TEFL - Let’s see if it sticks
My classroom
I have finally done it.
I am teaching English online! I started two weeks ago. My first week, I built up from 1 hour on Wednesday, to 2 hours Thursday and 3 hours on Friday. I opened slots in my schedule for reservations on the following Tuesday, and we spent the bank holiday weekend at the beach. It was lovely.
I think I may have been too cautious with my schedule. I scheduled several breaks (just in case!), and I did get a few bookings, but I think I’d do better opening longer lesson slots and just hoping the breaks occur naturally. Living and learning! (I say that but I went ahead and scheduled in breaks for the next couple of weeks, too…)
I had my first lesson with a child that Tuesday. On the children’s platform, lessons have to be pre-booked and the child is enrolled in a particular course. The lessons are provided by the platform and they’re made so you don’t need to prepare - but preparation is always advised. I was nervous! There was singing involved… not to mention the use of total physical response (TPR) as a teaching tool… This is when you overuse facial expressions and body language to aid communication. It’s very effective, but totally cringey. I did it though! And the student was so cute. Her English was way beyond the lesson. I’ll need to figure out how to improvise and adjust for that when it happens again. I have to say though, it was a lovely break from having to make engaging conversation with my adult students.
It feels pretty good to be working again! This platform doesn’t pay particularly well but it’s a great place to gain experience, and then I can re-apply for the better-paying jobs in a few months. It’s also fun! With the adults, it’s mostly conversations or ‘free-talk’ lessons so the students can practice their fluency and pronunciation. I think I need a little more experience with the kids before I can comment, but it was more than manageable with the pre-prepared material. So far so good! Work is actually enjoyable! - I can't even believe I can say that about work…
Here's a little more about the application process for anyone considering TEFL.
Pre-requisites
The only prerequisite for this particular platform is being a native English speaker. No degree, no TEFL qualification and no teaching experience required. This is because you have to market yourself on the platform with your profile and introduction video. Students peruse tutor profiles and pick teachers based on the information they've provided.
Other platforms and schools may require a degree (usually any degree, not necessarily a teaching-related one), a TEFL certificate (they may specify the minimum number of hours) and teaching experience. If you lack any or all of these, I'd encourage you to apply anyway, especially if you're applying to work with children and you have work experience (or parenting experience). Sell yourself, that could be enough!
The application
For this platform, I just had to fill out my profile with some information about myself: my accent, teaching style, any qualifications, other languages I speak, my interests, etc. Anything the student might search for when perusing profiles. So for example, I mentioned my medical background, in case anyone wants to practice medical terminology. Then I filmed a very short (maybe 2-minute) video summarising the same, and that was it! I was accepted onto the platform the next day.
For the kids' platform, it was all the same except they recommend having a colourful backdrop and maybe holding a prop in your profile photo, and you have to record a trial lesson. The recording only needs to be a few minutes long (maybe five minutes) and it's based on a student profile and a provided lesson plan. They just want to get an idea of how you talk and teach children. I was accepted onto the kids' platform 1-2 weeks after I applied. They emailed me to let me know there was a backlog of applications and that it may take a few weeks to get to mine.
That was it. It was a very easy process. The most difficult part was filming the videos. I filmed many videos.
The other platforms/ schools I applied to asked for more traditional applications; I emailed them my CV and cover letter. In hindsight, I should have attached a video of an example lesson so they could hear my accent and get to know my teaching style.
The onboarding process
The week I was accepted onto the adult platform, I received a series of emails with information and encouragement to get started teaching. They provided a Tutor Guide which covered the most important "getting started" questions and answers. They also provided links to their other social media platforms. There, we can ask other tutors any questions we might have. I received 15 free minutes which I can use to call another tutor on the platform and ask any questions I might have. Additionally, they offered a bonus pay opportunity as an incentive to get started teaching right away. Overall, the onboarding process was very comprehensive and encouraging.
I think that's enough for now. I might share specifics about the online classroom and different scheduling options in another post. But I think this one's long enough!
I'm feeling good! I'm working again, earning a little bit of money for myself. The work is enjoyable and fulfilling. So far my students have been lovely. 🙏 I'll update you as I gain more experience.
Take care!
