Why I hate Online ESL Teaching...

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

What are your thoughts if you are an online ESL teacher? Do you need help to get started with online teaching? onlineteacherdude.com/freebie1

[@thrivewithmary]

Online teaching is different from teaching in a B & M school and requires a unique set of skills. Having guidance through the hiring and onboarding process, as well as learning the most effective ways to establish your business is key to success. Tim, you're one of the best in getting folks started on this path.

[@yazimedia]

Nodding all the way through. Thanks for the headsup on Groove!

[@teacherlena6194]

You made some good points and one the really stuck out to me is the monotony of the curriculum of many ESL companies. That is one reason I love to work with Outschool because I get excited to share the content I create with my students. Also, I have always been impressed by the Qkids curriculum because it is so interactive and fun to teach.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thanks for sharing! I Love that we have options to "shake" things up a bit!

[@jamessouza8364]

This past week I went to the island that I'm moving to. I went there to look for a house to rent while I'm having my house built. We have decided to start teaching at home. Each student would be 40.00 and have up to 20 students in each class. 2 classes M / W / F and 2 classes T / Th / S nights and 2 classes S / S morning. That would bring in 5,000 USD each month. I plan on scaling back on VIP Kid until my house is done.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thats awesome James! You are thinking big for sure. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

[@TeacherKellyTag]

I love the freedom and control I get at Outschool!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Yes it is a great option for sure. Have you heard of Kidpass? Just found out about it from Kasie.

[@TeacherKellyTag]

@@onlineteacherdude1284 I’ve been meaning to watch her video. I’m curious about it but SUPER busy at Outschool right now.

[@mechellleroux2]

This video is spot on Tim! Exactly the transition I'm currently making by building other income streams. Let me be honest, I'm not going to teach online English forever. Thanks for this ☺️

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thanks Mechell! Yeah, no I won't be either. I might be out of it this year if other things pick up..

[@thrivewithmary]

Tim, thank you for always providing such helpful information and inspiring us to think bigger!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Hi Mary! Thanks for leaving a comment. You are doing great things too - I watched your live with Kasie the other day.

[@MelissaHamilton1]

This video really resonates with me. I love teaching on Outschool and building my brand.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Yes! So great. What do you teach on Outschool?

[@MelissaHamilton1]

@@onlineteacherdude1284 primarily life skills. Dance/ Drama /English.

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

There are quite a few companies that pay over $20 hr. For the convenience of working from home, not spending gas on your commute, wear and tear on your car, time away from home and the kids, it’s a great gig😊👍🏽,

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

It sure is! You got that right. Amazing opportunity. But I think we can do better ;)

[@Mc22034]

I agree, What companies are you talking about? I just want to know if it’s any I haven’t heard of. Thank you :)

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

I work for Protostar during peak hours BJT.

[@MsGechi77]

@@user-rk8mr8ux5s Thank you 👍

[@komradson7357]

@@user-rk8mr8ux5s hi! Is a Bachelors required for this position? I have a TEFL, and I'm teaching in one company now I really would like to apply to a company with better pay...

[@dyslexiclabs]

Well said. Thank you for putting words to how I feel about ESL and are working so hard to do something else.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Awesome!! Progress over perfection :)

[@KristensClassroom]

*Such a great video topic!!*

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thank you! Hope you are well.

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

Tim’s videos are always GREAT!! So appreciate you Tim😊👍🏽👊🏼!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

You are so kind - thank you April!!

[@organikjourneys3681]

This video gave me insight and that I don't want to move forward with the GoGo kids hiring process. Thank you. I feel the same way if a company limits my finances. I will go with the entrepreneur route.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

I hear ya! I still think it can be a good way to make quick money but the entrepeneur route is always going to my favorite :)

[@writebetterwithteachermel]

I'll be sure to regularly check your channel for tips I can use so I can set off to having my own business too.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Awesome! Thanks.

[@senorasarahCDMX]

Also here's the thing...you have to work REALLY hard to get those 10-14 an hour. I mean I worked for a company that paid 7-8 an hour on weekdays, and you had 5 students per class. All the preparation, the props, the planning, the effort to get and keep kids' attention, to be interesting and engaging and extend, dragging myself out of bed at 5 am and bouncing off the walls with a 5-year-old, correcting grammar and pronunciation and pacing, designing activities to help them remember...it's a lot of work. I feel like, if I'm gonna do all that work, I could be putting it into my own business and make more money with less restrictions. I' m happy that I got the chance to get into this industry and that I've learned enough by now to know how to transition into something more my style. I watch your videos to keep helping me get that going. Thanks a lot!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Awesome Sarah - thanks for your great comment. Stick around this channel - lots of great content right up your alley is coming.

[@crissw2471]

7-8 an hour!? How is it worth it at all?

[@mereditharmistead6842]

Thanks for the video. ESL is a good platform to start. I've been able to meet people who want to help each other. I've also seen ideas and things that peek my interest that would have never come to mind before. I'm working on teaching preschool online outside of VIPKID and Outschool, but have to work on the hours and what format I'm going to use.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Hi Meredith! It is a great platform to start on for sure. It has opened up so many doors for me as well. I am excited for your preschool teaching business!

[@bohemianvegan]

I HATE TEACHING ESL. I lived in Korea as an ESL teacher for a few years. It was a disaster. I loved living in Korea, but I hated ESL. I am now doing online ESL classes because I need the money. I plan on quitting by the end of this month, once I get my money from the company and I get more hours with my online tutoring. I just hate ESL so much.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Fair enough - hope you find good options for what you love in the future.

[@mfsoli]

Love your rants, Tim!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thanks haha

[@kristenalmonte1110]

Haven't started. But I'm in the public schools. Maybe someday I will try this. I do think online teachers are underpaid. Just to find a babysitter, they demand $13-$15 hourly. So if this is the rate, teachers online or tutoring should be paid more hourly!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Hi Kristen! Its a great gig if you need some extra cash or additional income. Online private tutors can make wayyyy more.

[@tl11316]

I pay for my private tutor 3,50 euro for one hour. She has telf certificate and a native speaker. On Preply you can find many of those tutors who are extremely cheap . Of course they push the prices low which makes the living of English harder.

[@aartman01]

Cheers, Tim!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Hi Kevin!

[@kaylaisyou]

I really enjoy it but I can definitely see how overtime I'll feel like it's not worth it.. hoping to get more experience teaching through various platforms and eventually starting my own teaching business♡

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thats great Kayla! Excited for you.

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

I can understand your frustration Tim. For some of your reasons, you may want to check out Protostar. You can bring your own flavor to your lessons, and the curriculum is very nice. My career is my volunteer missionary work. It’s the reason I left brick and mortar. I only wish to work part time, since I have completely downsized my life. But your plan for growing your business, is right on for those who wish to do this full time 😊🙌🏼🙌🏼👍🏽👌🏽.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Yes I just did a video about them actually - did you see it ? Seems like a great option for sure.

[@user-rk8mr8ux5s]

Tim, I honestly see you developing an international school, both in person, and online. One of your branches will be a teacher training site😊🙏🏼🌺.

[@andreaperry]

Awesome info, thank you!

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

thanks Andrea!!

[@davidirvine4209]

Online teaching melts your brain... and will make you dumb if you do it long enough! Mind rot! Its easy enough.... but very fatiguing!

[@holafazrito9707]

Very useful video. Subscribed

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thank you very much!

[@melsmotivationalvideos7229]

It would be great to being able to be on my own, too.

[@bren4681]

Oh, so it's really sometimes...well if it's the smallest source of your income it will definitely not get much of your attention and I feel you should have a deadline. You might be keeping something on a lifeline that either you revive or unplug.

[@alyssakleinhans3190]

Hey Tim, thanks for this! Do you know if Outschool hires US teachers that aren't based in the US?

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Unfortunately, you have to live in one of their designated countries :(

[@JenniferBruggemanOfficial]

Can you have multiple email lists with groove? For example: I have a teacher business and a makeup business that are unrelated.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

In short, YES! However, GrooveMail is down at the moment because of some beta issues and they had to take it down to warm up the IPs and it will be back in full swing before the end of April. They integrate with ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp for the time being, though. When GrooveMail is back, you will be able to have multiple lists, yes. Did you grab the free account with my link? Happy to help in any way! SHoot me an email if you need to for further questions.

[@jumanjaydazed3538]

100% on the curriculum. How's the Thai food? I just sent a request to join the group. Jay

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thai food is great as always ! Thanks Jay.

[@mr.b9597]

Have u heard of arnold schools for esl teaching want to see if its legit?

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Sorry, I have not.

[@matt-ns8ze]

I love teaching, love discussing teaching methods with other teachers but I'm greatly disappointed with the lack of effort companies put into their online lessons/curriculums. All online teaching companies offer the same static teaching style that isn't relatable to the students (younger students specifically) and laughable gesture requirements. Of course, the easier the lessons means less qualified/experienced the teachers need to be which leads to more teachers being hired and ready to jump into the positions... not always a good thing. I built a whole new online teaching style that uses Zooms slide function and created a fully interactive weekly adventure spanning different world locations that incorporates geography and discovery-style mechanics that allows students to obtain the target language and use that language in its natural context that they then use and build upon in future lessons due to scaffolding techniques.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Awesome, glad you found what works for you. I will say that my young students love the online interactive classes with companies like magic ears, gogokid and vipkid has gotten a lot better to. No gesture requirements needed, just a fun positive personality and engaging teaching style - that's all I use.

[@yoursubconscious]

how do you sign in after you register?

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Hi, sign in after you register for what?

[@josephletner5066]

Your frustrations hit home! Ugh.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Yeah, for sure.But, there are options out there for us!! Where do you teach right now?

[@josephletner5066]

I’m with VIPKid. I’m watching youtube videos (like yours) like crazy trying to learn as much as possible. I took Rachel Baker’s masterclass and am applying to Outschool. But I’m wanting to grow into so much more. Enjoying, and learning from, all of your content. I appreciate what you do.

[@sobeliever1638]

Does Protostar have minimum hours?

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Not specifically but they do want a commitment to the schedule I showed in the video, or at least parts of it but you don't need to teach a particular amount, just show that you are there to teach. You could open up a couple slots each week as long as they are the same if that makes sense.

[@sobeliever1638]

@@onlineteacherdude1284 Okay I could only commit to two days or four classes consistently. I saw that they had 2 or 3 day options so I was juat wondering as that would only be four slots. Thanks!

[@beckybelmont7704]

@@sobeliever1638 '

[@bohemiansun3172]

I understand your frustrations. And you have a wealth of knowledge to offer. But you're not concerned your employers will see this and end your contract? Or your clients might see this and not sign up for your classes? Or your on-line students might see this and take this personally? Be careful what you put out there. I am concerned for you.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

No, not at all. I don't ever speak badly about companies or put them in a bad light. In fact, my videos drive traffic to their platforms and I have great relationships with the companies I work for and always have. This is just a video about my own journey and what I dislike about online ESL teaching, at times. In the video I explain how life-changing teaching ESL online is and how it has changed my life and I still teach with VIPKid and love it...and I still help many get hired but sometimes I don't love it...and that's ok, Im an independent contractor not an employee.

[@fergal2424]

Ugh. I've a very comfortable cushy but fairly monotonous job in Apple. Pay's good for the role, work isn't hard. Ireland is expensive and the weather is rough to deal with from a mental health point of view. Been trying to craft an escape plan to go live in Spain to have some kind of adventure in my life, live somewhere sunny for a time and try get by, see what happens. I'm booked into an ITA Tefl 4 week in person course to get qualified. In the meantime in the last few weeks I got started on Cambly to get a feel for things, and man, I can't imagine myself doing that in front of a physical class. It can be tough enough and pretty repetitive even online in my short experience already and for such poor poor pay and no guarantees. Think I might just take a holiday and find a different tech related role in Spain, and get my deposit back from the school. Pipe dream vibes.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thanks for commenting. Don't settle for a monotonous job if it doesn't bring you joy. You should wake up everyday happy to work and love what you do.

[@phuongjapan7944]

ir to go = walk

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

sorry, I dont understand.

[@nativespeakerenglishteache2067]

fake jobs ads with forms for data mining, and also offering monthly pay where a teacher is used free for a month and not paid.

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

There are bad companies out there but the majority are good.

[@nativespeakerenglishteache2067]

@@onlineteacherdude1284 not my experience

[@xmas6813]

This video is hiiiiilarious

[@onlineteacherdude1284]

Thanks :)

[@xmas6813]

I nominate you for an Oscar for just the first 6 seconds alone! Keep on keepin’ it real!