Tutoring English Online with Rype

Rype: An Overview

Founded in 2016 and based in Greater Los Angeles, Rype is one of many tech companies based in California with eyes on rapid growth. Though our focus is on the English language offering, English is just one of 10 languages offered; you can book lessons in Arabic, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese as well as English. What’s more, you’re not limited to one foreign language as a student, you can take a course in as many languages as you like.

More of a marketplace than a company, Rype certainly prides itself in vetting every language teacher on the platform. That said, it doesn’t train foreign language teachers to teach English online, nor does it impose a curriculum or offer materials. Once you’ve joined, it’s up to you what you teach to language learners. 

Rype is different for learners, in the sense that it’s a subscription-based model and you have different options. So, a learner can choose to take 20, 12 or 8 lessons in a month, and pay in monthly or six-month blocks. This is after an initial 7-day trial, which is free. Lessons take half an hour, and are usually conducted over Skype or Google Meet.

Rype Job description

So, what does a Rype language teacher actually do, then? Fundamentally, the role is about winning clients, waiting for those clients to book lessons, arranging a schedule and then getting on Skype, Google Meet or an equivalent video conferencing platform and teaching.

That really is it. The lesson planning, the learning outcomes, the methodologies - everything is up to you. A lesson takes half an hour, and is meant to reflect the aims of the learner. For example, if a student has an IELTS exam, your lessons will be about gaining that qualification. If they want to practise using their language skills in a conversational setting, the lesson can be about that.

With no specific Rype software, lesson planning or class materials involved, each class is an opportunity for you to be creative and adaptable. This can be extremely freeing, especially if you’re used to rigid curricula and have never had a chance to be experimental as a language teacher.

How do I apply? 

Applying to teach on Rype couldn’t be easier. Firstly, you sign up, share some basic information, share what you want to teach, your experience, any qualifications and any other relevant details. Be sure to emphasise your skills as a teacher, and what kind of teaching style you bring to the table.

At this point, a “Rype expert” will assess what you’ve written. Your skillset, teaching style and experience are particularly important in judging whether you’re a “good fit for our community”. If you are, you can start teaching on the Rype platform, grow your student base, and decide on a schedule.

It’s really that easy, and it’s a very clear distinction between what constitutes a platform and a company. A platform will make quicker judgments as to your suitability, before letting you take control of your workload.

Meanwhile, a teaching company will take longer and the application process will be more in-depth, with a demo class and TEFL interview likely determining the outcome.

Pros

• Flexibility: You have to work a minimum of 10 hours per week, which isn’t an awful lot! You can definitely achieve a work/life balance.
• Easy to get started: No intensive application process or job interviews involved. You can start teaching on Rype after mere days.
• Non-native speakers: You don’t have to have a certain passport to be eligible!
• No complicated tech: Teaching on Rype is as simple as mastering Skype or Google Meet. You don’t have to learn to use a whole new type of software!
• Teach how you want: There’s no set curriculum or teaching style you have to use. Be creative!
• Availability: Compared to other platforms, there aren’t a lot of teachers on Rype, so it should be easy to find students