Collaborative post: Open plan offices, staff rooms, teacher’s rooms are just some examples of workplaces where ideas are born, shared, and developed. It’s the kind of environment where many people thrive–many, but not all. A vast proportion of the workforce population has had a taste for working from home (WFH) and has never looked back.
What is it, then, that makes WFH so popular? Here are just a few reasons:
- Eliminating Commuting: The most apparent reason many workers favour remote work is the savings in time and money associated with commuting. The hassles of rush-hour traffic, overcrowded trains, expensive fares, and parking shortages are issues commuters would gladly avoid.
- Flexibility: When working from home, individuals have the freedom to determine their work hours. This flexibility enables employees to accommodate their work within their family commitments, ultimately reducing stress levels.
- Enhanced Creativity: Many employees report heightened creativity and improved focus when working remotely. This might be because they experience less pressure compared to a traditional office environment, allowing their minds to generate more ideas.
While some of the advantages of working from home directly benefit employees, they can also lead to positive outcomes for employers as a ripple effect.
How to earn money teaching from home
From blogging to trading domain names, there are many ways to earn some extra money online, and Artificial Intelligence has been developed to make our jobs easier. However, these options are unlikely to allow you to make a living on these earnings alone.
On the other hand, teaching English online has become a favourite among those who are looking to establish themselves as freelancers. There are two ways to do this: as an independent freelancer or with the support of an established teaching platform.
Independent freelancing
When it comes to freelancing in teaching, it takes more than just being a great educator and crafting effective lessons. If you decide to fly solo starting your new business from scratch, there are several practical aspects to address, from establishing cancellation policies to student recruitment.
As a freelancer, it’s essential to establish a strong online presence, complete with a user-friendly and visually appealing website. This platform serves as your introduction, where you define your teaching niche, whether it’s conversation classes or writing skills development. Being transparent about who you are and what you offer helps build trust with potential students. In any business, attracting new students is as crucial as retaining existing ones, and there are numerous marketing strategies to assist with this.
However, this freelance option may not suit everyone.
Freelancing via online teaching platforms
For teachers who are passionate about education and prefer to avoid the business side of freelance teaching, numerous online companies offer flexibility and substantial support. Here are four companies that can support you during your freelancing journey:
English Hunt: Focusing on the adult Korean market, English Hunt offers video or phone class options, a competitive hourly rate, and ready-made teaching materials. To teach with English Hunt, you need a desktop/laptop running the Windows Operating System and a high-speed internet connection. You should be a US citizen (even if you live abroad) and have a US bank account. A bachelor’s degree or four years of teaching experience is necessary, and a TEFL qualification is preferred but not mandatory.
Open English: Popular in the Latin American market, Open English prefers teachers who can speak Spanish and/or Portuguese. They offer group and one-to-one classes for both adults and juniors, a flexible schedule, ready-made lesson materials, and professional development opportunities. To teach with Open English, you should be a North American English native speaker, have one year of teaching experience, possess TEFL/TESOL education or training, and commit to a minimum of 10 hours of teaching per week
Lingoda: A rapidly growing edu-tech startup in Europe, Lingoda offers language courses in English, French, German, and Spanish. They provide small classes for motivated adult learners, a flexible 24/7 schedule, ready-made lesson materials, and teacher support. Requirements for teaching with Lingoda include a near-native CEFR C2 level, three years of teaching experience (online or in-person), a TEFL certificate (although a bachelor’s degree is not necessary), and a minimum of 5 hours of teaching per week.
S-Lessons: This platform is ideal for teaching Japanese children. Teachers can set their own rates per lesson, with the platform taking a 30% commission. S-Lessons offer short lessons (25 minutes) in two course types: ‘Regular’ with provided teaching materials and ‘Leave it to the teacher,’ where teachers create lessons and materials. While a bachelor’s degree and TEFL certificate are advantageous, they are not mandatory. Additionally, there is no set minimum number of weekly teaching hours.
Freelance teaching from home
Whether you choose to work independently or with platform support, there are plenty of opportunities to make a living with online teaching-but this is not just a job. Helping others improve their English language skills can become a very fulfilling career.
Please note: While prior teaching experience and a university degree are not always obligatory, a TEFL certificate is frequently a requirement. Furthermore, this kind of qualification boosts your overall knowledge of the English language and develops your teaching skills. These advantages increase your chances of getting hired: it’s well worth the cost of TEFL certification.