Online Teaching Jobs You Can do From Home — No Degree Needed

How can you gain the technical skills to teach online?

• Word processing proficiency

• Strong presentation skills

• Ability to use tools such as PowerPoint slides, videos, images, and audio files to run the class

• Confident with using technology to communicate, including email, chat, and teleconferencing software

• Good with troubleshooting (e.g. what to do when nobody can hear your audio), and can help students troubleshoot when they have tech issues too

Relevant work experience you might already have

How TAFE Can Help You Get Your Dream Teaching Job

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What soft skills might you already have that will make you a great online teacher?

• Communication skills

  Imparting skills and information requires clarity. People from all around the world need to understand key concepts in order to learn them well.

• Empathy

  You need to remember what it was like to be a complete beginner in the subject your teaching. Learning something new can feel intimidating, your empathy can make a difference to students’ motivation and determination to overcome the challenges.

• Organisation and time management skills

  You need to plan the course and give students an outline of what will happen and when, so that they can plan their lives. Each class should be structured around a lesson plan. Classes should start and end on time, and shouldn’t be overloaded or underloaded with material.

• Creativity

  There are many different ways to impart information to students. Some are visual learners, while others may prefer traditional lectures, some benefit from getting real-world practice in a skill they’re learning. Being creative will help you find unique ways of reaching and engaging all your students.

• Patience

  Learning new things takes a lot of time. Online learning may also be a new format for your students. You might not see improvement straightaway, especially when you’re teaching complex things, like a foreign language. If you can be patient with students, and continue to encourage them as they’re challenged by new material, it will help students stick with your course.

• Cultural sensitivity

  You may be teaching people from all around the world. Around half of ESL students are based in China with many other countries represented among learnings. All teachers, but especially online English teachers, benefit from understanding different cultures.

How to find online teaching jobs

Choosing where to teach online

Teaching platforms

Pros of using teaching platforms:

• Platforms tend to be straightforward to use and may have integrated apps for teaching on the go.
• Students will be able to find you via the platform, so you don’t have to worry too much about marketing.
• Some English teaching platforms will have a set curriculum for you to follow, so you don’t need to guess what’s appropriate for your students.
• Other platforms give you the freedom to teach whatever you want, which allows you to teach niche or quirky topics at whatever level you’d like to target.

Cons of using teaching platforms:

• It may be difficult to differentiate yourself from other teachers instructing on similar subjects.
• Some platforms charge you and/or may take a percentage of your earnings.
• Some platforms pay an hourly rate, but the pay rate may be very low as you’re competing with other teachers from around the world.
• Some platforms will require credentials such as a Bachelor’s degree or an English teaching certificate (such as a TESOL, CELTA, or TEFL certificate) or prior teaching experience. Many will require an application process of varying difficulty.
• Some English teaching platforms require you to either be from the US or Canada or to use a North American accent.

Creating your own teaching site

Pros of creating your own teaching site:

• You can advertise your course locally, throughout Australia, or globally – whichever audience best suits your course. If you’re offering tutoring, it can be very effective to advertise in local papers or on Gumtree.
• If you have an existing large following, it’s a great way to keep that following engaged.
• You have complete freedom to teach whatever you like.
• Overhead costs will be relatively low – just the cost of the software and set-up. You can also set your own rates and your own schedule.

Cons of creating your own teaching site:

• If you’re hoping to teach English to people all around the world, it may be hard for students to find you.
• You have to work to build potential students’ trust in your ability to run the course smoothly, and in your expertise. They won’t have as much quality guarantee or consumer rights compared to if they use a platform or agency.
• This option would probably require the highest amount of work in setting up your course.

Working for an agency

Pros of working for an agency:

• You’ll likely be working with a local company, which means that you can meet other tutors.
• You don’t have to worry about marketing.
• When lockdowns end, you may be able to transition to face-to-face teaching (if you prefer it to online tutoring).
• You’ll get an hourly rate that will likely be above minimum wage.

Cons of working for an agency:

• You may not have as much freedom over your hours as the other two options.
• The agency will take a large proportion of student fees.
• If you’re looking for an online English teaching job, you’ll likely need a TESOL or similar qualification. If you’re tutoring academic subjects, you’ll need to have had good results in relevant subjects.