10 Websites to Teach English Online
Choosing great websites to Teach English Online, may not be as clear cut as you first thought. There are a few things to consider, such as time zones, flexibility, as well as pay. So, here are 10 top choices for you to start your online English teaching career.
- BiCortex Languages (formerly Eszett)
With their own virtual classroom and extensive media library of resources as well as a program management team behind each course, Bicortex’s main focus is on quality business language training. They offer group teaching classes as well as individual sessions to adults and a range of other language related services. They have a surprisingly quick recruitment process but are also selective and look for qualified staff, and, with the range of services they provide there is plenty of room for professional development. - BlingABC
BlingABC is a Chinese company offering online English teaching classes to children between the ages of 3 and 15. You mainly work in small groups of up to 6 students, but with additional training there is the option to teach larger groups. With these additional qualifications you are entitled to extra pay, which makes this an attractive option. Long term availability is also important if you are considering BlingABC. - Whales English
A good support system for both teachers and students has been set in place, and special emphasis has been given to training opportunities and personal development which makes Whales English a good option for online teaching. Groups are small, usually two students at a time, plus pay is relatively competitive compared to other options. Be patient though, as Whales English has a large faculty so take this into consideration as you will probably have to wait for new students. - Erudite Languages
Offering a range of services from language teaching to quality assurance and curriculum design, Erudite Languages is a good option for ambitious online English teachers. They are very selective in the recruitment process, but you are able to set your availability and request payment whenever you would like. With career paths and professional growth options, Erudite Languages is a good option for online English teachers who want to do more than teacher. - Mobile apps
Smartphones and tablets have taken over the world, and not all of us feel comfortable sitting in front of a computer screen giving our English lessons. The following companies have developed apps and are allowing instructors to teach using their mobile devices. - Babbel
This app has a great marketing team and a lot of students and have a large group of academics who work behind the scenes to produce the material. Sessions with students tend to be relatively short and conversational with learners being mainly adults. The hiring process can be a little bit lengthy and the pay might not be as high as some of the other options on the list. Despite the success of the app, Babbel has been able to create open channels of communication at all levels as well as a well-defined system of support. - Boxfish
Boxfish only works on tablets and smartphones and the more devices and backup options you have, the better! A stable internet connection is also important. Students tend to be children under the age of 15 and in private teaching classes which run for 25 minutes. Boxfish are fairly strict when it comes to enforcing their policies but pay is competitive and top selected teachers can get fully booked for long periods of time. - Palfish
First off you download the app, verify your number, and start. You have complete flexibility to open up your availability and modify your schedule, set your price and students will contact you. Unlike a lot of the other apps and platforms, Palfish has many other options and features apart from teaching classes, it has social media functions like posting videos and hosting live video events to attract “followers” and more potential students. - Intermediaries
If the thought of working for an online language institution or even a language learning app doesn’t offer you the freedom or flexibility you are looking for, or you are more of the independent type, there are companies out there that act as intermediaries. - Preply
Upload your profile, set up your availability, name your price and wait for students. With an attractive profile and a catchy video, you can quickly build up a student base. They have a curriculum you can use, as well as placement tests for new students, but you are free to teach your own material. Commissions may seem high at the beginning and don’t expect to get paid for the first class you teach to new students. - Amazing Talker
Similar to Preply, Amazing Talker lets you create your own profile for students to see. They offer a lot of flexibility; you are free to teach your own curriculum and build up your own student base, but they tend to charge a lot of commission in the beginning. The main difference is that their platform tries to match students to you. - iTalki
iTalki is not necessary a language provider, more of a database of language instructors. Like the previous options, you create a profile and students contact you. There are 2 types of teachers, “community” and “expert” depending on your qualifications and iTalki just acts as a go between. There is a lot of competition on this app but an interesting place to start.
Final thoughts
Whether you decide to be independent with an intermediary, teach on your phone through an app or work for a school, find something that suits your style of working, your work-life balance, and your needs. Do your homework and make an informed decision.
