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Tutoring English Online with English First
With its reputation for excellence in the TEFL field long-established, English First continues to attract top teaching talent. How does its online offering, launched in 1997, fare against modern competitors?
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What about today, though? English First offers a number of programmes for intrepid educators wishing to find work overseas. Meanwhile, the company has branched out into other areas, including animal welfare and sustainability programmes. They also were well ahead of the game in a very important aspect; in 1997, they started to offer online teaching for English students around the world.
Yes, EF Education is very much a player in the online teaching sphere. Competing with the likes of Cambly, Italki and other big hitters, EF Education offers teaching opportunities with students across different nations, age ranges and proficiencies.
They may be an established name in the TEFL world, but what can teachers expect when they teach English online through English First? What kind of salary potential is there for teachers? Do you need to be a native speaker? How do you apply, and what qualifications do you need? Let’s take a look at this English teaching behemoth and see what they’re offering to online teachers.
English First: Overview
So, who are English First? When it comes to teaching English, EF is a big name, having been founded in 1965 and with 5 decades of experience putting teachers in the right place. Today, they have a strong presence in over 100 nations, with an emphasis on cross-cultural education and breaking down barriers.
When it comes to their teaching English online offering, EF Education puts flexibility at the forefront. The company boasts that teachers can work any time, 24/7, and get a picture of their monthly schedule. This helps teachers budget and work around a teaching schedule. Having started teaching English online in 1997, EF have years of experience on their competitors.
As for the students? EF teaches classes to an array of students, so you’re likely to meet both younger students and adults alike while you’re teaching online on the platform. The emphasis is on quality and availability, so if you’re a qualified TEFL teacher with lots of time, looking for a busy TEFL job, English First is an excellent choice.
What are the requirements to teach with English First?
Now we know a little more about the company, let’s look at what a TEFL teacher needs to be eligible to teach online through EF. It’s worth remembering that there is onboard training when you successfully apply to English First. So, even if you do meet the requirements and get the job, you will need to set aside some time to complete a short induction.
EF Education hires teachers based in the UK and the USA, but the requirements for teaching English online for both are the same.
Here’s what you’ll need to forge a flexible career with English First:
Bachelor's Degree
An online English teacher working through EF Education will need to hold a bachelor’s degree - in any subject - to be eligible for a job with EF. If you do not hold a degree, don’t worry; there are plenty of online platforms that hire TEFL teachers without degrees.
TEFL Certification
You will need TEFL certification to be considered for a role with English First. Though the industry standard is 120 hours of training, EF Education has its own criteria, explaining: “The minimum requirement to teach online is a 40-hour TEFL certificate.”
While 40-hour TEFL certificates do exist, they are commonly used as a top-up for an existing qualification. Typically, certificates of 40 hours or less tend to be based on very specific subjects, for example, Teaching English Online. We’d certainly recommend gaining a qualification of at least 120 hours before teaching English online as a career.
Native/non-native
If you are planning on applying to teach English online through English First, please be aware that you need to be authorised to live and work in either the UK or the USA. You must be fully fluent, C2 qualification standard or above, to be eligible for a role teaching English online with EF.
Download our teaching English online guide
English First Job Description
So, what does an online English First teacher do? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: if accepted, you’ll be teaching online to students of different ages and proficiencies. While it used to only be students from China on the platform, this has opened up to the rest of the world, meaning that you’ll meet students from all sorts of different backgrounds.
Your primary aim while teaching English online is to deliver engaging, interactive English lessons, in order to build proficiency. You’ll be expected to build a rapport with students, evaluate their progress and confidence over time, provide feedback and ensure a steady stream of improvement over time.
However many classes you take per week is up to you, but with considerable demand, it’s unlikely you’ll be lacking numbers. As long as you’re able to provide meaningful, personalised feedback on lessons, and create a learning environment tailored to each student, you’ll likely find yourself enjoying the teaching experience on EF.
How much can you earn teaching English with English First?
The amount you earn is variable, though English First’s current base rate is £9.50 in the UK and $11.85 in the US, rising depending on experience on the platform, reviews and other incentives. However, EF Education does provide salary estimates, based on the number of teaching hours you do per week (UK calculator/US calculator).
At the time of writing, English First suggests that a typical monthly salary for 38 hours of teaching per week would be £1,673, or $1,885. These are estimates and are subject to the value of currency at any given time.Your contract will be an 11-month temporary deal, with benefits including “company pension, paid training, and holiday pay” in the UK. In the US, rolling 6-month contracts are offered, with contractors being responsible for tax contributions. Teachers in the UK are paid on the 28th of each month automatically, while teachers in the USA must invoice by the 10th of each month to be paid on the 26th.
The application process for English First
Provided you meet all of the listed requirements, the application process for English First is refreshingly straightforward. So, how is it done, what’s needed from applicants, and how does an online English teacher get started working on this online teaching platform?
How do I apply?
The first step for applying to the English First online teaching platform is uploading some documents to their application portal. Your CV, your TEFL qualification and your bachelor’s degree certificate will all need to be scanned and uploaded. You’ll also be subject to an online background check.
Provided you have everything that EF Education is looking for, you’ll be online teaching in no time. First, though, the interview!
Interview process
If you’re the kind of online teacher that EF Education is looking for, you’ll need to take part in a job interview. Depending on where you’re based, you’ll meet a member of the recruitment team from either the UK or USA, who’ll ask you some questions about your previous teaching experience, any of the numerous jobs you might’ve had, your background in education and other topics.
If you’re wondering how to prepare for a TEFL job interview, have no fear: our guide to acing TEFL job interviews will steer you right. It’s also important to ask questions; here are 7 amazing interview questions you should be asking.
What to consider before you start
Here’s a very important factor; technology. You’ll need all the necessary tools to teach online through EF.
EF Education has strict requirements about the software and hardware they want their teachers to have. Laptop mics just won’t cut it. For example, teachers using Macs will either have to adapt to Windows, or find another online teaching platform.
The exact specifics EF need you to have are as follows:
In terms of hardware:
- CPU: Intel i5 (10th generation) or higher
- 16 GB memory or higher
- HD: 30GB free capacity, SSD HD
- 1536 * 1024 or higher screen resolution
- Windows 10 or higher
- Chrome 102 or higher
- 1080P webcam
In terms of internet connection:
- Uncapped internet
- Download: 1 Mbps (2 Mbps recommended)
- Upload: 1.5Mbps (3 Mbps recommended)
Finally, in terms of peripheral tech for classes:
- Green screen
- Ring light
- Noise cancelling headphones
If you have all the necessary tools to teach on the EF Education online teaching platform, then well done! You’re now ready to join a world leader in international education.
Pros and Cons of English First
While EF Education is certainly a world leader in teaching English as a foreign language, pairing online teachers with international students from around the world, it may not be the perfect fit for you.
After all, every teacher is different, and there’ll be undoubted advantages and disadvantages to each role. So, what about EF Education? Let’s take a look:Pros:
- Flexibility: Undoubtedly, the schedule demands and the availability of students means you can teach as little or as much as you want to. In terms of scheduling, EF Education is truly hassle-free, and you can fit it around your lifestyle, or have it be your main job.
- Salary: As for compensation, EF Education pays a very decent wage from the off, and there are opportunities to build it through positive feedback and other incentives.
- Reputation: EF Education is one of the most reputable and established names in TEFL teaching.
- Application process: The application process is very straightforward. No jumping through hoops or unnecessary tasks - not even a demo class!
- Ease of use: The EF English teacher portal and schedule pages are extremely easy to navigate. Whether you’re extremely computer literate or a beginner, you won’t have any issues!
- Loads of students: If you want to make this job a full-time endeavour, you absolutely can; demand for teachers on the platform is huge.
Cons:
- Tech: If you have a computer that’s a few years old, or a Mac, you won’t meet the tech requirements. That’s a big expenditure before you’ve even started.
- No digital nomad opportunities: You have to be based in the UK or USA to be eligible to teach with EF Education.
- Degree only: Unlike a lot of other platforms, you will need to be a degree holder to even apply
English First Teacher Reviews
You might expect, with its very solid reputation and decades of experience in the international education field, that employee satisfaction might be nearer the 5-star mark than newer online teaching companies. That is the case; as an employer, EF ranks well for employee satisfaction.
On Indeed, EF Education scores 3.7 out of 5, with work/life balance, company culture and quality of colleagues being mentioned in reviews. However, some former employees talk of a stressful experience during peak times.
Glassdoor, similarly, has EF rated at 3.5 out of 5. Oddly, while Indeed reviewers praised the work/life balance available, Glassdoor has it listed as one of the worst parts of the job. Instead, EF rate highly for values and culture, but not for salary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is EF online?
EF Education is an online platform, and a department of English First, one of the biggest names in TEFL teaching. If you choose to teach through EF online, you’ll find thousands of eager students, regular, competitive pay and a schedule that works for you.
Q. Is English First a good company to work for?
Reviews for English First can vary, but in general, employees are impressed by the culture, the flexibility and the chances for professional development.
Q. How do I become an EF teacher?
To become an EF teacher, you must hold a degree, be based in either the UK or the USA, have a TEFL certificate and meet a list of technological requirements. If you meet these requirements, you’ll need to upload your documents and pass an interview.
Q. What are the duties of an EF teacher?
The duties of an EF teacher are to plan lessons specific to each learner, deliver classes that boost proficiency and confidence in English, and foster positive relationships with students from around the world.