English is the language of international business, tourism, science, medicine, and aviation. And it gets even better. This is something you can do online from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere in the world with a speedy internet connection.
Around the world today, over 1 billion people are in the process of learning to speak English as a foreign language. And that number is quickly on the rise. It’s estimated that as much as 80% of all business transactions worldwide are conducted in English. It’s big business offering huge opportunity.
And there’s more good news. You don’t need to have any formal teaching experience, you don’t need to learn any complex new skills, and you don’t need to have stacks of cash to get started.
Tips for Teaching English Online
Imagine opening a program similar to Skype on your laptop. On it, you meet your students through video conference and teach them simple English for about 25 minutes. This is exactly what teaching online looks like.
You can set your own hours, as long as you meet the minimum of about 15 hours a month during peak teaching times. It can be done from anywhere in the world. And it doesn’t require any lengthy qualifications. If you’re a native English speaker and have a bachelor’s degree, it should be enough to lock down your first job.
Depending on the company you choose to work for, you’re paid about $6 to $12 per 25-minute class. Along with the per class rate, there are bonuses added to your hourly wage if you do a good job.
If you’re interested in funding your life by teaching English online, here are some tips that will help the process move quicker. It’s worth noting that your pay rate often relies upon what your interviewer decides, so impressing him or her with the following ideas should help increase the amount offered.
Finding Online Teaching Jobs
A great way to get started is by looking for jobs on one of these three sites:
- VIPKID
- 51Talk
- TutorABC
Each of the above companies requires slightly different steps for an initial application. However, all three require that you create an account and fill out and submit a form with your resume. A Skype interview will then be set up.
While TEFL or CELTA (two of the most widely recognized English-language teaching certificates) aren’t required, it’s worth noting that they will make it easier to lock down a job with higher pay.
Ensure Your Internet Connection Is Up to Speed
The first interview usually consists of a trial lesson. In it, the interviewer pretends to be a student, and you’ll need to be prepared to teach a lesson. This allows potential employers to see your skills first-hand, but it also gives them an indication of your setup: computer, internet speed, and “classroom setting.”
To ensure that your interviewer feels confident in your setup, and to make sure you don’t lose out on a teaching opportunity, get yourself properly connected ahead of time.
Gather All Materials Needed
Teaching online requires a simple setup and shouldn’t cost you much—if anything—to put together. You’ll need a good running laptop, a webcam that’s clear, and headphones (e.g. iPhone, headphone) but many others who want to impress their interviewer go the extra mile with a professional looking headset.
Optional items that will help you stand out during your interview are a mini whiteboard (with markers), alphabet flashcards, puppets, or any visual aids you can find. Teaching online can be a challenge because you are reaching through a screen to grab your student’s attention. Having visual stimulus helps you do this with little extra effort.
Not only will you grab your interviewer’s attention visually if you use props, but you will also show that you took the time to prepare. This will not only speed up the interview timeline but will likely contribute to a higher rate of pay.
Keep That Background Clean
The hiring companies want to see a clean background. They don’t want to feel like they are looking into your house. This can be accomplished by having a plain wall or hanging a plain white sheet to create a similar look.
You can impress your interviewer even more by adding some visual aids in the background, such as plain, colorful wrapping paper; the alphabet; or a simple-to-hang chalkboard.
Relax and Have Fun
VIPKID, one of the teaching English mega sites, has a free online workshop. In it, I learned how to express more emotively and engage with my students with Total Physical Response (TPR).
TPR is a teaching method using body language and actions to help students understand a concept more clearly. For example, if you are teaching the word “bird,” you can act out a bird flying with your hands.
With these simple steps, you should land your first teaching role in no time at all.
