How to volunteer online as a TEFL teacher

Teaching English online can be an extraordinarily flexible and lucrative career. It allows teachers to pick their hours and meet eager students worldwide at any time of day, and the demand is certainly there, with a reported 1.5 billion learners around the world. But what about those who can’t afford lessons?

Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to volunteer online as a TEFL teacher. Countless organisations hook students up with free classes, or if you prefer, you can offer your services as a freelancer, combining your paid work with voluntary lessons. Volunteering is a fantastic way to do some good as a TEFL teacher, and it’s also ideal for building teaching experience and a solid reputation.

In this blog post, we’re talking about online TEFL and volunteering - a way to do something amazing from the comfort of your own home.

What you need to teach English online

First off, what do you need to teach English online?

TEFL certificate

Of course, you’ll need a TEFL certificate . 

Make sure you take a course through a TEFL company with multiple sources of accreditation , support from experienced tutors, and a fixed price. The industry standard for TEFL certification is 120 hours of training .

Taking an advanced TEFL course can be extremely helpful, especially in teaching English online , teaching young learners if you’re volunteering with kids, and Business English if you’re helping English learners find work.

Technical requirements for online teaching

Having the tools for the job is essential. The technical requirements for online English teaching are:

• A modern home computer (laptop or desktop)
• A reliable internet connection
• A webcam
• Headphones/headset with a microphone

It’s also important to find online teaching resources such as  lesson plans ,  games ,  icebreaker exercises, and scheduling/planning tools .

Essential teaching skills

Although a TEFL course should teach you about methodologies, the theories of English teaching and how to construct lessons (amongst other things!), there are some essential teaching skills you need to inspire learners - especially if you’re volunteering through a charity. 

Empathy is an absolute must. You need to be willing to listen to your learners’ stories and circumstances. Communication skills are vital for making your learners feel welcome and confident in your virtual classroom, and you also need to be patient while your students get to grips with the material.

Who needs free English lessons?

Around the world, charities can connect English learners with teachers online, through access to libraries, computer rooms or smart devices. In the internet age, even countries with limited connectivity can find ways to get online, which means there are potential students nearly everywhere.

Who might you be teaching? Several organisations are geared towards teaching English to refugees and asylum seekers , particularly in English-speaking countries, and charities that help train learners in war zones, who are trying to flee. English proficiency can unlock many resources, from accommodation to a sturdy job, and it allows people to build confidence and make connections after suffering extensive trauma.

You might also teach low-income learners or children from families who usually can’t afford tuition. These students can be based anywhere and might even speak English as a first language, but struggle with various aspects of their classes. 

Adults who don’t speak English as a first language can also benefit from volunteering. This is especially true for learners in English-speaking countries who are applying for jobs, so if you’re a teacher who can do Business English lessons, you’ll help put people in the best positions to land paid work.

With 1.5 billion learners worldwide - approximately 1 in 5 internet users - it’s impossible to list everyone who could benefit from free online English lessons. Rest assured, though: you won’t have to wait long to find your first student when you’re volunteering online.

The positives of online volunteering

Volunteering online as a TEFL teacher is a kind act that can benefit many people, but there are also plenty of benefits for teachers:

Building teaching experience

Through online TEFL volunteering, you can build vital experience working with students, trying out different lessons, and improving your communication skills. Volunteering is a perfect way to get started if you’re trying to get to grips with new technologies or online teaching in general. 

Testing out materials

We’re not saying your learners are guinea pigs - far from it! However, volunteering is a valuable way to experiment with various lesson plans and teaching styles, allowing you to find what works best, what students respond to most, and what you might need to work on.

Reviews and testimonials

Though volunteering is a selfless act, you don’t need to feel bad about asking for reviews or testimonials. If anything, you might find that your learners are excited by an opportunity to talk positively about your lessons and how you’ve helped them. 

Positive reviews and testimonials are gold dust if you’re building a TEFL portfolio or trying to market yourself as a TEFL teacher . There’s nothing quite like real, verified accounts from your students to inspire confidence, both for yourself and future students.

Again, we know - it might feel weird initially because you’re trying to do something for others. But if you’re at the point of asking for a review, you’ve already given free lessons, helped your learners and performed an act of kindness. Allow your students to leave feedback without forcing it on them, and we’re sure you’ll receive plenty of glowing reviews.

Helping people out

Online TEFL volunteering is, at its core, a helpful and worthy thing to do. If you have skills and expertise and are willing to share them without a financial incentive, then you understand what education is all about.

Though you can earn excellent salaries teaching English online , there are plenty of opportunities to give back, and volunteering is the best way to do that. 

Volunteering looks great on a CV

Imagine you’re an employer interviewing two candidates with the same qualifications, backgrounds, and skills. The only difference is that one of the candidates has logged 100 hours of online volunteering through a recognised charity. Who are you going to pick?

Volunteering allows employers to know your values: you understand social issues, are empathetic, and have a passion for hard work and community engagement. 

Organisations for volunteering online as a TEFL teacher

Here are some of the biggest and brightest organisations that take on TEFL teachers for volunteering work. If you’d like to be included on our list, contact us!

RefuAid needs qualified TEFL teachers with at least several months of teaching experience to tutor refugees and asylum seekers (minimum 2 hours per week).

RefuNet matches teachers with refugees learning English, especially youngsters needing homework help. Sign up here!

ENGin is a charity which teaches English to Ukrainian students. Over 55,000 Ukrainian English learners have used the service!

CharityJob.org is a great place to find volunteering positions - search for TEFL, ELT, English Lessons, or a similar phrase.

Conversation Over Borders is a UK-based service which connects tutors with refugees and asylum seekers. 

Refugee Action is always recruiting ‘English Practice Volunteers’, who work with the wider team to help refugees settle into new environments.

Breaking Barriers needs language tutors to help refugees find employment. Fill out a sign-up form here !

Welcoming the Stranger is a refugee charity looking for online volunteers to teach once a week, with class sizes ranging from 1 to 10. Though they’re physically based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, online volunteers across North America can apply.

Refugee Assistance Alliance is a Florida-based charity that needs TEFL/ESL teachers to give free lessons. If you’re based in Broward or Miami-Dade, it’s a bonus, as you might also be able to volunteer locally, but if you have a strong internet connection and teaching experience, that’s enough to get started.

Paper Airplanes offers group and one-to-one English lessons online for victims of international conflicts, including in Syria, Afghanistan, South Africa and Ukraine. You’ll need to organise and plan lessons, but no previous teaching experience is required.

Outreach360 needs TEFL teachers to volunteer 12 hours per week, teaching students aged 7-18 from Latin America.

Tips for success in online TEFL volunteering

Here are some key tips to remember if you want to make the most out of volunteering online.

• Be patient: Many learners will have had terrible experiences and need more time and space to learn.
• Be flexible : You don’t know how fluent your learners will be, so prepare for anything.
• Plan, plan, plan : Use icebreakers, have packed lesson plans, use AI for ideas if you’re worried, and keep lessons engaging and active.
• Energy and positivity : They’re looking to you to be a positive influence and keep the momentum going!
• Treat all students equally : It doesn’t matter if they’re paying customers or on a programme, treat all learners with the same enthusiasm and goals.

Online TEFL volunteering: a fantastic platform for all teachers

No matter your level of experience or whether you volunteer online or in person, volunteering can be energising and extremely rewarding. Not only can you help disadvantaged learners, but you can also make friends, build professional relationships, and gain valuable experience.

With so many worthy charities and organisations to work with, there’s so much choice and many learners to meet and tutor who have been through incredible hardship, or wouldn’t have the resources to learn English otherwise. 

The impact of TEFL is absolutely enormous. You can empower people to find jobs in English-speaking countries, excel at school, or integrate into a new community after intense hardship. And you can do all of that from home.

Eager to start your TEFL journey? Take a 120-hour Online Premier Course from The TEFL Org, and find out where English teaching can take you.