How to Teach English Online

Many English learners want to improve their skills, but have work schedules that make it hard to take classes locally or have no opportunity to practice with a native speaker. That's where distance learning English courses come in. Learn how to teach English online and you can earn an income from home while helping non-traditional students improve their English.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Reliable computer
• High-speed Internet connection
• Instant messaging program
• Internet telephony service
• Computer microphone and headphone set

1. Decide whether you want to run your own site or join a established site. There are a number of online English language schools and tutoring centers. At some you'll need to apply for a teaching position as you would with any other job. At others you can simply sign up, write your profile and starting looking for students. Another option is to set up your own website to teach English online. Although you may have an easier time getting students while working for an estabilshed online English school, you'll have more control if you run your own website.
2. Do some market research. Competition to teach English online is fairly high, so you'll have to decide what you can offer that students can't get locally. Are you good at vocabulary building or helping students improve their accents? Can you teach English for special purposes such as legal or medical English? Also think about which countries you'll focus and don't forget time differences.
3. Set up an instant messaging and Internet telephony (VoIP) service on your computer. You can do some teaching through e-mail, but you'll still need to communicate live in writing. To do this, you can download an instant messaging program like the ones offered by MSN, Yahoo! and Skype. Of course, you'll also need to talk to your students to work on speaking and listening skills. Whichever messaging program you choose, make sure it can also handle Internet (VoIP) calls.
4. Consider video conferencing with your online English students. This is how to teach English online and still have a rapport that's similar to in-person teaching. All you need a webcam and some video conferencing software. You can use MSN messenger or Windows Messenger for this, too.
5. Find an online payment processor. If you're working for an established online English school, they'll be able to send your payments through one of the larger payment processors or by check. If you run your own site, though, you'll need to find a way to accept credit cards or payments through an online money transfer system like PayPal.
6. Market your distance learning English courses. Once you're all set up, you'll need to find students. Advertise your teaching services in online tutor databases and in your signature at forums for English learners. Online question and answer sites can also be a source of students.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have kids or noisy pets, make sure you can get a quiet room for your lesson times.
• Explore other online teaching tools such as electronic whiteboards, interactive quizzes and Pod casts.
• Some major online payment systems are unavailable in certain countries. To accept payments online, you may have to hunt around for a payment system that works for your students. Also be aware that some students may want to pay by Western Union or bank transfer.

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