Top Things to Do When You are Traveling and Teaching English Online

Many people who want to travel the world worry about how to finance their trip and earn an income while traveling. Teaching English online gives you the flexible lifestyle and income you need to travel and explore.

With many online English teachers choosing to work for only a few short hours a day, this gives you plenty of time to travel and explore. By teaching online, you can live or travel anywhere in the world, as long as you have a good WI-FI connection.

How to Become an Online English Teacher

To become an English teacher online, there are certain requirements you will need to fulfill.

1. A TEFL certificate

You will need a TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) certificate or equivalent. Several different TEFL courses are available, with some courses even specializing in online teaching.

2. Fluency in English

Some online teaching companies only hire teachers who are native English speakers. If you are not a native speaker, you may be expected to prove your fluency and proficiency with an English qualification, such as Cambridge English. You may also be asked to complete an English proficiency test or submit other evidence.

3. A college degree

Although not all companies require a degree, it can help to make you more attractive to prospective employers and students and give you access to more job opportunities. A degree in English may be advantageous but a degree in any field is likely to be accepted.

4. A laptop and a reliable internet connection

Online teaching is done via distance learning or video technology on your laptop. As an online English teacher, you may also be required to mark students’ work, set homework, and provide other resources online. You will need to have a reliable internet connection at all times as if you are unable to connect to a lesson or you lose connection partway through a lesson, you will not only lose money, but the teaching company may also cease working with you.

5. An appropriate work environment and background

This is an important consideration for travelers who are constantly changing their location. If you are staying in hotels or hostels, it is important to make sure your students will not be distracted by any noise in the background. You will also need to make sure that if you are involved in a video lesson, your background is free from distractions and inappropriate or unprofessional sights. For example, your students should not be able to see you sitting on a bed or see other people in the background.  

What Does Teaching English Online Involve?

Once you have your TEFL qualification, your next step is to find a teaching English online position. Teaching online can involve:

•       Working for an online teaching platform or company.
•       Teaching independently as a freelance teacher and finding your own students.

With both of these options, you will have the opportunity to work as little or as often as you like. To a certain extent, you will be able to design your own working hours. However, bear in mind that you will need to be available during the teaching hours of the country your students are located in, regardless of your time zone or the time difference.

You can find a step-by-step guide on teaching online, including how to enter the market and which teaching path is the best option for you.

Online English teachers are in the highest demand in China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Spain, and Mexico.

Things to Consider When Traveling and Teaching Online

There are several things you will need to consider if you are teaching online while traveling. This will help to not only make you a more successful teacher and earn more money but also to maximize your traveling experience and ensure you make the most of your trip. Below are some tips you can follow:

1. Decide your availability

You can decide how little or often you want to work. Take into account the time difference between the country you are traveling in and the time zone of your students. You could choose to work only set hours every day or offer your employer more flexibility.

2. Create an optimal working environment

Ensure your working environment is free from noise and distractions. Some teaching companies like you to use props, posters, and visual cues – especially if you teach younger children. Think about how you can incorporate these into the background of your lessons and make yourself look more professional and engaged.

3. Be flexible

You may be asked to teach across different age groups and abilities. You will need to be flexible with the level of English you are teaching and the type of teaching you deliver. For example, with young learners, you will need to have higher energy levels and may need to incorporate songs and games, whereas older students may require exam practice and advanced grammar and writing practice.

4. Prepare your resources and lesson plans ahead of time

Having lesson plans prepared can help make your lessons run more smoothly and successfully. This could result in recommendations and more business for you. Once you have established your lesson plans and prepared your resources, you can use these again with other students – saving you time in the future.

5. Decide where you want to travel

As a remote teacher with flexible working hours, the world is your oyster. You can travel as far and as long as you want. Many solo travelers choose to travel and teach online as it gives them the freedom and flexibility to be in charge of their own budget, explore their schedule and improvise their travel ideas. The most difficult part is deciding where to travel! Will it be South America or Asia? Europe or Africa?

Final Thoughts

As you can see, traveling the world while teaching online couldn’t be easier. You can find a job that suits your lifestyle and travel ambitions and earn money while you do it.

Whether you choose to work for an already established online teaching platform or teach independently, you can get started today and become a successful teacher and traveler before you know it. 

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