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Tutoring English Online with Lingoda
Easy to use, with regular payment and a fantastic infrastructure, Lingoda is proving an attractive option for online English teachers. Is it as good as its reputation suggests, however?
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There are loads of choices out there for anything wanting to learn a language. Platforms and companies online offer a range of different options, from “gamified” learning with colourful characters to face-to-face tutoring over a simple video call, and everything in between.
If ease of use and simple learning options are your desire, well, enter Lingoda. The German language learning company has proven increasingly popular with both English teachers and learners, especially through initiatives like Lingoda Marathon and Lingoda Sprint - as the names suggest, these Lingoda lessons give English learners different timescales to build proficiency. What’s more, the Lingoda platform is reliable and welcoming for teachers and students alike, with a simple interface and user-friendly features.
Is Lingoda all it’s cracked up to be, though? Is it one of the better online teaching platforms for English teachers? Let’s study one of the more popular English teaching companies and find out whether it’s the right choice for you.
Lingoda: An overview
Imagine a language school. Now imagine an online language school. There you go; you’ve just imagined Lingoda.
Formed in Berlin by brothers Fabian and Felix Wunderlich, Lingoda began as Easy Languages, before changing to its current name. It took little time to gain traction, with the start-up becoming a multi-million euro company within a very short timescale. The Covid-19 pandemic, along with more languages being added to the platform, saw interest in Lingoda skyrocket, and it’s now valued at over US$1bn.
Why? Well, safe to say, people like it - especially those who teach English online. A platform that keeps things very simple, Lingoda has been heralded for keeping its prices low but its quality high. In terms of what teachers earn, group classes are usually the equivalent of $10-$20/£8-£15 per hour, while one-to-one lessons usually work out at around $35/£27 per hour. However you book, it’s done in blocks, which can work out being more affordable for students, and assures teachers of work.
Another key selling point? Accessibility. As this review from PCMag states:“It's accessible to people who are learning a language on their own with apps or those who are familiar with a language through family or cultural exposure and want more instruction. Lingoda gives you the opportunity to speak and communicate with real people, a crucial step to advancing in any language, all within the framework of CEFR standards.”
What are the requirements to teach with Lingoda?
Lingoda’s market share and success, especially given the short length of time it’s been around, would suggest that Lingoda classes are being taught by highly qualified teachers. Certainly, teachers who can get results out of students, and garner positive reviews and coverage for the platform.
What does it take to start online teaching with Lingoda, though? Let’s find out; you might be surprised by the Lingoda teacher requirements!
Bachelor's Degree
You do not need a bachelor’s degree to teach with Lingoda. This is a major boost for any TEFL teacher without a degree who wants to work online, especially if you have experience and a TEFL certificate.
TEFL Certification
You will absolutely need a TEFL certificate to teach English with Lingoda. The industry standard is 120 hours of training, and your TEFL certificate will need to be from a reputable, accredited course provider.
Native/non-native
Do you have to be a native speaker to teach English online with Lingoda? Well, no, English doesn't need to be your native language. All you need is to be qualified C2 or above in your chosen language. This
Experience
You’ll need 2-3 years of valuable teaching experience - not necessarily online classes - to teach English on Lingoda.
If you don’t have that level of experience yet, don’t fret; here’s our guide to teaching English online without experience.
Download our teaching English online guide
Lingoda job description
So, if you meet the requirements to teach on Lingoda, what is the teaching experience actually like?
There are two major types of lessons: one-to-one, or in small groups. Both are booked weeks in advance, so you’ll know exactly how many classes you have in a week, and for clients, they’ll have to have paid in advance. This means teachers won’t lose out if a client misses a class, but equally, it provides value for the customer who’s interested in language learning.
Classes are performed on Zoom, with Lingoda's group classes featuring a maximum of 5 students. A curriculum, with teaching materials, is provided for teachers in advance, with learning objectives. That said, each teacher can interpret the material and teach in their own way - students like teachers who aren’t afraid to mix it up!
How much can you earn teaching English with Lingoda?
Though your hourly rate on Lingoda can be affected by a number of factors - qualifications, experience and time spent on the platform - it’s safe to say your pay will be within a certain bracket. That bracket? Well, the Lingoda pay rate is around $8-$13/£6.33-£10.30 per hour, which adds up! This is true whether the Lingoda classes are group classes or one-to-one.
What’s more, you won’t lose out if your student or class cancels a lesson. Instead, you’ll be entitled to 50% of your fee if a student doesn’t turn up, or cancels within 48 hours.
How much of your salary will go on lesson materials? Well, none of it. Lingoda group classes and solo classes will be aided by Lingoda teaching materials, so you can get started teaching students as soon as you've familiarised yourself with the curriculum.
The application process for Lingoda
It all sounds great, but how does an ESL teacher start working for Lingoda? Is it a long, arduous Lingoda application process, or can a teacher get started within days?
Let’s find out.
How do I apply?
Like with any language teaching platform, you’ll need to apply through the website and provide some information about yourself. Some of the information will be basic: your name, where you’re based and so on. Then, you’ll be asked questions that are specific to the role: your level of experience, any relevant qualifications, and what kind of hours you want to work for the company.
You’ll also need to submit an internet speed connection test, and you’ll need to provide scans of any relevant documents (including your CV) to upload.
Interview process
If your application is acceptable, you’ll be asked to conduct a 30-minute interview with an employee at Lingoda. The question and answer section of the Lingoda teacher interview is fairly straightforward; you’ll be asked about your teaching experience, why you want to work for Lingoda, and have a chance to ask questions of your own. Here are 7 great interview questions to ask, just in case you get stuck!
This will all be on Zoom, so make sure you know how to use the platform - including how to present slides - before you embark on the job interview proper.
You’ll then have 5-10 minutes for a demo class. It’s how it sounds; you’ll be treating the interviewer as though they’re a student, using the material provided to give an English lesson. Marks are given for how much the student (i.e. your interviewer) is talking, so make sure there’s a good balance of questions and answers.
You should know immediately whether you’ve passed the interview stage. If you receive a job offer, you’ll be asked to take a Lingoda Teacher Test. In this test, you’ll be asked questions about the platform itself. You can only progress once you’ve scored 100%, but you can answer questions as many times as you like.
What to consider before you start
The main things to consider before you start include:
- Tech: Is your home set-up trustworthy? Do you have a reliable internet connection, up-to-date software and knowledge of both Zoom and the Lingoda platform?
- Time: How many hours of teaching do you want to do? What number of teaching hours can you commit to? Given what you can manage and the salary, is it worth embarking on a TEFL job through Lingoda?
- Teaching ability: Do you feel ready to teach English online? There’s always the option of advanced TEFL courses or a Level 5 diploma if you want to boost your teaching skills.
- Is this the right platform for me?: There are a range of platforms and companies out there. Be sure that this is the one that suits your timetable, abilities and ambitions.
Lingoda: Pros and Cons
With all of this in mind, how well does Lingoda stack up against its competitors in the online English teaching sphere? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this rapidly growing language teaching company for language tutors with a teaching certificate and experience teaching online?
We broke it down to give you the most accurate impression of what it’s like to work there, and while there are distinct advantages - specifically flexibility, regular payment and teaching materials - there are some things that might give pause for thought.
Pros
There’s a lot to like about Lingoda. For example:
- Ease of use: Lingoda, for both students and teachers, is remarkably simple to use - especially in comparison to other online language schools.
- Teaching materials: You won’t have to worry about crafting your own teaching materials; innovation is encouraged, but you don’t have to spend time worrying about what to teach students.
- Flexibility: This is the biggie - you choose your schedule, and you can do so with plenty of advance notice. Booking holidays, changing class times - it’s all super simple. When you're teaching English online, that isn't always the case.
- Regular payment: Lingoda teachers earn a monthly salary. It’s paid either through bank transfer or PayPal, at a teacher’s convenience.
- Reach: Lingoda is a massive, global name in language teaching. So you’re going to meet a whole range of learners from across the world. Also, in terms of teaching talent, it's not native English speakers only. That's a boost.
Cons
There are, however, some drawbacks:
- Salary: The salaries aren’t industry-leading for online ESL, and you could probably earn more for the same number of hours at other companies. While you will be paid for no-shows, losing out on half a class’ revenue for reasons that aren’t your fault? That might rankle after a few incidents.
- Commitment: While there is immense flexibility, and the safety of a schedule, Lingoda’s scheduling system isn’t the best for teachers who want to live nomadically or work ad-hoc.
- Competition: While, yes, there are lots of time slots available and lots of willing students, the lenient requirements and popularity of Lingoda mean that there’s a lot of competition for teachers. This can, of course, affect how much you’re getting paid each month.
- Workflow: Again, while scheduling can be a good thing, and while the Marathon and Sprint sessions are innovative, there can be real fluctuation in terms of how busy and booked-up you can be as a teacher.
- Rigidity: Being provided with materials can be a huge time-saver, sure, but if you’re looking to develop your own methods and use your own materials, this might not be the opportunity for you.
Lingoda Teacher Reviews
Lingoda reviews vary pretty wildly, with one Lingoda review saying something entirely different to the next Lingoda review. On Glassdoor, the company performs fairly admirably, rating 4 stars out of 5 for employee satisfaction. The flexibility, structured lessons and materials are the most heralded features of working for Lingoda, with 81% of employees saying they’d recommend working there and teaching language courses.
On Indeed, it’s not quite the same picture. The score out of 5 is a measly 2.6, with reviews suggesting that teachers are not treated well, the pay isn’t good enough, and the help from Lingoda staff is insufficient. More than one Lingoda review paints a pretty negative picture of the experience.
Generally, Lingoda is reviewed favourably by independent reviews, but job satisfaction aggregators give a mixed picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much does Lingoda pay?
Lingoda pays between $8-$13/£6.33-£10.30 per hour, depending on experience, time spent on the platform, customer feedback and other variables.
Q. What do you need to teach on Lingoda?
Demonstrable proof of English ability, a TEFL certificate and 2-3 years of teaching experience are all you need to teach on Lingoda.
Q. Do you need a degree to teach on Lingoda?
No, you don’t need a degree to teach through the Lingoda online language school. A TEFL certificate, 2-3 years of teaching experience and proof of English proficiency are enough to work for Lingoda, provided you pass the application process.
Q. Is Lingoda a good company to work for?
In terms of flexibility, teaching materials and infrastructure, a lot of Lingoda employees would recommend the company to other English teachers.
So what are people asking about Lingoda? We went online to find out: