What I did next

For a couple of reasons—the main one being my busy schedule—I didn’t immediately start looking for work once I was qualified. But a few months later, COVID-19 changed everything. The UK went into lockdown, and I was furloughed. I suddenly had lots of time and no excuses, so the search for an online teaching job began.

The demand for online English teachers was high due to school closures worldwide, so I applied to several companies. Each platform's application process was different but usually consisted of a 1-2 minute ‘intro video’ and a mock lesson. Filming a mock lesson felt bonkers (the first time, anyway!) as I was teaching a stock image, but I gave it my best shot. When shooting the introduction video, I must have recorded around 60 takes before I was happy (I wish that was an exaggeration). Overall, the application process was simple and straightforward.

Within a fortnight, I had been accepted by Palfish and Preply, two reputable ESL companies. Six weeks later, I was contacted and approved by Cambly. Every platform is different, from the clientele to the curriculum to the pay scale, so I was grateful to have the opportunity to try out a few and see what teaching style I enjoyed most.

The different types of students on Cambly

On Cambly Kids, there are lesson plans to guide the class, which are extremely easy to follow and require zero prep. There is also no obligation to finish the slides - if a child just wants to chat or play a game of hangman, then that’s what we do. Most parents are happy for their child to practice their conversational skills. When I first started teaching children, I purchased a bunch of flashcards and a puppet on Amazon. I have since made my own props using popsicle sticks and laminated pictures, which have proved useful.

As well as general conversational skills, there are many other niches a teacher can choose to specialise in on Cambly, be it Business English, grammar, accent coaching, idioms and slang or manners and customs. I’ve chosen to focus on general conversation and IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The IELTS is a test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. Many students must pass this test with a high score before studying or working in an English-speaking country.

The flexibility of working hours on Cambly is also a great advantage. I can open my schedule as little or as much as I want at any time of day or night. I change my hours depending on how my week is going or what I need to save for. I recently treated myself to a treadmill and decided to pay it off by working one extra hour every day until October. Being in control of my time and income like this is very satisfying.