How to Make Money Teaching English Online
How to make money teaching English online? Thanks to the power of the interwebs, it is now more possible to find a side hustle. Are you good at English grammar? Do you have good writing skills? Are you patient enough to teach? If yes, then you can make a career out of it, or at least earn some extra cash doing it part-time.
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Teaching English Online Can Be Lucrative
Teaching English online is a great way to make some extra cash if you already have a job. Depending on where you live and how much the platform pays, it can even be a full time job if you dedicate enough time for it.
For those of you who don’t know, I am actually a certified English teacher. I got my certificate almost 10 years ago and have over 9 years of teaching experience. What I did not enjoy about teaching was the fact that I had to interact with people every day. I am a hardcore introvert, and interacting with people drains me.
However, when I found out about teaching online, it was a whole different thing. I started out as part time a few years ago when I still had a job, then, living in Turkey, I realized that it was indeed possible to make a living with it, while building my online business at the same time. So I started teaching online full time and enjoyed it. The social interactions were not so horrible, although I had to speak to different students every day, but it was on my terms, I worked when I felt like it, and didn’t get online when I didn’t want to.
What I liked about teaching online was the flexibility and the fact that I didn’t have coworkers, a boss or having to go out of the house every day.
Who is Eligible to Teach English Online?
This will depend on the platform you are applying to. Some platforms require a degree and a teaching certificate, while some don’t.
Do I Need a Degree?
Most high-paying platforms will require you to have a degree like TESOL, TEFL, CELTA etc. This will depend on you and how serious you are about teaching English online. If you want to do it as a hobby just to make some extra money, then a degree won’t be necessary. But keep in mind that the platform you will work for won’t pay much. However, if you want to make it a full-time job, it’s better to invest in a degree and then start applying.
Native vs Non-Native Speakers
There is a myth about not being able to get a job as an English teacher if you are not a native speaker. Well, I am a living example that it’s not true. I got English teaching jobs both online and in the real world being a non-native speaker.
If your English pronunciation is clear enough, and if your grammar is good enough, I believe you can give it a shot. A teaching degree will definitely help though.
Tech Requirements
The requirements to teach English online are quite basic. I have divided these into two sections. One is necessary and one is optional.
Necessary Requirements
- A stable internet connection: Most platforms have a minimum download and upload requirement and will ask you to perform a speed test and send them a screenshot.
- A computer: goes without saying, but yes, you need a good computer or a laptop.
- Webcam: you will be on video with your future students, so you need a web cam. You can use the one on your laptop or buy a separate webcam.
- Headset: you will want your students to be able to hear you clearly. Investing in a good headset is a good idea.
Optional Props
- Lighting: feel free to invest in lighting; especially if you are planning to do this full time. Otherwise, using natural day light is fine too.
- Colorful background: this will be useful especially if you are planning to teach children.
- Flashcards/toys etc: again, if you plan on teaching children, these can be useful.
How Much Money Can I Make Teaching English Online?
Finally the fun part 🙂 How much can you make if you decide to teach English online?
The pay rate will depend on the platform itself. Do keep in mind that, the higher they pay, the more they will ask from you. While some companies pay $10 per hour or less, you can find others that pay $25 or more per hour. I am providing a list of a few companies you could get started with if you’re interested in teaching English online.
Online English Teaching Websites
I did some research on the most popular online teaching platforms and the best ones in terms of paying on time; however, please do your due diligence and research any company before you apply for it. My favorite place to get honest reviews about these companies is Reddit. You can check out R/OnlineESLTeaching if you have any questions. Here is the list:
Online English Teaching Jobs and Platforms:
VIPKid is one of the biggest online English teaching companies in China. The students are children between 5 and 15 of age.
VIPKid pays $14 to $22 per hour. They require a Bachelor degree or above. A teaching certificate is not a requirement but it’s preferred.
Verbling is a platform where you need to create a profile and choose your own hourly rate. It offers lessons in many different languages and teachers are normally qualified. Most English teachers on Verbling charge between $18 and $30 per hour.
Cambly is an online chat platform where you can meet students from different countries and the lessons are very relaxed. While some students wan to learn grammar, others prefer just having a conversation. I personally worked there and it’s pretty down to earth. You don’t need to prepare anything for the lessons. The pay is low, but it’s an easy way to make some extra cash. They pay $0.17 per chat minute, which is $10.20 per hour. Weekends are quite busy on this platform.
Magic ears is a popular platform where you can teach kids between 5 and 15 years old. They do all the lesson scheduling for you and provide you with lesson plans etc. The pay rate is between $18 and $25 per hour.
Preply is a platform like Verbling. You can create your profile and choose your own rate. Most teachers charge between $10 and $35 per hour. Students are mostly kids, but you can also find adults on the platform.
Lingoda is a bit different compared to other platforms. You can only teach adults on Lingoda, and you can also teach other languages. Currently, the languages available are: English, Spanish, German and French. Most classes are small groups of 5 students. The pay rate is between $8 and $13 per hour.
Shiliu Education is a platform based in China. The students are children and teenagers between 5 and 18. They have certain hours that they require you to work, but you can choose your hours. The pay rate is between $34 and $55 per hour.
Voxy focuses more on business English, although you may encounter young learners too. The company is based in New York and tends to seek highly professional qualified teachers. They have set hours and pay between $10 and $15 per hour.
iTalki has quickly gained popularity among both students and teachers. Students can browse different tutor profiles to find what best suits their needs. As a tutor, this platform allows you the flexibility to work on your own terms. You can choose your hours and price.
There are two types of teachers on iTalki. Community and professional teachers. If you have a teaching degree, you can apply as a professional teacher and charge more; however, without a degree, you can apply for a community tutor position.
English is not the only language taught on iTalki. They have over 150 languages available.
Open English is a company focused on students from Latin America. If you speak either Spanish or Portuguese, it’s a plus. They have flexible working hours, but do require that all tutors teach at least 10 hours per week.
The students are mostly teenagers (15-18) and adults.
Teaching English Online - Final Words
Teaching English online can be a great way to either make extra money as a side gig, or you can turn it into a completely new career. Onboarding and interview processes could take time depending on the platforms, but it’s definitely worth giving it a shot. I hope you have enjoyed this blog post about how to make money teaching English online.