What Is an Independent English Teacher (and Should I Become One)?

Teaching English online independently is a job that offers the ultimate flexibility. You can work from anywhere in the world, put in as many or as few hours as you want, and run your own business. It’s a great option for new teachers without experience, for experienced teachers looking for extra money on the side, or for anyone wanting to be their own boss and make a long-term career out of TEFL. Let’s take a look at what being a freelance English teacher entails!

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!

What is an independent online English teacher?

At Bridge, the term independent English teacher refers to educators who operate outside of traditional school structures and have greater control over their teaching careers. This includes:

Freelance teachers who work with online language schools
Teachers on marketplaces who promote their services directly to students through platforms
Teacherpreneurs who run their own businesses, offering private or group lessons independently

A freelance teacher typically works for themselves rather than being employed by a single company. This can include online or in-person teachers, those who work with students one-on-one or in groups, and teachers with specialized ESL niches like exam prep or Business English.

Unlike teachers who work for a company, independent teachers set their own rates, choose their schedules, and market their services. They also handle logistics like payment processing and curriculum. Some may blend approaches – freelancing with companies while also running their own businesses on the side, a practice sometimes called portfolio teaching.

Teaching English online independently is also a great way to live and work abroad. Thanks to advances in technology, you no longer need to secure a job with a local school before moving to another country. You can support yourself by teaching English online while you explore your new home, or even while searching for an in-person teaching job once you arrive.

For more info on the differences between working with ESL companies and freelancing, read this next: Should I Work With a Company or for Myself?

Types of independent English teachers

Independent English teachers can structure their careers in a variety of ways. Some prefer the consistency of working with online language schools, while others value the flexibility of teacher marketplaces or the full autonomy of running their own business.

Here are three common paths to consider:

1. Teachers who freelance with online language schools

Some independent teachers work with online language schools like Bridge Corporate Languages, English First, Learnlight, or Voxy. These companies typically hire teachers as contractors, not full-time employees, which offers more flexibility than a traditional job but with less independence than running your own business.

What does freelancing with an online language school look like?

Students and lesson materials are provided
You may have some flexibility, but often need to meet minimum hour requirements
You are paid a set rate (you don’t control pricing)
The company handles all admin, scheduling, and payments
You don’t need to market yourself or find students
You’re still working independently as a contractor – not as a full-time employee

This can be a good entry point for teachers who want consistent work with less responsibility.

2. Freelance teachers who use online marketplaces

An ESL marketplace, like italki or Preply, or Cambly, essentially acts as a “middleman,” allowing you to advertise yourself on their platform to the students they’ve recruited.

Working via a marketplace falls somewhere in between running your own business and working with an ESL company, as you’ll be in charge of your schedule and rates but won’t have to handle things like payments and student recruitment.

What does teaching with a marketplace look like?

You’ll create your own schedule
Creating an effective online teaching profile is a must
You’ll set your own rates (though platforms take a commission)
You create your own teaching materials
The platform handles payments and attracts students for you
You’ll need a strong profile and intro video to stand out
Basic marketing and sales skills help you attract and retain students

Freelance teacher Suchismita, who lives in Paris, offers this advice for teachers thinking of using a marketplace:

“To attract students, you need to make an interesting self-introduction video and mention your teaching skills, methodology, and strategies on your profile page. I’ve gotten students who got in touch with me through the Preply platform after they saw my video. So, making a good video and updating your skills is a must.”

Read about how ELT marketplaces are continuing to evolve.

3. Teacherpreneurs who run their own business

Some independent teachers take full control of their careers by building their own teaching businesses. These teacherpreneurs promote their services directly, on social media, their website, or through referrals, and manage every aspect of their work independently.

What does running your own English teacherpreneur business look like?

You set your own schedule, pricing, and policies
You choose the platform(s) for delivering lessons
You decide what and how you teach – using ready-made lessons, customizing content, or creating your own
You manage cash flow, marketing, payments, scheduling, and attracting students
You have complete freedom – and full responsibility

While this path requires the most effort, especially at the beginning, it also offers the highest level of flexibility, creative freedom, and long-term earning potential.

Learn more about tackling operational challenges as a freelance teacher.

Freelance teacher Carla, from Brazil, uses social media to get online English students. She believes that marketing takes patience and perseverance:

“What I’d like to highlight about promoting your work online is that it’s a never-ending job. One needs to be persistent because results don’t come overnight. Sometimes you feel like you’re going nowhere, but then you get this one reply saying, ‘Thank you for your post,’ and it’s all worth it. Putting ourselves in a position where we always have something to learn allows us to be better and more reliable teachers.”

Many teacherpreneurs continue to grow their businesses over time, sometimes bringing on additional teachers, creating digital products, or offering teacher training. Others expand into related opportunities like presenting at TEFL/TESOL conferences, speaking on TEFL/TESOL webinars, or running YouTube channels to share their expertise with others.

The great thing about running your own English teaching business is that the sky’s the limit!

Bridge grad Gustavo Fróes runs his own online English tutoring business and has also expanded into teacher training. He’s an active member of BRAZ-TESOL, the Brazilian affiliate of TESOL International, and notes, “The teachers who I end up teaching are mostly connected through BRAZ-TESOL. People know me through that, or they look me up or ask me questions because they know about my involvement. Nowadays, they mostly come from my website, my partnerships with other teachers, and Instagram – the new advertising source for teacherpreneurs.”

If you’re willing to put in the effort and time to find your own students and do some marketing, the reward is well worth it. You can learn the business and marketing skills needed to launch your own English tutoring business in Bridge’s Specialized Course: Teacherpreneur Academy.

See all the ways you can monetize your freelance teaching business.

Profile of a freelance English teacher

Krzl Nuñes is a freelance online English teacher from the Philippines who lives in Chile. When she first moved to Chile, she worked in various language centers, but when her students began recommending her to their friends and family, she was able to switch to freelancing.

When the pandemic began, she transitioned to freelance teaching English online, and she currently teaches General English, Business English, and IELTS exam prep.

She offers this advice to prospective independent language teachers: “Being a freelancer is about being patient and confident in your skills. There may be days when you doubt yourself, especially when it comes to your ability to attract and retain students. If this ever happens, it’s important to remember that you’re a great teacher and that you have a lot to offer – especially if you know that you’ve taken courses in teaching. Even if you don’t have prior experience, you just have to be confident.”

Obviously, you also have to work hard because if your students see that you’re really making an effort and that you’re doing a good job, there is a big chance that they will recommend you to their circle of friends or their family members.

Finally, it’s also very important to be organized because, as a freelance English teacher, you may become a jack-of-all-trades. You have to manage your own schedule, coordinate with students, and do a lot of things. Even though you have a flexible schedule, it’s still important to be organized with your time, money, and everything related to your business.”

Curious about how to begin? Here’s how to get started as a freelance English teacher.