In our increasingly digital world, teaching English online has become a popular and flexible career choice. It is easy to see why; teaching English online gives you the opportunity to work from the comfort of your own home or from anywhere else in the world. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or pursue a full-time teaching career, the following guide will walk you through the essential steps to start teaching English online.
Qualifications and Skills
Before jumping headfirst into this career, let’s take a look at the necessary qualifications and skills you’ll need to succeed.
First and foremost, the qualifications. You’ll need some form of education to become an online English teacher. It speaks for itself that you’ll need a strong command of the English language, often at a native or near-native level, as this is crucial for teaching effectively. While a Bachelor’s Degree isn’t a requirement, higher-level institutions usually prefer it.
The minimum requirement when you don’t have a Bachelor’s Degree is a TEFL or TESOL certification. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Both certifications are recognized around the world and provide you with essential teaching techniques and methods for non-native English speakers.
Teaching English online isn’t just about the English language. Other skills you’ll need to succeed in this career are interpersonal skills. Clear, effective communication is key to teaching, especially when working with students from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. You’ll be working with students from various cultures, so understanding and respecting cultural differences is important. Since online teaching allows you to work across different time zones, good time management skills are essential to organise your schedule efficiently. And last but not least, engaging students online often requires creativity in lesson planning and delivery. You may need to develop interactive and varied materials to keep lessons interesting.
Technical Requirements
So, do you think you have what it takes to teach online? Technical requirements are an important part of being an online English teacher. A stable, high-speed internet connection is crucial for video calls and online teaching platforms. Most platforms recommend a minimum upload and download speed of 10 Mbps to ensure smooth video and audio quality without interruptions. In today’s world, you’ll find that kind of internet connection almost everywhere. And if you want to play it safe, a wired Ethernet connection is more reliable than Wi-Fi and reduces the risk of dropped connections or lag during lessons.
A modern, reliable computer or laptop with sufficient processing power is necessary to handle video calls, screen sharing, and other teaching tools. Look for at least 8 GB of RAM and a multi-core processor to ensure smooth performance. A good quality webcam is essential for clear video communication. Most built-in laptop cameras suffice, but an external HD webcam can improve video clarity and professionalism.
PRO TIP: A headset with a built-in microphone and noise-cancelling features is recommended to ensure clear audio and minimise background noise during lessons. This enhances the student experience and makes communication smoother.
Since you’ll be communicating with your students through video, familiarising yourself with popular video conferencing tools is a must. Take the time to learn about Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. Determine which platform works best for you and inform yourself of some basic troubleshooting in case something goes wrong. Some teaching platforms also have built-in video functionalities.
Choosing your target audience
When deciding to teach English online, choosing your target audience is one of the most critical steps. This decision will influence your teaching style, lesson plans, and even where you advertise your services. Additionally, you’ll need to decide whether to work through an established platform or pursue a freelance teaching career.
Start by considering your own teaching experience and personal interests. If you have experience working with children, for instance, you might feel more confident focusing on young learners. On the other hand, if you enjoy more complex discussions or are interested in specialised English—like business or technical English—you might prefer teaching adults. In addition to your own interest, research the current demand for online English teachers. Certain areas often have higher demand than others. For example, there’s always a strong need for teachers specializing in exam preparation, such as IELTS or TOEFL, and for those who can teach business English to professionals.
Freelance vs Platforms
Once you’ve identified your target audience, you should decide whether to work through an established online teaching platform or freelance. Both options offer unique advantages and disadvantages.
Working with a platform gives you access to a pre-existing student base. You don’t have to go chasing after cliënts yourself. Platforms already have a large pool of students looking for teachers, which means less effort in marketing yourself. Platforms handle much of the administrative work, such as scheduling, payments, and customer support. This allows you to focus more on teaching and less on the business side of things. However, Platforms typically take a percentage of your earnings, meaning your hourly rate may be lower than if you were freelancing. Additionally, some platforms set fixed rates, giving you little flexibility in deciding your own pay, as well as flexibility in scheduling and how many hours you wish to work.
Freelancing as an online English teacher is the opposite. As a freelancer, you set your own rates, which often allows you to earn more per lesson compared to working with a platform. You also keep all of your earnings without having to share a percentage with a third-party platform. You also have control over when, where and what you wish to teach. Want to take a week off for an impromptu vacation? No problem. But, unlike platforms that provide a ready-made student base, freelancers need to actively market themselves to find students. This can be time-consuming, especially when starting out and trying to build your reputation. Freelancing requires you to handle all aspects of your business, from scheduling and payments to customer service. This added responsibility can be overwhelming, especially if you’re balancing teaching with running the business side of things.