Teaching English Online: How I make Money While Traveling the World!

Teaching English Online

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A picture of me currently in Costa Rica during a weekend trip to 

La Fortuna to see the active Volcano. I am teaching out of an AirBnb in San Jose 

for the next six weeks.

The number one question I receive about how I travel the world is related to money. Something I am actually totally comfortable talking about to anyone that asks. While there is no easy or direct answer, one of the longest running jobs I have done to earn money, no matter where I am in the world, is teaching English online. 

Typically their next question is how does that work?

 

I teach on two different platforms, VIPKid and Cambly. Both are a 1099 "self-employed" type of job. This means I set my own hours, pay my own taxes come tax time and I am responsible for my income. 

VIPKid is a Chinese based English tutoring company. I typically teach students from the ages of 5 to 15 after they finish their school day. This means I am limited to what hours I can work depending on where I am in the world. For example, if I am in Costa Rica teaching, China is 14 hours ahead in time. So the hours that kids are online learning would be in the middle of the night/early morning. However, if I was in France, China is only 6 hours ahead in time so I would be teaching in the middle of the day. Something to consider if you are looking into this platform!

Cambly is an online English-learning platform that connects Native English speakers to students all over the world, 24/7. With this job I have a little more flexibility since my students are not all in the same time zone. This allows me to cater my schedule to fit my needs more. However, Cambly does pay less due to the requirements to obtain the job. While some platforms require you to have a degree or a TESOL/TEFL, like VIPKid, others simply ask that you be a native English speaker like Cambly. 

Well How Do I Get Paid?

From my experience, every platform works differently with payment structures. In some cases you get paid per hour, some per class, others per minute and so on. VIPKid deposits a bi-weekly check into my checking account while Cambly pays through PayPal each week. VIPKid has never missed a payment in the two and a half years I have worked for them. Cambly is a new job for me so I am still learning but so far I have had no issues.

Hung out in a local coffee shop in San Jose, Costa Rica the other day for work.

So you have to know another language to teach English?

Nope! It isn't a requirement to know another language to teach English. Students are here to learn English so no other language is allowed in the classroom. Teaching platforms like these are mainly supplementary English courses to help strengthen existing English knowledge. Most students have a knowledge of English from other classes, school or work. 

What do I need to teach?

You need a few basic things in order to teach. The two most important to every teaching platform are:

1. A stable/reliable internet connection

2. A computer

It is your responsibility to present a professional and welcoming atmosphere for your students to ensure that they are receiving the most out of the time they spend with you in a classroom. You are in control of certain things like your surroundings. With this being said, you should also always have these things when teaching:

3. A headset that has a microphone, I have a gaming headset that I bought at Walmart two years ago and it still works perfectly. 

4. Good lighting, I use my LumeCube Video Conference Lighting Kit. The kit comes with a mount  for the back of your computer and a portable mini LED Panel that is adjustable so that you can have the perfect lighting no matter where your are teaching from!

5. A distraction free background. When I was teaching from home I had decorations on the wall behind me but now I simply make sure my back is facing a wall. 

My current setup in Costa Rica. Very simple compared to my past locations. My LumeCube Conference Light has been super helpful in this location since the lighting in my room is very dark and I have small windows.

 

The light itself is smaller than an iPhone and fits in my backpack super well when I am traveling.

Sounds like something you're interested in?

There are so many ways to make money online while traveling the world. Personally, teaching has worked for a few years now and I am happy with my job! I get to help others learn English and connect with people from around the world, all while traveling it myself. If you are interested in teaching (even if it isn't to finance your travel addiction, like me), please feel free to reach out to me!