New Year, New You: Are You Ready for Online English Teaching Jobs?

A new year brings new opportunities, and online English teaching jobs provide promising remote work for educators and other professionals. It generally provides work-life balance and a decent income, making it one of the most popular online jobs in the Philippines.

Besides its perks, it also offers long-term work opportunities because of increasingly growing global demand. A 2014 

by the British Council said that 1.75 billion people speak English worldwide, and by 2020, two billion people will have been using or learning it. Now that 2020 is over, imagine the number of English learners in succeeding years. This huge number has led to a growing clamor for traditional and online English teachers across the globe.

Take advantage of the opportunities that online teaching jobs offer and start your new year with a new you as an online educator. But before you start your online teaching journey, here are some answers to a few questions you might have.

What does an online English teacher do?

Online English teachers present and teach lessons that help non-native English speakers to read, write, and speak the English language. Depending on the school, institution, or online platform where you will teach, you may also be required to develop a lesson plan, prepare activities, and give homework. However, many platforms or institutions already have pre-made lesson plans, so you only need to deliver lessons to your students. All instructional sessions are conducted online instead of in traditional classroom settings.

What will you need in order to teach online?

To become an online English teacher, the basic requirements include a bachelor’s degree in any four-year course, strong verbal and written communication skills, and basic computer literacy. It is also an advantage if you already have a TESOL certificate or previous teaching experience. Nevertheless, many platforms still welcome applicants with no teaching background.

Since teachers conduct lessons virtually, you are also required to have the right technical equipment such as a well-functioning laptop or computer, an HD webcam, a headset with a noise-canceling microphone, and a fast and reliable Internet connection. In fact, most online home based jobs require this basic setup.

Lastly, you must have the right soft skills to teach effectively and thrive in the field. Aside from communication skills, you need to have the leadership skills to establish your authority as the teacher, the adaptability to keep your students engaged, and the interpersonal skills to build a good relationship with your students.

Why should you become an online English teacher?

If you’re still not convinced, there are many reasons why you should try online English teaching jobs. First of all, you can teach anywhere as long as you have the right technical setup. This means no more traffic, fewer expenses, and no need to leave your family in order to work each day. Also, it generally offers flexibility, enabling you to set your own work hours.

Lastly, it provides valuable experience. Whether you want to pursue a career in education or not, online English teaching provides a good stepping stone for developing teaching skills and the necessary communication and interpersonal skills that can be used in any field.

For those who are looking for online teaching opportunities, 51Talk provides teachers and professionals the chance to teach the English language to young learners and earn in the comfort of their homes. Join 51Talk today and start the new year with new opportunities.