The Freedom of Online Teaching
I always knew I wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps and take time off of work to travel the world. Six months…a year… five? I wasn’t totally set on the timeline but I knew it was something I wanted to do. It wasn’t until the summer of 2019 that I realized that although I’d have to quit my current day job to travel, there was a way that I could travel and still earn money.
WORK. TRAVEL. CREATE YOUR OWN SCHEDULE.
I’ve discovered all three of these things are possible when you teach online. Many dream of working from the comfort of their home or having the freedom to travel and work on the go but don’t believe it’s possible. Sure, in today’s age there are many tech jobs that allow people to work remotely, but unfortunately, for those like myself that are technologically challenged, this is not an option. I had to search for other options.
During my search, it quickly became apparent that teaching English online was going to be a perfect fit for me. I enjoy working with people and a job where I was alone with me, myself, and a computer was not going to be fulfilling. I needed human interaction which is exactly what I maintain while teaching online. There are a variety of companies that partner with native English speakers who teach English lessons to children in China. The curriculum is already developed so contractors focus on teaching and presenting the information in an engaging manner without feeling the pressure of developing lesson plans. After doing some research I finally decided to work for VIPkid. This has allowed me to do the following…
- Travel and Work.
I knew that if I was going to take an extended period of time off from my typical day job I needed a flexible occupation that would allow me to work anywhere. I use the word anywhere but I suppose what I really mean is anywhere that I have access to wifi. In our global society, this encompasses an increasingly growing number of places. In areas where internet connection may be sketchy, one can invest in a portable wifi device or use their phone as a hotspot; allowing even more freedom. My office has evolved from a fixed location with a mailing address to wherever my computer happens to be.
2. Create my own schedule.
Unlike other companies I researched, VIPKid does not require you to request time off. You have complete autonomy over your schedule. Depending on your availability you can open up as many or as little time slots as your schedule allows. Their app allows you to select as many 25-minute one-on-one lessons you would like to teach between 8:30 P.M — 9:30 A.M. (Eastern Standard Time). Parents see your availability, read your bio, and look at past parent reviews to decide if they would like to book you as their child’s teacher. Opening up slots does not automatically guarantee parents will book you but the system does a good job of giving you trial classes to teach in the beginning and if families decide to invest in the program it is common to see that child show up in your future classes. In this way, you begin to build a following of students and gradually see your bookings increase.
While I was still living and working in Rochester, NY I opened four slots between 6 and 8am before heading to my regular day job. Once I began traveling in Latin America I increased my availability and began to teach for longer periods of time as well as open up night slots to increase earnings. On days that Brandon (my boyfriend) and I are traveling, I close my schedule until we’ve settled and then I open ’em back up. Teaching English online truly gives me the freedom to make money and commit to the transient lifestyle I’ve been craving.
3. The Money.
So let’s be real, I am not going to become a millionaire anytime soon but I can confidently say that I make enough to live and travel in Latin America. While searching for work that I could do online I saw suggestions such as completing online surveys or selling things on eBay or Craiglist; neither of which was going to provide me with a stable income or a feeling of fulfillment. Teaching English online, on the other hand, held much more promise. So let’s get down to the numbers…
Teachers with VIPKid make anywhere between $7–9 per 25-minute class. That may not seem like a lot but there are a variety of incentives that consistently increase your base pay.
- An additional $1 for every class you are on time for…Seeing as you only have to step from your bed to your computer to do this job, this should be a consistent extra $1 in your bank account per class.
- An additional $2 if a parent books you in less than 24 hours.
- An additional $5 for every family that commits to purchasing the program after attending one of your trial classes.
- Each month you receive an additional 0.50cents per class after you teach 35 and an additional $1 per class after your 45th class.
This means that per hour you have the ability to make anywhere between $14-$22. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!
Personally, teaching English online has given me the financial security and confidence I needed to quit my job and travel for the indefinite future. I know there are others who have similar reasons for choosing this kind of work but regardless of your personal motivation this job is great for anyone who is looking for a flexible work schedule, the ability to work on the go and earn money from the comfort of their home.
