking in a new career teaching English online. Get started with your TEFL certification and one of these companies today. The more you teach, the more professional experience you will have gained. And who knows? A year from now you might just be an expert at teaching English online, even without the degree!
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This is such a helpful post. I didn’t know a TEFL course is just 120 hours. I thought only native English speakers are eligible to teach English. But I guess anybody who’s fluent in English can enroll in TEFL and apply to teach English.