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Teach English Online to Spanish Students

There are hundreds of millions of Spanish speakers worldwide, and plenty of them want to learn English online!

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Teach English Online to Spanish Students

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Teaching English online is a truly international opportunity and a global experience. When you first start, you could be teaching anyone, with a worldwide audience of hundreds of millions potentially at the other end of the line.

Spanish speakers are among the biggest audiences of English learners, especially in the online sphere. About 572 million people speak Spanish, which is the native language of 20 countries across four continents. Alongside Mandarin, English, and Hindi, Spanish is one of four languages with over 500 million speakers worldwide. A hefty proportion of that audience also learns English, whether it’s mandated in schools, a hobby, or a gateway to economic and educational opportunities.

It’s convenient, then, that Spanish speakers - like anyone these days - have a wealth of options to choose from if they’re keen to learn English online. With so many talented English teachers available across a high number of different platforms and companies, it’s never been easier to learn to speak English. That’s true whether you speak German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Korean or any language!

So, which platforms and companies offer the best English classes for Spanish speakers? What do English teachers need to get started teaching online? What kinds of TEFL certification are required? Can a tutor really just set up a profile on a website and start today? Let’s get into it!

Teach English online to Spanish students: an overview

What must you consider before you start teaching English online to Spanish-speaking students? No matter which online tutoring platform or company you go for, you’ll need TEFL certification. TEFL certification is an absolute must for teaching English as a foreign language.

A 120-hour TEFL certificate is the industry standard. It’s the kind of TEFL certification most employers will expect as a minimum requirement. That said, if you're new to teaching English online or don't hold a bachelor’s degree, a Level 5 Diploma can provide a significant advantage. A slightly more advanced qualification, the Level 5 Diploma offers a deeper theoretical understanding of English teaching. Certainly, it’ll help you stand out from the crowd in the job market.

An Advanced TEFL course, specifically focused on teaching English online, can be beneficial. While a bachelor's degree may sometimes be required, a high-quality TEFL certificate from an accredited provider proves your English teaching abilities.

Now we’ve talked a little about qualifications, it’s important to talk about salaries. Teaching salaries in online English teaching can vary widely. Online tutoring platforms often allow you to set your rates. Online companies typically have fixed rates, and you’ll sign an employment contract as a teacher instead of freelancing. Understanding this distinction is really important!

Who might I teach?

What kind of students might you get? Really, the audience of Spanish speakers is so vast that it's impossible to narrow it down to a "typical" student. There are plenty of adult learners keen to speak English for career progression, with a particular interest in Business English. Equally, there are young learners who learn English alongside other languages at school. There may be some learners who want to practice conversational skills after learning English during their formative years.

There are all kinds of Spanish students and Spanish speakers learning English for countless reasons, and your job is to speak to their level of proficiency, their specific interests and motivations.

Teaching English online requirements

You’re passionate about teaching languages, you know how big the audience is, and you’re eager to tutor Spanish speakers from across the world. So, what do you need on your CV? What are the specific requirements that teachers need to make this dream a reality?

Different online teaching platforms and online language learning companies have various requirements, and not all online tutor jobs are the same. However, there are some consistencies across the online English teaching landscape. Let’s make sure you’re well-prepared for getting online and teaching English as a second language!

Degree/no degree

For the sake of clarity: having a bachelor's degree, particularly in English, Education, or a related field, can be advantageous when teaching English online to Spanish speakers. However, it's not always a strict requirement for ESL tutors.

In some cases, online companies, in particular, might want their online ESL classes to be performed by ESL tutors with a degree. However, this does not extend to all online language teaching companies. Certainly, platforms that connect teachers directly with students are more flexible in their requirements since they act more as marketplaces for students to find a tutor.

If you don’t have a degree, then a combination of TEFL certification and strong language skills will make you a strong candidate for many online teaching jobs. Before you send applications around, take the time to research specific companies and platforms to understand their exact requirements and tailor your application accordingly.

TEFL certification

We’d always recommend attaining TEFL certification to anyone who wants to teach English as a foreign language, no matter the audience. Naturally, then, we’d suggest that a TEFL certificate is highly recommended for those aspiring to teach English online to Spanish speakers. Though you could find online teaching work without one, a reputable TEFL qualification - from an accredited provider - will significantly enhance your teaching abilities and career prospects.

The industry standard is a 120-hour TEFL certificate, which covers essential topics like English teaching methodology, lesson planning, and classroom management. For those without prior teaching experience or a degree, a Level 5 TEFL Diploma can provide a more in-depth understanding of English language teaching.

Additionally, advanced TEFL certifications, such as those specialising in Business English, Teaching Young Learners, or Teaching English Online, can further differentiate you from other candidates and give you a significant boost in the online teaching job market.

Native/non-native speakers

Whether you're a native or non-native English speaker, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to teach English online to Spanish-speaking students. While some companies may prefer native speakers, many platforms and companies are open to hiring qualified non-native English teachers. Usually, demonstrating your proficiency through an English proficiency certificate like IELTS or TOEFL will be enough to land a position teaching English online. Otherwise, a degree from an English-speaking institution will prove fluency.

Download our teaching English online guide

Best online platforms to teach English online to Spanish students

What else do I need to teach English online to Spanish students?

What else, beyond knowing which qualifications you require, language skills, the companies and platforms that are out there, and the potential audience that exists, do you need to know to put on English classes for Spanish speakers?

Spanish speakers, like every other kind of English learner, will expect you to have the right technology and the mental attributes required to teach English to a high standard. What does that entail? It’s time for a closer look:

Organisation

If you’re working remotely, you must be on top of your schedule, organise your lessons, and know your students. It’s crucial to understand the different needs of your learners, which hours are best for you, the financial tasks involved with being an online English teacher, and lots of other things. So, organisation is a vital skill to have. You'll thank us when you have a healthy-looking schedule full of eager English language classes!

Stress management

Teaching English online, whether it’s to Spanish speakers, German students, Italian students or learners from anywhere in the world, can be stressful. One day, your computer might let you down. You might be flummoxed by an unexpected question. Life might get in the way of work for whatever reason. You’ll undoubtedly make mistakes along the way. Remaining professional and calm during your lessons is imperative, though.

Enthusiasm

How do you master online teaching? With sheer enthusiasm! You don’t need to be the most extroverted person in the world, but a class or an individual student will respond better if it’s clear their teacher cares. Learning English is hard, so make sure your lessons are buzzing with energy and enthusiasm.

Creativity

While you may have planned lessons, depending on the company you teach for, there are so many ways to be creative in your English lessons. Whether you’re teaching grammar, vocabulary or anything else in English, there’s always a way to make it fun and interactive for your learners. Yes, you can get creative with grammar; trust us!

Empathy

Your learners are going to make grammar mistakes, struggle with English pronunciation now and then, and find spelling certain words difficult. They might have difficulty reading phrases and find speaking English tough. If it’s a class environment, some students might progress quicker than others. Teachers need to show empathy and compassion in these situations; otherwise, learners can quickly become demoralised and disincentivised. Empathetic teachers who understand their students, whether they’re adults or youngsters, get better results.

Technological requirements

Computer
Internet connection
Webcam
Microphone
Headphones

Computer

Unless you’re working somewhere that’s strictly app-only, you’ll need a computer to teach English online.

Your computer requires:

Up-to-date software
Reliable, complete anti-virus protection
Zoom, Skype or any other relevant video conferencing platforms
Plenty of memory space

Internet connection

It might sound obvious, but trust us: if you want to teach English online, you need an immensely reliable internet connection. Normally, you’ll need to do an internet speed connection test for the online company or platform you apply for. You don’t want to be the teacher with a bad internet connection because you won’t get paid for full lessons, and you can lose classes that way.

How do you test your internet speed? Google has a speed tester. Or, use Fast.com or Speedtest.net.

Webcam

Most computers come with webcams attached these days, but if you don’t have one, don’t panic. They aren’t as expensive as they once were. It usually costs about £50/$40 for a webcam that’s good enough to give online ESL lessons.

Microphone

Like the humble webcam, microphones are built into computers as standard, along with modern earphones/headphones and - of course - mobile phones. English tutors need to be heard clearly, however, so you might want to consider buying a separate microphone. That way, your words will be crystal clear, and you’ll have the professional look that students admire.

Headphones

If you’re a professional tutor, you should wear headphones. That way, you can hear the words your student is saying much more clearly, and your English learners can’t be heard by others, which inspires confidence in less confident students.

Headsets with a microphone attached are a great option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the best online tools for teaching Spanish speakers?

If you’re interested in teaching English to Spanish speakers online, having the best online tools is paramount. An organiser app like Monday, a video conferencing platform like Zoom, lesson plans from The TEFL Org, and an accounting app are all great starters!

Q. How can I help students who struggle with pronunciation?

Listening closely to English learners who struggle with pronunciation is important. Then, try to use audio or video recordings to help illustrate correct pronunciation. After this, slowly go over the sounds within a word or phrase, and use repetition and practice to reinforce good language techniques.

Q. Do I need to be bilingual to teach English to Spanish speakers?

While having proficiency in more than one language is helpful, it’s not always necessary. That said, having some basic Spanish vocabulary is extremely helpful in English classes, especially for young learners.

Q. Do you need a degree to teach English to Spanish speakers?

It depends largely on the company or platform you teach through, but you don’t always need a degree to conduct English classes for Spanish speakers.