How to Teach English Online From Home (or Anywhere)

Working from home, controlling your schedule, virtually meeting different people around the world — there are so many things to love about teaching English online from home! It’s no wonder that more and more ESL teachers have joined this growing field and that job offers for online teachers are steadily increasing. If you’re interested in learning more about how to teach English online from home, here are some frequently asked questions — and their answers — to help you find online ESL teaching jobs.

What does it mean to teach English online from home? Is there a demand for online English teachers?

Teaching English online from home is a popular alternative to teaching in a traditional brick-and-mortar school or language institute. While there are some possible difficulties you can face, such as technical issues or challenging online students, there are plenty of diverse online job options so you can find the right fit for you. From online English tutor jobs to helping working professionals ace a job-required assessment, there are so many ways to leverage online teaching spaces. Below are just some of the possible reasons to become an online English teacher, as well as some of the types of students you can teach.

Read more about the differences between teaching online vs. the classroom.

Who is teaching online?

Teaching English has long been a popular career choice for educators everywhere. The continued popularity of online ESL teaching jobs is a natural extension of that popularity. But it isn’t just career teachers who are finding their place teaching English online! Online English teaching jobs are an attractive option for many different people – some are K-12 teachers teaching English online as a side gig, working from the comfort of their couch in the evenings or on weekends, while others are digital nomads, funding their world travels with a portable online income. There are so many reasons to teach English at home, or anywhere on the go! Teaching English virtually is a rapidly growing career field with endless possibilities.

Bridge graduate Caitlin Peterson says, “I was teaching English for a school in Costa Rica when I started teaching online. I wanted a little extra income since teaching in Latin America doesn’t pay much. Teaching online actually became a full-time job for me for the last three months since the school I was teaching at didn’t have enough classes for me at the time.” If you want to teach ESL, exploring the possibilities in online teaching options is a fantastic place to start.

Browse online teaching jobs!

Who are online English students?

It’s possible to teach English online from home to any age group! Technological advances have expanded the reach of learning to just about every corner of the world. The virtual classroom is a convenient option for those without access to in-person classes. Whether due to their location or to budget limitations, switching to an online classroom has a lot of benefits.

Online students tend to be young kids or teenagers. They usually attend their virtual classes after regular school hours or on the weekends. Many countries put a strong emphasis on English learning at a young age, so there are many online teaching companies to choose from catering to young learners. If you want to tutor English online, you’ll discover a broad student base of varying experience levels.

It’s also possible to teach English to adults online. For example, you might teach business professionals or students who attend virtual classes in the evening or on weekends. Online English classes work well for more disciplined, independent students.

As Valentina, an online English teacher who works with adult students in Chile, points out, “Online classes are especially good for students who are very organized with their time. Some students are good at working on their own. For those students, virtual classes are ideal.”

How can I start teaching English online?

Depending on your preferences and teaching goals, you can choose from many types of online English teaching jobs. There are several ways you can teach ESL online. You can work for an online English tutoring company or you can market yourself via an online marketplace. A third option is to start your own online English tutoring business. Here’s a quick breakdown of the ways you can find online English tutor jobs, opportunities to teach English to various age groups, and ways to teach ESL from anywhere!

Work with an online ESL company

Many new online English teachers start by working with online language companies or institutes to gain experience teaching English online. Aside from assigning the students and lessons to teachers, companies also handle logistics like payment, making the process very simple. This is a good option for teachers who prefer to work for a few hours a week. Keep in mind, though, that some companies may require a specific number of working hours per week. However, it’s more than possible to teach English online from home at your own pace, and around your existing schedule! This is a great place to start if teaching English is a side gig or a new career pursuit.

Promote your profile on an online teacher marketplace

Alternatively, you could offer classes through an online tutoring marketplace. They facilitate interactions and payment transactions between you and students. The rest of the details — rates, hours, etc. — are up to you. You’ll create an online teacher profile and market yourself to students. This is a good option if you want a little more autonomy while you teach English online from home or abroad.

Still not sure which option is right for you? Read this next: How to Teach Online – Should I Work With a Company or for Myself?

Start your own online ESL tutoring business

Finally, you can choose to work for yourself as a teacherpreneur. From marketing your classes to designing courses and arranging payments, all aspects of the business are in your hands. While this requires more time and dedication, it also has a higher earning potential. Starting your own business means you can either specialize or branch out later on. You can focus on English proficiency test prep, such as teaching Pearson Test of English (PTE) preparation, or create courses for other teachers on how to start teaching English online. If you want to teach English, online jobs provide an incredible variety of options to choose from!

How do I qualify to teach English online?

Do I need a TEFL/TESOL certificate to teach English online?

You should possess an accredited and internationally-recognized TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours. Earning certification specific to teaching English online is an even better option! This will fully prepare you for the virtual classroom and help you stand out to employers. It will also help you find and keep a student base if you decide to start your own English teaching business online.

The Bridge Specialized TEFL/TESOL Certificate in Teaching English Online + Practicum offers 180 hours of training and hands-on experience via a real online teaching platform. You’ll even have the ability to record your practice teaching sessions and share the best sample videos with future employers when applying for jobs teaching English online from home.

Browse online TEFL courses.

Can you teach English online with no experience?

Do you lack teaching experience? It’s perfectly possible to teach English online with no experience! And, teaching online will give you the perfect opportunity to gain experience and enhance your resume for future teaching jobs in locations worldwide. Plus, you can use non-teaching skills that apply to teaching English online when searching for a job. There are tons of industry and life skills you can apply to teach English online from home. From babysitting to being a camp counselor, getting creative can help pad your resume until you get your feet under you.

Can you teach English online without a degree?

Yes, you can teach English online with no degree. A university degree will be required by some, but not all, online teaching companies. And there are even companies that will accept anyone who is currently enrolled in a degree program, regardless of when you plan to graduate.

Can I teach online if I’m not a native English speaker?

Definitely! Don’t fret if you come across online tutoring companies looking only for native speakers. There are many advantages of non-native English-speaking teachers in the ESL classroom. Yes, there will be companies that only hire native speakers, but there are also many language schools that will hire bilingual teachers, as long as they meet certain English proficiency requirements.

Read about Krzl’s experience as a non-native English-speaking online teacher in Chile. 

What equipment and internet speed do I need to teach online?

Most online teaching or tutoring companies will have their own software or platform that facilitates the lessons for you, making it as easy as logging in. However, you will still need to be equipped with certain tools if you want to teach English online successfully.

• For starters, you should have a reliable, fast internet connection. How fast? The speed requirement varies from company to company, and they will indicate this as part of the application requirements; however, 10-15 Mbps should be enough to hold uninterrupted, quality online classes. Of course, higher speed is always preferable!
• Many companies also require that you have a wired internet connection (ethernet) instead of or in addition to a Wi-Fi connection.
• You’ll need a good webcam, mic, and headset. Consider investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones that do a good job of enhancing call quality. 
• If you decide to start your own business as a teacherpreneur, you’ll also need to choose a videoconferencing platform for your classes. Luckily, there are lots of options! Skype and Zoom are highly recommended for ESL teaching. Both are user-friendly and have helpful features, such as screen-sharing.

Are there tools to help me teach English online?

In a word, yes! There are so many incredible teaching tools available for online English tutors. From teaching platforms to pre-made lesson plans and content creation kits, there’s a vast array of digital tools for teaching English online.

Teaching platforms

One of the most powerful tools in the online teaching toolkit is the platform on which classes are hosted. There are so many to choose from, each with their own perks and focus. The best learning platforms make teaching English online fun and learning easy with interactive elements, gamified lesson tools, and fresh new ways to connect with your online ESL students. Koala Go, TutorBird, and ClassIn are all examples of incredible learning platforms for English language teachers. You can learn more about them and other eLearning platforms in our free guide:

Pre-made ESL lesson plans

An experienced online English teacher will tell you that one of the biggest challenges of teaching ESL is balancing your time spent preparing for class with actually engaging with students. Course preparation and curriculum modification can eat away at time that could be spent focusing on students. Sites like Fluentize, TEFL Lessons, and esl.laboratory that offer pre-made lesson plans are an online English teacher’s dream. They provide high-quality lesson plans to take the stress out of planning for classes. There are many great teaching resources on the internet, some paid, some free, some a combination of both. Download the following guide for an overview of the best options:

How much can you make teaching English online?

The salary to teach English online varies based on credentials and experience. Online language schools’ starting rates are usually between $9 and $20 per hour. Some also offer performance incentives or increase their pay rates when you stay with the company for a long time.

Teachers who work through tutor marketplaces and run their own businesses, on the other hand, set their own rates, ranging from $20 to $25 per hour. Your rates depend on the size of your client base and your students’ interest. For full-time online teaching work (about 30 hours per week), an online English teacher’s income could range from $1,000 to $3,000 per month. 

Find out how to make the most money as an online English teacher.

What are the pros and cons of teaching English online?

What are the pros of online English teaching?

Professional Independence

• Diverse job opportunities: The online TEFL/TESOL industry is going strong and growing by the minute, which means there are plenty of job opportunities for qualified teachers. This also means that companies are competing to get teachers by offering better pay, benefits, etc.
• Location independence: One of the main benefits of teaching English online is that you can work from anywhere in the world. There are many online ESL teachers who frequently travel, and having a remote job means that your work isn’t affected if you ever have to move. Plus, working from home means no commuting!
• Ability to set your own schedule: Online ESL jobs are often very flexible when it comes to choosing your online English teaching schedule. You pick when you want to work and how many hours each week you want to invest in teaching. You’ll also usually have the freedom to take time off when you want/need to without stressing over admin permissions or arranging a substitute teacher to cover for you.

A Unique Experience

• Competitive hourly pay: Online teachers typically earn a decent hourly rate, with companies offering anywhere from $9 to $20 per hour. If you decide to enter into the online TEFL/TESOL industry via a teacher marketplace or set up your own online teaching business, you can even set your own pay rate!
• Minimal teaching prep: Teaching online means spending less time and money on things like printing materials and arranging your classroom. Furthermore, if you teach with a company, you almost never have to design your own curriculum, which means there’s less time spent on preparing to teach and more time dedicated to actual teaching.
• Smaller class sizes: Another one of the benefits of teaching English online is that most classes are smaller in size. This means that you’ll be able to devote more attention to each student. You’ll find many opportunities to tutor students one-on-one or teach classes of no more than four students.
• Connect with students all over the world: Perhaps the biggest benefit of all when it comes to teaching English online is that you get to connect with interesting students from all over the world. You’ll learn about different cultures and interact with people who have different backgrounds from your own.

What are the cons of teaching English online?

Small Safety Net

• Booking that isn’t guaranteed: When weighing the pros and cons of teaching English online, you’ll need to remember that booking isn’t guaranteed. Unlike when you teach at a physical school, your hours may vary and you might not get paid for a time slot you open if it doesn’t fill or is canceled at the last moment. Many teachers make sure they have enough students by teaching online with multiple companies or supplementing their job with tutoring students privately.
• Few to no health/retirement benefits: One of the biggest things you have to consider when it comes to the pros and cons of teaching English online is whether or not you need a job that has benefits, such as a retirement plan or health insurance. It’s important to be aware that most online ESL tutoring jobs don’t offer these types of benefits.

External Factors

• A competitive job market: More and more teachers are switching to online jobs, so the market is starting to get competitive. You can set yourself apart from the competition by ensuring that you’re as qualified as possible. A great way to do so is by earning Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online.
• Odd work hours: Since you’re going to be teaching people in other parts of the world, you’ll have to consider time differences. Often, this means that you’ll teach at odd hours. If you teach online with a company, you could be teaching very late at night or in the early morning hours.
• Reliance on internet connection: Another issue with any online work is that you have to rely on a stable and fast internet connection. If you experience a lack of coverage or a power outage, for example, then you forfeit classes (and thus, pay!) for those hours.

Where can I find reputable online TEFL/TESOL jobs?

Learning how to find online ESL jobs is a skill of its own. Once you have your teaching credentials, it’s time to evaluate your options for teaching ESL online.

How to get an online teaching job working with a company

If you plan to teach English online from home with a company, online sites like the Bridge Job Board are a good place to start. This is a common starting place for anyone wanting to teach English online. You can easily search for online teaching positions that match your qualifications and experience. Do your research and know what your schedule and salary requirements are. Knowing your worth is a vital step to success.

Of course, it’s a good idea to also update your online teacher resume, and some companies may also require you to send in an application video. If you complete the Bridge Practicum in Teaching English Online, you’ll have plenty of recorded teaching demos from which to choose!

A week or two after submitting your application, interested institutes usually set up an online interview. You’ll be able to highlight your qualifications and experience, and potentially do an online demo lesson.

Here are a couple of companies to take a look at to get your search started!

Bridge Corporate Language Learning

Bridge Corporate Language Learning offers training to companies around the globe. Bridge teachers will work with professional students in private or small group classes with clear objectives and a strong support system. Bridge is a multicultural and welcoming environment that is fast-paced, customer-oriented, and entrepreneurial. Bridge Business English teachers will find opportunities to grow their careers, along with a host of other benefits. Enjoy free access to professional development courses, and work with a multicultural and diverse team that believes in creating a global community of teachers.

Learn more about Bridge Corporate Language Learning!

VIPKid

VIPKid has been around since 2013, with classes catering to students aged 4-15. They focus on providing options for online teachers who are looking to work with younger students. Teachers who want to work with this company need at least two years of experience. However, that experience can range from tutoring to substitute teaching and everything in between!

Read about the typical hiring process for online English teaching jobs.

How to get an online teaching job via a marketplace

Working for a tutoring marketplace, however, is a completely different game. Here, you try to get potential students by creating an online teacher profile, and often a self-introduction video. These sites are competitive and popular! Having the best possible credentials, such as a TEFL/TESOL Certification in Teaching English Online, will make your profile stand out.

Always research the schools, positions, and marketplace platforms that you have your eye on to make sure they’re credible. Check reviews and ask other teachers about their experience, if possible!

How to get online teaching jobs when starting your own business

If you choose to start your own online teaching business as a teacherpreneur, you’ll need to create a website to showcase your skills. You’ll also need to promote the services you offer and manage payments for your courses. You’ll can advertise your services to prospective students using social media and other channels.

Do you need to brush up on your business and marketing skills? The Teacherpreneur Academy combines our 60-Hour Succeeding as an English Teacherpreneur Specialized Certificate with ongoing coaching, networking, and a workshop series featuring industry guest speakers.

Read these tips to attract and retain more students as a freelance online English teacher.

Is teaching English online worth it?

Teaching English online can be the perfect job if you’re looking for a flexible, fun way to earn a living. And being able to work from the comfort of your own home or while you travel is a huge plus! With a little research and proper planning, online English teaching – whether full-time or as a side gig – is definitely worth it!

Earn Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online to master the skills you need to teach in the virtual classroom with confidence!