Teaching English Online – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

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Teaching English online is all the buzz right now. Some of us are looking for new jobs, some of us have more time on our hands, and some of us are realizing the benefits of working in the digital space. Whatever the reason, there’s a big push towards teaching English online. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? As with every job, teaching English online comes with its fair share of pros and cons, so let’s look at those a bit closer so you can decide if it’s an avenue you really want to go down. After all, there’s no point investing your time, money and energy in something if it’s not actually what you want. Here’s teaching English online – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Teaching English online: The good

Let’s start with the good things. 

If you’re worried about money, don’t be. Teaching English online will most certainly earn you money. If you decide to tackle it wholeheartedly and teach full-time and put in the hours you can totally earn a full salary good enough to live off.

The convenience is real. Working from home means you won’t have to worry about commuting or traffic, petrol or public transport. You can work back-to-back lessons because you don’t need to walk between classrooms or attend staff meetings. Plus, you can easily do admin, make a nice lunch or even go for a walk between classes if you plan it that way. 

There quite possibly is no other job that gives you so much freedom. You decide when you want to work, how often you want to work and where you want to work. You can choose to work until your head explodes, or take a week off. 

Teaching English Online – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Teaching English online: The bad

Unfortunately, it’s not all roses and butterflies, as with most things in life.

We’re not saying it’s not fun, but we can’t deny that teaching online is very different to teaching face-to-face. It can be harder to build rapport with your students and, if you are teaching a class, for the students to form relationships with each other. It can be done, but it will take more effort and thought.

Miscommunication is surprisingly easy with technology. Being an online teacher means you need to make sure you are very clear at all times – not only with your accent and your voice volume, but also with instructions and explanations. Instruction-checking and concept-checking questions are vital

It can be lonely. Working from home means you can go for days or even weeks without seeing a person in the flesh, if that’s what you prefer. Many of us are quite happy to live a solitary life and see our friends and family when we feel like socializing, but working alone is quite different. You won’t have colleagues you can chat to about your students or exchange ideas or lesson plans with. When you are teaching online, you need to make the effort to find like-minded individuals online you can keep in touch with or online clubs or groups you can join to maintain your continuous professional development. 

Teaching English online: The ugly

Then there’s the downright ugly, which it would be wrong of us not to talk about.

Your internet connection is a non-negotiable. If your connection is slow or unstable, then online teaching is not for you. Students are not going to come back to you for lessons if your lessons disconnect regularly or they cannot hear you clearly. It’s understandable – you can’t expect to make a career teaching first-time students all the time. 

You can make or break your reputation. Competition is fierce at the moment, so you need to stand out as an online teacher. Being reliable is the least you can do, which means turning up for scheduled lessons, being punctual and dressing neatly (even if it’s only from the waist up!).  

There’s no such thing as sick days. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Unfortunately it’s as simple as that. 

Look, every job has its good and its bad. What you need to do is consider all the different aspects of the job and decide if the pros outweigh the cons and, ultimately, if the job is meant for you.

Comments:

Hi, can you please send me more information about the courses and how much the courses will cost me.

Kind regards Mandy-Lee

Mandy-Lee, 19th June 2020

Good day. Please send me the relevant information regarding price and course content needed to successfully teach online. Also where to look for the best areas to teach online.

Mogopodi Khupari, 16th June 2020

Good day.
Can you please send me information about your online course.

I am interested in teaching English online.

I have 15 years experience in corporate training and development.

Thank you.
David

David Cornelson, 15th June 2020

Old you please confirm the qualifications criteria .. I have heard that a degree is the basic qualification required to be able to teach on line or face to face
Thank you

John Allen, 12th June 2020

Hi, I would like to know more about your course and the cost. Thanks

Kesh, 11th June 2020

I am interested in your courses. Please forward courses details and costs. Best Regards

Alrine, 9th June 2020

Hi there, please could you email me more information about teaching English online. Thank you.

Daniélle, 8th June 2020

Good day. Please send me the relevant information regarding price and course content needed to successfully teach online. Also where to look for the best areas to teach online.

Claudine, 7th June 2020

Could I get some more info on the courses as wellnas prices please?

Sheetal, 5th June 2020

I completed my 120 hours online.
Where can I start applying for a position and will the lessons be provided per student?
Thank you

Thelma, 4th June 2020

Please send me more info and pricing… Thank you

Yolande Baumann, 2nd June 2020

Hi
I am looking into doing this
I just want to find out where can I view an example of how giving a lesson online is? It’s one thing to read about it, but would like to actually see a lesson take place to give me a better idea.

Kind regards
Kirsty da Silveira

Kirsty, 2nd June 2020

Please send me info on english teaching courses

Linda van Vrede, 1st June 2020

I’m very interested to teach English online. Can you please provide me the relevant information.
Thank you.

Erasmie Olivier, 1st June 2020

Hi,
Please forward more info on your courses and teaching abroad as well, if you offer this option.
Many Thanks

Samantha Dembo, 1st June 2020

Good Day

Can you please send me more information regarding your courses.

Regards
Isaac Shuping

Isaac, 23rd May 2020

Good evening,

I Would just like a Bit more information on the price of your Courses.

Kind Regards
Colette Rougier

Colette, 18th May 2020

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