What if you learned how to make money online teaching your native language?
All you need is a computer and a stable WiFi connection, and you can make money from anywhere in the world!
There is an incredible amount of location-independent jobs around the world, and there are many popular “freelanceable” jobs out there. People are making money online more than ever and finding creative ways to do it. But, I’m only going to focus on one in this article:
Teaching English online!
How to Teach English Online
When you think about, what job isn’t going online nowadays? Teaching English is just another one to add to the list.
English is the global language of business in our society and roughly 20% of the world’s population speaks it. That has skyrocketed the demand for English teachers in countries across the globe. For native English speakers itching to find work online, this creates a unique opportunity.
Plus, learning English online is just as convenient for students as it is for teachers.
It makes sense, don’t you think? People are already overworked. After taking care of the kids, working all day, making dinner, running errands and whatever else they have on their plate, fitting in a class at a language center is not an option. And don’t forget about the youngsters who are just as eager to learn another language early in their development. They also have busy schedules to squeeze in an English class.
And so… Welcome to the new wave of location independent jobs! Teaching English online is an exciting thing for both teachers and students!
The concept is simple. You both log on to an online platform. It might be a virtual classroom or just Skype. Then, you have a lesson. You converse. You correct mistakes. You have fun!
People wanting to learn English can now schedule a class at any time of the day and converse with a native speaker around the world via an online platform. This couldn’t get any more convenient for both parties. I mean, unless they make a microchip we can insert into our brain that automatically allows us to speak whatever language we want… Teaching online is the best route to go!
So? Stoked to see how you can get the ball rolling on this? I thought so…
What’s the Concept for Teaching English Online?
It’s pretty simple. The world is becoming more globalized and English is the language of choice to communicate. English is desperately needed more and more every day.
English speakers are needed more than ever and people are too busy to get lessons at a language center, or perhaps it’s not even offered in their city. That means the online English teacher position has now grown into a full-fledged career and people like you are needed!
Your students will range from kids to the elderly who are bored and have nothing else to do. I don’t want that to sound bad, but I really had 60-70-year-olds who told me they were bored, wanted to learn and talk to people.
You might have businessmen and women who are looking to rise up the ranks in their company and need English speaking skills. Also, you might teach students hoping to study abroad or people who have upcoming travels looking to speak English to get around easier.
There are group lessons where you chat with multiple people, and sometimes it’s just a one on one lesson.
When I was teaching English online, I would sometimes teach beginner students who knew five and a half words in English! It wasn’t easy but there are tools out there to help you. Which brings me to my next point…
What Tools Are There for Teaching English Online?
Depending on which company you work for, you may have lots of tools that make teaching English easy and fun. For example, the company I worked for had a PowerPoint presentation in my virtual classroom that presented the lesson I taught. It included grammar exercises, pictures, listening activities, and other features so I don’t have to plan very much. The student could also SEE many things to aid them when they are at a lower level which is helpful.
If your student doesn’t understand a word and sees a picture that your mouse is pointing to, this is an aid to help explain. My classroom included a chat box that really came in handy. Perhaps my student is pronouncing something that I simply can’t catch, they can type it for me. Or if there was something I wanted to spell out for the student, I can chat back to them. It also had a notes section for anything else I needed to add and the student could copy and paste those notes to keep.
Some online classes are simply done on Skype. The only feature you really have on this platform is the chat box. Depending on your awesome teaching abilities, teaching beginners might not be a feasible option, but otherwise, you’re golden. All you need is your voice.
Also, let’s not forget about online translators. Do they translate sentences well? Eh, not always. A word? Yeah, it’s not so bad. So if you can’t get an explanation of a word across, use an online translator in the student’s language to copy and paste it in the chat. Easy.
Do I Use a Camera?
I was very lucky. I could teach in my PJs because I didn’t have to use a camera. We just had a normal conversation and looked through some slides. Depending on the online school you teach through, you may or may not need a camera.
I LOVED not having to use one. It made life easier, that’s for sure. But, the way things are going nowadays, I think it’s becoming more of a requirement when teaching online. The more effort you need to put in, like using a camera or preparing the lessons by hand, the more you get paid. Which leads me to my next point…
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How Much Do I Get Paid as an Online English Teacher?
I’m sure you want to talk about money. How much can you actually earn teaching English online?
Sorry, you’re not going to like my answer but it, of course, depends on the company. You can get paid anywhere from a few dollars an hour to over $40 USD an hour.
Some sites pay you hourly and already have a pool of students waiting for a teacher. There are also sites like Tutor Agent where you set your own pay rate, but you must attract the students yourself.
I prefer going to companies that already have a pool of students to teach online. It makes earning money online THAT much easier. When you’re trying to work from anywhere, you don’t want to worry about attracting students. That’s the long road. Of course, you have the potential to make more money because you get to name your own price…
What I think the best solution is: Find a company that’s willing to teach you how to teach English online. Get your feet wet, teach online for a while and try to get your own pool of students started in the background. That will let you have the best of both worlds. If you become badass enough at teaching English online, you can eventually quit the company and just run your own show – making money from anywhere! Sounds pretty sweet, right?
There’s one thing you can count on though, the more responsibility you take on, i.e. using a webcam, making the lesson by hand, extending teaching hours, etc. The more cash you make! So don’t be scared away by a school that asks a lot from you, you will likely get paid a pretty penny for your time.
Making Schedules
So what about the schedule? Some require you to have a set time every day and some allow ultimate freedom letting you choose your weekly schedule. I had the latter, which was awesome. Again, it depends on the company! There are many jobs out there, so if you qualify, you can be choosy to find the one that fits you best.
Ultimately, most jobs I’ve seen have lots of flexibility. So this is a huge plus when teaching English from home. Whether you’re a night owl or a morning person, you can work whenever you want because there are always students around the globe ready to learn. Even if it’s midnight for you, you can log in and teach someone who’s elsewhere in the world!
RELATED: Can You Teach English Online/Abroad Without a Degree?
Do I Have to Be a “Real” Teacher to Teach English From Home?
Nope. When you teach ESL (English as a second language), you don’t need to be a “real teacher.” What I mean by that is you don’t have to be technically qualified with a degree in education and whatever else you need to teach a subject in your home country.
It’s not necessary. This is mostly a conversational class, not a full-on grammar lesson.
The minimum requirement is just being fluent in English. Oh, and being nice, cool and maybe a few other requirements…
What Are the Requirements to Teach English From Home?
If you’re trying to teach English online, the general requirements are:
– Some ESL teaching experience
– Native English speaker
– Bachelors in any subject
– TEFL certification, preferable unless you have many years of experience or a degree in teaching
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Now, I call these the general requirements. Some might require more from you, or you might get away without having one of them. You will have to check with the particular company.
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Technical Requirements Teaching English From Home
These will be required regardless of what company you choose!
1. A quiet space to teach in.
2. Decent computer to work from.
3. Headset and a webcam.
4. A reliable internet connection.
What’s so Great About Teaching English Online?
It’s pretty awesome! Here’s why I loved it…
1. I worked from home.
2. I spoke with cool people around the world.
3. I made my own schedule.
4. I pretty much got paid to simply have conversations.
5. I got to work in my PJs. Whoop whoop! (OK let’s be real, usually just my underwear! Ha! No shame and also, no camera… Thankfully.)
6. I got to make money from anywhere! (I’ve taught English online in seven countries!)
I currently don’t teach English from home anymore because I now blog full time. However, I know that teaching English online will be there should I want to get back in it. I can’t recommend it enough!
29 Great Teach English From Home Companies for You to Apply To
There are tons of options out there if you want to teach English from home and it’s important to find a trustworthy company that’s right for you. A few companies have really stood out from the pack in recent years, but below you’ll find an extensive list of companies to check out.
The requirements vary to a large degree, so the list is divided into three categories to make things a bit easier for you. Some companies really demand a lot from their teachers and they expect the best for their students. They’ll require at a minimum a Bachelor’s degree and some teaching experience under your belt. Others require a TEFL certificate (always a plus) and you must be from an English speaking country.
I’ve even seen some require a teaching license or have experience in the teaching system. Hey, if you have that experience, even better for you. If you don’t have those fancy credentials, don’t sweat it. The number of companies to teach English online keeps growing every day giving you even more opportunities. Don’t limit yourself.
So, let’s get to it! Here are 29 companies where you can teach online from home and start working from anywhere.
But before we begin, an important piece of info you aspiring English teachers should know:
WAIT! An Important Change
This is must-know if you plan on applying for any company based in China. Due to the government’s new ESL policy, all applicants must require the following:
- 120-hour TEFL certificate
- Criminal background check
- Bachelor’s degree
This happened due to the increasing complaints about the quality of after-school training institutions in China. That’s not to say online English programs were the cause, but they fall under the category of ‘after-school training institutions’ and these companies have to abide by the changes.
Since China has a large demand for online English teachers and with lots of reputable companies there, this will surely come into play for many prospective teachers. Something for you to be aware of when applying to teach English online to Chinese-based schools.
Platforms based outside of China are not affected by this policy, but make sure you always read the company’s specific requirements carefully.
RELATED: A Guide to Teaching English Online to Chinese Students
1. VIPKID
(Most popular online English school right now! I have tons of friends who work here)
- Avg Pay: $14-22 USD/hour
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada, 1 year of teaching experience
- TEFL certificate a HUGE plus but not required
- Lesson plans provided for you
- Huge bonus and incentive opportunities
- More info on how to teach English online with VIPKID here.
- OR check this post on being a VIPKID teacher from my friend who has been working with them from the beginning and now helps hire VIPKid teachers.
2. EF Education First
(This was the main company I taught with circa 2012-2015)
- Avg Pay: Earn up to $20 USD/hour
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, 1 year of teaching experience, no criminal record, a passport from an English speaking country, between age 24 and 55
- TEFL certificate required
- Create your own schedule
- Lesson plans provided for you
- More info on how to teach English online with EF Education First here.
3. Dada ABC
- Avg Pay: $15-25 USD/hour
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, 2 years of teaching experience, US/UK/Canada/Australia nationalities preferred
- TEFL certificate recommended but not required
- Create your own schedule
- Teach the same students
- More info on how to teach English online with Dada ABC here.
4. Magic Ears
- Avg Pay: Earn up to $22-26 USD/hour (base pay $9-11 USD per 30 minutes)
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, some teaching experience, native English speakers from the U.S. or Canada, requires high-energy teaching style
- TEFL certificate required
- Lesson plans provided
- Group classes up to four students
- More info on how to teach English online with Magic Ears here.
5. SayABC
- Avg Pay: Earn up to $17 USD per 40 minute class
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, 1 year of teaching experience preferred, native English speaker
- TEFL certificate preferred
- Create your own schedule
- Teaching materials provided
- More info on how to teach English online with SayABC here.
6. QKids
- Avg Pay: $16-20 USD/hour
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, 2 years of teaching experience, eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada
- TEFL certificate required or willing to obtain
- Group classes up to 4 students
- Teaching materials provided but recommended to have your own teaching props as well
- More info on how to teach English online with QKids here.
7. 51Talk
- Avg Pay: Earn up to $22 USD/hour
- Requirements: BA degree or enrolled as an education major, some teaching experience, native English speaker, experience in the U.S. or Canadian education systems
- TEFL certificate preferred
- Create your own schedule
- Assistance from their support team
- More info on how to teach English online with 51Talk here.
8. GoGoKid
- Avg Pay: $14-25 USD/hour
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, native English speaker
- TEFL certificate a HUGE plus but not required
- One on one classes
- Teaching materials provided but recommended to have your own teaching props as well
- More info on how to teach English online with GoGoKid here.
9. USKid
- Avg Pay: $16-28 USD/hour
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, previous teaching experience, North American neutral accent, experience in the US teaching system, US state teaching license
- TEFL certificate required
- One on one classes
- More info on how to teach English online with USKid here.
10. NeuABC
- Avg Pay: Earn up to $18 USD/hour
- Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, those with a background in teaching preferred, native English speaker from the U.S. or Canada, must be available for a minimum of 7 hours per week
- TEFL not required but preferred
- Create your own schedule
- One on one classes
- More info on how to teach English online with NeuABC here.
Those Without a Degree Can Teach English From Home With These Companies
No need to panic if you don’t have that golden certificate saying you have a university degree. You can still work from anywhere teaching English online without a degree in hand.
After hours of research with the help of Google and scrolling through online threads, I made a list of around a dozen companies that don’t require you to be a college grad. For the ones stating a TEFL is required, it literally says that on the website. Don’t assume the others will let you skate through without one though. Having a TEFL is always a plus to have and makes you A LOT more marketable.
Some companies require experience but the bright side is many of them pay their teachers more. You can work with another company or perhaps teach English abroad to gain valuable experience. The key is that no degree is required. And that’s the main thing we’re looking for.
11. English Hunt
- Avg Pay: $14.50 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate required
- One on one classes
- More info on how to teach English online with English Hunt here.
12. Cambly
- Avg Pay: $10.20 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate not required
- No minimum hour commitment
- More info on how to teach English online with Cambly here.
13. Lingoda
- Avg Pay: $8-12 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate required
- 3 years of teaching experience
- More info on how to teach English online with Lingoda here.
14. Open English
- Avg Pay: $8-13 USD/hour (up to $15/hour)
- TEFL certificate required
- 1 year of teaching experience
- More info on how to teach English online with Open English here.
15. iTalki
- Online marketplace where freelance teachers list their own prices
- TEFL certificate highly recommended
- Important for your profile to stand out due to high demand for English teachers
- More info on how to teach English online with iTalki here.
16. SkimaTalk
- Set your own pay rate, the company charges a 20% fee of rate
- TEFL not required but recommended
- Create your own schedule and work as many hours as you like
- More info on how to teach English online with SkimaTalk here.
17. Tutlo
- Avg Pay: $9-11 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate required
- 6 months of teaching experience
- More info on how to teach English online with Tutlo here.
18. NiceTalk
- Avg Pay: $10 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate preferred
- App-based platform where you speak one on one with Chinese children
- You are in competition with other teachers based on your ratings
- More info on how to teach English online with NiceTalk here.
19. Same Speak
- Avg Pay: $10 USD per 30-minute session
- TEFL certificate recommended
- Choose your own hours
- More info on how to teach English online with Same Speak here.
Non-Native English Speakers Can Teach English From Home With These Companies
For non-native English speakers, I know what you’re thinking. Am I automatically shuffled from the market just because I wasn’t born in an English speaking country? Absolutely not!
This industry has advanced light-years from when I first got started and it seems you have new companies around the world every week. Luckily, many of them have more flexible requirements and you do not HAVE to be a native English speaker.
Here are just a handful of places you can apply:
20. Preply
- Online marketplace where teachers set their own prices
- Company charges a 18-33% commission depending on the number of completed lessons for each student
- TEFL certificate & teaching experience recommended to gain more students
- Native & non-Native English speakers can apply
- More info on how to teach English online with Preply here.
21. Palfish
- Set your own pay rate. Avg is $10-18 USD/hour but some teachers charge upwards of $30 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate required
- Bachelor’s degree required
- App based platform so you’ll need an iOS or Android phone/tablet
- Teach individuals and groups
- Non-natives with neutral accents encouraged to apply
- More info on how to teach English online with Palfish here.
22. Fluentbe
- Avg Pay: $10-12 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate required
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 1 year of teaching experience
- Available for Polish native speakers
- More info on how to teach English online with Fluentbe here.
23. Rype App
- Avg Pay: $9-11 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate not required but preferred
- 1 year of teaching experience
- Accepts non-native English speakers
- Minimum commitment of 10 hours per week
- More info on how to teach English online with Rype App here.
24. Learnlight
- Avg Pay: $12-14 USD/hour
- TEFL required
- 2 years of teaching experience
- Must commit to minimum of 10 hours per week for at least 1 year
- Non-natives must prove proficiency in language taught
- More info on how to teach English online with Learnlight here.
25. First Future
- Avg Pay: $16-20 USD per 45 mins ($8-12 for non-natives)
- TEFL preferred
- Bachelor’s degree
- Work on a fixed schedule for a guaranteed minimum income, bonus opportunities available
- Non-natives must have neutral accent
- More info on how to teach English online with First Future here.
26. Bibo Global Opportunity (recently changed to Engoo)
- Avg Pay: $2.8-10 USD/hour
- TEFL certificate & teaching experience not required but recommended
- Non-natives must prove proficiency of English language
- More info on how to teach English online with Engoo here.
27. COREnglish
- Avg Pay: Minimum of $8-15 USD/hour (can earn upwards of $15-20 USD/hour)
- TEFL certificate preferred or willing to obtain
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Previous experience not required
- Non-natives must-have neutral accent
- More info on how to teach English online with COREnglish here.
28. Learntalk
- Avg Pay: $4-15 USD/hour
- Pay is based on three teaching brackets determined by qualifications (Language Tutor, Experienced Instructor, Professional Teacher)
- TEFL certificate only required for top bracket of Professional Teacher ($12-15 USD/hour)
- Non-natives must-have neutral accent
- More info on how to teach English online with Learntalk here.
29. TutorABC
- Avg Pay: $8-11 USD/hour but those from English speaking countries can potentially earn over $20/hour
- TEFL certificate required or willing to obtain it
- Bachelor’s degree
- Teaching experience and native English speakers preferred
- Non-natives with a neutral accent can apply but base pay is more favorable to native English speakers
- More info on how to teach English online with TutorABC here.
RELATED: How to Teach ANY Language Online
My TOP TIPS for How to Teach English Online
I “worked” the system in a way that I found benefited me the most. These are the best tips I can give for how to teach online from home if you’re in a similar position as I was.
How to Maximize Income Teaching English Online:
- I worked at a school in Thailand for one semester to gain experience of teaching ESL abroad. This experience is sometimes needed to get a good online teaching job!
- I wanted to make even more money during my second semester teaching in Thailand, so I started teaching online as well. I had many gaps in my “real school” schedule and I would schedule online teaching hours to fill up my schedule. I made way more money this way and didn’t waste those annoying gaps in between my classes.
- When I really wanted to make money from anywhere and not be limited to Thailand, I freed up my schedule by leaving my actual school there and worked for multiple platforms as an online English teacher. In case some weeks were slow on one platform, I’d up my hours on the other. Simple!
How to Make Teaching English Online Easier:
- Get a good headset and make sure your internet is stable! There’s nothing worse or more awkward than having tons of internet issues during your class. You also run the risk of not getting paid if the quality was so bad that your class was pretty much nonexistent.
- Open certain websites before class. Many schools will have the topic or a specific lesson already prepped for you, or the students have asked for a particular subject. Open browsers that reflect what the students want to study to have it ready. This can be used as an aid, provide quick examples or as a worksheet for them to read or do with you in the classes.
- Have Google translate open in the background for every class. You’ll need it at some point!
- Close programs and browsers that you don’t need so your computer isn’t bogged down with unnecessary programs slowing down your computer and eating up that precious internet bandwidth you need for class.
- Sometimes you’ll have multiple classes back to back – make sure your work station is comfortable, you have a large glass of water, you’ve eaten enough to power through the next few classes, and go to the bathroom before starting class!
The purpose of this post is to show you there is an option to teach English online and make money from anywhere!
It’s a way people can make extra money from home or possibly make it their full-time job. If you’re between jobs but have the requirements, this could be a great way to still earn money while on the hunt.
And of course, the reason why I had this job… To keep on traveling!
These jobs are only becoming more and more abundant with the growing need for English speakers.
Check out more jobs you can do online!
More English Teacher Jobs
I hope this post helped you figure out how to teach English online and that you have all the resources you need to get started. Which company are you interested in teaching with? Let us know in the comments below.
Pin this for later? Yay, thanks!
Nina Ragusa is an adventurer, messy bun master, breakfast fan, and full-time travel blogger. She’s been abroad since 2011 and blogging on Where in the World is Nina? for nearly as long. Nina helps people like you move around the world while making money. She loves talking about how to work abroad and online to travel longer!
Hi!
Have you used Lingoda?
I haven’t!
Hi Nina!
For the MyTEFL link..is the 40 hour basic course enough?
Thanks,
Theresa
Hi Theresa! Not unless you have a lot of experience with teaching to begin with and even then, you need the 120hrs to get the certificate that can get you a work permit abroad. Click “learn more” under the courses to read more.
Hi Nina
I’ve taught band in public schools for 10 years. No experience teaching English. Would I still need special training? How part time can you do this? Say a couple hours per week or would it need to be more? Thanks!
Hey Mary, not sure I think you’d need SOME experience teaching as a second language. That was a requirement for everything I have applied for. The certification is so easy to do and you’d only need a few months of experience to start applying. I had only four month experience. For hours, every company is different. I worked for a place that only required 10hr a week.
Great opportunity .
Thanks!
Hi Nina,
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience! Can you tell me please what online company you worked for?
Thanks!
Awesome, Megan! Glad this helped. Best of luck!
You are so wonderful! Thank you for this! I will keep this in mind! I don’t have my TEFL but I am a Registered Dietitian by day and have taught at a college and teach nutrition-related courses. My population of patients are fairly illiterate so I am use to getting creative!
I haven’t. But I don’t think it would be it would be impossible to find.
Hey there,
I know this is random but have you heard of anything like this but for maths teaching?
Thanks
Thanks for the information I could teach English, but I would like to teach Spanish as a second language or Italian. Any recommendation? Thank you!?
I don’t know where exactly but I know for sure there are opportunities. Just search a bit and I’m sure you’ll find something!
You can try WizIQ, this is a perfect e-learning delivery platform to teach and earn online.
Thank you Nina for this brilliant article! 🙂
Unfortunately I am having trouble finding a job as online english teacher because I’m not a native speaker!
It seems to be irrelevant having studied foreign languages for AGES (got BA’s and MA’s degrees) and actually being a polyglot!
I am able to fluently speak 4 languages in total! 😀
Any advise?
Thank you again!
Totally agree! I’m unfortunately not sure :-/ However, you could potentially freelance (I have an article on it). You could just work for yourself. You can speak other languages, so find people who you can communicate with in their native language and offer English lessons. There are websites (google them, I don’t know them but I’ve seen them before) where you can essentially market yourself and set your own price etc… a bit harder as you need to prove yourself and get the ball rolling but it can be done!
Hi Nina
I am a lawyer in South Africa exploring a move away from the pressures and politics of legal practice in this immensely troubled country. I have two bachelor’s degrees (law, and arts majoring in English literature and psychology), and I have lectured for two semesters in law subjects to undergraduate students which probably am0unts to two lectures a week for a cumulative eight months, so I’ve not quite made the one year teaching experience requirement. (As a lawyer I spend hours a week teaching my clients about how the law works in reference to their cases and problems, which is ironic).. Anyway be that as it may….
Do you know if there is a narrower TEFL course which focuses specifically on training a person to teach online as opposed to in a classroom ? It might save me some time, although I recognize that ultimately it will be best to do the full 120hrs you recommend, especially if I want to keep my options open longer-term.
REgards
Paul Misselhorn
Hey Paul, this is the TEFL course I recommend.