How to Become an English Teacher Online

Teaching online is the prefered way to work for many ESL teachers as it allows for greater flexibility of time, location and comfort. Teaching English online can connect you with people from all over the world and open new doors for you to progress your career.

To become an English teacher online, you will need the following:

• A computer with a webcam,
• A headset and microphone,
• High-speed broadband connection,
• Skype or Zoom,
• A TESOL/TEFL Certificate,
• Expert or native-level command of the English language,
• An up-to-date CV or Resume and
• Be at least 18-years old.

The requirements for teaching English online are not demanding at all, and you don’t need much to get started. Once you have gained your accredited certification, you will need to either find an online ESL company to work in or become a freelance private English teacher.

TESOL/TEFL Certification

To teach ESL online, you don’t necessarily need a university or college degree unless a position specifically requires it. What you need, however, is a TESOL/TEFL Certification from a reputable internationally accredited company or program.

Read my article on How to Get an English Teaching Certificate Online and get 20% off when you purchase a course through International TEFL and TESOL Training when you click here.

Certifications can be completed either online or in class, depending on what you desire.

Where to Find an Online English Teaching Job

ESL Employment is a great way to start looking for opportunities online. To look at their wide range of openings, just type ‘online’ in the keywords section and choose your desired region.

Oakary is a company that connects you to online ESL teaching opportunities when you submit your application. They act as the middleman between you and potential employers.

ESL Companies that Hire Teachers Online

Once you’ve completed the steps on how to become an English Teacher online, you’ll need to focus on where to find a job online. English education is always in high demand, and thus many companies hire people to teach online regularly.

These companies use various teaching models. However, you should expect to have to option to teach either one-on-one or more than one online classes.

A lot of ESL companies, especially ones in China, require teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree in any field of study which is non-negotiable, unfortunately.

ESL Companies that Don’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree

All prices are in USD 

Berlitz 

Berlitz is an international company that hires teachers with or without experience. Teachers are required to commit to 4.5 hours of work a day, and the company provides all the training, materials and lesson plans.

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Adults
• Pay: $7.5 per 45 minute session or $15 per 90 minute session

Amazing Talker

Amazing Talker allows tutors to teach up to as many hours as they want, set their schedule and create their lesson plans. Tutors are matched with learners on the platform and set their rates. Teachers will need experience as finding students is very competitive.

• Class Size: One-one-One
• Students: Adults
• Pay: Potential monthly income of $2349

SayABC (College/University Students only)

SayABC is a subsidiary of VIPKid and pays quite well compared to other companies. Only those pursuing a bachelor’s degree or graduates will be able to secure contract longer than three months with SayABC.

• Class Size: One to four students.
• Students: Children from China
• Pay: Up to $17 per 40-minutes

Cambly

Student’s all over the world use Cambly after school hours, so this could be an excellent opportunity to earn some side income.

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Elementary, High-Schoolers, Adults
• Pay: $0.17 per minute ($10.20 per hour)

CafeTalk 

The students you’ll find on CafeTalk are adult age Japanese people in various professions and walks of life. You’ll be able to set rates and design your lessons to suit your student’s needs.

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Adults from Japan
• Pay: $8-25 per hour

Palfish (App)

Teachers use either their smartphone or tablet to teach students on the Palfish App. The teaching schedule is quite flexible, with a minimum of 3.5 hours per week, and they hire both native and non-native English speakers!

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Children and Adults
• Pay: Set your rates (Average is $10-20 per hour)

Italki 

One of the best platforms for freelance English teachers! Italki is popular, so there are many students on its platform. However, this also means that there are many teachers that you’ll need to compete against Try to make an outstanding profile, and you will fill up your schedule in no time.

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Adults
• Pay: Set your rates

SkimaTalk 

SkimaTalk requires teachers to make their first three lessons free of charge before being able to set their rates. Students send you their learning goals so you’ll be able to tailor your lesson around them.

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Student: All ages
• Pay: Set your rates per 25-minute session (Average is $8-12)

ESL Companies that Require a Bachelor’s Degree

VIPKID  (Need eligibility to work in the US or Canada)

This company from Beijing has its curriculum and teachers are required to show that they can effectively teach it. VIPKID was ranked in the top three companies for remote jobs by Forbes. Their program is highly interactive, and all lesson plans are pre-made, which makes teaching super fun!

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Children from China
• Pay: $14-22 per hour

GoGoKid

GoGoKid makes use of a credit score system which can increase the amount you are paid each month by 125%!

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Children from China
• Pay: $14-25 per hour

English First (UK and US citizens only)

While most of the companies on this list are in China, English First is a US-owned company and one of the oldest English language learning platforms in the world. There is a high work ethic in the company culture and is internationally recognized as a leader in the industry. Classes are organized in 25-45 minute time slots, and there is a 5-hour minimum workweek.

• Class Size: One to five students
• Students: Children and Adults from China
• Pay: $10-17 per hour

DaDa

DaDa has a fixed schedule (6 pm-9 pm Monday-Friday and 9 am-9 pm on weekends Beijing Time) and provide free training courses for teachers. All the lesson plans are prepared for you by the company.

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: Children from China
• Pay: $15-25 per hour

QKids (US and Canada only)

QKid’s offer six-month contracts and require a minimum of 6 hours per week of work.

• Class Size: One to four students
• Students: Children from China
• Pay: $16-20 per hour

Live Lingua

Live Lingua is one of the oldest ESL companies in the world, and you’ll be required to commit to 15 hours a week if you get a position. This company requires all its teachers to have at least two years of minimum work experience.

• Class Size: One-on-One
• Students: All ages
• Pay: $10-15 per hour

Golden Voice English (US and Canada only)

Similar to most of the other ESL companies on this list. However, you’ll be matched with the same students consistently, which will allow you to see your students’ progress and development.

• Class Size: One to seven students
• Students: Children from China
• Pay: $20 per hour

What to Expect from Teaching English Online

Teaching English online does not pay as much as teaching in a real classroom. However, the ease of working from the comfort of home and having a system laid out for you is what makes this a well sought after job.

As an online ESL teacher, you will be meeting and talking to people from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds. If you’re planning on moving abroad to work in countries like China, Korea, Japan or Thailand, then teaching online can be a fantastic opportunity. You will be able to know and understand the students from these countries better and add valuable experience to your resume.

If you’re already an ESL teacher, then doing extra work online can fill up your schedule and bring in some well-deserved extra income.

Teaching online is a different experience from the classroom, and it may be hard to adjust to at first. You will not have as much control over a webcam as you would in front of a whiteboard. There will be technical issues from time to time that will make life frustrating, but the benefits greatly outweigh any negatives.

Online education and the demand for an online option for students has steadily increased over the last few years. The current trend indicates that there will always be online teaching opportunities out there for determined English teachers looking to try new things.