Here’s a brief background on why I decided to apply as an online English teacher:
After getting my TEFL certification and working as a private English tutor in Barcelona, Spain, COVID-19 took the world by a storm. Because of this, I went home and continued my job as a server.
Fast forward a couple of months and I realized working in this restaurant was toxic, unfulfilling, and not at all part of my future goals.
I had a college degree in education, I had my TEFL certification, and I wasn’t using either.
Ultimately, I decided to make the switch to online English teaching.
This was something I had looked into heavily during the time I was contemplating getting my TEFL certification, now it was time to put all that research to use. I spent a day reviewing different online platforms along, touching based on bloggers pros/cons list, then ultimately found a list of companies that interested me and aligned with my wants.
Preparing For Applications:
The first thing to do when applying for different companies is to first research different companies.
This is where you build your wants and needs in an online teaching job:
Do you want to create your own lessons?
Do you want to work 1-on-1 with students?
How much do you expected to be paid?
How often do you want to receive payment?
Will parents choose you or will the company assign you students?
How long is the teaching contract?
Are you eligible to apply based on your location and accent?
Do you want your lessons already created?
Do you want to work with multiple students at a time?
What type of bonuses are offered?
How will the money transfer to your account?
Do you need specific certifications to apply to this company?
How flexible is the company with your hours?
Is there a minimum amount of teaching required each week?
Here’s where the first building blocks in what you’re looking for start to form, but you don’t need to make any solid decisions!
After getting an idea of what you’re looking for in a company, switch to looking at yourself.
What can you bring to the table to make yourself more marketable as an online teacher?
A degree? A certification? Your personality? Pasted babysitting, counseling, teaching, or tutoring experiences?
What can you do off the bat to make yourself more in-demand?
I’d start with your background. Like, your literal background when the computer camera is on you.
Already having a “classroom” background and some props made up will make you look even better, not to mention more prepared, when sending in your application videos. It tells the company that you’re serious about this job and that you already dedicated time and effort to making your online classroom official.
A good idea would be to invest in a quality headset, camera, mouse (if using a laptop), and external internet cable off the bat.
Most companies require, or prefer, you have these things in order to teach an official class. So investing in them at the very start of your application shows your commitment and preparedness.
Important Tip: save all receipts for “job related” purchases. You can write them off your taxes down the road!
For tech-like items I recommend checking Amazon or a tech-store like Best Buy.
For class-like items I recommend Walmart, Dollar Store, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Staples, etc.
Basic things you can use to build a classroom background:
Tri-folds
(either one or get two and make a large one)
World Map
A calendar
A whiteboard and markers
A word-wall
Alphabet Stickers
Number Stickers
Map of the United States
Picture models of shapes, colors, and/or outer space
A name tag (Teacher Reanna)
Diagram of weather and/or seasons
Think about props you may want to use; such as stuffed animals, puppets, or an image on a popsicle stick.
Once you have all the items you want to use, build your classroom! Have fun and be creative! You’re probably going to feel like a kid again creating a project for a class presentation.
Don’t overthink your background or make it look too complex. You don’t want it to be chaotic or distracting so that the student get’s lost in it or overstimulated. Simple colors with big, readable letters/numbers is all you need.
Look to Pinterest for some ideas on things to include in your background and how you should set it up!
It’s also beneficial to create a new resume specifically for online teaching.
Highlight your education, related experience, and tech-equipment. As well as your computers demographics and internet speed test.
Officially Apply:
When your background is done, your props are together, and your resume is in order, it’s time to officially apply to some jobs!
Like with any job, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Apply to multiple companies so that there’s room for error!
If one platform “regrets to inform you they will not be continuing the application process with you”, you’ll have a backup!
If you get accepted to two, three, or even four platforms, now it’s your choice! Maybe you’ll want to work at more than one!
After reading and contemplating different companies, I narrowed my search down to five. These five where for no particular reason other than their exposure and reviews from multiple blogging sites.
I applied with VIPKid, GoGoKid, DaDa, QKids, and EF Teach Online.
Essentially, I look an entire day to fill out all applications and record all my demo videos.
In VIPKid’s first step, I just set in my application and resume for review.
DaDa and GoGoKid had given me prepared lessons to practice and record myself teaching to include in my application.
With QKids, I recorded myself teaching my own lesson. They give you the choice between reading a story, teaching a lesson with a topic and three components, or something else (I’m sorry I can’t remember). I decided to teach a lesson on shapes using circles, triangles, and squares.
EF Teach Online’s demo video was just a brief “about me” introduction.
Wait For Application Review:
VIPKid was the first to give me a response!
They sent this email about two days after I submitted my application.
Next was EF Teach Online.
This email was sent two days after my submitted application and introduction video.
Then I heard a response from QKids.
I was emailed three days after my application submission.
I also received a DaDa confirmation to schedule and interview on this day.
This was three days after sending my application.
I heard from GoGoKid last, four days after sending my application.
As you can see, I didn’t make it pass the application.
Next Steps in Application:
VIPKid
VIPKid sent me a link to record my Demo Video. They sent me materials to prepare and then I recorded the video at my convenience.
In this video, I taught a short lesson to a pretend student. There’s no one there, but you act and respond as if there was.
From there, I got passed onto my mock class interview! This was when I taught to a VIPKid specialist as if they were a five-year-old student.
To prepare for this interview, I was sent the lesson plans as well as an invitation to attend a Zoom meeting on what to expect in the mock class.
The Zoom meeting was extremely helpful and something I highly recommend. I was in a group with four other attendees with an instructor. The instructor gave us knowledge on the VIPKid lesson sequence, teaching strategies, and other tips.
Then finally it was time for my actual mock class. With an instructor pretending to be a student, I taught a lesson. I tried my best to follow the VIPKid teaching sequence and apply the tips I learned from the Zoom meeting and preparation materials.
VIPKid really looks to see if you know and are implementing their rewards system and IAPE teaching format. This is specific to their program and is applied in various ways during each “slide” of their lesson. Learn it, live it, love it.
6 days after submitting my application, I got the official confirmation that VIPKid would like to hired me.
QKids
After my application passed, I got instructed to schedule my first demo interview.
Both demo interview one and two are with a QKids representative who pretends to be a five-year-old student.
I was given teacher tip videos, preparation materials, lessons overviews, and access to the “classroom” in order to get used to the program.
QKids really emphasized an importance in familiarizing yourself with each of their classroom tools before the demo lesson. They want to see that you know how to use the teaching features such as the text box and highlighter, as well as check for technically issues regarding microphone and video. They also want to see that your encouraging students through their rewards and sticker system.
After completing the first demo interview, I was scheduled for my second!
I really like that QKids conducted their interviews. We would go back and forth between teaching a section and then discussing what I had done, what I did well on, and how I could improve. This was the only interview I had where I got direct feedback right then and there.
And after my second demo interview, I was scheduled to do two trial classes!
After those two trial classes, I went on to do three more (all of which I got paid for!). After each trail, I was sent feedback on my teaching and ways for me to improve on the next one.
Finally, after all my trail classes and a passed background check I got asked to sign a 6-month contract! This happened exactly two weeks after submitting my application.
DaDaAbc:
After sending in my application with DaDa, I got passed onto the interview round.
Like the other companies, I got sent preparation materials in order to better conduct the lesson. These materials consisted of the “students” background knowledge, lesson objectives, and the lesson slides.
Again, the interview consisted of a DaDa representative who pretended to be a five-year-old student.
4 days after submitting my application, I got the official confirmation that DaDaAbc would like to hired me.
EF Teach Online:
Because of a missed email, I hadn’t realized I got passed to schedule an interview with EF until I was deep into the process with the other companies. Since I had more of an interest with VIPKid and Qkids anyway, I chose not to schedule an interview.
My Opinion While in The Application Process:
VIPKid
Off the bat, I had a good first impression with VIPKid. They were organized, knowledgeable, and their lessons were professionally structured.
I thought that the Zoom meeting in preparation of the mock class was a great addition to the application process. It really did help me prepare and make me feel more comfortable when doing the interview!
Their lessons were educational, interactive, and provided opportunities for rapport between the student and teacher.
They know what they are doing in terms of setting up both teachers and students for success.
QKids
Upon practicing for my demo interview, I knew immediately I wanted to work at QKids.
Their app is cute, easy to navigate, and extremely professional.
The lessons are so much fun! They are based more on games and interactive opportunities. The animations are well created and the structure of the games are fairly simple as long as you watch the demo videos.
If I was a kid learning English, I defiantly would want a lesson with QKids. As a result, I defiantly wanted to work as teacher for the company.
QKids is the only “group” teaching platform I applied with; the rest where for 1-on-1 teachings. At first, this made me nervous and a bit overwhelmed. But as I practiced more with the classroom and games, I grew excited to teach a lesson and work with all the students together.
DaDaAbc:
Honestly, I wasn’t impressed with DaDaAbc. The preparation materials that they sent me were confusing to figure out how to teach. Not to mention I wasn’t as interested in their animations or overall curriculum.
Then, during my interview, I was informed that I was being considered for a “sister” company; Online Teaching 1-on-1. They explained to me this was a new platform owned by DaDaAbc.
But this didn’t sit right with me since their website didn’t mention this new company and all my emails were addressed as DaDa.
I’m sure it’s legit and reputable, but I didn’t want to be passed off to a newer company. Because of this and my unsatisfaction with their lesson structure, I chose not to continue my process with DaDaAbc.
My final verdict: I choose to sign a contract with two companies. I couldn’t choose between VipKid or QKids, so I went with both! I figured it would only better my chances of building my schedule and experience.
Any questions or comments you would like to send me privately? Contact me!
