How to work from home with TEFL

A lot of people are working from home these days. While it used to be looked upon with a degree of cynicism, the practice of carrying out your job from the comfort of your home is now entirely commonplace. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, office work has been revolutionised, commutes have become passé and people are building their work around their lives - not the other way round.

A great way to get into working from home? TEFL. If you’re looking for a career with flexibility and real skill-building, then look no further.

The online TEFL world

Online TEFL is big, big business. The advent of webcams and reliable, affordable broadband have opened up ever-increasing opportunities for online teaching and learning. 

Most recently, the pandemic (we hate to bring it up!) forced schools and businesses to create an offering for students who were stuck at home. Equally, more and more teachers found that they couldn’t secure in-person work, but did have a reliable enough computer to carry on working.

If you’re wondering where to work, there are loads of companies and platforms. Some famous names include Cambly , Novakid and LatinHire , who offer different kinds of classes for different age ranges, proficiencies and geographies. 

“Teaching online also gives you so much flexibility. You can control your own schedule and choose when and where you want to work - as long as you have an excellent WiFi connection. I took a two-week holiday and wanted to teach a few lessons during that time, and as I teach on a tablet it was easy to pack my “classroom” and earn some holiday spending money from teaching a few hours every other day.”

Lindsay, former TEFL Org Student

Companies, platforms or freelance?

There are distinct differences between companies and platforms. Generally speaking, a company will employ you, plan the curriculum and generally run the experience for you. Platforms are more of a halfway home between a company and working freelance - the infrastructure is there for you, but generally speaking, you’ll decide who you teach, what your rates are (though not always) and what materials you use. Companies and platforms are a great way for inexperienced, newly qualified teachers to get started, and it’s certainly the approach we recommend for newcomers. Examples of companies include Novakid and FluentBe. Platforms include Preply and Italki.

Alternatively, working freelance is something you can do in the online TEFL sphere. It’s harder to build a client base at first, but if you have all the tools and establish a reputation for quality, you’ll have options. If you’re able to create your own website, develop course materials, market yourself and ensure that payments can be taken, nothing is stopping you!

Step 1: Certification

What’s the first step in the home-working, English teaching, work-life balancing adventure? Why, it’s certification.

Getting TEFL certified has never been more accessible. You can start as you mean to go on by studying online, with online-only courses becoming increasingly high-quality and popular. A certificate you’ll need to be considered for jobs needs to consist of at least 120 hours of study , with assessments marked by experienced and knowledgeable TEFL teachers.

120 hours is the industry standard. There are different kinds of TEFL qualifications that last 120 hours or more, including Level 5 Diplomas , and the CELTA . Which is the best? Well, the best course is the one that’s right for you. How much time can you devote to study?

A crucial part of the process is accreditation . Accreditation truly matters , and is the difference between certification that means something and certification that’s without merit whatsoever. If a website doesn’t boast accreditation, or the “accreditation” they have can’t be verified (or doesn’t look right), then avoid!

If you’re looking to go beyond a single TEFL qualification, you might want to consider Advanced TEFL courses . Specifically, a Teaching English Online course would help significantly!

“It was fun refreshing all my grammar knowledge and reviewing everything I learned in school years ago. Then the methodology part was really interesting and motivating. My tutor always marked my assignments in time giving very clear and constructive feedback. I finished the course 12 weeks later, feeling confident that I could teach English, even though my native language is Spanish. Yes, I’m from Argentina! And that was my biggest concern when I started this journey.

Jesica, teaching online in Thailand

Step 2: Finding a job

You’re a proud TEFL certificate holder. Now, it’s time to get a job.

If you don’t want to work freelance, or you want the security of working for a company, then jobs boards are your friend. English teaching companies are constantly hiring, and you can find adverts on The TEFL Org Jobs Centre , on Indeed, LinkedIn or any other major hiring platform.

Working on a platform is also a great way to get started. Before you launch in, it’s worth doing some research on fees and how many classes you’re likely to pick up. If you’re setting your own rate, find out what’s acceptable. If you want to use your own curricula and learning materials, see what’s popular. Once you’ve got a feel for the industry as a whole, platforms are great ways to get started.

Our best advice for newbies? Try working across multiple platforms and/or companies if you can. When you first start out, and you’re not experienced , you’re not going to fill up your schedule immediately. The more work you do across the web, the quicker you’ll find yourself garnering positive reviews and picking up more clients.

“The job is very straightforward as I am provided with all the lesson content I need. I often customise my lessons with my students with entertaining props such as my trademark Dominic the Duck, or perhaps even some morning stretches to get some energy in the early classes. I work directly on my phone or laptop, so this means if I need to and want to work on the go as I am travelling... I can! If I wanted to return to the UK, I am completely eligible to take on the same job there too.”

Michael, online English teacher

Step 3: Applying

How about actually getting those jobs, though? You’ll need a stand-out CV, and if you’re having to fill out application forms, consider any relevant experience you might have.

Ever given training in a job? That counts. Have you had to use organisational or problem-solving skills? Write it down. If you’ve had to give presentations or use communication skills in the workplace, that’ll help, too. There are plenty of transferable skills that count.

Once you’ve built your TEFL CV , you’ve got choices. You can write a fantastic cover letter for a TEFL job , but given you’re on the internet, why not prepare a video message? This way, you can showcase your computer literacy and your on-screen presence. Chances are that when you’re applying for jobs, you’ll need to do a demo lesson at some point; a video introduction will help your chances significantly.

When it comes to doing the TEFL interview , don’t stress out. There are typical questions that come up in these English teaching interviews , but with enough preparation you can answer these questions artfully and to an employer’s satisfaction. Not only that, but remember: you’ve got to ask questions to TEFL employers , too! Both sides of an interview need to impress.

Things to consider

What are the crucial things an online teacher needs to think about before launching into the home-working world?

Technology

What will you need most when it comes to teaching English online? Tech. As we’ve handily explained in this tech guide to English teaching , any English teaching company will insist you have the right gear, and platforms will care, too. This means: a computer that’s relatively new and has plenty of storage. An internet connection that has adequate download and upload speed ( Fast.com and Speedtest.net will help here!) is absolutely crucial. A webcam, obviously, is important - as is a microphone so your students can hear you. Headphones, so you can work with cleaner audio, are also a huge advantage.

And, if you’re ever struggling for ideas, there are loads of amazing TEFL resources out there, like lesson plans, worksheets and quizzes!

“I use a variety of online tools like Miro board - I share the board and take notes there, add links and images, then after the lesson, I download it as PDF and send it to my students. Voilà!” 

Irene, online TEFL teacher

Time

This one’s simple: do you have the time to teach English online from home? Many people think they can balance their careers and commitments - and they can - but it’s definitely a learning curve. If you’re looking to make teaching English from home your full-time job, then great, but remember differences in time zones, when your students will want to attend classes, and when you’re at your most productive. If you’re working part-time time, it’s pretty straightforward for teachers who want to pick up hours as and when it suits you. Still, it pays to know your time zones and when people are most likely to be online for lessons.

When it comes to time, there’s a lot to think about. Perhaps the best way to sort your schedule is to see what works and settle into a groove that way. 

“At first, I was hesitant and a little bit sceptical. After all, I was already teaching and was looking for a career change, surely this wasn’t right for me! I was also self-conscious about being a non-native speaker and felt that I would be at a disadvantage. I decided to do some research into TEFL, and what I found was very encouraging.”

Diana, parent and online TEFL teacher

Budgets

It sounds extremely straightforward - to the point of going without saying - but you need to figure out how much you can make from teaching, and whether it covers your monthly budget.

At first, online teaching can be difficult in the sense that competition is fierce, and establishing a reputation takes time. That’s why we suggest working across multiple companies or platforms if you can. Even if you eventually want to go freelance, using existing infrastructure can help you earn money more quickly.

Other commitments 

Finally, it’s definitely worth thinking about life in general before you launch into home English teaching. Will giving lessons interfere with any care obligations? Can you work shifts around your children, if you have them?

Remember to check time zones if you’re working with clients who live across the world. It may be that you’ll need to do classes in the evenings; does that cause chaos in your social calendar? 

It’s alright to want to have a life outside of work! Make your schedule work around you, and not the other way around.

Step 4: Starting work

So now you’ve started work as an online English teacher. What can you expect?

Again, it can be hard to build a client base at first, but if you have the right qualifications and an enticing profile on any of the great teaching platforms, or an English teaching company is keeping you busy, you’ll have plenty of work. Your first lessons will always be daunting, but provided you’ve got ideas and plans for each student, you’ll never be sitting in silence!

If you’re building a business and going freelance, know that it can be really tricky at first. Not only are you having to use teaching skills, but networking, advertising, budgeting and marketing attributes are also essential. Self-employment in the TEFL world is truly impressive, and though it can be tough to begin with, stick at it! The demand is out there.

Once you’ve got yourself settled into the online teaching sphere, it’s maybe worth thinking about continuing professional development (CPD). The top teachers are always up-skilling, whether it’s in terms of teaching skills, presentation skills, organisational skills, online marketing or whatever else is beneficial. 

Now you’re ready!

Got all that? We know it’s a lot of information, but believe us; once you get started on this journey, you’re going to love every step.

Now, you can have the work/life balance you always wanted. No more commutes in the mornings and evenings - take that extra half hour in bed that you’ve been craving! Meet people from all over the world, and make a real, lasting impact on their lives. It’s a fantastic job!

Working from home with TEFL: it’s a game-changer.

Can’t wait to start your TEFL adventure? Take a look at our highly-accredited, widely-acclaimed TEFL courses and get started today!