The Importance of Learning to Teach English Online

In this article, we will explore the significance Significance of Learning to Teach Online. The landscape of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is evolving rapidly, but here’s the exciting part: if your dream is to travel the world as a teacher, you still have plenty of opportunities and a warm welcome. But hold on, there’s a twist! Now, you can embark on your TEFL journey right from the cosy confines of your home, and let me tell you, it’s just as amazing! So, why this transformation, you ask? Well, it all comes down to the magic of the internet. Just think about it – with a simple click, you can connect with someone on the opposite side of the globe. And that is precisely what learning to teach English online is all about. It’s like attending a global English party without leaving your house. 

Here are some significance of Learning to Teach English Online

Enjoy a More Flexible Work Life

Teaching online as a TEFL teacher is incredibly flexible. You can decide when you want to teach – in the morning, afternoon, or even evening. No more rushing to class; you’re in charge of your schedule!

Now, here’s where the excitement truly kicks in. Remember that significant “P” word – the pandemic? Well, it shook up the way we do things, including learning. When schools had to close their doors, online TEFL stepped up to save the day. Just like the students you can attract, kids must keep learning English safely from the comfort of their homes.

Teachers transformed their living rooms into vibrant classrooms and realised that it worked well, and students gathered in these virtual spaces. It was like teaching an English class right in your pyjamas (seriously, you could teach in your PJs if you wanted to). So, the pandemic showed us that online TEFL isn’t just incredible; it’s an absolute lifeline, ensuring that learning never stops, no matter what’s going on in the world. Let’s have a look at some of the other advantages.

Accessibility and Convenience

Alright, let’s break this down a bit more. Imagine you’re a young student living in a small town, far away from big cities where English schools are usually found. With online TEFL, it’s like having a magic portal to learn English. Students can access these lessons from their computers, no matter where they live on our giant planet.

For teachers, it is a great way to live and work. You don’t have to rush to a classroom or wake up early because online TEFL classes are flexible. It doesn’t matter what time zone your pupils are in. You will find a requirement for teachers, no matter what hours you can offer. You can pick a schedule that works best for you. That means you can balance teaching English with your other daily tasks. No more rushing around; it’s all about making things easier for you! 

Side Hussle Without Leaving the House

This is one of the reasons why it’s also become a popular side hustle. With the ever-increasing cost of living, people are looking for ways to bring in some extra money. Heading out to a second job is potentially not cost-effective because you have to factor in childcare, transport and other things. It also means you never see the home you pay most of your salary for. Teaching English online is a great way to stay home and earn extra money. You don’t need to worry about childcare costs as you can teach when the children are in bed, and you don’t have to commute, so your vehicle has no extra fuel and wear and tear. Some people we have worked with even went on to give up their day job and now on a full-time living teaching English online from home.

On the flip side, it’s also very liberating. You could teach from anywhere worldwide with a high-speed Internet connection. It’s a great potential source of employment for people looking to take advantage of a digital nomad Visa, and it means you don’t necessarily have to stop working when you go on holiday. If you can find a quiet space, have access to a decent laptop and Internet connection. You can continue to work wherever you happen to be.

It Makes Learning Fun

Imagine this: you’re the teacher in an online English class, and with a simple click, you transport your students to the lively streets of London or whisk them away to explore the vast Australian Outback. These multimedia marvels, encompassing videos, images, and audio clips, have the remarkable power to breathe life into English. This creates excitement in the learning process, helping students grasp the language in authentic, real-world contexts.

Have you ever delved into learning through interactive games and websites? If not, prepare for a delightful revelation! Online TEFL instructors can use these incredible tools to transform learning into an enjoyable, playful adventure. Whether it’s through solving crossword puzzles, engaging in language-learning games, or embarking on virtual scavenger hunts, these websites turn the study of English into an exhilarating and enjoyable endeavour.

Significance of Learning to Teach Online – It Makes Use of Technology

Depending on how you teach English online, you will use one of the available video conferencing tools. If you are working for yourself, you have the choice of platforms and may choose to use Zoom or Microsoft Teams. If you are working for a company that provides English teaching online, you may find that they have a bespoke platform. Either way, technology has transformed how you can prepare and makes it a breeze.

It’s akin to wielding a magical wand for online TEFL teachers. With it, you can effortlessly connect with students from every corner of the globe in real-time. It’s almost as if you are beside your students, sharing stories, addressing questions, and guiding them through their remarkable English learning journeys. Just make sure you spend time learning the platform and dealing with everyday issues like students who can’t seem to get their audio working or sharing screens.

Apps Add Another Layer

And what about educational apps? Not the ones for gaming but that transform your trusty phone or tablet into a miniature English classroom. These apps play a crucial role in reinforcing what they learned in class and making the practice of English a seamless, enjoyable experience. They’re akin to having a personal English tutor in their pocket, available whenever they need assistance.

Online TEFL instructors can utilise all these resources to cater to the diverse learning styles of their students. Some learners thrive with visual aids, while others grasp concepts best through hands-on activities. With this arsenal of tools, you can tailor our lessons to accommodate each student’s unique style, ensuring that complex language concepts become more accessible and understandable.

Online teaching platforms often offer a treasure trove of pre-made teaching materials and lesson plans. It’s like having a well-curated recipe book for crafting engaging English lessons. With just a few clicks, educators can access these invaluable resources, saving us considerable time in preparation. These materials are meticulously designed to meet the distinctive needs of TEFL learners, ensuring that each lesson is informative, highly engaging, and effective.

Significance of Learning to Teach Online – A Cost-Effective Solution

Teaching TEFL online can also be a cost-effective solution for educators and students. Teachers can save money on commuting, classroom rentals, and teaching materials. Additionally, online TEFL courses are often more affordable for students, making language education more accessible to a broader range of learners. And let’s face it, students enjoy learning from home, and in many cases, it’s preferable to having to travel to the nearest language school and sit in a classroom.

For aspiring TEFL teachers, the initial investment in online teaching equipment, such as a computer and a reliable internet connection, is typically lower than the costs of setting up a physical classroom. This affordability can make TEFL a more accessible career choice for those interested in teaching English abroad. 

So, How Do You Get Started?

The first thing you will need is a TEFL certification. You must obtain your qualification from a provider who is accredited by an awarding body. You will see lots of very cheap capabilities being sold on discount sites such as Wowcher. However, the chances are there is no accreditation backing up these qualifications. This means you could run into difficulties when it comes to finding work. There is also no guarantee that you will receive a fully rounded education. 

All of our courses are tried, tested, and accredited, meaning you will graduate from us with everything you need to teach English online. Of course, with your TEFL qualification. You could also choose to head abroad at some point in your career and spend time learning English in person. Provided you have the backing of a fully regulated course, you will never struggle to find work.

Significance of Learning to Teach Online – Decide How to Work

If you don’t have any experience teaching English, you might want to spend your first year also working for an online tutor company. There are plenty out there, which means they do the legwork finding students. Some of them also provide lesson plans, which is helpful if you’re starting, as you might not have the confidence to create them yourself. If you’re an experienced teacher or just someone who is naturally very confident, you might want to set up your own business. In this case, it’s just important to remember any tax rules in your country for self-employed people. 

In the UK, for example, this means completing a tax return every year and paying the Inland Revenue whatever they deem you owe them promptly. Many sites that hire English teachers online will also expect them to be self-employed and responsible for their taxes. Having employees is much more expensive as you don’t have to provide holiday and sickness pay, so they tend to stick to self-employed people only.

Set Up Your Space

The next thing you have to do is set up a work area. If possible, a room away from the rest of the family where you can shut yourself away from distractions is a good idea. However, this may not be practical, so you need to create a desk area in the quietest part of the house and make sure the family knows when you are working. It’s not practical to teach English online using a mobile phone, and even a tablet might be a bit of a stretch. It’s certainly preferable to have a decent laptop or desktop set up. That doesn’t mean it has to be a particularly expensive one. You will need access to a stable, fast Internet connection as there is nothing more frustrating than students watching the teacher freeze and stammer and stutter because the relationship is not good. 

Lone Workers

Finally, remember that lone working can be pretty lonely, so joining support groups and networking with other online English teachers is worth it. You will find a community on most of the social media platforms, and you will be able to enjoy camaraderie and share ideas, ask for help, and even find resources that will help you in the classroom.

Conclusion

So this was some of the significance of learning to Teach Online. Teaching TEFL online offers numerous advantages over traditional in-person methods. It provides accessibility, convenience, teaching resources, personalised learning experiences, increased student engagement, cost-effectiveness, and reduced environmental impact. As the world continues to embrace digital education, the future of TEFL teaching is undoubtedly online. Whether you’re a TEFL educator looking to transition to online teaching or a student seeking to learn English, the benefits of online TEFL instruction are clear and compelling. Embrace the opportunities of online TEFL, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful and fulfilling language education journey.