How to teach English online: A step-by-step guide

Are you thinking about teaching English online to earn some extra income?

When I moved to the Netherlands and had to wait for my work visa, I started teaching English online and it turned out to be an easy, flexible way to make some extra money. Even after I got a full-time job, I continued to teach a few lessons on weekends.

Whether you’re looking to earn some more money each month or build an online teaching brand, I’m happy to explain how to teach English online.

How to teach English online in just 10 steps

Whether you’re hoping to offer lessons independently or work with an established learning platform, here are the steps you can take to start teaching English online:

1. Assess your English language skills

To teach English online, your communication skills in English need to be strong, if not fluent. Students (or their parents) will expect you to speak and read clearly.

Ask yourself:

Do conversations in English flow easily for you without much confusion?
Are you able to read this post without difficulty?

If you answered “yes,” to these questions, then your English skills should be good enough to teach online. But if not, know that there are plenty of ways to earn money online that don’t require strong English language skills.

And don’t worry if English isn’t your first language. You can still crush it as a teacher. Your personal experience of learning English can actually be an advantage because you’ll better understand the challenges your students face.

With this said, know that some established learning platforms, like VIPKid and Magic Ears, require their teachers to be native speakers.

But don’t let that discourage you, as there are plenty of other platforms that will allow non-native speakers to teach as long as you’re fluent. I’ll share some of these platforms later.

2. Find your teaching niche

Think about who you’d like to teach and what kind of teaching you might enjoy. Maybe you want to work with young learners or teenagers. If you’d rather teach adults, narrowing down to a niche can make you stand out as a specialist and attract more students.

Here are some adult niches to consider:

Business English

Teach business professionals how to communicate effectively in the workplace. For example, a marketing manager from China preparing to pitch to an international team might need business English lessons.

You’ll likely teach these students:

How to speak clearly and concisely to avoid misunderstandings when dealing with colleagues or clients
Specialized vocabulary
Public speaking or presenting skills
Effective ways to communicate across different cultures

English proficiency exam preparation

Many students preparing for tests like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and Pearson Test of English (PTE) turn to English tutors to help with exam prep.

If you choose this niche, you’ll need to learn about the structure and requirements of these exams. Then, you can create study plans for your students and conduct practice tests to help them go into their exams with confidence.

Specific professions

If you have experience in a particular industry, why not use it to your advantage? You can teach English to professionals in fields like healthcare, hospitality, or information technology (IT).

For this path, you’ll need to know industry-specific terminology and understand the types of conversations professionals in these fields have. For example, hospitality professionals might need to learn a more polite way of speaking the language to interact with customers, while those in healthcare will need to learn medical terms.

If English isn’t your first language, you can teach students who speak your native language.

For example, if you’re an English teacher whose first language is Portuguese, you could focus on teaching English to Portuguese speakers. Some students will prefer having a teacher who can explain difficult concepts in their first language if they’re struggling to understand something in English.

And since there won’t be a language barrier between you and your potential students, you’ll be able to market yourself easily to these learners.

3. Earn your certification

Many online teaching platforms require teachers to have a certification, like a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. Certification isn’t necessary if you’re teaching independently through a platform like Whop, but earning one can help you:

Stand out to potential students as a certified teacher
Get valuable teaching experience
Learn helpful teaching strategies to improve your lessons
Access job search assistance

How to choose the right certification program

There are countless online and in-person institutions that offer certifications. I'd find a few options that stand out to you and then compare them to find the best fit.

You’ll want to consider:

Cost: Program prices vary widely, so find one that fits your budget.
Length: Most courses are at least 120 hours and include a practicum.
Reputation: Read reviews from former students and research the provider’s credibility.

Advice for your certification experience

Before I started teaching, I completed my TEFL certification through the International TEFL Academy. It was a good experience that left me feeling more confident in my ability to teach English as a Second Language (ESL).

As part of most programs, you’ll have to complete a practicum, where you’ll teach students English (often for 20 hours). You’ll probably have to line up your own practicum teaching gig.

Here’s what I recommend doing to find a volunteer teaching role:

Search online for your local literacy council’s contact information.
Email or call them and explain that you’re working toward a teaching certification and that you’d love the chance to volunteer.
Be flexible, as they might want you to tutor students one-on-one or teach a group of learners with similar needs.

These are the exact steps I took, and within a week, I was in a classroom teaching a small group of adult learners ESL. I found this experience so rewarding.

While it gave me some hands-on practice that I didn’t have, it boosted my confidence and made me feel more relaxed going into my first paid teaching job.

Choosing the right teaching certification

You’ll want to think about the type of students you’d like to teach when choosing which certification to pursue.

Here’s some more information about popular options:

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL): This certification will help prepare you to teach English to students living where English is not the main language, like China, Argentina, or Japan. You might opt for this choice if you want to teach international students living in other countries.
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL): A TESL certification is great for teaching English to students living where English is widely spoken, like the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. So if you want to help immigrants or non-native speakers adjust, a TESL certification might be the right choice for you.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): TESOL certifications will prepare you to teach English to students in both native English-speaking countries and non-English-speaking regions. You’ll find elements of TEFL and TESL in this program, making it a great option if you want to keep your options open.

4. Get hardware and software, and set up a focused teaching environment

As an online English teacher, your computer is your classroom, but you should still consider your surroundings.

If possible, create a workspace in a quiet part of your home where distractions like noise from the TV or chatty roommates won’t interrupt your lessons.

You’ll want a table or desk and a comfortable chair. If you’re planning to teach back-to-back lessons for many hours, consider a standing desk. It’s better for your posture and helps you stay energized throughout your lessons.

Before you begin teaching, you’ll also need:

A computer: A desktop or a laptop that can handle the software you’ll use for your lessons is essential. It doesn’t need to be pricy, but it does need to run smoothly.
Reliable Internet connection: A strong internet connection is a must for marketing, planning, and teaching your lessons. If your WiFi goes out mid-class, it’s not a great look. I’d also suggest having a smartphone with a hotspot as a backup, in case your home WiFi isn’t working or you ever need to teach on the go.
A headset with a microphone: Even if your computer has a built-in microphone and speakers, I’d suggest getting a good headset with a mic. It can help reduce background noise and allow your voice to sound clearer.

A webcam: If your computer doesn’t already have one built-in, get yourself a decent external webcam. Teaching a language isn’t just about speaking and listening, but also involves body language. When your students see how you move your mouth to form sounds and alter your facial expressions, it makes it easier for them to learn.
A light source: Even if you plan on teaching during the day, you’ll still want to make sure that you have a white light positioned in front of you. This way your students will be able to see your face clearly at all times.
Props: If you’re teaching kids, items like toys, a whiteboard, and flashcards can help keep them engaged. Many online platforms for teaching kids will require you to use props during your lessons.

5. Explore your options for online English teaching jobs

Now it’s time to think about how you want to teach online.

Do you want to work for an established learning learning platform or would you rather teach independently on a platform like Whop?

I’ll break down some pros and cons for each option (hint: Whop takes the cake).

Teaching on an established platform

There are many established English learning platforms to choose from, each with different perks and setbacks.

If you’re thinking about applying for a teaching role on one of these websites, here are a few things to consider:

Access to students: Established platforms may have a database of students who can choose to book you for lessons. This might seem encouraging at the beginning, but booking students still isn’t guaranteed. When I returned to an online teaching platform after taking a break, I didn’t get any bookings for two months.
Set pay rates: Many platforms dictate how much you’ll earn per lesson. It’s likely they’ll also take a percentage of your earnings.
Requirements: It’s common for learning platforms to require their teachers to have a bachelor’s degree or an ESL certification to teach.
Rarely able to tailor services: Many platforms, especially those geared toward children, will have you teach pre-designed lessons in a specific teaching style. While it did become pretty easy to teach the same lessons over and over, it began to feel repetitive and uninspiring after a while.
Fewer tasks aside from teaching: If you don’t want to deal with marketing your services or admin tasks, some established platforms are set up so you can focus solely on teaching.

Teaching Independently

If you’re hoping to establish a brand and earn a bit more money from teaching English online, I’d recommend offering lessons on your own without going through an established learning platform.

Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about this route:

Set your own rates: You get to determine how much you charge per lesson and can change this amount at any time.
Offer additional services: When you offer lessons on a platform like Whop, you aren’t limited to what services you provide to students. I’ll go into this in greater detail later on!
No pre-planned lessons: You won’t be tied down to a set curriculum or lesson plans, giving you the freedom to plan and teach lessons as you like. This also allows you to tailor lessons to students with different capabilities.
Some marketing and admin involved: When teaching independently, you’ll need to put in some effort to market yourself and manage your bookings. Luckily, some options like Whop have plenty of tools to help you handle admin tasks with ease.

6. Create a resume and update your online profiles

Having a tailored resume can help you land a job on an established learning platform or convince prospective students to book you for lessons.

Here’s some advice:

Tailoring your resume

Whether you’re writing a new resume or updating an existing one, make sure to highlight:

Degrees and certifications: If you have a college degree, be sure to include it. Also list your TEFL, TESOL, or any other relevant teaching certifications you’ve earned.
Relevant experience: Share leadership or teaching roles you’ve held, even if they weren’t paid. Maybe you’ve tutored students, led a workshop, or coached a football team.
Experience working with kids: If you’re planning to teach children, mention babysitting gigs, volunteer work, or anything that shows you have experience working with young people.

Updating your online profiles

If you have a website or professional profile on platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook, make sure you come across as professional and an expert in teaching English. Try to view your profiles through the eyes of a potential student.

Be sure to include:

A professional profile picture
Teaching credentials and certifications
A blurb about what makes you a great English teacher

7. Look for online English teaching jobs or students

Whether you’re looking for a job on an existing teaching platform or are going indie and looking for students, here’s some helpful advice:

If you’re looking for a job on an established teaching platform

Skip generic job boards and go straight to the websites of established teaching platforms to learn the basics like requirements and pay. It’s also helpful to read online reviews from teachers.

You’ll soon find that each platform has its own perks and drawbacks. For example, one platform might offer better pay but require qualifications you don’t have yet. So take time to research and compare options that interest you.

And don’t feel like you need to commit to one platform right away. You’re free to apply to and teach across multiple different ones. While this may take you some extra time and effort at first, it gives you the chance to see which one you like best.

Also, know that most online teaching platforms won’t penalize you if you suddenly choose to stop teaching lessons, so you can “quit” at any time.

To help you get started, here are some popular platforms that I’ve categorized by the students you’ll find there:

For young learners: Cambly Kids, Magic Ears, Novakid, Outschool, Protostar, Qkids, StarKid, and VIPKid
For all ages: Amazing Talker, Cambly, English First (EF), italki, Open English, Preply, and SkimaTalk
For adults only: Learnlight, Lingoda, SkimaTalk, Superprof, Tweenix, Verbalplanet, and Verbling

Teaching independently and looking for students

If you want to teach English online without using a designated teaching platform, you’ll need to find students on your own. For this, don’t underestimate the power of social media.

You might try posting a video to your socials where you introduce yourself and share more about your services. If you do, make sure the audio and your pronunciation is clear. Be sure to come across as professional, but approachable.

It can take some time and effort to build a following on social media. Continuously sharing content that your target audience finds valuable will help them notice you and check out your services.

If you can’t be bothered with social media and you have the funds, you might run targeted ads on sites like LinkedIn or offer free content to lure in potential students.

Another option is to offer a referral discount to encourage your students to recommend your services to others.

Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth advertising. Continuously delivering exceptional lessons is the best way to get students to recommend others to book with you.

8. Set up a payment account

If the platform you’re teaching on handles payments directly and sends the money straight to your bank account (like Whop), you’re all set and can skip this step.

But many platforms require you to have an account with a payment processor, like PayPal or Stripe, to get paid. Both options are secure and pretty simple to set up.

If you’re teaching independently from a learning platform, you’ll probably need to set up a payment account to help you manage payments from your students.

When you use Whop, you can skip this step. Whop sends your earnings directly to your bank account and handles the payment admin so you can focus on teaching and building your teaching brand. But more on that in a bit!

9. Install the software or app

Depending on the platform you’re teaching on, you might need to download software to book and teach lessons.

For example, VIPKid has an app that you’ll need to use. Some other platforms let you teach directly through a browser.

If your platform doesn’t require a unique app or you’re teaching independently, you’ll probably need to download a video call app. Many online English teachers use Skype or Zoom for lessons with their students.

When you teach on Whop, you can add the Video Calls App directly to your whop.

Think of your “whop” as your all-in-one teaching hub, where students can book lessons, access other services, and attend classes.

The Video Calls App allows you to offer more than just one-on-one lessons. You can also teach group lessons.

This gives you the chance to teach classes on specific topics, like Beginner Business English or Conversational English for Travelers.

Research what English lessons are in demand and then tailor your classes to meet those needs.

10. Start teaching English online

Now that you’re all set up, it’s time to open your class slots so students can book lessons with you!

Most teaching platforms have a built-in calendar feature, making it easy for students to see your availability and book times that work for them.

If you’re teaching on Whop, you’ll find a similar calendar feature to manage bookings easily.

Also, If you haven’t started marketing yourself, now’s the time. I’ll share some marketing tips and strategies later in this post to help you get started.

When students start booking with you, take the time to get to know them: a bit about who they are, their needs, current English level, and learning goals. From there, tailor your lessons to help them achieve these goals.

You’ve put in some hard work to get this far. Now’s your chance to make a difference in your student’s lives by helping them improve their communication skills.

You’ve got this!

So…

What are your responsibilities as an online English teacher?

An online English teacher prepares and teaches lessons to students using a microphone and webcam.

The main goal is to help students improve their English communication skills, often focusing on speaking and listening. Many teachers also help their students learn to read and write in English.

Here are some responsibilities you might have as an online English teacher:

Preparing lesson plans: Create your own or review pre-made plans so lessons run smoothly.
Understanding students’ needs: Learn about each student’s goals, strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles and adjust your teaching methods to best help them.
Tracking progress: Keep students (or their parents) updated on improvements and what they can continue to work on.
Using realia for young learners: Use objects or visual aids in your lessons to help kids understand new vocabulary.
Creating resources: Design presentations, quizzes, and study guides tailored to your students.
Make sure your equipment works: Check that your laptop, microphone, and webcam work properly before each lesson.
Managing your schedule: Stay organized and show up on time for lessons.

Why Whop is a great choice for teaching English online

If you’re thinking about teaching English online, I can’t recommend enough choosing Whop to be the base of your operations!

Here’s why it’s the platform I wish I had known about back when I started teaching English online:

1. You can make your whop a teaching hub

With Whop, you won’t have to deal with complicated systems that some established teaching platforms force you to use.

Instead, you can set up a personalized teaching hub (your whop) that allows you to manage every part of your business in one place.

Here are some perks you’ll enjoy:

Convenience for you and your students: Potential students can book lessons directly without having to download software.
You can offer additional content: Aside from lessons, you can offer downloadable worksheets, pre-taught lesson packages, or extra resources like vocabulary lists or downloadable flashcards.
Customizable features: When you build your whop, there are countless apps you can include to help you manage bookings, deliver lessons, and reach your business goals.

2. You can add the Calendar Bookings App so people can book 1:1 lessons

Being able to include a calendar app in your whop makes scheduling classes easy for students and teachers!

With the Calendar Bookings App in your whop, students can see available time slots in real time and select options that best fit their schedule.

As an online English teacher, who wants to stress over unnecessary administrative tasks?

You’ll love how easy the app makes opening and closing time slots so you can update your schedule at any time.

In your whop, you can upload files you’ve created straight from your Files App.

Share materials like:

Homework and study guides
Vocabulary word lists
Pronunciation guides
Role-playing scripts
Recordings
Digital flashcards
Quizzes
Word searches

You can offer these resources for free or at a price.

Have an eBook? Why not upload it and position yourself as an English-teaching expert (because who wouldn’t want to learn from a published author?!).

Get creative and find new ways to offer value to your students.

4. You can create a self-paced course for your whop too

While teaching online in real time can be fun, making passive income from a self-paced English course is also worth a shot.

All you have to do is create a course and upload it to your whop (or use the built-in course builder).

Once students make their way to your whop, they’ll have the option to download it for free or pay whatever price you set so they can begin learning at their own speed.

This is a great option to push to potential students who might feel comfortable communicating with video or audio online.

5. Whop handles payments and taxes

Between marketing your services and teaching students, why also stress over payments?

With Whop Payments, you can focus on your students and building your brand and leave the payments and payouts to Whop.

Also, Whop gives you the chance to easily track important financial information like your lifetime net revenue and pending balance.

While you won’t have to set up a Stripe account, Whop uses the platform to streamline card payments and payouts.

In certain US states and the EU, Whop will even handle the withholding and remittance of taxes for you. There are different tax options that you can choose, like covering the tax payment or having the customer cover it.

Teach English online with Whop

With Whop, you’ll have all the flexibility to tailor your offerings.

This unique platform will give you room to grow your teaching brand and highlight what sets your services apart from the competition.

With all the perks that Whop offers online English teachers, go ahead and try it out today!

Create your whop

FAQs

What are the benefits of teaching English online?

One major perk is that as long as you have a laptop, you can teach from anywhere with a stable internet connection.

And I mean anywhere.

I’ve even taught classes from a remote campsite in Northern England.

Tools like virtual backgrounds or blur features make it easy to keep your students focused on you instead of your surroundings.

Another perk of having a flexible job is that you get to set your own schedule. Want to teach for a few hours in the morning? Open time slots from 8-11 AM. Prefer to only work certain days? You can do that too!

And if you want some time off, all you have to do is make yourself unavailable to book during these days.

One thing to consider is that if your students are in a different time zone, changing your schedule to fit their needs can help you see a rise in bookings.

For example, if you live in the US but are teaching students in China, you’ll probably have more luck opening classes early in the morning or late in the evening.

Other perks of this work-from-home job are that you can be your own boss, get to know students from different cultures, and make a positive impact by helping others learn a new skill.

What are the challenges of teaching English online?

Building rapport with students online can be a bit tricky!

Try to break the ice with a quick game or a get-to-know you activity. Smiling, addressing your students by name, and personalizing feedback can go a long way in building trust and connection.

Another challenge can be keeping students engaged, especially younger learners. When I taught young kids, having a parent sit nearby helped keep them focused. If you’re worried about engagement, keep lessons fun with interactive options, visual aids, and video clips.

For young learners, you’ll want to be very expressive and overly energetic.

Do I need experience to work as an online English teacher?

Not always!

Some platforms require experience, but others don’t. Often, lower experience requirements often mean lower pay.

If you don’t have much teaching experience, offering your own lessons is a great way to get started and still earn enough cash.

On platforms like Whop, where you can set your own price per lesson, you could always begin by offering lessons for a low price. Then, you can increase it as you gain more teaching experience.

What are some tips for teaching English online?

The idea of teaching English online can be intimidating at first. While you can prepare, I discovered what worked well and what didn’t as time went on.

Here are some tips that I wish I had when I stared:

Build rapport: Be friendly, tailor lessons to student goals, and show them you care about their progress. Remind them that they should feel comfortable asking questions, that it’s okay to struggle, and that you’re happy to explain something in a different way.

Plan your lessons: Students or their parents will notice if you’re unprepared for a lesson. Plan more content then you think you’ll need, just in case the student breezes through the lesson.

Make it fun: Whether you’re teaching adults or kids, always try to keep the lessons light and enjoyable for your students. You might include vocabulary games, ask them about their lives, and use visuals or videos to break up lessons and make them more interactive.

Get them talking: The biggest mistake most new language teachers make is speaking too much, when you should really aim to get your student to do most of the talking. Use role-playing, vocabulary prompts, and cover familiar topics to get them talking more and build their confidence.

Watch your classes back: Although it might seem really uncomfortable at first, record your lessons and watch them back to see what you did well and what you can still work on.

Stay professional: This might sound like an obvious one, but I’ve definitely lost a student or two after yawning through an early morning lesson or starting a class late. The unfortunate reality is that there are plenty of other english teachers online they can easily switch to, so always show them that you’re 110% invested in their success.