Once you understand the basics of what TEFL is, and depending on the route you decide to take, sometimes, being a fluent English speaker is enough to start having conversational lessons with learners. However, in order to open yourself up the best opportunities, some of the following are usually required (or a combination of the below):
1. Native or Fluent English Speaker
2. Newish PC, Laptop, Tablet (with webcam) or Smartphone
3. High speed internet connection
4. A quiet and bright environment
5. Noise cancelling headset
6. Qualified – Bachelor’s Degree/TEFL Certificate
7. Teaching English Experience
The best paying and most well-regarded opportunities are usually reserved for the most qualified and so whilst it’s not always necessary, we do recommend that you qualify as a TEFL tutor. There are 100s of different courses to choose from, that vary in budget, time required, and skills/experience gained. It’s up to you to decide what will suit your needs, but, make sure the course you pick is at least 120-hours, accredited and recognised across the world.
There are 3 main different ways that you can get paid to teach English online:
• Work for a school/company
• Join a create a profile website
• Find Your Own Students
If you’re just getting started with teaching English online, consider a combination of working for a school and a create a profile website. It gives you an opportunity to test the waters and find out what teaching style best suits you. If you are interested in making this your full-time income, sometimes it can take a while to build up to full-time hours as students/parents take the time to get to know you so even when you feel ready to go alone and start your own teaching business, you may still need to utilise a teaching platform alongside your own until you are satisfied with the number of clients that you’ve secured.