A community-oriented approach with a progressive editorial stance, striving for transparency and encouraging readers to consider multiple perspectives.

Monday, June 16, 2025
booked.netCall us at 613-935-3763
Eco-conscious : Print an issue, plant a tree! 

No products in the cart.

  • About
    • Contributors
    • Disclaimers
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Giving back
    • Mission Statement
    • Past Issues
    • Where to Find
    • Call us at 613-935-3763
The Seeker - Positively Local, Suporting Local
  • Home
  • News
  • The Soapbox
  • Columnists
  • Events
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Puzzles
  • Videos
Seeker
No Result
View All Result

Teach English Online from home

The Seeker by The Seeker
October 27, 2020
in This May Also Interest You
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0

There are so many reasons to teach English online once you’ve gained your TEFL qualification from an accredited provider such as tefl.net or tefl.org. The comfort of working from your own home, no more long, crowded commutes, choosing hours that suit you, and not to forget there are less expenses to consider too. Grabbing a coffee on your way to work and nipping out for a quick bite to eat at lunch all adds up! 

The online teaching industry is constantly growing too, so you’ll get to experience what it’s like to work in a fast-growing industry. To establish a steady income and excel as a teacher, there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to ensure you succeed and make the most of your new venture!

You might also like

Toronto Weddings on Wheels: How Luxury Limousines Are Changing the Game for Modern Couples

The Benefits of Partnering with a Managed IT Service Provider

Choosing a Garage Door That Offers the Mix of Aesthetics and Durability: An Insight

Getting started

First of all, we should mention online teaching companies because there are many well-established ones out there that are a great place to start. You’ll need to go through an application process and may have to conduct a demo lesson as part of your interviewing process. Once hired, you’ll be eased into the industry by having control over your availability. Lesson plans are often provided by online teaching companies too, saving you some (but not all) preparation time. Keep in mind too that different companies will have their own requirements, and may require you to have a degree or a passport from an English speaking country.

By getting started with an online teaching company, you can begin building a steady student base, gain crucial experience, and ultimately understand what works well. Once you’ve established yourself, you’re then in a better position to go freelance, if that’s what you’re aiming to do. But we’ll explain in more detail below, where you’ll find advice and tips to excel as a great online teacher.

Preparation is key

Those who are adequately prepared for lessons will be better teachers, as they’ll have a clear objective for the lesson and be able to make sure targets are met. Remember that you’ll be paid per lesson, so if you aren’t managing your time well, students can easily find another teacher.

If you’re well prepared, you’re more likely to maintain your student’s engagement and conduct a productive lesson. As mentioned, some online teaching companies will have lesson plans for you to stick to, but it’s always worth planning how you’ll lead your lessons and ensure that your students are taking in the information.

If you’re planning your own lessons, there are many great educational resources out there to help you, as well as those offered to you as a TEFL graduate.

It’s essential to be punctual

You can’t succeed if you’re not present. Online teaching companies will note if you’ve failed to attend or are late to any of your scheduled classes, and they’ll be inclined to take action. There can be penalties for late or missed classes right away – which will put you at a serious disadvantage for getting other lessons booked. Students are paying for a full lesson and anything less won’t be acceptable.

The cancellation policy for online teaching companies can be very strict – so make sure you’re fully aware of the terms.  If you’re a freelance teacher, you’ll need to set your own terms about cancellations. In this case, you should give your students as much notice as possible.

Be helpful and have patience

Your students have chosen you as a teacher, it’s your responsibility to help and support them with their learning to the best of your ability. Have patience, language learning can be frustrating at times, but by offering constant encouragement, students should feel comfortable to make mistakes and move on from them. 

Market yourself well

Freelance teachers, in particular, will need to put substantial effort into marketing themselves online – otherwise, how will people know about you? And with so many other online teachers available, why should students choose you? There are lots of things you can do and starting up a website is one of them. Having your own website will allow prospective students to read your CV and any relevant information about you. Creating a professional account on various social media platforms is also a good idea. 

When deciding your own fees, they should be fair and reflect both your experience and expertise as a teacher. New freelancers shouldn’t be overly hasty in charging higher fees as you’ll need to establish yourself first. To build up a regular student base you could consider offering a discounted second lesson as an incentive to come back.

Choose an appropriate workspace

You should conduct your lessons from a quiet space so that your students can concentrate on their work and communicate with you without interruption. Your workspace should also be clean and tidy. Besides a busy background being a distraction, students may find that it reflects a lack of seriousness and pride in the job.

Needless to say, you’ll need a strong internet connection too. You don’t want to risk your students being unable to understand you over an unstable connection or cut off from the lesson all together.

How will I know if I’m succeeding?

Successful teachers will have high ratings on online teaching websites. They will be recommended to others and maintain a steady flow of students and a regular client base (although if you’re new, don’t be disheartened as you continue to work towards this). They should see their students progressing and be proud of their achievements.

Once you’re well established in the online teaching working environment and have a decent student base, you’re more likely to succeed as a freelance teacher. As a freelance teacher you can then be in control of your fees – and keep the full amount too. You can also be more selective about your scheduling. E.g. setting yourself certain working hours and days, and limiting the number of offered lessons per day. You can do this anyway, but when you’re established it becomes a lot more feasible.

The key to success is a large part to do with committing to being the best teacher you can be for your students. By supporting and encouraging them, correcting mistakes with patience, being reliable, and proactive – you’re already succeeding. If your students are doing well, so are you.

The Seeker

The Seeker

Next Post
How Successful Business Manage Their Logistics

How Successful Business Manage Their Logistics

Categories

  • Business & Finances (15)
  • Columns (626)
    • Archived (115)
      • Filter-Free Zone (9)
      • For What it's Worth (37)
      • Fostering Change (2)
      • Memo from the Mayor (2)
      • Men Writes (26)
      • Mortgage Tips (1)
      • Seeker Snippets (22)
      • Take Note (6)
      • Which Witch is Witch? (10)
    • Current (389)
      • Appreciating Contemporary Art (2)
      • Discover SD&G (36)
      • Fashionably Marlene (13)
      • From Sharyn's Pantry (7)
      • Gardening – Ask Anna (27)
      • Grant Spills the Gravy (10)
      • Jay's Tech & Cyber Insights (4)
      • Keeping it Reel (27)
      • Local Spins from Bud's Records (9)
      • Louise Mignault (58)
      • Mental Health Matters (10)
      • Out and About (51)
      • Outdoor Club (23)
      • Reality Bytes (8)
      • roadSIGNS (31)
      • Smart Move with Sondra (3)
      • The Resilient Life (5)
      • Transition Cornwall+ (16)
      • What I'm Reading (2)
      • Wondrous Life (33)
      • Yafa Arts & Craft (21)
    • Friends of the Cline House (1)
  • Douris Deliberations (6)
  • Events (1)
  • Health & Fitness (10)
  • Home & Garden (11)
  • Interviews (156)
    • 5 questions with… (106)
    • Business Profiles (1)
    • Locals in the Loupe (47)
  • Leisure & Lifestyle (736)
  • News (2,563)
    • Ontario (1)
  • Politics (24)
    • Federal Elections (10)
    • Provincial Elections (10)
  • Science & Technology (46)
  • Sports (3)
  • The Adventures of D.B Cooper (1)
  • The Soapbox (259)
    • Agree to Disagree (114)
  • This May Also Interest You (1,572)
  • Travel (52)
  • You May Also Like (969)
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok
Don't miss anything!

Get notified of all our new news by ringing the bell at the bottom left corner!

Content Safety

HERO

theseeker.ca

Trustworthy

Approved by Sur.ly

2024
Disclaimers
Stock Photos partially provided by our partner Depositphotos
The Seeker Newspaper is located at 327 Second Street E., Cornwall, ON K6H 1Y8 -- All rights reserved
The Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within.Please note that the views and opinions expressed in news article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Seeker. The content provided is for informational purposes only and has been written from the authors’ perspective, aiming to engage and inform readers. The Seeker is committed to presenting a wide range of viewpoints and encourages readers to conduct their own research and exercise critical thinking when considering these opinions in the context of their own perspectives.
ISSN 2562-1750 (Print)

ISSN 2562-1769 (Online)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • The Soapbox
  • Columnists
  • Events
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Puzzles
  • Videos

© 2023 Reducing our footprint!   For every issue we print, we plant a tree!

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.