There are many companies that provide English as a Second Language (aka ESL) teaching programs to people around the globe. Many of them primarily cater to kids and this article is primarily focused on those companies, though there are also programs to work with adults who are learning English for the first time.
Parents want every advantage they can for their children, and for many of them that advantage is being able to participate easily with native English speakers.
Some ESL Teaching Companies
Qualifications
There are not too many qualifications to teach ESL.
Ideally you would be a native English speaker or pretty close to it. You will need to explain idioms and common phrases that don’t necessarily make sense. You will also need clear and concise pronunciation.
Many of the companies prefer that you have a college degree, although they are not too concerned about what that degree is in. Alternatively you can get or some sort of teaching certification.
You will need to be able to keep to the schedule you set and the lessons you book. Failing to show up for lessons you chose to teach will get you out the door pretty fast.
Finally, you need a stable internet connection and a computer with a webcam of some kind.
That is basically all the hard requirements, but there are a few more things you will need to succeed.
Keys to Success Teaching ESL
You may need to be either a night owl or an early bird. Many of the companies service clients in Asia and other areas around the globe. Consequently, the teaching times are often late evening, early morning, and overnight for the Americas.
Positive energy and excitement are ideal. You will need to be able to keep a child’s attention thru a video call. If you aren’t interesting, the kid will not be interested. Props and games as teaching aids will go a long way in keeping attention on the learning.
These companies typically have you create an audition video simulating how you would run a sample lesson. This is the opportunity to display how you will run the lessons. A quick YouTube search will find plenty of examples.
Generally a lesson plan will be provided for you. In the beginning, you may need a fair amount of time to prepare for each lesson. Those grammar skills might be a bit rusty. Once you have a few dozen under your belt though, a quick 5-10 minute skim may be all you need. And once you have taught a lesson once, it will require less preparation the second time around.
Depending on the company, you may have to put in some time to build up a base of regular students. Some companies have promotional programs to bring students to new teachers but often the key is to work the peak hours and be an engaging teacher.
Closing Thoughts
This is not a way to get rich. It can provide a livable wage in some parts of the country if done full time. It could also provide a supplement to your income if only done for a few hours each week.
Teaching English isn’t for everybody. Some don’t have the patience to work with kids. Not everybody wants to be working between 7pm and 7am (depending on your time zone). Some people just don’t have the enthusiasm for grammar.
If you do enjoy working with kids and don’t mind brushing up on your elementary school English (maybe you have been practicing with your own kids?), look into teaching ESL as a place to start with remote work.