How to be an Online English Teacher

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How to be an Online English Teacher

Excerpt: Want to know how to teach English online? Here’s how to get started.

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Do you want a job with total flexibility? Becoming an online English teacher can be just that, offering you the chance to work remotely, become a digital nomad, meet students worldwide, and work as much (or as little!) as you want.

It's never been easier to become an online teacher. Most modern computers come pre-loaded with high-quality tech for online calls, countless companies hire teachers, and there are limitless online resources for English teachers to use and share.

In this article, we’ll tell you how to teach English as a foreign language online and enjoy a career with so many positives!

How do you become a virtual English teacher?

Anyone can become an online English teacher, as long as they’re fluent in English, have a passion for English education, reliable access to the internet and (of course) a TEFL certificate!

English tutors can find online teaching jobs on companies and platforms, from big names like Preply and Cambly to emerging companies like 51Talk and Rype. Companies take on teachers as staff after passing an application and interview process. If you’re successful, you’ll sometimes have a fixed salary and won’t have to worry about designing materials or finding students.

On platforms, you get to make more decisions, but it’s up to you to find students by advertising your qualifications, experience, and lessons you provide. You’ll need to:

Sign up and pass a vetting process (this can take a couple of days or a few weeks, depending on the platform)
Send scanned copies of your qualifications
Arrange lessons and chat with interested students
Set your fees (try a low introductory rate at first)

There’s another option for online English teachers: go freelance! If you’re savvy with online advertising and web hosting, you can market yourself online and become self-employed.

Carl Cameron-Day, an experienced tutor and webinar presenter at The TEFL Org, made a video about marketing as a TEFL teacher, full of can’t-miss tips and advice.

What qualifications do I need to teach English online?

Here’s what you’ll need on your CV to become an online English teacher:

TEFL Certification

TEFL certification is the best preparation for teaching online. The industry standard is 120 hours of TEFL training, which can be taken online, in a classroom, or through combined study.

Some teachers, especially non-native English speakers without degrees, should consider taking a 200-hour Level 5 TEFL course. This course gives students more time to grasp teaching methodologies, lesson planning, and other key concepts.

Tip: Try finding a teaching niche like English for Academic Purposes, teaching young learners, or Business English. The best way to discover your niche is by taking advanced TEFL courses, which last between 20 and 40 hours, but can pay off for your whole career!

Bachelor’s degree and employer preferences

If you’re eager to teach English online but don’t have a bachelor’s degree, don’t worry! Many companies and platforms, including Italki, AmazingTalker, and Engoo, hire teachers without degrees.

English proficiency

To teach English online, you need to be a fluent English speaker. While it’s possible to teach English online as a non-native speaker (and lots of teachers do), it’s essential to have evidence of your English proficiency.

Certificates like IELTS and TOEFL or a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking university will all prove your fluency. Completing a high-quality, accredited TEFL course from a well-known provider is also crucial.

Teaching experience as an added advantage

Starting an online teaching career is as easy as bagging qualifications, getting online, and finding work. You can teach English online without experience if you have qualifications, market yourself well, and have a passion for teaching.

Of course, prior teaching experience is an advantage, and some employers will definitely prefer candidates who’ve taught online classes before, but online English teaching is still a friendly space for new teachers.

Do I need a license to teach English online?

Teachers usually don’t need a teaching licence, such as a QTS or a US state teaching licence, to work online. Most companies and platforms we’ve heard of don’t ask for teaching licences.

However, if you’re talking about a business licence, you’ll need to register as a company with your country’s tax authority if you’re starting your own tutoring company or working freelance,

You don’t need a business licence in the UK and the US, but you do need to complete the proper forms and file tax assessments. Depending on your location, you might need a business licence - digital nomads should research what’s needed before entering a new country.

How to get started as an online English tutor

Here are the steps to becoming a successful online English teacher:

Step 1: Get a TEFL qualification

While 120 hours of TEFL training is the industry standard, we also recommend our 40-hour Teaching English Online course, which covers the specifics of online teaching. You’ll learn about the differences between a virtual and real-life classroom, how to set up your equipment, find the right resources, and craft lessons for different learners.

Once you’ve completed a foundational TEFL course and our advanced online teaching course, you might want to try another certificate to find your teaching speciality. An online teaching niche can be attractive to students and a great way to earn more.

Step 2: Get your CV/Resume ready

The competition for online English tutors is intense, so you need a stand-out CV/Resume. We’ve got several blogs and articles about CVs, including our CV builder guide, top tips to boost your CV/Resume, and a guide to the mistakes people make when applying for jobs.

Cover letters can make the difference between landing a job and missing out. Read our top ten tips for success, or our guide to what notto include on a cover letter, and you’ll be on the right track. Finally, you might want to think about setting up a TEFL portfolio, because when it comes to online teaching, visibility and creativity can make all the difference!

Tip: Write a personalised CV/Resume for each job opportunity. Online teaching platforms can tell when you've written a generic CV!

Step 3: Set up your online teaching schedule

It’s important to decide whether you want to go into full-time teaching (which can take time on a platform or as a freelancer) or if TEFL teaching is a side-hustle. Draw up a weekly or monthly planner, factor in time zones, personal breaks and your other commitments, and go from there.

Step 4: Get the right technology for online teaching

It’s a good idea to test out all of your technology before you start giving English lessons.

To teach English online, you’ll need:

A modern computer
A reliable internet connection (use a service like Fast.com or Speedtest.net to test your speed)
A webcam (though most of today’s laptops have one built in)
A good pair of headphones with a built in microphone
Access to lesson plans and resources

If this all sounds expensive, don’t worry - plenty of retailers offer high-quality technology second-hand. If you’re in North America, brands like Best Buy are a good option, while shops like Music Magpie or CEX are good choices for online teachers in the UK.

Tip: Online teaching platforms and companies often have specific technical requirements, like download/upload speeds, software, and particular computer processors - make sure you understand what you need before applying.

Tips for a successful online teaching career

Here are some key tips for a successful career before you start teaching.

Qualifications are crucial
Try different online teaching platforms
Know your worth
Understand your strengths and weaknesses
Be patient!

Qualifications are crucial

You don’t need a degree to teach English online, but you must be TEFL certified. Though 120 hours is the industry standard, taking on advanced certificates in specific areas is ideal for online teaching.

Tip: Try developing a teaching niche or gaining a qualification in a type of teaching you’ve not done before.

Try different online teaching platforms

Many teachers work across multiple platforms, and there’s no need to commit yourself to one service forever. Try a few out and get a feel for the industry.

Know your worth

Setting low prices initially is a good idea for building a client base, but the more experience you have, the more qualified you are, and the better your reputation gets, the more you should charge.

Tip: Look around different teaching platforms and see what similarly talented online English teachers charge per lesson.

Understand your strengths and weaknesses

Every teacher has strengths and weaknesses, whether you’re working online or in a classroom. For example, some teachers speak a second language, which can open up different opportunities, but they aren’t great at managing their bookings.

To get the most out of an online English teaching career, know what you’re good at and what needs work. If there’s an area where you could develop, find seminars, podcasts, courses, or articles that can fill in knowledge gaps.

Be patient!

It takes time to get to where you want to be. Stick with it, and you’ll get results. Every online English teacher will tell you about a difficult time or an obstacle they’ve had to overcome, but they’ll also tell you that perseverance pays off.

How to become an online English teacher: key takeaways

From getting qualified to finding work and developing your skills, here are some key takeaways to bear in mind when you start teaching English online

Flexibility: Online English teaching can mean total career flexibility - it’s a job that can fit around your life, let you travel worldwide, and work as much or as little as you want.
Qualifications: Many online English teachers find work without a bachelor’s degree or previous teaching experience. You'll make it happen with a TEFL certificate, English fluency, and a passion for teaching.
Tips for success: Sort your tech out as early as possible, schedule effectively, stay positive, and try different teaching platforms until you find one you like.

Teaching English to speakers of other languages is a huge industry, especially online. The first step is a TEFL certificate. From there, it’s your journey, and you get to decide how it’ll go!

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve scoured the internet for the most commonly asked questions about English language teaching online:

Q. Can you teach English online without a degree?

You can teach English online without a degree. A huge variety of online English teaching companies and platforms hire teachers who don’t have a bachelor’s degree, and though they can help, they’re not essential for online teaching.

Q. Do you need to be a native English speaker to teach online?

No, you don’t need to be a native English speaker to teach English online - thousands of online English teachers grew up speaking other languages. However, you need to be fluent and prove your English proficiency with the proper certificates or a degree from an English-speaking country.

Q. What equipment do I need to teach English online?

To teach English online, you’ll need a working computer with reliable internet service, a webcam, headphones, and a microphone.