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Tutoring English Online with Skooli

An environment for professional teachers with academic credentials and teaching experience, Canadian education platform Skooli is a user-friendly English learning platform. How does it rank with teachers, though?

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Online English teaching platforms for the general learner are everywhere. Anyone, these days, can use the internet to sign up with a language learning platform, meet an ESL teacher and begin online tutoring in English, or other languages. What if, though, a learner has a very specific goal and outcome in mind?

What if the onus is on, for example, passing an exam? Or a prospective learner is focused on nailing a crucial business meeting in a different language? Maybe it’s something romantic - you’ve met someone who speaks English, and want to learn a few phrases to ask them out? Whatever the case may be, there aren’t many online teaching platforms that have specific goals in mind. Skooli, then, might be the answer.

Skooli is a home for highly qualified TEFL teachers, with learners who are focused on either meeting a goal or advancing quickly. A multimedia learning platform, Skooli can work on laptops, tablets and phones, which sets it apart from a number of competitors. What’s more, there’s a good deal for teachers, with very competitive rates and chances for career progression.

So, Skooli; what’s it all about, how do professional teachers start tutoring and how does it compare to other online tutoring platforms?

Skooli: An Overview

A self-styled “dynamic online tutoring space” based in Canada, Skooli is an online tutoring platform that covers a range of topics, including English. Trigonometry, science and business are just a few specific subjects included in the Skooli online tutoring service.

Started by former Teach Away employees, the idea is simple: if you ask Skooli a question, it will aim to pair you with professional teachers in an online classroom setting. The primary objective is to help students with specific problems, or to take understanding of a specific topic to the “next level”.

What does this mean for TEFL teachers who want to teach English online, then? It means opportunities if you have a recognised qualification, and that includes completion of high-quality TEFL courses lasting over 120 hours, as well as - of course - a reliable internet connection!

Available across different media, Skooli is a modern, sleek approach to learning.

What are the requirements to teach with Skooli?

The first and most important thing to note here is that Skooli is a tutoring environment for professional teachers. If you are looking for more casual work, language exchange or to teach English online with no experience, you may be best served by another online English teaching platform.

Before we get into specifics, Skooli insists that all of its teachers pass a national-level criminal background check. The platform has a specific focus on student safety, and teachers will be held to the strictest professional codes of conduct.

What else do teachers need to start tutoring in the Skooli virtual classroom? Let’s explore.

Bachelor's degree

All Skooli online tutoring applicants require, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree. The platform is competitive, and so Skooli states that, in some circumstances, applicants may require a master’s degree or higher. This is particularly true when students require English lessons at a postgraduate level; international students, for example, may require help writing essays for a master’s or PhD.

If you’re looking to teach English online without a degree, don’t be disheartened: there are loads of great platforms to choose from.

TEFL certification

TEFL certification is an absolute must for any prospective Skooli tutor. Completion of a TEFL course counts as a “specialised instructor qualification” under the platform’s guidelines. 120 hours is the industry standard for online tutors and in-person teachers, and Skooli will be discerning about your teaching certifications; your TEFL certificate will need to come from a reputable, accredited course provider.

Native/non-native

Whether you’re a native speaker or English isn’t your first language, you’re welcome to apply to become a Skooli tutor if you meet the requirements. In fact, Canada-based Skooli is grateful for its international network of tutors, so professional teachers from around the world are encouraged to apply.

Download our teaching English online guide

Skooli job description

If you meet the Skooli requirements, what is the job itself actually like?

Well, it’s pretty straightforward. The Skooli online classroom makes everything very straightforward for teachers, with video conferencing, screen sharing, an interactive whiteboard and online chat features. This makes for a realistic face-to-face tutoring experience, combining the best of in-person teaching with features only the online classroom can include.

You’ll need to prepare your own lesson materials and tailor your lesson plan for each student you have on the platform. This makes sense - Skooli tutors are answering the specific learning needs of students in the Skooli classroom environment.

Lessons can take as little as 15 minutes or as long as the student needs, depending on tutor availability. Hypothetically, you could have tens of students per day for less than half an hour, or work with one student for most of a day. Setting your availability and building a rapport with your students through online chat and dynamic lesson plans means you can properly schedule your week.

How much can you earn teaching English with Skooli?

If you’ve read this far, it’s clear that the Skooli tutoring experience appeals. How much can teachers earn teaching English online with Skooli? That’s a key question.

The good news is that Skooli provides a very competitive teaching English online salary. The typical hourly rate is CAN$25 (US$18.44/£14.64), based on qualifications and experience. Lessons are charged in Canadian dollars, and as such, pay will be converted from the same currency. Of course, session durations can vary, and some students may cancel last minute, so Skooli say that though hourly rates are set, earnings are calculated per minute for every completed class.

If a student schedules a lesson in advance, the tutor will be paid for the entire session once the student has arrived in the virtual classroom. In the event of a no-show, teachers are asked to wait 15 minutes; they’ll then be paid for that 15 minutes of wait time.

So, really, the earning potential of Skooli is what you make of it; though with the right qualifications and experience, you can charge the typical rate of $25/£20 or even more.

The application process for Skooli

Now we know what Skooli can pay, and what the requirements are, how does an ESL teacher actually go about securing a teaching job on the platform? Let’s explore.

How do I apply?

Create an Account: Sign up on the Skooli website by creating a tutor account. You can register using Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google accounts, or directly through the Skooli website. Fill out your tutor profile: this includes adding all the grade levels and subjects you are capable of tutoring, as well as any languages you're fluent in.

Submit Required Documents: You'll then need to upload several documents for verification, including a government-issued photo ID, a TEFL teaching certification and your degree.

Interview: After submitting your application and documents, Skooli will review your profile. If you meet their criteria, a Skooli team member will contact you to arrange a video interview. During the interview, you will be asked teaching-related questions and, in turn, be given more information about using the Skooli platform.

Get Verified: Upon passing the interview and having your documents approved, you will become a verified tutor on Skooli!

Interview process

The interview process for Skooli is not overly vigorous or intense. If anything, it’s an opportunity for a very two-sided conversation. On your part, as the applicant, you’ll give some examples of your teaching experience, talk about your qualifications, and what sets you apart as an educator. Skooli, in turn, will tell you all about the virtual classroom and the expectations of Skooli tutors.

If you are not contacted for an interview shortly after completing the initial application process, it likely means there are no spaces for new teachers in a specific learning area at that time. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever be contacted, however, so make sure your information is up-to-date.

What to consider before you start

So you’ve nailed the interview, the platform needs English teachers, and you’re ready to be a Skooli tutor. What should you be considering before teaching your first class?

Lesson planning
Technology
Time

Lesson planning

Each student will have different needs and learning styles. You have to adapt to that, and create the right lesson materials and class plan to keep them engaged, motivated and successful.

As previously stated, each student can pick how long their class is, and they’re going to bring their own unique learning goals into class. If you have experience dealing with bespoke lesson planning, this will help. If not, the learning curve could be steep.

Technology

Before anything else, you’ll need a strong internet connection. On desktops and laptops, you won’t need to download anything; the Skooli classroom is a fully immersive experience that doesn’t require a software download, simply use it in an online browser.

A working camera and microphone/headset are encouraged, regardless of whether you’re using a computer or a tablet. Anything that enhances the quality of your audio is a major plus. Read our guide to technology for online English teaching for a full rundown of our recommendations.

Time

As always, it’s important to consider what kind of time you have. Skooli is a platform that asks for a lot from its teachers; the requirements are strict, and the time demands differ from other platforms. Some students may ask for hours of lessons in a day, and others may want short, sharp lessons with a particular focus: drafting an email, greetings and so on.

So, really think about what time you have to offer, and what you want your teaching days to look like.

Skooli: Pros and cons

Now that we’ve had a comprehensive look at what Skooli has to offer to both TEFL teachers and students, let’s consider the pros and cons. Every platform, whatever its quality, will have advantages and disadvantages depending on a teacher’s mindset, what their goals are, and what the platform offers.

Pros

Flexibility: the scheduling system on Skooli allows for an excellent work/life balance. If you want to work to your own schedule, Skooli will oblige. You can log in and see who’s on, meaning that if you want to teach at a moment’s notice, and students are waiting, then you can!
Highly qualified teachers only: If you are a teacher with a degree and a teaching certificate, you’ll feel wanted by Skooli.
Competitive salary: You can set your own rates, but given experience and qualifications, the general price for tutoring sessions is higher on Skooli than most other platforms.
Ease of use: Teaching on Skooli, from a software standpoint, is not complicated. It’s very user-friendly for both students and teachers.
No speakerism: Can you speak and teach English to a high enough standard? It doesn’t matter where you’re from, then!

Cons

Can be difficult to get started: You may have the time and qualifications, but Skooli might simply not have the space for you. This can even happen after an interview.
Lesson planning: Constant lesson planning can eat into teaching time, meaning a reduction in salary compared to other platforms.
Not the most popular: Simply put, Skooli is not as popular as other platforms. You may struggle to find enough regular students.
Needs-based: While needs-based learning can be a positive, you may get lots of students who need one specific thing then never sign up for another lesson. If you’re more into rapport-building, Skooli might not be for you.

Skooli Reviews

Unlike the vast majority of tutoring online platforms that we write about, there are very few reviews - positive or negative - about the Skooli online teaching platform. Depending on your point of view, that’s either a good thing or a very bad one.

On Indeed, one of the most popular recruitment websites on the internet - and one that picks its top Canadian companies to work for every year - there aren’t any reviews of Skooli whatsoever. Given they formed in 2014, that’s a concern; either tutors who have worked for the platform are particularly quiet, or it was an experience that wasn’t worth shouting about.

Glassdoor, meanwhile, at least offers a rating: 3.1 out of 5. No getting carried away, though - there are only 12 reviews and they vary wildly. One review, for example, praises the flexibility of the work, but criticises the management, the lack of communication and the functionality of the platform. However, one 5-star review simply says “I liked it”.

From a student’s point of review, the platform doesn’t fare entirely well in Skooli tutoring reviews. EduReviewer rates the service at a 2.5 overall, with particularly bad grades for customer service and the high prices.

Of course, reviews don’t reflect each individual’s experience. Overall, though, it isn’t a great picture, and this is maybe due to Skooli’s strict job requirements and low number of employees as much as it is about the quality of the platform itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much are Skooli tutors paid?

A Skooli tutor sets their own rates. A typical cost for an hour’s lesson is CAN $25, which represents a competitive rate for online English teaching.

Q. What do you need to teach on Skooli?

To be considered for Skooli jobs, you’ll need a degree and a teaching certificate, such as a TEFL certification.

Q. Is Skooli a good platform?

In terms of flexibility and rate of pay, Skooli compares well to other platforms. However, there are limitations; the service has far fewer students than many of its competitors, and the support for online tutors is criticised in reviews.