Teach English Online

 

Teaching English Online
There are thousands of people teaching English online to students all across the globe. With lockdowns all across the world, e-learning technology, such as Zoom and Skype, has made online teaching and courses a booming business. Teaching English online is a great option if you want to live the remote lifestyle. With the world becoming more international, the demand for English teachers is increasing.

Online teaching makes it easy for both teacher and student, as they can set their schedules and have classes when it suits them. There’s no need to travel from A to B. Both parties can just log on to the preferred platform, and get to work. As I’m writing this article, learning English online is well established in countries all over the world. Both self-employed freelancers and large cooperations are taking advantage of this booming trend.

The Pros and Cons

The most basic pros of teaching english online are as follows. This profession allows you to take advantage of a growing global demand. You can work whenever it’s convenient you you. Also, it’s a job that will not be affected my further lockdowns and let’s you meet and connect with people all across the globe.

The basic cons, are that you are dependent on WiFi and you will be spending a lot of time in front of the screen. Also, online teaching is prone to technical issues. Lastly, on the long run, you might experience a sense of isolation.

Pros

• Location independence
• In control of schedule
• Pandemic-proof
• Meet and connect people all across the globe

Cons

• You are WiFi dependent
• Online teaching means more screen-time
• Sense of isolation
• Technical Issues may occur

The Qualifications

Before you get started with your career in teaching English online, you need to make sure you have the necessary skills and qualifications. The first and most important being that you should probably be fluent in English. However, you do not necessarily need to have English as your first language. In fact, many successful English teachers don’t have English as their first language. But, regardless of whether or not English is your first language, you need to get a basic knowledge of grammar and spelling. What about degrees? Am I required to have a degree to become an English teacher? The short answer is no. However, some clients or companies may require it before they hire you.

The Skill Requirements

There are some basic requirements to becoming an online English teacher. Although not all are required, I truly believe you will reach success easier if you implement the below elements into your teaching business. Just remember that the exact requirements can vary depending on the gig and client.

• Language skills
• Listening skills
• Communication skills
• Teaching skills
• Digital skills
• Planning and organisation skills

As a teacher your should master these three elements to an extent. Pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Your students need to be able to understand what you say and write. This will build trust. Also, you need confidence to win the students attention. You will need ability to motivate your students. Research shows that the art of teaching changes all the time. Hence, as a good teacher you should keep updated with the latest theories on teaching and use these to update your practice. Join online communities and subscribe to research blogs and websites.

Your Online Teaching Room

You need to create the right environment for you to teach and for your students to learn. In most cases this will be the room you are sitting in. Create an educational vibe. Invest in a cheap whiteboard. Place it behind you to create an educational spirit. Have some whiteboard pens and erasers ready. Use them frequently. Put some books in the background. Put a picture of someone significant such as Einstein or Tesla on the wall. 

When teaching English online, you will connect with your clients by video chat. This gives you the freedom to give your classes from anywhere in the world. With a stable internet connection, you can work from any place or country on earth, teaching while you travel. Being an English teacher can literally be the ticket to your dream life.

The Necessary Equipment

You need to ensure that you have the necessary equipment to teach remotely. Since teaching English remotely is all about communication, make sure your connecting equipment is working. You need a reliable internet connection. Always make a test call with friends or family before classes to ensure the connection. Find a quiet place to teach. Make sure there’s no noise around you that might distract you or your students. The crowded beach house, hotel pool or coffee shop isn’t the best places to teach.

Make sure you have a reliable and fast computer. To run virtual classes, a high-quality webcam and headset with a built-in microphone are also necessary. Remember, communication is a lot harder online. Hence, you need to make sure that both you and your students can be easily heard and understood. Ideally, you want  to create a home office with soundproof walls. 

• Computer
• Reliable WiFi
• Webcam 
• Headset

Get Your Certification

As I’ve already mentioned, you are not required to have any degrees to teach English online. However, as I also mentioned, some clients and companies may require education. Most online teaching companies that you may work for are searching for individuals who have education. This is why getting your certification is a preferable. This demonstrates to clients and students that you have a firm grasp of English language and grammar. A certificate will make you stand out amongst other freelancers.

The good news is certificates are affordable and can be completed online at your own pace. Most people complete their English teaching courses in 1 - 2 months time. When choosing a course make sure it’s an internationally recognized certificate. This will ensure trust and liability with your students and clients.

A certificate can boost your confidence and teaching abilities, whilst demonstrating to online teaching companies that you're an expert in your field.

Learn English Teaching Terminology

If you want to become successful within this industry, there's some terminology and acronyms you'll want to know. Here’s a brief list of acronyms you should get acquainted with: 

• ESL: English as a Second Language
• TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
• TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
• CELTA: Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults
• IELTS: International English Language Testing System
• TESOL: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

Online Teacher Platforms

Online teaching platforms make it easy to present yourself to potential students. These platforms help you create a professional profile page and share what’s most important for students to know about you. Use this as a chance to share what makes your lessons unique and get students excited to take lessons from you. Make a video to introduce yourself to clients. In your video, explain why you are the perfect fit and invite students to start learning from you. Students watch tutor videos in order to hear the tutor’s English capabilities and get a sense of their character before they take their first lesson.

Write a text about yourself and all your qualifications. Remember, students might read about your interests to see if you share common topics to discuss during the lessons. After you set up your profile, you need to choose your rate and payment method.

Your Introduction Video

Remember, to always include your introduction video in your job applications. Your introduction videos is probably more important than your CV. This is where an employer can hear how you speak, listen to your accent, pronunciation and see your appearance and charisma. You can easily upload your video to YouTube and get a private link so only people you send that particular link to can view it. Here’s a few tips and tricks for your introduction video:

• Professional setting and environment
• Strong upright posture
• Smile and be calm
• Look into the camera
• Dress appropriately
• Slow and clear pronunciation
• Be natural

Setting Your Rate and Getting Payed

On an average online English teachers can make anything between $10 - $30 per hour. Teachers without a certification or a degree tend to earn a lower hourly wage. Those who do have a degree and experience are often paid more. This will all depend on the platform and company you work for. Make sure you read all their payment terms and conditions.  You may be paid by the hour or per class session. Classes run for anything from 20, 30, or sometimes 60 minutes each session. Also, some online teaching gigs require teachers to be available for a minimum number of hours each day or week. While other jobs give the teachers complete freedom to pick their work hours.

As many companies and platforms are international the payment method varies. The most popular ways to receive your payment is via PayPal and Wise. Some companies pay you monthly, while others pay you by the week. Off course, if you are running your own freelancing business, you have the freedom to set your own fees and schedule. Just ensure you conduct research to make sure that your rates are both realistic and competitive.

Finding Your Students

As English is booming with platforms like YouTube and apps like TikTok, students are looking for an expert tutor like you. Your potential students are all across the world. There are no limits. You just need to place yourself in their way. How? Well, as I’ve already mentioned, tutor platforms are the easiest and fastest way to get started. Tutoring platforms exist for this purpose. To connect students and tutors. They do all the marketing and find the students, then match them with teachers who can help them acquire their requested skills.

Signing up on a tutoring platform is pretty simple. You submit basic information about yourself, including your education, credentials and past experience. The platform then checks this information and verifies your profile. Keep in mind, that all online teaching platforms charge a fee. A fee that’s fair, as they take care of important tasks that would otherwise take up a lot of your time. They market your services and making sure your are paid securely for your work.

The Teaching

When teaching, keep in mind that you’re a providing a service that’s highly in demand. Your students have genuine reasons to improve their English level. They may need to pass a test. They may need the skills to attend a specific school or course. You need to be mentally ready to deliver this aid and service to them. Make a personal plan with each student. Learn about their goals and help them achieve them. Make the lessons personal. Give your students a learning experience that’s engaging. Outline steps that each student needs to take. Prepare engaging material. Support your students. Remember, each student will have a different learning style and language level. It’s your job to cultivate and push them toward their goals. Track their progress. Take time to remind them what you’ve covered after each lesson and what you’re planning to cover in the next. Help your clients find their learning routines. They will look to you for advice on correcting their flaws. Encourage them to study regularly. Remind them to excel. People forget and appreciate a friendly reminder and encouragement to stay focused. Praise them when they do good. Learning a language is hard.

Enjoy The Process

When teaching English online your are connecting with another human being. This can be a very rewarding opportunity to help another human being in achieving their goals. Make sure to have some “boring” conversations. Share your culture with students and learn about theirs. Enjoy the process. Smile. Show interest in your clients. Praise their progress and be proud of yourself along the way. Positive attitude rubs off. It’s contagious. Your students will start having fun as well. You both enjoy the process more. This will release any tensions and help your student learn more effectively. Hence, your goal as an English teacher will be well achieved.