Are you looking for a side gig or a source of extra income while traveling and working remotely? The rising demand for English teachers worldwide could be the answer to your woes. The million-dollar question is, "How much can I earn teaching English online as a remote traveler?" Our article offers more insight into your likely salary and how you can increase it with time without disrupting your schedule or changing your remote lifestyle as you travel.
Qualifications to Teach English Online
The qualifications you need include being fluent or a native English speaker, having a TEFL certification, and having the right equipment for remote work.
- Being A Fluent Or Native English Speaker
Practice brings you closer to perfection. What better way to perfect language other than practicing? Native English speakers are more fluent in the language. They already know their vocabulary, phonetics, phonology, and be able to communicate effectively and train non-native English speakers directly and indirectly. For your own part, interacting with non-native speakers helps you learn more about the language and learn to speak it at a higher level.
Other than being a native speaker, a TEFL certification gives you an upper hand, especially when more teachers are available. Employers may ask for a degree qualification to consider you among candidates. Countries like China have created the need for advanced TEFL certification to ensure all remote teachers deliver the best content in line with the competitive education system.
Enlisting with an online teaching company gives you faster access to various materials you may need for a smooth teaching experience. You’ll need other items to set you up for the challenging task ahead, even before starting as a remote teacher.
At the very least, make sure you have a microphone, headset, quality camera, a laptop or PC, and a fast, reliable internet connection. You may want to start with your laptop's microphone, camera, and inbuilt speakers but ensure you invest more in them to improve the quality of services you offer.
Probable Earnings for Remote Travelers
Your earnings will depend on a number of factors including your employer, level of experience, type of lesson offered, and academic qualifications.
An online training company may be your best friend, especially for newbies. The company could help you navigate past the time-consuming and exhausting challenge of an inexperienced independent teacher hustling for clients. They can also outsource students and provide lesson materials needed to deliver quality content.
Your experience in teaching English will be considered and will likely land you higher-paying gigs, depending on your level of expertise. Clients will inquire about your experience level, and other people you have guided in the past. People will put more trust in a tutor with teaching, mentoring, and coaching experience with children and adults. The experience allows you to exercise differentiated learning to cater to the needs of learners with different challenges and capabilities.
Your salary will of course depend on the lessons you're offering. Sharpen your skills and expertise to offer more specialist lessons relating to Business English and exam preparation to secure a higher income. Create a niche in the field of adult classes focused on specific parts of learning the language. Perfecting your methodology helps you secure a lucrative salary.
A learner will put trust in a tutor with certified academic credentials or proof of one being a native speaker. It’s possible to teach English online without a degree, although a degree will obviously make you more marketable among clients from different walks of life. So put in the necessary extra hours to advance your academic qualifications and viability to teach across borders.
Maximizing Your Salary
Earning the most you can will mean following market changes, investing in your hustle … and knowing your clients.
- Pay attention to Market Changes
The market dynamics shift dramatically depending on the legislation in different countries. For example, the
Chinese Ministry of Education recently introduced legislation that may shape online tutoring in subsequent years. Going forward, you may consider improving your skill set and getting more advanced TEFL courses to build your CV and become more marketable. You can also utilize online marketplaces to market your services. Familiarizing yourself with global changes will allow you to exploit available loopholes and secure your income.
Always ensure you have the best equipment for
online English teaching. Investing in a high-speed laptop and reliable internet ensures you can connect with learners around the clock without buffering. A good camera also helps you take reliable photos that your clients will find helpful during interactive classes administered through video calls. You should also get a microphone to safeguard the clarity of your speech when communicating with remote learners and reduce the need for repeating simple words regularly.
Set a budget that may favor different clients and spread your risks. Clients with low purchasing power should receive offers they can afford or be willing to pay voluntarily, while those with a higher purchasing power and varied needs should receive higher quotes.
Knowing your clients also helps you know more about their schedule, after which you can plan for block lessons involving more learners while allowing you to work for very few hours. If you can advertise your prices in local currencies like US Dollars ($) or Euros (€), it will make for easier transactions.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to teach English online, you need to consider a number of important factors to ensure your efforts are rewarded, your schedule is undisturbed, and payment is well deserved. Your price should start low and grow as your experience and your presence grow. Be familiar with market dynamics and adjust based on market needs to stay caught up as learners and teacher experience are exposed to inevitable change. You may also join online communities of other teachers for regular hacks and updates on the shifting dynamics.
