Teaching English Online  — 4 Easy Steps with TEFL Jobs and Salaries

Step 1

Teaching English Online Qualifications, Salaries, Technology and more

Hey you’re applying for jobs as a teacher. Let’s grab a glass of wine and do a bit of homework.

In this section you will learn about …

What qualifications are needed

Most online teaching jobs require a 4-year degree plus a TEFL, TESOL or Celta certification. But don’t stop there. Brush up on your grammar and vocabulary.  The basic qualifications are …

If you are not a US or Canadian citizen you may want to check the fine-print of the hiring companies’ requirements. The preferred accent of many companies is US/Canadian. Sorry Brits, I know it was your language first.

Can I get an online English teaching job without a degree?

Teaching English Online Without a 4-year College Degree.

Yes, the following school will hire good candidates without a degree. Q-Kids wants a 2-year degree. A 120 hour TEFL from the best program you can afford is key to getting hired without a bachelor’s degree.

There are many more companies that do not require a 4-year degree to teach for them in our List of Online Teaching Jobs. 

What is the salary for online English teachers?

Online English Teacher Salary

Jobs teaching English online generally pay by the hour. But by the hour teaching. You won’t be paid for any prep work.  Some pay a flat rate per class but you can always calculate the per hour rate for comparison purposes. The classes are usually under 1-hour. So a job that pays $20/hr and has 30-minute classes would pay $10 per class.

There are often bonuses of a few dollars here and there. Most employers have a sliding scale with some flexibility for very seasoned teachers. If you have been teaching for a while, ace that interview and dazzle them with a great lesson. Experienced teachers should always ask for more than the original offer. There is usually some room for good teachers.

Let’s look at a typical online English teaching job from a major employer …

VIPKID is one of the best known online English learning platforms Teachers at VIPKID make a base rate of $7-$9 USD per class. This is determined during your interview based on your interview performance and background. Here is a breakdown of the VIPKID pay …

With 25-minute classes, you can teach two classes in an hour. This makes wage rate $18-$22/hour with both incentives with a 10-minute break.

Not private jet money for sure but you can make a few hundred to a few thousand per month. For a young family, recent grads living overseas and others, it is a significant amount of money.

Some example work profiles …

Can I teach while traveling?

Teaching English Online while Traveling

One of the great things about teaching English online is that you can do it from anywhere. I have been a location independent worker for over 6 years. Most of the expats I meet are English teachers. Many work in local centers (a good option) and many either teach English full time online or supplement their local jobs with online teaching.

The big advantage is that you are living in very low cost of living areas like SE Asia but getting paid in USD. That 25-hour per week teacher getting $2k per month can not support a family in most US areas. In Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mexico and many other places, you will live well. If you are a couple of teachers, you can live very well.

Just be careful that your living space has a quiet area and good Internet. Best to start in a modern hotel as you look for local space. Bring your phone and test the wifi when you look at apartments. Give yourself a few-month cushion of savings to get online or in-center jobs, housing, etc.

What technology do I need effectively teach online?

Computer and Other Technology Required

Most hiring companies will have a list of technology requirements. You can always borrow but do whatever you can to have it all in place before your interviews This will be a part of how your application is considered so don’t put this off until the last minute.

Computer

Laptops are certainly handy and have built-in video. If you are going to travel as an online English teacher they are a required item. On the other hand, desktops are more reliable, less expensive, have more screen area, and are easier & cheaper to fix if you do have an issue. For laptops, a 13″ -15″ screen is typical. Larger screens definitely have their place but they start to defeat the purpose of a laptop – portability.

Most newer laptops or desktops will be powerful enough. Have a minimum of 4gb of RAM. If you are using an older computer go with at least 8GB of RAM. You will find you have a few windows and processes running so more memory helps.

Tablets and Phones — These are best used as additional tools.You may want to look something up  as you  are  teaching. But don’t try to run a class or do the interview with mobile devices.

You will find having an external mouse vs. just a trackpad is helpful. A proper headset and WebCam, however, are must-haves.

WebCam

You want a decent webcam. This is the portal to your student and it makes the first impression. In a new MacBook or laptop, the built-in webcam is likely fine. For desktops or older laptops get a separate webcam. They are not expensive.

Headset with Boom Mic

Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to hear your student or your voice being hollow and of poor quality.  You definitely want a separate headset. Do not really on the speakers of your laptop or desktop. Many companies recommend using the Logitech H390 or Sades A7. But equivalents are fine.

Definitely don’t try to use earbuds or cheap headphones — even if they have an inline mic. They can be used in a pinch or as a backup but are very undesirable.

Reliable Internet

In addition to the proper hardware, having high-speed and stable internet is essential to teach online. Most companies recommend a speed of around 20 Mbps, ideally, the computer is hardwired by Ethernet cable to the router. You can test your Internet speed at Okla.

Step 2

GETTING YOUR TEFL CERTIFICATION

The acronyms in the English teaching world can be confusing. You have … TEFL, TESL, TESOL, and CELTA courses to prepare you to teach English online or at language centers. Let’s break that down a bit …

• TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). This certification prepares you to teach in a country where English is not the primary language. Online teachers or in-country language centers for students in China, So Korea, Japan, Mexico etc.

• TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language). This certification is for people teaching English to foreigners in an English speaking country like teaching English to recent Spanish immigrants in New York.
• TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). This combines both TEFL and TESL. This is prepares someone to do both ESL and EFL teaching. Masters degrees are often a TESOL major.
• CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). This is a specific brand of TESOL-like  program that is affiliated with Cambridge University. Some hiring companies prefer Celta due to its uniform curriculum.

For teaching English online a TEFL or CELTA is the typical certification.

How to Choose a TEFL Course

This can get overwhelming. There are so many schools. The programs range from 40 hours to 200+ hours. They can be done online, at universities, or at a language center. In fact, many take the TEFL in exotic places like Phuket, Thailand. Some curses have practical class-work with critiques of lesson plans.

The TEFL certification is further complicated by there be no consistent accreditation body so it is a bit like the wild-wild-West. And finally, many TEFL programs heavily use affiliate marketing to drive business. This means reviews and ads should be carefully examined. There is potential bias as bloggers are paid to promote specific companies.

It is best to go with a minimum of 100 hours of academic coursework and training. Often this is done as a 4-week in-person course but can be done on-line or part-time.

Be cautious with TEFL training. The industry is not uniform in quality, price, or accreditation

Premium In-person Training

It may be best to start at the top of the market. Which is a company like International TEFL Academy. They are a good-sized company with both on-line and in-country programs. There is something to be said for in-person training for many people. There is an energy to being in a group that helps with the learning process. Most of the country’s locations include 4-weeks of housing. Details vary by location so check the details. To give you an idea of the pricing and countries that have training …

You don’t need to pay this much. It will not get you a better job online. They may be able to open some doors for first in-country jobs. They are ideal for new college grads who have some family support. If anyone is more than a bit apprehensive about heading off to a faraway land, a larger program like this with support and backup may be preferred.

The other end of the spectrum is a low-cost online TEFL program to punch your ticket. These can start as low as $500. Be sure to get at least 100 hrs. Some have optional 20-hour classroom training with ESL students. This is not required to get a TEFL., particularly not for the online TEFL workers. But experience never hurts so if you get the chance … go for it.

For most Online English teacher employers every 100+ hour TEFL is viewed the same.

TEFL Courses and Resources

Here is a shortlist of TEFL classes to get you going.

Appllying for a TEFL Job

In almost all cases the actual application is straight-forward. If you meet their minimums you will almost certainly get an interview. Just be sure to check the school’s requirements and complete the online application. At this point, online schools are casting a very wide net.

You are applying for a position as an English teacher. Do be careful with spelling and grammar.

What happens after the application?

Interviewing for a position – Top 5 Tips

The interview stage is where you want to shine.

The hiring manager looks at this both as a potential employer and as a customer. First impressions are so important.

1. Prepare & Test

2. Know your tech stuff

There is a good chance you will be asked about your technology infrastructure. Make a list of the following basic items for reference during the call.

3. Find a quiet place to conduct the interview.

This is a key item. If you get interrupted or have distracting background noise for the interview the hiring manager will assume the same problem will happen with the students.

Try to have good lighting and a clean background. If you can make it look a little classroom like go for it. These are things to work out in the trial run with friends.

Roll play in the interview. Imagine that the recruiter IS a student.

Dress Professionally — Business Casual

4. Be enthusiastic –

Attitude is so important. A recruiter knows they can teach many/most people the mechanics of teaching. They also know that can’t change you. no one is looking for perfection. But all recruiters want someone who cares about teaching and the students. Someone who wants to do this job, not a backpacker or slacker.

Sometimes what you don’t do is more important

Likely Questions

Of course no one can predict the exact questions but you should be prepared for some common questions asked by many interviewers. The questions will likely fall into one of these categories …

• General questions  — The interview wants to know about you. Your work experience, maturity level, education levels, TEFL status, where you will teach etc. These will be questions like …
  • Can you please introduce yourself?
  • What are your hobbies?
  • Do you work now?
• Teaching online related questions — These are designed to determine if you have a good attitude and knowledge of the online English Teaching profession. They may also ask about your technology knowledge and infrastructure.
  • What do you like about teaching online?
  • Do you have questions for me about teaching online?
  • How would you deal with a shy child in an online classroom?
  • Are you shy? Comfortable being silly on camera?
• Teaching Experience and enthusiasm — Degrees and certifications are often required and valuable. Attitude, love of education and teaching is often as important to a hiring manager.
  • Why do you want to be an English teacher?
  • Do you have any teaching experience?
  • How many years have you been teaching? To what age children? Adults?
  • Please tell me a bit about your background in education?
  • What is your greatest strength and weakness as a teacher?
  • Can you describe your teaching method and style?
• Trick Questions — These are designed to get you a bit off guard or self-critical.
  • What is your greatest weakness?
  • What makes a good teacher?
  • How do you think that demo class went?
  • Who is your hero?
  • Do you like kids?

When all is said and done you want to be prepared and have done your homework. No one is expecting perfection. If there is any small problem the way you calmly handle it is the concern.

The impression you want to leave the recruiter with is … bright, strong English skills, neutral accent, good work ethic, and personable.

FAQ for Teaching English Online and TEFL

How much can I make as an online English teacher?

It is all up to you. Generally plan on $15-$20 per hour. Do I need to be a computer expert?

No. You are likely already familiar with many of the tools you will use as an online English teacher.

Is it hard to become an onlineTEFLteacher?

Just follow the four steps above and you will be teaching in no time. The main thing is to take action and get TEFL certified.

Is it expensive to get TEFL Certified?

The range of cost (and quality) of TEFL certifications has a swing from a few-hundred to a few-thousand USD. At the high end, from $1,500 – $2,500 plus airfare, you can fly off to some remote place for 4 weeks and get it done in style. Nice graduation gift! At the low-end, there have been Groupons for $250 40-hour classes.

Can this be a full time job?

Sure. If you can get a private lesson even better. Few manage to bill more than 30 hours a week. You can grow into things like IELTs or college-level teaching as well.

Can I live on a beach in Asia teach online and pay my bills?

Actually this is easy. Particularly if you are traveling with a friend or partner. I have met hundreds of people who do this.

Do I need a work permit to teach online?

Teaching online is often either exempt or a technical grey area for many countries. Where teaching in a local language center in a foreign country almost always technically requires a work permit.

Always check with in-country expats and immigration experts or the consulates.