Learn why you should consider teaching English online with more than one company to set yourself up for online teaching success.
The world of online ESL teaching drastically changed when China announced its crackdown from the Chinese Ministry of Education. If that news taught us anything, it was that it’s so important to find stability - and working for multiple online ESL companies does just that! Having the ability to work with more than one company allows you to not solely rely on just one company for a paycheck, granting you the peace of mind and flexibility you need for those unexpected times.
Reasons you should teach English online with more than one ESL company:
- As an independent contractor, you have the right to work with other companies;
- It increases your scheduling options;
- You can maximize your earnings and stability;
- You can diversify your online experience;
- Provides the opportunity to hone in on your teaching style and preference.
Let's explore each reason in more detail...
Reason 1: Well, Because You Can.
When working for an online ESL company, you’re an independent contractor, meaning you have the right to work with other companies. Enjoy the freedom of creating that online career you’ve always dreamed of!
Reason 2: Increases Your Scheduling Options
Set your own schedule. It has such a beautiful ring to it, doesn’t it?
But when you first start out working online, that created schedule tends to be relatively slow. It can take some time before teachers develop a reputation and a solid base of regular students. Having access to multiple companies allows you to get over that slow hump and start increasing your bookings.
In addition, certain companies like Cambly and Preply have their own set of “peak hours,”; times when most students are online and looking to take classes. When you can see varying available teaching hours on multiple platforms, you can increase your schedule options and ultimately increase your earnings!
Reason 3: Maximizes Your Earnings and Stability
It should go without saying, but the more companies you work for, the more cheddar you bring home! But aside from bringing in multiple streams of revenue, when you work for various companies, you’re increasing your stability as well.
Reason 4: Diversifies Your Online Experience
As much as you may love working for a particular company, spending hours teaching the same lessons on the same platform can become exhaustive and monotonous. The beauty in diversifying your online experience is that you’ll never feel burnt out or unmotivated signing onto the same platform over and over again. When you diversify your online teaching experience, you’ll be able to meet different types of students, work in other interfaces, use different teaching styles, and ultimately create a more enjoyable online experience!
Reason 5: Hones Your Teaching Style and Preferences
Teaching online for multiple companies allows you to harness your teaching style and teaching preferences. Each company you work for will have its own set of ethos, teaching styles, and working environment. Working for multiple companies allows you to stretch and expand your “bag of tricks” and become a more well-adapt teacher.
Better yet, when you work for more than one company, you’ll be able to distinguish the types of platforms and classes you don’t like - or the ones you more naturally thrive in. For example, maybe you want 1-on-1 classes like Cambly and Preply, but you’re not fond of Preply’s online teaching interface. Or, perhaps you work better when you’re teaching to larger groups, like on Outschool, but you miss the ability to rely on pre-made lesson plans like those available on Cambly. You won’t know your preferences or your preferred companies until you try them, and working for more than one company allows you the opportunity to figure those preferences out.
Interested in teaching English online but not sure which companies to start on? Here are a few company’s you can teach English online (and more) with:
Cambly
- Earn $10.20 USD/hour;
- Set your own schedule; no minimum hours required;
- Calls are conversational-based, but lesson plans are available;
- Lesson plans already made; just follow along!;
- No previous online teaching experience is necessary;
- Must be a native English speaker.
Learn more about Cambly.
Cambly Kids
- Earn $12 USD/hour;
- Follows a preset lesson plan;
- Set your own schedule; no minimum hours required;
- High-energy, TPR, and props are encouraged!;
- No previous online teaching experience necessary;
- Must be a native English speaker.
Learn more about Cambly Kids.
Preply
- Earn up to $500/week
- Geared towards adult learners
- Create your own schedule; no minimum hours required
- Set your own hourly rates (average teaching rates $15-25/per hour)
- Weekly webinars and online courses are available
- No teaching degree or certification is required (though a certificate makes you more
- creditable!)
Learn more about Preply.
Outschool
- Earn up to $50+ per hour
- Teach subjects other than English
- Specializes in classes for children
- Set your own schedule; no minimum hours required
- Create your own course curriculum and outcomes
- No teaching degree or certification is required (though a certificate makes you more
creditable!)
Learn more about Outschool.
Posted In: Teach English Online
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