Teachisconversational or business English – as a second language has always been a great opportunity for English speakers without formal teaching experience. Your native understanding of idioms and natural turns of phrase are exactly what many international students need to improve their English use. In our increasingly global world, the need for English tutors is growing – which is great news for you!
In general, the requirements for being an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor revolve around being a native English speaker who is personable, interesting, and has great presentation skills. Some companies may require you to have ESL certification, or a teaching certificate in a related field. The other requirements are practical concerns – most of thesetutoring positions require video contact with your students, so you should have a good computer, high-speed Internet connection, webcam, and a quiet, well-lit home office.
Many of these companies have their own curricula and teaching systems in place, so you don’t even need to plan your own lessons. These positions can also be great if you’re up at odd hours, since working with overseas students may mean working very early or rather late – especially since many of these students come from China, South Korea, and Japan.
I’ve put together a list of great companies who are looking for ESL tutors; there’s sure to be an opportunity for you below!
1. VIPKID is Looking for those who want to have fun teaching English to kids. All lesson plans and course materials are provided. Applicant needs to be a resident of the US or Canada. You also need a Bachelor’s degree and reliable computer and internet. Pay is $18 to $21 per hour with average earnings of $2,000 per month.
2. Cambly is looking for tutors to chat with students and help them learn English in an informal setting. Their students come from all around the world, and these sessions can be as informative for you as for your students – just think of all the little bits of culture and language you can learn along the way! They pay $0.17 per minute, which works out to $10.20 per hour taught. They pay through Paypal and you can set your own hours.
3. Qkids is one of the few English tutoring gigs that doesn’t require a degree. You simply have to be working to attain one as an enrolled university student. (Don’t worry. If you already have a degree, they want you too.) This opportunity is open to those in the U.S. and Canada. You must be able to commit to 6 hours per week. Paid training and all coursework is provided.
4. iTutor pays online English tutors between $16 and $25 per hour. They are open to tutors in the U.S., Canada and the UK. A degree is required. This is a quick hire in many cases with candidates being hired within 3 days of registration!
5. Continuum Education Servicesis a recruitment agency pairing English teachers and tutors with companies who need their services. CES says that all the companies they might place you with offer base pay and flexible schedules. You’re required to be a native English speaker, have TESOL/TEFL certification (or be willing to get certified in 90 days), and certain computer equipment including a headset and webcam.
6. Duolingo offers not just ESL tutoring but with a side of consulting. They are looking for the best of the best in language teachers and assessors.
7. eBerlitz has offices in 70 countries worldwide. Pay is reportedly around $14 per hour.
8. Englishunt is currently hiring more tutors for their virtual tutoring service directed at the Japanese market. They require their tutors to have ESL certification or teaching certification (in any subject). Their tutors only work part-time, on average about 8 to 12 hours each week. Since you’re tutoring Japanese students, the hours are between 4 AM and 7 AM EST (which are evening hours for your students). They pay $14.50 an hour and provide their own curriculum.
9. Global Mate New York targets South Koreans ages 19 to 50. Open to American tutors.
10. Ginseng English offers ESL tutoring for both general and business students. Masters degree preferred.
11. goFLUENT contracts business ESL teachers who can commit to 4 hours per day each weekday.
12. Golden Voice English has been popping on the job boards quite frequently lately. They offer tutors for Chinese students in grades 1 through 9. Both group and 1:1 classes are offered. They pay $20 CAD per hour.
13. Lingoda emphasizes that their lessons are like a traditional classroom course, just online – they hold their lessons through Skype (or their virtual classrooms). You choose how much you work, and their availability is wide open as they offer lessons 24 hours a day, every day. They say the salaries they offer vary based on experience, and salaries reportedly average between $10 to $11 hourly.
14. Pearson pays tutors $14 for 1:1 and $17 for group classes. Business English is their specialty.
15. Rosetta Stone is a well-known name in the language learning industry. They prefer tutors near their main learning hubs.
16. Rype was designed with busy students in mind. This is a US-based company. Pay is unclear though students are offered a 14-day free trial.
17. Twosigmas is looking for ESL tutors to teach 1-on-1 English lessons to children from all across China between the ages of 5 and 12. Reportedly, they’re looking for teachers with experience teaching English, experience teaching children, and a university degree in a relevant field (like Education or Linguistics). It looks like they’ll pay up to $20 an hour depending on your experience.
Voxy pays up to $18 an hour to native English-speaking tutors. A degree or TESL certificate is required.
Western Wise offers tutoring to children ages 5 to 14. Pay is $15 to $22 per hour. Prefer a language degree, TEFL/Celta certificate or 3 years experience. The company also asks for a 1-year commitment.
If you’d like to increase your value and hireability as an English tutor, you can work on getting ESL certified. There are various types and pathways to certification, and sites like ESLteacherEDU.org offer resources to guide you.
Tips to Getting Hired as an Online English Tutor
To increase your chance of success with online tutoring be sure you are using a high-speed internet connection and that your computer is working well. Make any required and recommended system updates prior to you interview. A stable internet connection is vital to your success when working online.
Companies look to hire tutors who speak clearly and enthusiastically. Gesturing and using facial expressions to help convey your message is strongly encouraged. Practice in front of a mirror if necessary. As you get comfortable with video tutoring and your students, this will start to come naturally.
Is Teaching English Online for You?
The pay is usually well above minimum wage and because tutors can work from home, transportation costs and child care costs are usually not an issue. The job can be done from anywhere with a good internet connection, making it an ideal occupation for travelers. The tutoring is often quite rewarding as well. Assisting another in learning a useful skill and watching them develop that skill is a very satisfying thing to do. The students are generally enthusiastic and well behaved.
While not for everyone, teaching English online can be a lucrative and rewarding occupation and anyone with the necessary skills and education may seriously want to consider it as an option.
