Job Discussion Forums

Hoochi Coochi Man · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 12

I've seen the ads for online ESL teaching but I've never met anyone who actually does this or even knows anything about it. It seems like it could be a great way to teach while traveling around the world. I'd really like to get some more info. about this and am wondering if this is a legitimate way to teach ESL and earn a living at the same time. Also, how do you get paid? Any online ESL teachers reading this who can help me out with some info?

Cheers, HCM

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Online teaching jobs do exist, and at least some of them actually pay. However, I don't think anyone is earning a full living this way - it's a supplement for most.

Overall, the idea of 'teach while travelling around the world' is past its expiry date.

Particularly with an online gig, you've obviously gotta be where the technology is around to suppport it. Also, consider time zones. If your students are in, say, Korea, you can't keep jumping time zones on them.

Face to face teaching doesn't really support 'travel around the world while teaching,' either. Most gigs are for a full academic year and neither employers nor students are very interested in temporary teachers. It's not practical or effective.

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

I do know a few people who make a full-time income teaching online. It has become quite legitimate I think and more and more students are asking for Skype based lessons in Europe now, Asia has been doing it for quite a few years.

You will make more money if you invest the time to set up your own operation and market yourself as an available online teacher directly to students...there are plenty of forums to do this, including the Skype forum on their website.

Also, you will do better if you can specialize in something (pronunciation, ESP, EAP, GMAT or IELTS etc)

I think it is fair to say that the going rate for skype lessons (without a middle man) is just a bit lower than face to face in many countries...at around $20 per hour.

It is not without its problems.....but then again, what is? I'd say go for it.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:23 pm Post subject:

I'm doing some freelance Skype tutoring with students in Slovenia. It came about by happenstance; I'm a member of the same "teachers' site" as the wife of one of my students. She e-mailed me that she was looking for an English tutor for her husband, and I volunteered.
Since she's a friend, I'm tutoring her husband for free. But he - a world-famous mountaineer - got me hooked up with two other paying students (and I could have more, but I don't have the time.)
The rate is 30 euros an hour. One of them is the CEO of an IT company in Slovenia:

http://www.tridens.si/

I made up all the "slogans" on the site (e.g. Tridens: The Company You Keep) and have done all the proofreading/editing for the site (if you go there and find any mistakes, please let me know.)
It's been a lot of fun, and a nice supplement to my income.

Regards,
John

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

hollysuel does. sh'es got lots of info too. here's just one of her posts.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=83761&highlight=online

killthebuddha · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:01 pm Post subject:

Dear johnslat,

"The Company You Keep" Brilliant! (I really like that Guinness ad too. Shocked

)

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:20 pm Post subject:

Dear ktb,

Thanks - I'm rather proud of it. And I also like "Want the Best? In the World of IT, We're IT."
But what's this about a Guinness ad? Is there one that uses a slogan similar to (or even the same as) mine?

Regards,
John

killthebuddha · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject:

Dear ktb,

Ah, I see. Brilliant. Guinness used to be a favorite quaff of mine back in the days when I (over)indulged.
I agree with your judgment: "The Company You Keep" is better (should I get it copyrighted, do you think?).
My only quibble is regarding the picture Ales (the CEO) chose. I wanted one showing a butterfly, a honeybee, and a hummingbird all sipping from the same flower.
Perhaps I missed my calling. Maybe I should have become an ad writer, a Mad Man, so to speak. And, if you're familiar with that AMC Show ("Mad Men",) you may know that a John Slattery, born almost exactly twenty years after me in the same city (Boston, MA) is one of the actors in that series.
("Roger Sterling Jr. (John Slattery), was one of the two managing partners of Sterling Cooper, and later a founding partner at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. He is a World War II veteran who served in the Navy in the Pacific theater before he took over his father's partnership at Sterling Cooper.")

http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/

It's a funny old world, isn't it?

Regards,
John

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I recently applied for an online teaching job with ISUS. If anything comes of it, Ill report back!

Hoochi Coochi Man · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 12

Thanks to you all!

HCM

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I applied at tutorABC and they said I didn't fulfill the tech reqs Confused

Though according to the advert, I did. Also applied to Language Spirit.

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

What do you do as far as teaching materials go, when teaching over the internet?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Some places give you them, other times you make them. PPT is good.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley