How To Get Started With Teaching English Online (2023)
Teaching English online is one of the best ways to travel the world continuously. You can work online, set your own hours and, live from anywhere with a fast internet connection.
As someone who has been traveling and remotely working for a long time, I know how rewarding it can be to get paid to do something you love. If you love teaching, or if you’re a fluent English speaker, well today might just be your lucky day.
There’s so much demand for online English teachers these days – there truly has never been a better time for a career change.
In this article, we will show you how to get started teaching English online, from how to find the right job to the best resources to help you succeed.
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How To Get Started Teaching Online: First Steps To Take
Teaching English online is an increasingly popular career option that provides flexibility and the opportunity to interact with students worldwide. Here’s how to get started:
Firstly, a bachelor’s degree is usually required, and it can be in any field. However, a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), or English Language Learning (ELL) certification is often necessary. These certifications show you understand the methodologies of teaching English to non-native speakers.
Next, choose a reliable online platform to deliver lessons. Many platforms connect teachers with students, such as VIPKid, iTutorGroup, and Teach Away. They each have different requirements and pay rates.
Prepare for your classes in advance. Online teaching often requires a different set of skills than in-person teaching, so you’ll need to adapt your lessons for the online format. Use engaging, interactive materials that work well in a digital context.
Finally, ensure you have a stable internet connection and a quiet, professional-looking space to teach from. This will provide a productive learning environment for your students.
Why Teach English Online?
In the past few years, an increasing number of people have taken the time to reflect on and assess their personal and professional lives.
Many people have taken action and turned their lives upside down, in search of something more meaningful and fulfilling, higher earnings, a lighter workload, or simply to find work-life balance – the Holy Grail of the modern workforce.
Others would like a more exciting life that involves travelling, while some prefer less travelling to work – aka ‘commuting’.
Whatever your reasons or goals, you too are probably looking for the opportunity to improve your personal and professional life.
Although companies all over the world are striving to provide better and more appealing working conditions to improve staff retention rates, an unprecedented number of people worldwide have chosen to break free from their employment status and venture into new career paths.
Many have taken the plunge and retrained as teachers of English as a foreign language (TEFL) either abroad or online… or both.
How To Get Started With Teaching English Online
Experiencing life abroad as an English teacher – and teaching English online from the comfort of your home – are options that offer very different but equally appealing advantages.
But we invite you to choose a third, perhaps more exciting, option: teaching English online while travelling.
Whether you choose to teach from your home office, or from a hotel room on a remote island, the principles of online teaching are pretty much the same.
So, before you jump right in, have a look at a few tips that could turn your new professional exciting-yet-risky adventure into a well-constructed Teach English with no experience kind of scenario.
Below we’ll give you a few tips on how to get started with teaching English online.
1. Your tech is your bread and butter
As an online TEFL teacher, your livelihood relies on your equipment – no online lessons, no pay.
However, there’s no need to spend thousands on tech: keep it simple and basic to start off with; there’s always time to update and upgrade when and if you deem it necessary.
Your pc/laptop will be invaluable for your business, so make sure that the latest free upgrades have been installed.
Your built-in camera and mic should be sufficient for your online lessons.
2. Tech is nothing without a good internet connection
If you are teaching from home and your Wi-Fi is less than reliable, you should definitely consider upgrading it or changing providers.
If you are travelling, check the quality of the internet connection before you book your accommodation.
Use the free tools available on many websites to check your internet speed and use them as a guide.
3. Your teaching area is key
Whether you are teaching from home or from a hotel room, pick a designated spot to deliver your lessons from.
To get in your ‘teaching mode’, find somewhere quiet and well-lit for your screen time.
If you are teaching while travelling, hostels are probably the cheapest type of accommodation available, but they don’t usually offer privacy or peace and quiet.
You might want to consider staying at an Airbnb on your teaching days.
4. Add background props to give you an edge
A plain background is a great starting point for your screen time. If you are travelling, however, your background will change often and it might be less than ideal.
Furthermore, some students – especially if they are young learners – might benefit from a familiar setting.
A few language-related posters will make your setup look more professional and ready for action. A dry-wipe board is a useful backdrop for your lessons.
Top Tip: Try to choose your props according to the type of lessons you teach. If you have found your niche, make sure the props reflect that.
For example, if you offer pronunciation classes, a phonemic chart is a must-have prop.
Ready, steady, teach!
By now, you should have realised that starting a new career as an online teacher is not an impossible dream.
It is, in fact, a very achievable goal that can turn your life around and allow you to enjoy your time more, whether you spend it travelling, relaxing, or working.
The best way to get started with teaching English online is to sign up with a reputable TEFL organization. They provide a range of courses, resources, and job opportunities to help you get started. Once you have completed their course, you will be able to start teaching English online and make money while you travel, or from your own home.
Yes, you can teach English online without a degree. However, if you are serious about teaching English online, it is highly recommended that you get some kind of TEFL certification.
The amount of money you can earn from teaching English online depends on a variety of factors, such as your experience, the number of hours you are able to work, and the platform you are using.
There are many different platforms for teaching English online, such as VIPKID, Cambly, and Myngle. Each platform has its own set of rules and regulations, so it is important to do your research before signing up for any of them.
READ MORE: What Are The Top Digital Nomad Jobs?
