Today I’m sharing the pros and cons of teaching English online. For a busy parent, flexibility is a must. A good side job should ensure a good work-life balance, so your children are always your priority. Teaching English online ticks this box, coming with the added bonus of allowing you to work from home, too.
However, there are still some factors to consider before entering the industry. From suitable working spaces to salaries, here is what you can expect as a parent wanting to get into online English teaching.
The Requirements
To start your online English teaching journey, you first need to get certified in TEFL. The good news is that these courses can also be taken online and at your own pace, so you can fit your studying around your family life and other responsibilities.
The industry standard is 120 hours, and you’ll cover various topics, from teaching methodology to the ins and outs of English grammar. You’ll also get to be observed, receive feedback on your lessons, and pick the brains of tutors with tons of industry experience.
Once qualified, it’s time to choose from the popular platforms you could teach on. These include VIPKid, iTalki, Cambly, and more. What’s important to bear in mind is that every platform will have its requirements for teachers, and hourly rates will also differ.
While some platforms don’t need teachers to hold a degree, others will. Some will also require you to teach young learners exclusively. What you ultimately opt for depends on your interests, availability, and how much you want to earn as an online English teacher.
The Benefits of Teaching English Online
The first and most obvious benefit of teaching English online is the flexibility that it offers. You’ll often be able to choose your working hours to fit your family life, and if you’re not teaching for a platform that requires a minimum amount of weekly hours, rescheduling is easy enough. In fact, many of your students will likely appreciate the same flexibility.
It’s also an extremely convenient way to make extra money without leaving home. But how much can you earn teaching English online? Although hourly rates can vary, as a general rule of thumb, by gaining experience, you can work your way up the pay scale. Your income will also naturally depend on how many hours you can dedicate to teaching per month.
In addition, teaching English online is an excellent way to develop your soft skills. As a teacher, you’ll engage with a variety of students from different cultures, which will require patience, excellent communication, and strong time management.
These are skills that are easily transferable to other roles. While this side job could lead you to discover that you love teaching, it could equally be something that you did on the side with the time you had. Either way, you’ll have more expertise and experience to show for it. Remember, busy or not, your career doesn’t have to take a backseat as a parent.
The Challenges
The biggest obstacle that you may face as a busy parent teaching English online from home is time management. However, it’s important to recognise that this would be the case with any side job. To navigate the adjustment period, divide your day into household and teaching responsibilities to avoid getting overwhelmed.
A great way to help you do this is to have a space in your home with a door you can close where you can go to teach–be that a home office, or a bedroom with a desk in the corner. This will allow you to focus on that one task, without any interruptions from curious children.
Another potential challenge is the start-up costs of teaching online. Online English teachers should have a strong, reliable internet connection, an excellent laptop and quality headphones to deliver the best possible lessons. If you do not already possess these things, you will need to invest in them.
The fluctuation of monthly income may also be off-putting to some parents. Students may not always be reliable, leading to lesson cancellations. While these changes in income might only be slight, teaching English online may not be for those who are uncomfortable with this inconsistency.
Getting Started
Once you’ve landed exactly what you need from an online English teaching job, it’s time to start getting practical. Decide whether effective time management for you looks like stacking your hours into weekly teaching slots or organising your lessons for when your children are at school.
Your teaching space should also be set up and ready to go. That means having a supportive desk chair and a sturdy desk with plenty of space for your technology. Make sure there’s also plenty of light if you find yourself teaching in the evenings.
Busy parents might want to consider subscribing to websites with pre-made lessons, too. There are plenty of options to choose from, with a variety of tailor-made lessons for a range of ages and levels. This will allow you to spend less time prepping and more time with your family.
Finally, set boundaries to limit your risk of burnout. Have a set time and place for when you respond to student emails, do your planning or marking, and teach. If you try to do multiple things at once, separating your working and home life will become increasingly difficult, and could lead to unnecessary stress.
On the whole, whether teaching English online is a good side job or not will depend entirely on busy parents’ circumstances and goals. To make a choice that’s right for both you and your family, take your time to thoroughly research courses and platforms.
Ultimately, teaching might not be a path you stick to. Still, it’s certainly a convenient side job accessible to anyone with the time to get qualified and a reliable internet connection.
