If you’ve been thinking of teaching English online, then you’ve come to the right place. Teaching English online involves delivering English language lessons to students on the internet using a video platform such as Zoom. You might also work for a big TEFL company that has its own interactive teaching platform on its system, but they work in similar ways. You might teach individuals or groups, and your students could be from anywhere in the world! This guide will go through some important things to know about teaching English online.

Demand 

The demand for English language teachers online is higher than ever. English has long been a global language which has been used to communicate in a number of situations, from travel to business. Millions of students want to learn and improve their English for personal or professional use and you can be part of that journey.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a boom in online learning, and this has continued to grow. New technology and tools have made learning online easier than ever, with more options for interactive and engaging classes. Online teaching doesn’t have to be about talking at the camera – there are lots of different ways to get learners involved in activities and having fun.

Online learning opens up a lot of advantages for both teachers and students. There’s flexibility and accessibility for both as you can take/ teach lessons at any time from anywhere in the world. Online learning can also be more economical for students (and teachers at times) as they don’t need to spend money and time on transport to and from lessons.

These circumstances, and more, have enabled online TEFL teaching over the last few years, and the demand for it continues to grow as we live in a technologically developing world which both learners and students can use to their advantage.

Requirements 

To teach online, you need a TEFL certification, which can be obtained in a matter of weeks with an online TEFL course. Just like your future students, you can study online from the convenience of your own home and be qualified in no time. The minimum industry hours is 120 hours, which could work for you based on your professional background. However, if you want to give your teaching profile an extra boost or feel more confident, the Level 5 Diploma is a great idea for those who don’t have any previous teaching experience. 

The Level 5 Diploma covers your foundations in TEFL including how to teach grammar and different skills (reading, listening etc). It also covers classroom management in both the traditional and online classrooms so you can be fully prepared for teaching online.

If you want more in-depth knowledge, our specialist Level 5 course in Teaching English Online is the perfect fit. It covers more techniques for teaching online and creating engaging lessons.

A crucial requirement for teaching English online is the technology to go with it. You need a reliable computer or laptop. Don’t try to teach on a tablet or mobile as this can look unprofessional and does not provide a good experience for students. Make sure you have a good headset, microphone and webcam for quality.

You also need to ensure you have a quiet space to teach. This should be free from any noise of other people, animals or even traffic outside. A neutral background is also good, although you can use background blockers on many video applications. You should also have this prepared for any job interviews so you can show your potential employer your set-up.

Steps for teaching English online.

Firstly, you need to build your CV to help your application stand out from the crowd. It’s okay if you don’t have a background in teaching; all skills are transferable. Sell yourself the best you can be, thinking about how your previous experience can translate into being a TEFL teacher. Skills such as organisation, time management, administration and communication are common in many areas and can be applied to being an online English teacher.

You also need an impressive cover letter. It shouldn’t be a generic one you send to each company or school, but should be tailored to the position you are applying for and how you are the right fit for that job. Make reference to the job requirements specifically and how you meet those requirements based on your profile. Research the school and how they work and mention this in your letter to show that you have taken a professional interest in them. Remember to show your attitude to teaching and what you can bring to the lessons.

Choosing an online TEFL company 

There are lots of companies/schools out there advertising for online English teachers. Make sure you do your research about the company and whether it’s reputable, and whether it’s the right one for you.

– Is the company well-known? A quick Google search and social media search will tell you how well-known the company is. You can view their website, any online mentions and see the amount of followers they have. 

– Is the company reputable? There are pages compiled that list online ESL companies and review their hiring processes and day-to-day operations. If they haven’t been paying teachers on time then there will be mentions of this online so you can see any red flags this way. You can also check social media groups for online English teachers.

– How will you be paid and when? As TEFL companies operate in other countries, they might not pay you directly into your bank account but use another payment application (Stripe, Paypal etc). You need to ensure you know when and how you’ll be paid and whether this will work for you and your finances. Check whether there are additional charges or if exchange rates will have a big effect on your salary.

– When are the classes? Each company will have their peak teaching times, often evenings and weekends in their local timezone. This is when you will have more opportunities to teach and earn money so being available at the same time is better, and often a requirement for many schools. If you know you are unavailable at peak times, then you might need to consider another company in another time zone.

Freelance online English teaching

A lot of people opt to work for a company or school, which is a good way to get started as it guarantees you more lessons. It’s also a good way to start out if you don’t have previous teaching experience, as the lesson materials are often already made so there is less stress for a first-time teacher. 

The other option is to teach for yourself and run your own classes. This way can be a lot more lucrative as you set your own rates so your hourly pay will be a lot higher than online companies. You can also control your schedule more. The more difficult aspect is that you have to find your own students, which takes a lot more effort than working for someone else. You need to put the work into advertising your classes and building up your teaching reputation. Referrals are key to growing your own client list!

If you are teaching your own classes, you will likely need to plan the classes yourself and source/create materials. Having access (digital or physical) to good ESL course books that you can use with your students is useful. Take note of any useful websites you find that have good materials and games to use in class so that you can easily find and use them again. 

Remember, each student is different, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, but many materials can be used for students at similar levels. Ensure you take the time to find out why your students are learning English and what they want from the classes. They are the ones paying, so if they tell you they want less grammar and more speaking, go with it!

Challenges of teaching online

– Your teaching set-up might be perfected, but your students are also likely to have technical difficulties, especially students with poor bandwidth in certain countries. Be prepared for this and have patience until things can be smoothed out. They might take a few lessons to get used to online learning and work out how they can do the classes in quiet environment.

– Maintaining your students’ attention online can be more difficult than in the traditional classroom. They have more distractions in their home which might divert their attention. You can’t just talk at them through the screen for an hour – you need to get them involved and enjoy the learning process!

– If you are freelancing then you need to set out clear guidelines for the classes and any policies for late students/ cancellations. Sometimes students think it’s okay to cancel online classes and while at time there may be genuine reasons for cancellations on both sides, if it happens too often you might lose income. Set out a policy for students to follow and to protect yourself in case of multiple cancellations. 

Online teaching can bring many benefits for TEFL teachers and there are many opportunities out there. You can work for multiple companies, if they permit it, which is a good way to establish a full-time schedule if that’s what you’re looking for. Teaching English online can be a rewarding career and give you a lot of flexibility and control over your career. If you think online TEFL teaching could be the right path for you, don’t wait any longer and get your online TEFL certification today!