Top Tips to Teach English Online

If the idea of teaching English online makes you feel excited, you should read our top tips to teaching English online. Teaching is a rewarding career because you get to help other people reach their goals and motivate them to keep growing professionally.

Technology has changed the way students learn. More and more people enroll in online courses daily to improve their skills, so it’s ideal to get tips to give your best in each class. This post is a complement to classroom tips for ESL teachers, so make sure to check out both!

Why Teach English Online?

The internet is so vast that there’s always room for you to offer English classes online. The demand for English teachers is high due to the importance the language has in the world.

Additionally, becoming an English tutor will give you the freedom to manage your time. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys flexibility, teaching the language online is a perfect fit. Whether you decide to make teaching your part-time or full-time job, you get to set your own schedule. You can work only four hours if you want to, and you will have time to meet other personal or professional goals.

If this doesn’t convince you, know that teaching English online allows you the ability to work from almost anywhere on this planet with a stable WiFi connection. There’s so much freedom! Just get your own laptop or computer, a quality headset, a quiet space, and voila! 

Still not convinced about teaching English online? One aspect that most independent online English teachers adore is that they become their own bosses. You’ll decide how much you want to make and what days you want to work. Freedom seems the most exciting part, doesn’t it?

Manage Your Content

Students learn at their own pace, so you should prepare content according to each student’s English level. As someone who wants to start teaching English online, you’re in charge of managing your content. That means that you’ll create content based on your students’ goals and needs. 

For you to succeed, you have to use good resources, activities, and homework assignments. Also, think about the content you want to cover before you start teaching. This is helpful as you plan your lessons because you can better organize yourself and intentionally look for content.

One of the most important things is to ensure you get quality content. There are many trustworthy websites where you can buy affordable content for your classes that will make instruction easy and engaging. You can also go the extra mile and create the materials you want to use in your classes.

Offer a Demo Class

The first impression is often a lasting impression. A demo class will give new students a sneak peek at what it will be like if they enroll in your course. So, what do you have to include in your demo class? First, you’ll want to focus on showing students what your classes will be like, not impressing them.

You can play games during the demo class to encourage student participation. After brief introductions, ask students about their hobbies or why they decided to learn English. Your goal is to get to know them and their goals so that you can be better prepared in case they enroll in your class. Write down the areas where they need improvement and which activities they enjoy doing in the class. You must pay attention to the small details of the demo class because they will help you make the time more entertaining.

Consider whether you want the demo class to be free or paid. If you’re starting out in your business, choose the former. You want to attract as many students as possible. As time goes by, you will gain more experience and develop a track record of delivering results. Once that happens, you might want to consider charging for demo classes.

Give Special Offers

Promo codes are a good way to attract new students or thank the ones you already have. Based on your budget, offer a discount toward their next lesson or group of lessons. This gesture lets you show that you also care about their wallets. If giving a discount is not your thing, you can also throw in a free class for your long-term students.

Get a Certification

Being certified shows that you have the skills and knowledge to teach English. But which certification is right for you? Here are some options for you to consider:

• TESOL: Teach English to non-native speakers in or outside your country. You can get the certification either online or in person, but you need to complete at least 120 hours of coursework. The price you pay will depend on where you decide to get the certification.
• TEFL: This certification is similar to TESOL because it involves teaching English to non-native speakers. You’ll teach reading, writing, speaking, and listening. For this certification, you need to complete 100-200 hours of coursework. If you’re considering building a career in teaching English, this is a certification worth looking into.
• CELTA: With this certification, you will learn practical teaching skills and theory. CELTA also involves doing 120 hours of coursework to get the certificate.
• DELTA: If you’re looking for professional development in your career as an English teacher, this is one certification worth obtaining. DELTA is also for teachers who have more than one year of experience teaching English.

Takeaway

Teaching English online comes with many personal and professional rewards. You get to meet new people and learn more about their cultures as you can build your career as an English teacher. Small details can make a difference when you want to embark on this adventure.