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The online English teaching job market continues to grow, but working for a company or online language school isn’t the only path available for those looking to become online English teachers. Online teacher marketplaces – also called English Language Teaching (ELT) marketplaces – are platforms that connect students directly with teachers based on their learning goals and preferences. These marketplaces offer more flexibility and autonomy than traditional online teaching companies. They’re also opening doors to more online English teaching jobs for non native speakers, making them an especially appealing option for global English teachers. Let’s take a closer look at why.
If you’re new to teaching, you’ll want to get initial training and qualification with a TEFL certificate. You can explore our online TEFL courses to get started!
1. Marketplaces have no citizenship or native English-speaking requirements
Unlike many online tutoring companies that prioritize applicants from specific countries, online teacher marketplaces are more inclusive. They allow teachers from around the world to create profiles and showcase their unique skills, backgrounds, and teaching styles. This is a big win for global English teachers, especially those who are qualified but may not hold a passport from a so-called “native English-speaking” country.
Each platform has its own requirements, such as a TEFL/TESOL certificate or an initial screening process, but there’s no citizenship barrier. For example, on Preply, a popular marketplace platform, your profile is evaluated based on your strengths and ELT knowledge, not your passport. Other marketplaces like Cambly, SkimaTalk, and italki also have individual requirements, but they focus more on your ability to help students achieve their goals than on where you’re from.
If you’re ready to become an online English teacher and you have a high English proficiency level, then teacher marketplaces could be the perfect fit. They’re helping students connect with teachers who reflect the global nature of today’s English-speaking world.
Learn how online teacher marketplaces work and whether they’re right for you.
2. There are ways to stand out in the marketplace beyond traditional requirements
One of the biggest advantages of online teacher marketplaces is that they give you the chance to highlight what makes you unique, not just check off boxes on a hiring checklist. Your profile is your own personal storefront, and there are multiple ways to attract students who are a great match for your background and teaching style.
Teaching experience and beyond
While teaching experience is always a plus, it’s not the only kind of experience that matters. Whether you’ve led training sessions at work, worked in customer service, or had a career in another field, your background can help you connect with students who share similar goals. For example, if you’ve worked in business, you might be especially well-suited to teach professionals learning Business English for the workplace.
Specialized certification
Online teacher marketplaces also give you space to showcase your professional development. Earning a Specialized Certificate in Teaching Business English or Micro-credential courses in targeted areas like teaching IELTS prep, pronunciation, or error correction can boost your credibility and help you stand out to students seeking help with those specific challenges.
TEFL/TESOL niches
Choosing a TEFL niche is another great way to carve out your space. Whether you specialize in Business English, pronunciation coaching, conversation for travelers, or English for job interviews, focusing on a specific student need allows you to market yourself more effectively and fill your schedule with students who value what you offer.
Learn how to teach English online as a non-native speaker.
3. You can get creative and showcase your unique selling points
One of the best parts about online teacher marketplaces is the opportunity to make an online teacher profile that reflects you – your background, your teaching style, and personality. Unlike traditional job applications, a strong profile lets you connect directly with students by showing who you are and how you can help them.
Your introductory video is a powerful tool. Use it to highlight your experience, teaching approach, and most importantly, your enthusiasm for helping students reach their goals. Think of it as your chance to speak directly to future students. What do they want to hear? What makes you the right teacher for them?
If you’re a non-native English-speaking teacher, don’t shy away from that – lean into it. You’ve gone through the language learning process yourself, and that gives you a deep understanding of your students’ challenges. Use your profile to share your story, highlight your empathy, and explain how your journey can help others succeed.
In a crowded marketplace, authenticity stands out. Let your voice, values, and strengths shine.
Discover the advantages of non-native English speaking teachers in the TEFL classroom.
4. You can choose your students
One of the greatest benefits of working through an online teacher marketplace is that you have the freedom to choose who you teach. Whether you prefer working with professionals from Latin America, young learners in Asia, or exam-prep students in Europe, you can build a schedule – and a teaching niche – that fits your strengths, interests, and lifestyle.
Teach students who share your first language
As a bilingual or multilingual teacher, you bring a valuable perspective to your lessons. Your ability to speak the same first language as your students can be a major asset. Many global English teachers intentionally focus on helping learners from their home countries, using shared language and cultural understanding to build trust and boost student confidence.
Take Sheyla, a Brazilian English teacher living in the U.S., who launched her online teaching career by advertising to fellow Portuguese speakers:
“I started off by putting an ad on a Brazilian Facebook page where the community shares information with immigrants in the USA. The first week I put the ad up, I filled up a schedule with four classes per day.”
Teach in a time zone that works for you
Another perk? You can choose students whose schedules align with yours. This flexibility can be a game-changer. Teacher marketplaces allow you to work from wherever you are – on your own time – without having to adjust to inconvenient hours set by a company.
As online English learning has become the norm around the world, teacher marketplaces have also become a gateway to online English teaching jobs for non native teachers, allowing you to connect with the right students, in the right time zone, and on your own terms.
Use these 5 tips to create your ideal online English teaching schedule.
5. You are your own boss
While you’re not building a business completely from scratch, working through an ELT marketplace puts you in control. You decide how much to charge, when to teach, and what kinds of lessons to offer. You’re not bound by a fixed curriculum or salary cap, and you have the freedom to grow at your own pace.
Marketplaces also handle administrative tasks like scheduling and payments, so you can focus more on teaching and connecting with students. And if you’re a non-native English-speaking teacher, this model allows you to set your own value based on your qualifications and expertise, not someone else’s assumptions.
To stand out and earn what you deserve, make sure you invest in the right certification and professional development. TEFL certifications can help you market yourself with confidence and show potential students that you’re a serious, skilled educator.
Explore all the different types of online English teaching jobs.
Final thoughts
Online teacher marketplaces aren’t just a good option – they’re an empowering path for global English teachers looking for flexibility, visibility, and independence. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take more control of your teaching career, marketplaces offer the space to shine on your own terms.
