Online Teaching Jobs

Teaching online is a great way to make money from home AND make a difference to the lives of kids and adult learners.
You will use your computer, tablet to teach children (on platforms like Cambly Kids), or teach adults (on platforms like Cambly) from all over the world.
In some instances you can even teach on your mobile phone through an app like PalFish.
In some platforms you will use a video platform that has a pre-prepared lesson plan on the screen, however in other platforms you are required to teach your own lesson plan or simply engage in free flowing conversation.
The teaching is not just limited to English instruction, as there are also platforms where you can teach other languages to adults like on Amazing Talker or Preply. Beyond that, you can also teach kids any subject you are passionate about like music, gaming, art and more on Allschool, or coach management professionals on business communication on Excedo.

The short answer is: no.
Do I need to be a native English Speaker?
Several companies generally look for ‘Native English speakers' for the assurance of having a clear accent when teaching English. This translates as teachers with clear accents from USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland and South Africa.
However, if you don't meet the requirements for certain companies, then Amazing Talker will hire fluent English speakers from across the globe to teach English, as well as offering the chance for you to also teach your native language as well. Here you can read – Languages taught on AmazingTalker.

Not every company will require you to have had previous experience teaching. But companies that pay higher hourly rates will require experience.
However, some companies will be happy to hire an applicant with no previous experience, and some will simply ask for relevant experience. 
If you have ever spent time tutoring, counselling, caretaking or babysitting then some of the more accessible companies will be happy to consider your application.
If you have absolutely no experience, then having a TESOL certification will help with some companies in getting accepted.

Some platforms will require higher education, such as a bachelor's degree, however most will not.

The only platform on this page that requires a teaching certification is PalFish. This is due to them being a Chinese company and this is a requirement of the Chinese Ministry of Education.
AmazingTalker only requires one if you have absolutely no teaching experience at all.
Certification is not difficult to obtain, and the prices vary with some being at a low of $19. You can check out one TESOL certificate here.

The majority of these platforms involve you setting your own schedule so do not require a minimum number of hours.

The basic technical requirements are precisely what you might expect. 
– You will need a computer or a laptop capable of video chat, ideally with a HD webcam at the very least.
– An external webcam will definitely be more suitable – even a cheap USB one from the internet will likely serve you better than your built-in webcam.
– You will also need a headset with built in microphone. 

Download Speed = 10 Mbps
Upload Speed = 2 Mbps
You can test your speed using Ookla Speedtest.
If you meet these speeds then your internet may be functional for most platforms. (Please note, requirements vary from company to company – the above numbers are a minimum to reach for. Some companies may require faster speeds). Here you can find the best ethernet cables to keep your internet more stable for teaching.

Other than the requirements outlined above, you don’t need a great deal to begin your teaching journey. 
Most companies recommend props and music, often puppets are a real boom to applications – a white board will get you noticed, too. 
Anything which you think will make you stand out in the sea of faces will be to your benefit. You may be required to have a colorful background with some companies also for teaching kids.
For teaching adults, all you will need is a solid lesson plan.

There are only two essential ingredients to teaching online: a stable internet connection and a peaceful teaching environment. 
As long as you meet both of these requirements then it doesn’t matter where you are.
It’s not uncommon for online teachers to travel the world while they teach, using online teaching to subsidise their travel. AirBnB is a popular choice for a teaching environment on the road and is included in the list of Digital Nomad Tools.

Some platforms do have lesson plans and games on screen for you to teach when teaching kids. However, when it comes to teaching adults you will need to go into class with your own lesson plan prepared.
Despite of this, a lot of students are seeking to merely practice their conversation skills and so your curriculum could be as simple as having a few topics in mind for free talk.

The overwhelming majority of online teaching companies do not expect you to spend time marking homework. Some companies will require you to fill out end of class reports to monitor student progression, as well as set fun little exercises for home. But you won't be marking any essays.
This isn’t to say you’re not allowed to set homework yourself if you want to – various companies provide you with the capacity to set work.

You won’t be expected to speak to children’s parents directly. 
Some companies require you to leave ‘student feedback’ which the parents will read; and they subsequently leave ‘teacher feedback’ about you, and your performance. 
But you will not be expected to sit and have face to face meetings with each child’s parents, as a rule. As always, it’s worth checking out the guidelines for individual companies.

The average pay is around $10-$15 per hour. However, a lot of platforms allow you to set your own rate so the earning potential can be much higher than that.
Many choose to use online teaching as an additional part-time income, rather than live on it completely.
It's worth keeping in mind that many companies will offer you financial incentives for working extra hours or taking on added responsibilities – you can stand to make a lot more than the base pay if you're dedicated.

Most companies offer three options:
Bank Transfer
PayPal
Payoneer
More and more companies are using Payoneer to pay teachers due to its cheaper conversion rates and fees. This means you receive more of your money, and it is looking increasingly more likely that Payoneer will be the norm for the online teaching future.
You can sign up to your account and take advantage of a $35 bonus from this link here.
Teachers from other countries will have distinctly different systems in place for exchange rates, which will affect how much money they make each time they’re paid. 
It’s important you keep up to date with the exchange rates and the conversion rates between your country of origin and the currency you’re earning your wage in.

Unfortunately you will be expected to figure out your own taxes. 
You will teach for online teaching platforms as an independent contractor, meaning you are subject to self employed income tax.
It’s important to keep this in mind before blowing all of your pay in the first month as a percentage should be saved to pay your tax bill…
Here are a couple of guides on paying tax as an online teacher:
UK resident teachers tax
USA resident teachers tax
You should consult a professional regarding your tax in your location to make sure you are getting everything correct. These articles are not intended to be financial advice and are not a substitute for actual professional advice.

Some companies for teaching kids will require background checks prior to being approved to teach, so keep this in mind during your application.

1. Smile Whilst Teaching Your Online Class
Smiling is really important. Creating a positive atmosphere with your presence creates a positive learning environment.
The student may be nervous, so you want to make them feel at ease, and smiling is the quickest way to do this.
You should also be really friendly so that your smile doesn't look out of place!
This is very important if you are teaching children. They look up to you, and so it is up to you to set the friendly tone for the online class.

2. Assess Your Online Student's English Speaking Ability
It is a good idea to assess your student's English speaking ability early on in the class. You want to find this out so you can adjust your lesson plan accordingly.
You don't want to spend your whole class trying to get a low-ability student to read Shakespeare!

So how do you assess your student's English speaking ability?
Try to engage the student with simple questions, such as:
What's your name?
How old are you?
How are you?
If they get quiet and shy in response to these questions, then maybe they don't know this basic level english.
In this case you should adjust the lesson accordingly.

Tips for teaching an ESL student with a lower English speaking ability
Repetition is key with younger students and lower-ability students.
Say you are teaching the student the word ‘zebra', make sure you say ‘zebra' at least 3 times. Then make them repeat ‘zebra' three times. Repetition is so important in teaching.
Speak slowly
It will help the student out a lot if you take the time to pronounce each word. As native English speakers, we have gotten very used to understanding each other's quick mumbles, however your online student probably won't be able keep up.
Be aware of what a student already knows
It's no good repeating ‘zebra' over and over if the student has already mastered it in last week's online lesson.

3. Praise Your Online Student Regularly
We all enjoy a bit of praise every now and then, and your student will especially appreciate it when they've answered a question correctly.
Give them a big high-5 when they do well.
This will make them feel happy and comfortable and eager to impress even more!
Make sure to say their name a lot as you praise them, as this will help to build a stronger connection with your student.
Say: ‘You are doing a really awesome job, [Student's Name]!'
Because it's true, they are – English is a tough language to learn!

4. Be Fun and Silly When Teaching Your Online English Lesson
Try to make the student laugh. Have fun. Your students will be learning this outside of their school hours, so your online ESL class shouldn't feel like school – so make it as fun as possible (whilst still being educational).
Try to imagine yourself as a children's TV presenter, being wacky and outrageous. Make funny faces and do funny voices.
Don't worry about looking silly. The sillier you are, the more your students will enjoy learning from you.
This is your chance to embrace your inner-child once again!
So what is a good way to help bring out your silly-side?
Well…

5. Use Props To Keep Your Student Engaged During The Online ESL Lesson
Props are a fantastic way to make sure your young student is both engaged and having fun.
If you see there mind start to wander, bring out a prop! Here are some great examples of props to use:

Puppets
Puppets are great for bringing shy students out of their shell. If they are hesitant to interact with you, then they are sure to interact with your monkey pal, or your talking tiger.
Give them a name and a silly voice and bring them to life. They are great for practicing basic English greetings with your ESL student. Here are some of the best puppets for online teaching.

Musical Instruments
Children love music. A nice catchy song always makes phrases easier to remember, so why not grab a ukulele and start singing? Here are some of the best ukulele songs for online teachers to play.
Even if you're not musical, a ukulele is very easy to pick up and play and instantly sound good. They are also inexpensive, so they make for a great online classroom prop. Here is a list if you're wondering about the best ukuleles to buy.

Gold Stars (Reward System)
Gold stars are great for visual encouragement. Your student will respond so much to your encouragement as mentioned earlier, however, if they can see a physical object like a gold star as a reward, this should encourage them even more.
You want to encourage your ESL student to speak and be as interactive as possible in the online lesson as possible. They could watch English television if their parents wanted them to just listen to the language.
They are there to speak and interact with their English teacher.
Be yourself. Be authentic. Connect with the student. And use props to aid this as much as possible. You can find more on the list of Online Teaching Tools.
However, you cannot simply rely upon props to assist in communicating with your student…

6. Use Total Physical Response (TPR) To Enhance Communication With Your Online ESL Student
Before explaining what exactly Total Physical Response (TPR) is, first let's look at something called ‘incidental language'.
As an online ESL teacher tutoring a student, incidental language is something you should reduce using.

Reduce Incidental Language
An example of incidental language is as follows:
‘Let's move on to the next subject.' – your student will not understand this type of phrasing. It is better to avoid this kind of language, as it doesn't really add any educational value.
Another example of incidental language:
‘Can you say “This is an apple”?' – This phrase ‘can you say' is incidental language and it is a high chance the student will not understand this and thus they would be confused by what it is they are expected to do.
So how do we get them to say ‘This is an apple'?
This is where Total Physical Response comes in.
The basis of TPR is to use over exaggerated body language. Imagine it as if it were sign language.
So, for example, if you wanted to get the child to speak and say ‘This is an apple', you would not use incidental language and say ‘Can you say?', you would use your hands.
Let me explain.
Cup your ear with your hand and hold it close to the screen. The student will see this gesture and understand that you want them to speak.

Or another example…
If you want the student to circle something, use your hands to draw a circle in the air. Simple, right?
Using these techniques will decrease the amount of time you spend looking at the confused face of a student.
Less incidental language; more TPR!

7. Leave Helpful Feedback For Your Online ESL Student
At the end of your online ESL class, you may want to leave written feedback for how the student did in the lesson.
Use the child's name to display that this not simply a procedure, and that there is a genuine connection between you and the student.
Praise all the things they did well, but don't be afraid to include the things they had trouble with. Include way that they can improve upon these points.
Then in the next class, you can monitor how they have improved upon those previous points.
This will show their parents that they are progressing. After all, parents want their child to attend online ESL lessons so that they progress! So let's help make it happen.

So let's review the 7 tips for online ESL teaching:

Smile
Assess English Speaking Ability
Praise Regularly
Be Fun and Silly
Use Props
Use Total Physical Response (TPR)
Leave Helpful  Feedback

Follow these 7 tips and you will be rising up the rankings as an online teacher in no time!

1) Earning income from home!
Teaching online allows you to earn more money without the additional transit or expenses. Earning online without having to leave the comfort of your home is a good benefit.

2) Flexible Schedule
The beauty of teaching online is that you can fit it into your schedule. Current students and full-time workers can set their own teaching hours online and without having to make any significant life changes. You can earn more money teaching online without having to quit your regular job or suffer any additional stress on your routine.

3) Working from Anywhere
All you need to teach English online is a quiet place and a laptop with good internet connection. That’s all. If you don’t want to work from home, you can even travel and teach in between adventures.

4) More ESL Teaching Experience 
Teaching English online is one of the easiest ways to gain ESL teaching experience that will come handy if you are looking for a classroom teaching job. Your online teaching hours will help you build a solid ESL resume. Don’t forget that the more ESL experience you have, the more attractive you are as a teacher.

5) A Lot of Students Simply Want Conversation Practice!
Some platforms won't require you to teach a full syllabus or lesson plan. Many students simply want a native speaker to practice conversation and correct their mistakes.

The ‘2 Minute Rule' is a teaching method often used for teaching ESL online.
The process is simple…
Stay on one activity at a time for 2 minutes and constantly keep moving.
For example, course material, game, course material, song etc.
This is to ensure that the student is constantly staying engaged in class by breaking up lesson material with fun activities.

A good mantra to use for getting students to be less shy in class is – ‘Get them laughing, get them talking.'
Because if you don't get your students laughing, then you will find it hard to get them talking!
And if your students aren't talking…then not a great deal of English is getting practiced.
How do I get my online students to laugh?
If your students seem very tired or just not engaged, you should switch your class to being – ‘Fun…with a little bit of English thrown in.'
The student's get lectured on grammar and all that fun stuff all day at school.
And then they come home with homework piles taller than them!
So more of the same is naturally going to make them feel less inclined to engage.
‘But, how is that going to help them to learn English?'
Sometimes you may feel that your students cannot speak a word of English because they are so shy to speak.
You may find that as soon as you get them laughing at your clownish ways…they open up.
Students are not always low English ability…they may just be hesitant to speak.
Your willingness to make yourself look a little silly can break the ice. And suddenly they may feel more comfortable to talk…and to make mistakes…and to laugh and be silly themselves.
They now will want to talk and engage in the class…because the class is fun!
Repeatedly trying to get students engaged with pre-planned teaching methods won't improve their English…speaking English will improve their English.
And if the class atmosphere is fun, if they make a mistake…they may not go into their shell as easily.
They may happily accept your correction and then wait eagerly for the next activity…because the atmosphere was no longer a second school on their laptop. Their class with you is now a chance to practice interacting with a native English speaker…whilst having a fun-filled, enjoyable time.

When engaging your online student in conversation, it's all about asking questions within good categories.

Winning categories are things like:

Food
Animals
Superheroes

If you ask questions such as…
‘Can you tell me the top five museums in Europe?'
It's not an engaging question, unless they're really high ability…and like museums.
So your go-to things are food and animals, because if you ask about animals, then you give yourself a lot more opportunity for easy expansion.
You can do things like animal noises, or you can ask ‘What's your favourite animal?' Or…
‘What colour is a panda?' etc.
And with food, you can ask ‘What did you have for breakfast today?'
And then you could start singing a little song about what they had for breakfast.
Be kind to yourself with the categories of questioning you select! For example, if you have Chinese students, you can talk about interesting foods in China such as century egg.
Finally, ‘superheroes' is always a good category because it really engages a lot of young students.

Why is a background important for Online Teaching?
For some platforms for teaching kids, it is a requirement.
Therefore, you want your classroom to look sort of like a studio. You want your students to see your online classroom as a learning environment.
You don't want your background to just be a sofa, or someone doing the vacuuming in the background…
However, this can be achieved with a just a simple colorful poster and some good lighting.
For adult teaching platforms, just clean and well-lit environment is necessary.

1. Get organised
Set up your online classroom well in advance of class. So make sure you have all your props and everything you need organised.
2. Take advantage of breaks
In between classes, take some time to relax rather than thinking about the next class.
3. Treat Yourself
Reward yourself at the end of class by doing something you enjoy. This will help keep you motivated.
4. Do the maths
When motivation is low, think about the money that you will earn from the class.
5. See who you're teaching today
Check your schedule and think about the positives of interacting with your student, rather than seeing it as work.
6. Look out the window
Appreciate the fact that you are working from home and don't have to commute.
7. Change things up
Add some variety to your classes to see if it gives you a kick of energy.
8. Energy boost with food
Have some snacks on hand to help perk you up in between classes.
9. Teaching is so important
Remind yourself that you are making a big difference to your student to help pull you through your tiredness slump.
10. Seriously, take a break
If you are really finding it difficult to gain motivation, perhaps think of honing your schedule back a bit until you rejuvenate.

Common reasons for getting turned down for Online Teaching Jobs:
Not meeting the individual platform requirements
Not meeting minimum internet speed of 10mbps download speed and 2mbps upload speed.
Or not communicating well enough or showing enough energy in the demo class.

The Solution? Try Another Platform…

What exactly is a demo video?
Before we jump into how to make a demo video, we could probably benefit from talking a little more about what they are. 
Given that practically the entire process of teaching online takes place, well, online, it probably comes as no surprise when you learn that the traditional interview format doesn't really apply.
A company will often ask you to provide an demo video, either as a means of introducing yourself to your potential new employer or to your potential new students.

The video typically lasts around two minutes, and is just a simple and effective way of showing what you bring to the table. 
Any relevant qualifications should have a light shined on them, and if you can show some of your personality then even better. 

Are demo videos really so important?
Keep in mind that you want your video to stand out. There are a lot of other choices out there, so you need to show people why you should get the job.
There might be plenty of fish in the sea, but you need to convince people that you're the one fish worth catching. 
It will also set you apart from other applicants who refuse to take the next step and actually commit to a demo video. It's a nerve-wracking thing to do, so this will serve to deter many would-be rivals. If you can get your video out there then you're already ahead of the game.

How to make a demo video
Here are some helpful tips and tricks.
Remember, these aren't instructions. So much of what makes or breaks an introduction video is you. Your personality, your professionalism, your attitude… no amount of props, lighting or eye contact will help you if you seem like you don't want to be there. 

Introduction Video vs Demo Video
Most of the time it is the same thing, but there is a key difference. The introduction part of the video is simply introducing yourself, but a demo video is you displaying your teaching style. Therefore you should always try to do both regardless of whether the wording is ‘Introduction' or ‘Demo' or even ‘Greeting'.

With that in mind, let's finish up with some advice:
1. Have an Introduction
Students prefer the teachers who have a Greeting Video so that they can get an idea of what the classes are like.

2. Record appropriately
Recording horizontally, 30–60 seconds, less than 150M, aspect ratio of 16:9.

3. Background and lighting
Background: Keep the light bright and have a fun background

4. The content of the video should hit all the key points
Content of introduction part of the video: Name, nationality, hobbies and teaching experience.
Demo video: Applications may give you some content to work with, for example, teach a class using the word ‘moon'. Therefore you can use some flashcards with a ‘Moon' on it. Or you can sing a song about the moon.

5. Sound effects and editing is optional
You don't have to add in sound effects or other editing tricks. This is totally up to you. You could simply record it on your phone or by using the webcam on your laptop.
You may be asked to upload the video as a link. So to do this you can add the video to Google Drive and then share it as a link. Here is how to add a video to Google Drive.

6. Dress the part 
Remember you're applying for a job, so don't turn up in your favourite pyjamas. 

7. Have a quiet environment
Don't record it with distractions in the background. You want to show people you have a calm and almost meditative environment in which to teach.

8. Have a good microphone
This is a bit of a no-brainer but it's worth saying. You want to make sure your voice is picked up so they know what you're saying. You should already have a good microphone if you intend to teach online, but even your phone or webcam will suffice for an introduction video.

9. Be yourself
I know this is the most generic advice in the world, but it's really true. Don't pretend to be someone you're not – you won't be able to keep it up for ever, and your students will know if they're getting something different to what you advertised.

10. Smile!
Your personality is doing most of the work here, and we all remember those grouchy teachers who never smiled a day in their lives. 
Remember to just have fun with it.

TicTacToe is a popular game to play with online students (providing your platform has virtual whiteboard capabilities for both you and your student.
However, you may find that the game isn't always as educational as it could be.
Some games, you might find you and your student sat in silence as you take turns. You may only occasionally say the odd English phrase, such as ‘Good move!' or ‘Your turn'.
But the student really has no reason to interact.
Therefore, TicTacToe needs an upgrade to end the student's silence during the games.
So…
What are the alternative ways to play TicTacToe?
1. Categories TicTacToe
Before the student puts their nought or cross, establish a category, such as ‘animals'.
You then ask the student to say an animal for each of their turns. You also do this yourself.
You can also change this to animal noises…and call it ‘TicTacMoo'.

2. Alphabet TicTacToe
Instead of using a nought and a cross, use the letters of the alphabet.
Much more educational!

3. Numbers TicTacToe
Exactly the same as Alphabet TicTacToe, but just use numbers.

4. Punctuation TicTacToe
Same premise, but now we are using punctuation symbols. This is better for advanced students.

Why this improves the game…
Not only is it more educational, but it creates a lot more topics for conversation! The more conversation, the more rapport gets built…which then gives you a chance to keep your student engaged in class.
The more your student laughs, the more willing they will be to talk!
And teaching a student who likes to talk a lot, makes the classes a lot easier for you…and more beneficial for their English ability.

Many hopeful teachers ask – ‘How does an introvert succeed in a role in which one of the primary requirements is to be outgoing and bubbly?'
While it is true that teaching younger students does require a lot more energy and animated body language, however, simply finding the right platform suited to your teaching style is the solution.
So, the answer is…yes, introverts can teach online.
Here are some tips from a teacher who teaches kids despite having a more introverted personality:
3 Things to Consider for Introvert Teachers
1. Time between classes
The first company I worked with had two minutes between classes. I didn't realize until I started teaching how stressful that was.
My introverted thinking:
The lack of transition time left me feeling anxious and dreading my classes, even for my favorite regular students. My current company has 25 minute classes, leaving 5 minutes in between each class. I get a chance to make my notes, drink some water, let my brain take a break. I feel more ready to teach after a 5 minute break.
2. Number of students
In between the two companies I've worked for, I interviewed with a different company. This company had up to 4 students per class. As I got further into the interview process, I realized how much the idea of having 4 kids in one class was stressing me out. I chose a different company with a 1 on 1 classroom. It's less stressful for me and I really enjoy getting to know kids in this setting.
3. Scheduling
My first company required a set schedule every week. As I got further into teaching, that became very hard on me. Some days it's just harder to turn on my teaching personality. My current company allows me to select the slots I want to teach. I just go into my portal and click on the times I want. It has made teaching so much easier and makes me feel more confident.