Tutoring English Online with SkimaTalk

What are the requirements to teach with SkimaTalk?

To become a SkimaTalk teacher, as in most online teaching environments, you must have a passion for student success. Furthermore, you must demonstrate commitment to deliver high-quality lessons and reliability. This includes punctuality and a professional demeanour. Here are specific SkimaTalk teacher requirements:

Other SkimaTalk requirements

While prior English teaching experience or training is often preferred, on this platform you can teach without experience. SkimaTalk welcomes candidates with various levels of teaching experience, provided they meet other requirements and the platform's standards. You must be 18 years of age or older.

SkimaTalk primarily serves adult learners, so teachers should be comfortable and willing to work with this demographic.

SkimaTalk requires teachers to offer their first three lessons as free classes. This practice helps students assess the teacher's style and compatibility, ultimately promoting students’ language skills.

Bachelor's degree

With SkimaTalk there are no restrictions about teaching English without degree. However, this educational requirement would helps ensure that teachers have a solid academic foundation.

TEFL certification

Ideally, prospective teachers should possess a teaching certificate, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, but it's not mandatory. This qualification demonstrates that they have received formal training in language instruction techniques, making them better equipped to teach English effectively.

Native/non-native

SkimaTalk primarily hires native English speakers who have the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or Ireland as their origin country. However, if you are a non-native speaker, you are welcome to apply as long as you have a strong command of the English language.

The application process for SkimaTalk

The application process for becoming a teacher on SkimaTalk is designed to be straightforward and efficient, consisting of four key steps.

How do I apply?

Step 1 - Sign Up: To become a SkimaTalk teacher, you start with a simple sign-up process on the SkimaTalk platform. You'll need to provide your email address and confirm your registration through the email sent to you.

Step 2 - Create Your Teacher Profile: After registering, you'll be prompted to create your teacher profile. This is a crucial step, as it's where you introduce yourself to potential students. You'll be asked to provide some basic information, including your personal details, educational background, teaching experience, areas of interest, teaching specialties, Skype username, time zone, and native language. You also have the opportunity to share any additional information that can help students get to know you better. In this step, you'll need to upload a professional profile photo and a teaching introduction YouTube video, which plays a significant role in attracting students to your profile.

Step 3 - Skills Tests: As part of the hiring process, you'll be required to complete a few simple tests that evaluate your grammar, pronunciation, and teaching skills. These tests are designed to ensure that you meet the necessary standards for teaching on SkimaTalk. Once you have completed the tests, you'll need to click the "APPLY" button to submit your profile for approval.

Step 4 - Approval and Activation: After you've submitted your profile, you'll need to wait for approval and activation by the SkimaTalk team. This approval process may take up to 48 hours. Once your profile is activated, it becomes visible to potential students, and they can book sessions with you.

Interview process

It's important to note that there is no formal interview process for becoming a SkimaTalk teacher. Instead, your suitability is evaluated based on the information provided in your profile, the quality of your teaching introduction video, and the results of the skills tests. Your profile and presentation play a crucial role in attracting students, so it's essential to create a comprehensive and appealing profile to increase your chances of being selected as a teacher on the platform.

SkimaTalk pros and cons

Like any other company in other sectors, every online teaching company has advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

1. Flexibility for Non-Degree Holders: SkimaTalk doesn't require teachers to have a degree or teaching certificate, making it accessible to a broader range of potential educators. Similarly, there's no teaching certificate required, but it is preferred.
2. Flexible schedule: Like most online English teaching platforms, SkimaTalk offers complete flexibility in their schedule, allowing students to book lessons right up to the very last minute.
3. No Formal Interview: SkimaTalk's application process doesn't include a formal interview for ESL teachers, providing an opportunity for teachers to showcase their skills through their profiles and introductory video.
4. Global Reach: SkimaTalk welcomes teachers from native English-speaking countries, making the SkimaTalk platform truly international, connecting experienced teachers with students from various cultures.
5. Variable Session Rates: You have the freedom to set your rates, with the potential to earn more by offering sessions at competitive prices.
6. Access to Supplementary Lesson Materials: SkimaTalk lessons are already outlined for you, with teaching materials and lesson plans, but these should be used as a foundation. The company strongly encourages teachers to supplement the content of the one on one lessons with their own materials and external resources.

Cons:

1. Strict Eligibility Criteria: SkimaTalk limits opportunities for non-native English speakers. You can apply to teach online English with SkimaTalk only if you are a native English speaker.
2. Unpaid Free Lessons: Teachers are required to conduct three free sessions as part of the application process, which do not generate income.
3. Cancellation and No-Show Penalties: SkimaTalk enforces penalties for teacher cancellations and student no-shows, resulting in deductions from subsequent earnings.
4. Monthly Payouts with Fees: SkimaTalk pays teachers once a month via PayPal, subject to PayPal fees and potential currency conversion fees. Additionally, the platform retains 20% of earnings as a service fee.

It is noticeable that the pros outweigh the cons, which is confirmed by more than one SkimaTalk teacher review.

Similarly, student reviews are also positive about this platform. Here comments that appear in more than one student SkimaTalk review:

• Most students are satisfied with the quality and variety of the teachers on SkimaTalk.
• They appreciate the flexibility, professionalism, and friendliness of the teachers.
• They also enjoy learning about different cultures and lifestyles from the teachers