3 companies that pay you to teach English online

All of us nomads have one thing in common: we need to figure out how to make money in campervans, RVs or sailboats. Some people might be able to eek by on savings or social security, but there are countless others who need to bring in an income.

Teaching English online is a great way to make up to $22 per hour and have a really flexible schedule. This is perfect for RVers, van lifers or sailors who often go off-grid.

There are three main companies that pay native English speakers to teach kids in China. The requirements to get these jobs are fairly simple. Most require a bachelor’s degree and some experience with kids.

Former RVers Emily Crider and her husband Hudson both work 20 hours per week teaching English online and make over $20 per hour. They love the freedom and flexibility this type of work affords.

1) Vipkid is a popular platform for teaching English online

Rates: $14-$22 per hour

Vipkid is a really popular company that connects Americans and Canadians with kids in China. Headquartered in Bejing, the company provides a fully immersive learning experience for kids between the ages of 4-12. The curriculum is based on the U.S. Common Core State Standards.

Vipkid also just won #1 in Forbes magazines, “Best work from home companies” in 2018, and has been expanding fast, hiring a lot of new teachers. So, now is as good a time as any to become a VipKid teacher. The company currently employs over 60,000 teachers!

Teaching English online with VipKid is easy. When you log on for your scheduled booking, VipKid has the lesson plan ready for you in your teacher portal. You just have to turn on your computer’s webcam and go.

Want to know what it’s really like being a Vipkid teacher? Check out this blog post: How these RVers make money teaching English with VipKid.

Teachers wih ViPKid earn between $14-$22 per hour.

Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in any field
• Experience with children in some manner, may that be babysitting, summer camps, mentoring, coaching, tutoring etc.
• A computer with reliable, high-speed internet. Plus, a webcam and microphone
• Eligibility to work in the United States or Canada

Click here to sign up to become a Vipkid teacher.

Positives of working for VipKid:

• You choose your own schedule, and there are no minimum hours required
• You don’t need to know Chinese
• Earn between $14-$22 per hour, so highest paying English teaching platform
• The curriculum is provided and you’ll have convenient access to pre-made lesson plans
• Classes are 1-1, and you can get to know your regular students

Negatives of working for VipKid:

• Some teachers say it’s hard to get bookings
• The application process can take a long time
• If you don’t have much experience, you’ll start at a lower rate

The hiring process for teaching kids English with VipKid:

• You’ll need to complete an online interview and a teaching demo with a recruiter. Set that up right away after you sign up to become a Vipkid teacher. The teacher is also looking to make sure your computer can handle a 30-minute online teaching scenario

SIGN UP FOR VIPKID HERE

Watch the below video to learn more about Vipkid:

2) Teach ESL online with Qkids

Rates: $16-$20 per hour

If you want to teach ESL online, Qkids is another great choice. Qkids, formerly known as Funbulous, is an online teaching company out of China that tends to keep a low profile. Qkids connects 300,000+ young Chinese learners between the ages of 4-12 with thousands of online teachers. This company treats its employees well and is always on the lookout for new ESL teachers to join the ranks. 

With Qkids, you’ll teach up to four students in 30-minute blocks. The curriculum is pre-set and there is no lesson planning required.

Click here to sign up to teach ESL online with Qkids.

Teachers with Qkids earn between $16-$20 per hour.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from a US or Canadian University
• Experience with children such as teaching, mentoring, coaching, tutoring, babysitting, etc.
• High-speed internet, computer & webcam/microphone
• A commitment to teaching at least 6 hours per week
• English teaching or teaching certificates are preferred, but not required

Positives of teaching ESL online with Qkids:

• You can choose your own schedule
• Qkids supports you with curriculum and personal training team
• Up to 19 hours of work is available every week

Negatives of teaching ESL online with Qkids:

• This is not a 1-1 teaching scenario; teachers have up to four students at a time
• Rates are a little lower than VipKid
• You are required to work 6 hours per week

The hiring process for working with Qkids:

You can apply online to teach ESL with Qkids, where you’ll provide your basic info a 60-second introductory video, and your resume. After that, you’ll go through an initial screening, two demo interviews, trial classes and a background check.

SIGN UP FOR QKIDS HERE

Learn more about what it’s like to work for Qkids in this video:

3) Education First is the oldest brand in online English teaching

Rates: $13-$19 per hour

Education First is the world’s largest online English teaching platform, founded in the 1960s in Lund, Sweden.

With this online teaching job, you’ll teach kids in China between the ages of 6-10 years old. Each class is taught in 25-minute blocks on early weekday mornings and late weekend nights. Education First differs from other online English teaching jobs in that you’ll teach the same kids every time. 

With Education First, students are looking to book with the same teacher for up to six months at a time. This way, teachers can build impactful relationships with students. Another key difference with Education First is that the students also attend a physical school, and the online education supplements this.

With Education First, you’ll earn between $13-$19 per hour, with many new teachers starting between $14-$17 per hour.

Click here to teach English online with Education First.

Requirements:

• Native English speaker with a bachelor’s degree in any field
• Availability during lesson times in the Chinese time zone
• You need a 40-hour Teaching English as a Foreign language, provided during time of application or at the start of the contract
• Access to a computer, headset and powerful internet connection

Positives of teaching ESL online with Education First:

• You’ll be guaranteed at least six months of work with the same kids, which could equal $2,000 per month
• 1-1 teaching
• 24/7  teacher troubleshooting support
• Access to high-quality lesson materials
• Set your own schedule
• You’ll work for a large and well-respected platform
• Local U.S. headquarters for easy payment

Negatives of online English teaching with Education First:

• Not as flexible as the other online English teaching jobs
• Lower starting pay than the other platforms ($13 per hour)

SIGN UP FOR EDUCATION FIRST HERE

You can learn more about Education First in the below video:

OTHER MONEY MAKING POSTS YOU SHOULD READ:

• 30+ ways to make money from an RV or a campervan
• How to start a profitable blog and make money anywhere
• How one van lifer makes money selling essential oils

Kristin Hanes

Kristin Hanes is a journalist who founded The Wayward Home as a place to learn about alternative living. She currently lives on a sailboat and in a Chevy Astro van, and has written articles about alternative living published in Good Housekeeping, Business Insider, Marie Claire and SF Gate. Read more about Kristin here.