Did you know you can teach english online and earn up to $22/hour? It’s true. VIPKID is making it possible for qualified instructors to earn money online while working their own schedule.
This gives busy educators a chance to side hustle doing something they love all while working from the comfort of their home office.
So what exactly is VIPKID and how can it help you get paid to teach English online? Read on! I’m sharing all the details on this fun side hustle for teachers.
What is VIPKID?
VIPKID is an education company based out of Beijing. They’re on a mission to connect school-aged children in China with qualified English-speaking instructors.
Through their virtual classrooms, VIPKID delivers an international learning experience from one end the world to the next. How’s that for linking the world together through language and learning?
All education sessions are on-on-one and are based off of US Common Core Standards. So, as a teacher or educator, you should already be familiar with the material VIPKID uses to support and strengthen little learners’ understanding of English.
The Benefits of Contracting With VIPKID
Aside from spending time with eager little learners, you’ll enjoy some pretty nice benefits as a VIPKID teacher, like:
- Flexible scheduling
- Ability to work from home
- Membership in a passionate education community
- Real time tech support
Educators get to teach Chinese students English as well as American traditions and customs. As a bonus, you’ll get to learn a little about Chinese culture — all without getting up off of the couch.
What Does It Take To Teach English Online with VIPKID?
Because VIPKID aims to provide the best learning experience for kids 4-12, they need the best teachers. In order to be considered for a teaching contract, you will need:
- A bachelor’s degree
- One year or 400 hours of teaching experience
- Residency in the U.S. or Canada
VIPKID is strict about their teachers’ requirements. So, please make sure you meet their minimum education requirements and teaching experience before you apply.
What About Tech Requirements?
As a virtual teacher, you’ll need to meet specific tech requirements to teach English online with VIPKID. These include:
- Desktop, laptop, MAC, Surface
- HD camera for broadcasting your lessons (your laptop probably has one built in)
- Headset
- Windows 7, 8, 10 or MAC OS 10.8x
- 4GB RAM
- Wired DSL with 20 Mbps speed (no wifi, test your internet speed here)
Based on your preference, you’ll also need to have the latest version of either Chrome or Firefox to access the VIPKID teaching portal.
Ready to Apply?
The first step to get paid to teach English online is to submit your resume over at VIPKID. They’ll screen it to make sure you meet their minimum teaching experience and hold a bachelor’s degree. If all looks good, you’ll get an invite to interview.
The Interview Process
Because you’ll be teaching virtually from the U.S. or Canada to students in China, everything will be done online, including your interview. Interviews can take place during a live 30-minute session or you can record an interview and submit it for review.
Your interview will be like a mock teaching lesson. Recruiters will evaluate your teaching skills to determine if you have what it takes to join the team. If recruiters like what they see, you get a chance to review VIPKID videos and practice a full-length class with a current VIPKID online English teacher.
Then you’re ready to go solo!
What It’s Like to Teach English Online With VIPKID
You’ll use the VIPKID teaching platform to connect with your students during each lesson. There’s no need to create your own coursework since the VIPKID curriculum team will have materials prepared for you in advance. You’ll even get a chance to review these materials well before you go live with one of your students.
Remember, teachers submit availability a month in advance so students can see your availability. Once a student books a 30-minute session, it will show up on your schedule. Schedules can be accessed at any time through your VIPKID account. As an educator, it’s your your responsibility to show up on time for each lesson (you’ll earn more if you do!).
Booking Sessions
All sessions are one-on-one to ensure the highest standards with each learning experience. You may teach the same student over and over again or meet new children every week.
Either way, it’s best to have availability during peak Beijing times to give yourself the best chance of booking lessons every week. Often, this is includes Monday – Friday 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday Beijing Time.
(Hint: For those living on the East Coast, Beijing is 12 hours ahead!)
Getting Paid to Teach English Online at VIPKID
All teachers are paid a flat rate per class (determined initially during your interview!). You can earn even more with incentives like an extra $1 for showing up on time and bonuses for completing more lessons each month.
Payments are made once a month (between the 10th and 15th) via direct deposit. As a contractor, you are responsible for paying taxes on money earned.
Tip: Use QuickBooks Self-Employed for an easy-peasy income tracker and tax calculator 🙂
At the beginning, all teachers are given a six month contract. At the end of your contract, you get re-evaluated and may get an offer to continue your contract along with a pay increase!
Teach English Online with VIPKID
All in all, VIPKID offers a fun side hustle for educators wanting to assist Chinese students learn English and American customs. Because you can set your own schedule, this makes an excellent income generator for those with a busy schedule, family responsibilities, or even a day job.
To learn even more about what it’s like to teach English online through VIPKID, be sure to grab a copy of their Teacher Application Performance Indicator. It offers an inside peek at how you’ll be evaluated as a prospective online English teacher so you can ace your interview like a prepared pro!
Apply Today
Are you a current VIPKID teacher? Leave your experience as an online english teacher in the comments below. Have a question about the application process? Ask away. I’ll do my best to answer.
Happily,
Ashlee
P.S. This post contains affiliate links. What are they? Check out my disclosure statement for more details.
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