How Can You Make Money by Teaching English Online
by Carter Clever
During the Pandemic days in 2020 and 2021, because of pandemic conditions we have all seen a huge shift from working in offices to working online due to COVID-19.
Almost all companies have to move everyday business to online business. Yet some of these companies have done a great job of transitioning to remote work, and now seeing that this way of working could easily be here to stay post-coronavirus.
Can you get paid to speak english online like tandem?
Will it work from home or you need a work space? In anyway, you get to keep it casual.
Lots of people don’t know is that there was already a developing market of online education companies that focus on teaching English to students all across the globe, who are looking to improve their foreign language skills. There are lots of these companies based in many different countries that provide one-to-one or group class lessons between ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers and students.
The great thing about these companies is that, unlike traditional classroom teaching, you can work for a company in a different country than the one you’re living in. This means it’s possible for you to make money teaching English online from home, remotely while traveling, or while living abroad. When you get paid to speak English online, the world is your oyster!
In addition, the process of becoming an online ESL teacher does not have as many requirements as you might imagine, and the process of getting started can be quite straightforward!
How much can you make teaching English online?
How much you can make teaching English online depends on a few factors.
The first thing you should be aware of is that teaching English online provides a lot of flexibility with the hours you work, including when you teach and how many hours you teach. If you’re sick of the normal nine-to-five work week, then you may be quite excited to hear this!
By picking your own hours, you get to decide when you work and how much you work. Bear in mind though that you’ll usually need to open up hours in your schedule that are considered “peak hours” in order to get bookings; you should research these times for the country in which the company you’re hired at is based.
That being said, the flexible hours allow you to set your own schedule and what you earn will then be determined by how many hours you work and the hourly rate the company offers.
making money teaching english online
A laptop and a decent internet connection are your ticket to a great salary!
Most companies typically pay around $12–$25 per hour based on your experience, performance, and how well you do in the interview process. It’s a good idea not to worry too much if you’re offered a lower rate to start, and instead look at how much you can earn per month.
For example, if you work 30 hours per week at $15 per hour, you’ll be earning $1800 per month. Plus, there’s always the possibility of your hourly rate being increased over time, or moving to a new company that pays more once you have more experience.
How can you start making money teaching English online?
When it comes to making money teaching English online, there are several steps you need to take into consideration to begin.
While there is the possibility of teaching English online independently, the easiest way to begin is by securing an online teaching job with a company. They typically have their own software, syllabus, and students—so all you have to focus on is showing up and getting paid to speak English online.
Of course, there is more to being a good teacher (even an online ESL teacher) than that, but for now let’s focus on how to get your first job.
1. First of All Check Job requirements
There are hundreds of teaching English online companies and each of them has their own list of requirements for teachers they hire. You should get familiar with what you’ll need to get paid to speak English online.
There are a few basic points that you should pay attention to, as they are the most common criteria on which companies base their selections—and therefore, the most common criteria you’ll need to meet to start making money teaching English online.
You need a Bachelor’s Degree if you want to make money teaching English online, having a Bachelor’s degree is usually the first step. The vast majority of companies do list this as a requirement, so if you don’t have an undergraduate degree, you should be aware your options may be more limited. But don’t worry—there are some companies out there that do not require a Bachelor’s degree to teach.
Your nationality matters. Many countries prefer to hire those from countries where the first language is English. For example, some companies prefer to hire North Americans. Maybe some prefer the United Kingdom accent. Again, this varies, but bear in mind that if you aren’t from a country that speaks English as its native language (or if you’re unable to prove native-level fluency), it may be more difficult to secure paid employment.
Your Experience in Teaching. If you’ve taught before, whether in the classroom or online, this will obviously have a positive influence on your application. You’ll also be able to more easily negotiate for a higher starting salary or hourly wage.
2. Get TEFL certified
TEFL certification is the baseline requirement for most online English teaching jobs.
Obtainining a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification is the next step, as almost every online teaching company lists this as a requirement for employment. Even if they don’t ask for TEFL, it’s likely that there will be several people applying for the same position so who are certified—and those applications will more easily stand out.
A TEFL certification is essentially a way to gain the knowledge and skills needed to be a good teacher, either in the classroom or online. The next question is what kind of TEFL course should you attend?
The two main options are a classroom-based course or an online course. A classroom-based course is a fantastic way to get hands-on teaching practice, so look for courses that include a practical component with real ESL students. You’ll have the opportunity to get feedback on your teaching from experienced trainers.
Even if you’re planning to teach English online indefinitely (rather than abroad at some point), you shouldn’t be quick to dismiss on-site course options; this type of course provides a great foundation for both classroom and online teaching.
However, an online TEFL course can be completed from home and the online format makes sense—you’re planning to teach online after all! Make sure to look out for a company that offers a TEFL course that includes either a module or add-on course about how to teach English online.
3. How Can you get an online teaching job
For sure you may have gone through the process of applying for a new job time to time. The process for online teaching jobs is quite similar to the regular hiring process, with a few notable differences.
As you can imagine, the entire process will be online, which means companies usually have you complete more steps than in a regular hiring process. Again, things vary from company to company but here are a few aspects of the hiring process you might encounter:
Initial application. This will typically be a form where you include your details and resume. After an initial screening, the company will get back to you with next steps.
There would be a Virtual interview. After passing the initial screening process, most companies will have an HR staff member interview you over Skype, Zoom, or other web conferencing software. This is your chance to show your personality and convince the company why they should hire you.
Also “Demo” class will be required. This is often the most nerve-wracking and difficult part of the process to pass. You will be required to conduct a demonstration or “demo” class for them to see how well you conduct a class, often with a real student or staff members acting as students.
As you may not ever have taught a class, this might seem like an impossible task. However, the companies know this and they’re looking for potential rather than perfection.
The biggest thing you can focus on doing here is smiling and being enthusiastic. You’ll likely be teaching children, and this is what companies are looking for above all else, as it keeps students engaged and happy.
If you follow these steps and all goes well, you can begin making money teaching English online! This is a great opportunity because of the huge demand for English language proficiency around the world.
Yes, you’re not going to be accepted by every company you apply for, and it might be tough to handle the rejection when it happens. However, persistence is key and there are hundreds of online English teaching jobs out there to apply for.
Have discipline and keep on applying! Once you secure a teaching job, you’ll have the ability to work from home or anywhere in the world.
You can browse all Online English Teaching Jobs on Jobsforteachingenglish.com
This article was written with help from the JobsforTeachingEnglish.com. JobsforTeachingEnglish.com is a leading Jobs Website for ESL Teachers based in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded in 2012, they have helped hundreds of teachers to get jobs in top schools throughout Europe, Asia and Africa through their Global Network. Their target is to create a networking community for teachers, as well as offer high quality job offers and conditions enabling teachers to earn, travel, and make a change in the societies they are teaching in. Take the next step! Are you ready to get paid to speak English online? You can make money from home—and travel the world later!