There is a strong interest in teaching English online these days. The demand for e-learning services comes from several industries, including the academic, corporate and government realms. Online education platforms are increasing in popularity and usage.
With the e-learning market expected to reach over $850 billion by 2030, the opportunities for ESL teachers online are immense. There is a wide selection of online ESL schools that offer a set curriculum to teach from, as well as Marketplace schools where you can set up your own profile and rate. Furthermore, many online ESL teachers are discovering that creating their own online ESL teaching business results in greater monetary returns and satisfaction.
This guide delves into the potential of online ESL teaching through established platforms and entrepreneurship, helping you navigate your path to becoming a highly-paid online ESL teacher.
Teaching ESL Online: Company Employment vs. Freelancing
Earn More as a Freelance Online ESL Teacher!
While online ESL teaching companies are the best way to gain some experience, the starting salary ranges widely between $7 and $25/hour depending on geographical location, university degree and TESOL / TEFL certification.
On the other hand, online ESL teachers who are on marketplace platforms and teacherpreneurs report earning up to $20,000/month.
Take Jillian, for example, who makes good money teaching online as a single mom:
Or, take a look at Ross’s freelance teacher profile to give you a sense of how much he is making per hour.
Jillian and Ross are definitely a minority group of hard-working teachers with vast experience and entrepreneurial abilities. Even when the majority of freelance and teacherpreneurs earn between $30 and $50/hour, the range is up to 5 times higher than entry-level teaching jobs with online ESL companies.
Enjoy a Better Lifestyle!
Most online ESL companies serve a specific geographic location and teachers who work with them report that the number one reason they burn out quickly is the time zone difference with their students. Marketplace ESL teachers and teacherpreneurs have more flexibility and convenience in their schedule.
Own Your Success!
So what’s the difference between freelancing with a marketplace platform or becoming a teacherpreneur? The latter keep more student tuition for themselves, target niche markets such as IELTS preparation and Business English with students willing to learn, offer group classes, and even scale their business by hiring new teachers. While, freelance ESL teachers have to pay a commission to the marketplace school and will have to abide by certain conditions the school has established, such as how and when to post your profile. However, many marketplace schools offer quite a bit of hands-on support for new teachers such as teacher support groups.
Top 5 Tips for Aspiring Online ESL Teachers
1. Get Qualified.
The first thing you need to do to become a successful online ESL teacher is to get the appropriate training that gives you the knowledge, expertise and confidence to teach English online effectively while making you more attractive to potential students. An internationally recognized TESOL/TEFL certification will give you the skills you need to customize ESL lessons and curriculum for high-paying online ESL classes such as Business English or IELTS Preparation courses.
If you are looking for an affordable online TESOL / TEFL alternative to the UK-based CELTA certification, OnTESOL is accredited and recognized by the leading organizations from Canada and the United States.
2. Gain Teaching Experience
Successful online ESL teachers have years of experience and dedication to their professional development so teaching online is not a get rich quick scheme. But, you can become a highly-paid online ESL teacher faster if you plan well. After your first year of teaching experience with an online ESL company or in-class ESL school, start teaching online with a Marketplace platform to build your audience. Simply set up your own profile and rate, and start teaching. Some examples of high-paying marketplace ESL platforms include AmazingTalker and Outschool.
3. Specialize in High-Demand Classes
Do market research to find classes that are high in demand and expand your reach. This is what’s called niching and it will help you to stand out and offer something unique. While it can be tempting to offer something for everyone, that won’t get you the ideal clients you want. Here are some areas of focus to consider for high-paying online ESL teaching markets: young learners, business English, IELTS exam preparation, grammar, pronunciation classes, and English conversation.
4. Become a Teacherpreneur!
Once you have found your niche and gathered a growing audience of students, you are ready to go out on your own. These days it’s not that difficult to start a business with a basic website where you manage all your client communication, services, marketing and payments in a few easy steps. It’s even possible for growing businesses to use accounting, legal, and tax software to handle the day-to-day operations. For the purpose of this blog, we will focus on how to find your high-paying online ESL students.
Check out Abridge Academy’s free XiaoHongShu bootcamp, which helps ESL teachers get started advertising their classes on Chinese social media:
If you are on social media, many teacherpreneurs find great success with a solid LinkedIn profile where they post regularly. Follow up with the students that engage with your posts via direct message and use the platform to build relationships with the students and to promote your business. Facebook is another social media platform where you can advertise your online teaching services in expat, TESOL teacher Facebook groups, or ESL student forums.
Having a website with a basic blog is also highly recommended. Use blogs to write about the topics you teach and post a few free lessons for students to browse. Consider offering a free 25-minute demo class that’s posted somewhere on your website.
YouTube is an easy place to download your videos on the internet and embed them to your blog, website or social media post to advertise what you offer. Furthermore make sure to display testimonials throughout your website and social media pages to build trust among your ideal clients.
If having a blog or personal site isn’t for you, there are several websites where online ESL teachers can list their skills, services, and availability such as Freelancer or Upwork.
For more marketing ideas, Jillian Shanahan provides plenty of great resources on how to become a freelance online ESL teacher.
5. Make it Easy for Clients to Contact You and Be Responsive
Everyone is different. Some people need to communicate via e-mail, while others need to speak with costumer service on the phone. Make it easy for people to call you and message you and be responsive. Use your blogs, demos, and other marketing materials to book a call with you for initial free consultation where you can discuss what they will learn, fees, and schedule.
The journey to becoming a successful online ESL teacher is both exciting and rewarding, offering unparalleled flexibility and the potential for significant income. By embracing the digital landscape, obtaining the right qualifications, gaining valuable experience, specializing in in-demand niches, and ultimately stepping into the role of a teacherpreneur, you unlock a world of opportunities. Whether through marketplace platforms or by establishing your own teaching business, the key to success lies in your dedication to growth, adaptability, and a student-centered approach.
Let this guide be your first step towards transforming your passion for teaching into a thriving online career that not only fulfills your professional ambitions but also makes a positive impact on learners around the globe.
