Want to know about teaching online before starting? To create this resource, 101 online teachers were surveyed and asked the #1 thing they wish they had known before stepping into the world of online ESL teaching.
This is designed to help you optimize your online teaching experience whether you are already teaching or have yet to start.
How will this guide help you to optimize your online teaching experience?
After each of the 101 “things”, there is a brief elaboration along with a link to a relevant DigiNo.org article to get you up to speed on that subject.
No longer shall online teachers “wish” they had known something…because at the end of this guide, you will know 101 things…
…and that’s a lot of things.
Let’s go!
1. Have a backup microphone
Sometimes headsets break and one of the most common technical issues is your student not hearing you. Avoid this by researching reliable headsets, such as the best headsets for online teaching.
2.Tips for traveling while teaching
You don’t want to make all these globe-trotting plans without knowing the correct travel methods to keep your job whilst enjoying your trip. Check out this guide on what it means to be a digital nomad.
3. I still would like to know more about the Chinese education system
Teaching for a Chinese company can be a culture-shock. Your best bet is to review how each company operates to get an idea of the ethics and education system of a company. However, many of the online teaching platforms based in China have ceased operations, which you can read more about on the Non-Chinese Online ESL Companies page.
4. Some students come to English class not even knowing how to count and others students of the same age are quite fluent. I guess I expected more similarities…
Every student is different for sure. So getting the fundamentals down for online teaching will give you confidence to tackle any situation. You can find lots of tips on the Online Teaching FAQ.
5. To keep the younger students engaged. Stop them from drifting away mentally and physically.
This is one of the bigger challenges of the job. You want to keep younger students entertained…but without using all of your energy. Thankfully you can using something like the ‘2 Minute Rule’.
6. How to properly prepare to get a better rate ended up working for a super low rate with the first company I worked for.
Companies in the past decided on rate based on performance in interview. Nowadays most platforms have a set rate like Cambly. However, other platforms like Amazing Talker allow you to set your own rate.
7. I wish I hadn't started working for a Japanese company because the yen exchange rate is so low.
Researching your chosen company is so important…and it is elements like this that are easy to overlook.
There are solutions to improve conversion rates when receiving pay such as Wise or Payoneer.
8. How to use ManyCam! I still don't know what its functions are etc…
ManyCam is a a fantastic tool for teaching online. Here is a ManyCam beginner’s guide to help everyone get the best out of the webcam software.
9. I wish I was aware of how much training you actually need using software, becoming competent with the platforms….The teaching is the easy part…And making sure you conform to all aspects of your employers requirements whilst you are teaching….
There are occasionally technical issues whilst teaching online. This cannot be avoided when working with computers.
The best thing to do is keep on trying to get to grips with the platform if you're not very computer literate.
10.The schools with better pay. I ended up working for a super low rate with the first company I worked for.
Here is a list of platforms, including how much you can get paid with each company – teach from home jobs.
11. How to access internet easily from any location
It’s all about planning your teaching location in advance and using speedtest to test wifi speeds.
Here are some great locations for digital nomads and online teachers.
12. That TicTacToe was such a life saver
icTacToe is a popular go-to warm down game – or just when you can’t think of anything else to do.
And there are so many ways to keep adding variety to it, as you will see from these alternative ways to play TicTacToe.
13. How to prepare for the interview and have a better understanding of what it was that I needed to prepare for!
You can find the interview process on the overview pages for each platform below:
14. Good free-talk topics with Chinese students
You can ask simple questions at the beginning of class to get to know their interests. Or you could just use a random topic generator and play it by chance!
15. Great and fast progress you can achieve. Much faster than any other job I had
This is what makes it a great job for people who have been stuck in unemployment for way too long.
The hiring process and getting to grips with everything is a quick process…so you will soon be raising your confidence back up!
16. How much earning potential there was in referring new teachers.
Some platforms do offer a referral bonus when you recommend a friend to teach on the platform. There are many ways to promote your referral link such as an online side hustle.
17. I wish I knew how difficult it would be to get support from companies.
It can be difficult to get the answer you need from some platforms. Which is why resources like this exist, as well as the Online Teaching FAQ. However, this depends on the platform and their chosen communication method.
18. How to make it a fulfilling experience.
This all comes down to getting to know what you want from the experience. Are you teaching as a passion? Or is it a part-time job to make a bit of extra cash? Both are acceptable, but those that are passionate about teaching may find it more fulfilling.
19. That most schools only offer classes between 7pm and 9pm Beijing Time
This is indeed the most popular time for getting classes due to Chinese students having finished school and had dinner.
However, not every platform is for Chinese students. For platforms like Cambly, the students are worldwide and at any time.
20. That there are so many different ways to make an online income. Teaching is just the start!
Many use teaching online as an entry-point of online income. The nature of it allows you to explore side income options whilst teaching, such as learning how to create a niche website.
21. Which companies hire non-natives
Every platform has a unique hiring policy. For English teaching platform, a priority is to have a clear accent so students can correctly learn English. However, platforms such as Preply or Amazing Talker allow you to teach any language.
22. I didn't need to print and laminate pics for every lesson. Now I just use my cell and the Google app.
Your preparation time is minimal with online teaching. It’s one of the perks of online over classroom!
There are so many ways to optimize the experience using online teaching tools.
23. Better knowledge on how to engage younger kids
There will be some instances when the student gets distracted or they just aren’t engaged with the class.
There are ways to get them back on track and grab their attention, such as using these online ESL tips.
24. How ruthless some online teaching employers can be
It is an unfortunate truth that not everyone who applies, will be approved to teach. Here are some Common reasons for getting turned down for Online Teaching Jobs.
25. It's fun and creative and totally different
There are so many ways for you to be creative in this job; whether you want to make props, games or even songs.
Here is a guide on using the ukulele for teaching.
26.That children were involved
Online teaching is unique in the variety of age groups you can teach. One minute you can be performing a puppet show to a 5 year old…the next you can be talking about literature with a fluent 16 year old.
That’s why it is good to have activities for both young and old. Here is an example using creative writing activities:
27. That using a puppet would be a regular feature of my life
You may just end up with an elephant permanently placed on your work desk…but after all the help Mr Elephant has given you with difficult students, he deserves his place! Here are some of the best puppets for online teachers.
28.That using CCQ could be so effective.
ICQ and CCQ are a foundation of ESL and are so crucial for making sure the student is comprehending in class.
29. I have more than 10 years of ESL teaching experience – all in person. I wish that I knew how to create a great video!
Being on camera is a skill you learn. Correct placement and monitoring if the student can actually see your props and TPR within frame are crucial. There is also the factor of recording an online teaching demo video.
30. If you need a qualification
Every platform requires different things, but some require a teaching qualification such as TEFL or TESOL certification. An example of a platform that requires this is PalFish.
Some companies you need a degree such as Excedo. Here are the platforms that don’t require a degree:
31. I wish I knew about what to prepare for a mock class
The demo class or mock class is a practice class that is done as a way to test an applicant's ability to teach. You can prepare by viewing online ESL tips.
32. How to use TPR method more effectively
Total Physical Response is so important for student comprehension and engagement. And it is a lot easier than the name suggests. It is essentially over-exaggerated body language.
33. That I could be so animated
You don’t have to dance around like a kid on sugar…but using simple TPR gestures can really add so much energy to your class.
34. How to speak basic Chinese
This is not essential…but it may help with younger Chinese students who need a little extra help in class. Here is a guide on how to learn a language fast.
35. Manycam
ManyCam certainly wasn’t designed for online teachers, but it has become an essential tool for some.
36. I wish I knew I need to stand for myself as a teacher, and doubt myself less as a non native
Absolutely! Have confidence in your teaching skills as well as your English ability:
37. I wish I knew sooner how easy it was to fit around being a stay at home mom
Teaching online is a popular choice for stay-at-home parents as it can slot right in and not affect your responsibilities as a parent. It is seen by many as the best stay at home mom job.
38. That my 15 years teaching means nothing and someone with no experience can get the same salary as me.
As mentioned previously, some platforms simply offer a flat hourly rate for all regardless of whether someone has more experience.
39. How to be more tech savvy
You don’t have to be a computer whizz, but having confidence with technology will help you to handle tech issues.
This all comes with trying out new things and working through problems.
40. I wish I knew about more digital resources available that can enhance a lesson
Here is a resource for ESL Worksheets including a tool that can turn any webpage into a printable PDF.
41. Examples of people teaching whilst being pregnant
Here are some tips from an online teacher on she managed teaching while pregnant.
42. The confusion with taking holidays
You are technically a freelancer, which means you don’t get holiday pay. This means you have to set you're own schedule accordingly.
43. What is the best company to work for
This depends on multiple factors, but exploring the list of online teaching jobs and all the information provided can help you decide what works for you.
44. Wish I knew that most companies only hire American or Canadian people
This was the case with some of the bigger Chinese platforms like VIPKid, due to Chinese parents having a preference for the students to learn a neutral North American accent. However there are many platforms like AmazingTalker where this isn't a requirement at all.
45. About the History
One of the original platforms was VIPKid, so reading through that page as well as the DaDa page will give you an idea of platforms that have been around a while…before the changes in China saw teachers seek out non-Chinese online ESL companies.
46. What materials I could study to help me teach students better
Here are some examples of content to help improve your teaching techniques:
- Reading comprehension strategies
- Guiding questions
- Higher order thinking questions
- Maria Montessori Philosophy of Education
- Galatea Effect
47. Facebook groups for online teachers!
There are many communities across the internet of online teachers sharing the experience of online work.
48. You will get attached to your students
You may have some regular students for over a year. You really do develop a great rapport with them!
49. How much I didn't know about teaching english as a second language
It goes so much deeper than the ABCs for sure. You don’t have to be an expert on ESL theory for online teaching, but it certainly helps to do a TESOL certification course if you’re passionate about it.
50. You can learn about other cultures
Once you start conversing with students with higher levels, you can learn so much about how life is different in their neck of the woods. This is something that teachers love a lot about teaching adults on Cambly.
51. To prepare games for the kids to go along with the courseware
It’s always good to have a set of go-to activities in mind, such as warmers and fillers.
52. What nationality can I teach?
Some companies primarily cater to Chinese children…however there are companies such as Preply and Cambly Kids where you teach students from all over the world.
53. How hard it would be to get adjusted time wise
This absolutely depends on where you are in the world…and where your students are.
Say you are in in England, teaching peak time in China – classes start at 11am.
However, say you are in Thailand, you would start at 5pm. So it's all about planning the location of student and the location of you for your schedule.
54. Whether you’re able to work any hours you’d like to without having to teach a minimum amount of hours per week.
For this kind of thing, it’s best to browse each company to check their working times. Cambly is a platform where you simply make yourself available for bookings whenever you please.
55. That I didn't need to spend time creating, printing and laminating flashcards – I can download images through ManyCam and use them as my flashcards instead!
ManyCam certainly has its uses! Here is the ManyCam Guide.
56. I wish I wouldn't have been so nervous
It’s all about having fun. You being nervous can have the knock-on effect of making your students nervous.
If you feel nervous…then do something goofy! Make the student laugh. Here is a guide on making online students laugh.
57. Pick a company that calculates earnings in USD or Euros, not in RMB
All currencies fluctuate, but this is great advice to optimise your earnings. The majority of platforms pay in USD into your Wise, Payoneer or PayPal or even Revolut account for easy currency exchange.
58. Not to expect a full schedule immediately
There are some cases of teachers coming in and expecting to be filled up with students. It doesn’t really work like this. It can take time, so don’t get discouraged!
59. Contracts change
Terms and conditions for platforms can change so stay alert to new updates on your platform to see how it effects you.
60. Things change quickly in this industry so always have a plan B
It is a young industry, so things are always in development. So many teachers choose to teach across multiple platforms to help fill up their schedule. For example, combining a flexible schedule of Cambly with a student from AmazingTalker who likes to take your class at consistent times on a regular basis.
61. That there are so many teaching opportunities out there
There are plenty of classroom opportunities across the world as well such as the JET Program in Japan. However, for those that don't wish to move abroad, teach from home jobs are a great option.
62. The Culture
There is such a resourceful and helpful community surrounding online teaching.
That’s why it’s good that we help each other out and share as many helpful things as possible, such as these tips from stay at home moms.
63. How to deal with being fired or being rejected from a company
It’s an unfortunate part of life. Here is a post about being turned down from an online teaching job.
Also find the post about how to find a job for tips on the mentality to maintain in the job hunting process.
64. I never knew about daylight savings time and that it didn't apply in China!
You may one day forget about this and start teaching at 11am when you should have started at 10am without realising.
It’s easy to forget that you are teaching from all over the world.
But you can set up email reminders to yourself using automation tools such as IFTTT.
65. How hard it would be to sit all day!
It is hard on the back to be sitting at a desk. But there is always another way such as standing desks or ergonomic desk chairs.
66. I wish I had saved my kid’s toy animals
You never know what could come in handy as a prop! Any plushie or toy can come in handy as a prop, as seen by this article using We Bare Bears merch as an example.
67. How much I could potentially earn
It depends how many hours you want to work and how good your profile is at attracting students. It is best to see online teaching as a way to earn a bit of extra cash on the side, rather than as way to provide your full-income.
68. Which companies are reliable and ethical.
It is true that many new online teaching platforms do pop up without having a proven track record. That's why this website only includes a small number of platforms that have proven to be reliable. You can see them here on the list of online teaching jobs.
69. That there are so many teaching gadgets
If you're interested in finding ways to turbo-charge education, here is a post about several teaching gadgets, including 3D printing in education. Or you could also look into robots such as Anki Robots Cozmo and Vector, or even the Peeqo robot.
70. How often it gave me other things to do throughout the day!
It really is a great job for pursuing a side hustle such as writing low content books using tools like BookBolt.
71. I wish I had more examples of great teachers and mentors that would help me navigate working with overseas companies.
You can find a collection of quotes from teachers on the online teaching testimonials page.
72. The best ways to get paid
There are a lot of factors to consider so that you can avoid conversion fees. The most popular options for receiving pay include:
73. That not all companies are based in China
This is a worldwide thing and it just keeps growing. Here you can find a list of online teaching companies based outside of China.
74. The tools that make traveling with the job easier
You can just pick up your laptop and go, but there are things that make the experience a whole lot better as you will find in the list of tools for digital nomads.
75. That parents can be really harsh when you think the lesson went great
Sometimes parents may comment on the direction of classes and sometimes they will specify things that they want you to focus more on.
Take it all as constructive!
Or you can always teach adults online instead of kids if it’s not for you.
76. Don't spend so much time writing reports
Some platforms require you to write after class reports…but this doesn't have to be a big ordeal. There are tools out there like Feedback Panda to help you with this. However, a lot of platforms won't require you to do this, as long as you are keep track of you're own progress with students.
77. It's not nearly as scary as it sounds
Maybe your first class might seem a bit daunting, but you will soon get into the flow of things. There are some great tips for introverted teachers written here, that can help if you feel nervous about teaching online.
78. I wish I had more games for older students
This can be tricky as a lot of ESL games might be too easy for them. However, riddles can be a lot of fun for older students:
79. That I would need a TEFL by the end of this week…
This is referring to a policy change in Chinese legislations that required online teachers teaching Chinese students to have a teaching certificate such as TESOL certification. However, it is not needed for every platform.
80. More ESL strategies for children and adults
Always good to go into some advance ESL learning techniques for adults…as then these strategies will be easy to adapt for children. For example you can look into a constructing a guided question.
81. Not everyone can do it
You have to imagine you are a children’s TV presenter that has to keep the show moving.
However, you don’t have a whole audience watching you…just a student through a laptop! This may not be for everyone, which is why there are many other online side hustles out there.
82. To remember to get changed out of pyjamas before teaching
Working from home in front of your laptop has many benefits. Wearing your pyjamas bottoms to work is certainly one of them! However, as the top half of you is on display, it is important to look presentable.
83. That you need to smile all the time
It is true that you should keep a positive atmosphere in class for younger students. Making sure the class is fun for you as well as the student will make it easy to keep a smile on your face. This is one of 7 Online ESL Tips.
84. How to get permanent students?
Getting regular students on platforms such as Amazing Talker will come from if the student likes your teaching style and the quality of your classes and therefore would like to book you regularly.
85. I started 8 months ago and I was nervous. Now I actually like conversing with my students and seeing them grow.
The job is so rewarding once you can start conversing and really getting to know your students. Building a low-ability student up to conversation level takes time – but it can be done, through the using carefully planned conversation topics for teaching online.
86. It’s an exciting yet tiring job…
Absolutely there will be some days where you just aren't feeling full of energy to teach. Here are some tips for teaching online when feeling tired.
87. How long it takes to create props.
You can do as much or as little prep-time as you choose. Therefore you can choose to buy props, use digital props or even make your own.
The length of time, depends on how elaborate you want to make them. Check out the online teaching tools page for essential items to use.
88. All the platforms available to use
There are so many teaching platforms with different kinds of course material. There is even a software designed for you to teach independently like ClassIn.
89. I would need lots of equipment to keep the children amused.
Using things like props or ManyCam really helps with the younger students…but you can get by without if you’re incredibly energetic or a massive coffee fiend. Having some simple online teaching activities prepared or ESL worksheets will help you out in times of need.
90. It's exhausting – rewarding and fun – but burn out is a problem!
There are lots of ways to keep you going during work. A really effective alternative to coffee is Titanium Tea.
91. How much nicer it was than teaching in classrooms
Online over classroom is certainly a massive difference. Check out this post talking about the benefits teaching online has over classroom teaching.
92. Where to get the best TEFL certificate
This is a tricky one. There are a lot of very expensive teaching certificates out there, that may be worth it if you plan to land a high paying job teaching abroad in classrooms. However, this cheaper TESOL Certificate has proven to be a popular pick for online teachers.
93. To not sign up with the first online teaching company that came my way
Be sure to do some research and see what is best for you. Thankfully you can explore all the vital information for several popular platforms below:
94. I wish I knew that I could do it full time. I would have saved myself a lot of headaches and two years of trying to figure out what I'm doing with my life.
The beauty of online teaching is, you can generally do as many or as little hours as you want. So you can make it into a full-time hours if you are signed up to enough platforms and can attract enough students.
However, it is not advisable to use it as a replacement for a full-time income that you rely on.
95. That my life would come to depend on a strong internet connection.
Yep! You need good internet to do the job. You can find a guide on the online teaching minimum internet speed here.
The main issue with traveling with online teaching, is the dependancy on good internet. Here are some best practices for travel and online teaching.
96. There is not any progression between weeks, especially if you teach the same student 2 times in a week or weekend, but over a month, then yes, over a month you would have seen some changes.
It is good to monitor the progress of your student, especially if you see them regularly. That way you will get an idea of how far they have come thanks to your teaching.
97. How to work with my computer more intelligently: how to do routine maintenance, use dictation, organize files, understand the computer language, work with glasses and different programs, etc.
The more time you spend online…the more tips and skills you pick up! However, if you spend a lot of time on the computer, you might consider some computer reading glasses.
98. That sometimes, 4G is better than WiFi.
Setting up a hotspot from the data on your phone to teach can be handy if your WiFi drops in the middle of class. There are ways to strengthen your internet such as using Cat 8 ethernet cables.
99. TransferWise
Wise, (formerly known as TransferWise) is a god-send. It has saved teachers so much money on fees.
When platforms offer bank transfer, you can use your Wise mobile bank instead and take advantage of their better conversion rates than your bank to swap into your native currency. Here is the Wise Guide.
100. I wish I had taken an acting class or something like that.
Sometimes it can feel like acting or performing a routine with younger students. A good teaching method is improvising with what is in front of you, as you will see in the improv section in the ukulele for teaching guide.
101. I wish I had spent more effort on my teaching background
A decent background is a requirement for some companies, but this could be as simple as a poster. Here is a post on online teaching backgrounds.
Final thoughts…
If you made it through all 101…well done!
If you skipped through them…then that's understandable. 101 is a lot.
Hopefully you found something helpful in this guide. It was created to help those that are currently teaching online, as well as help newcomers feel prepared to take the first step into online teaching.
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