Source Income to Take on the Road
As you can set your own schedule, teaching English online can offer you great flexibility and freedom. It really is the ideal remote job for travellers and backpackers. Once you have decent Wi-Fi and a quiet corner, you can teach from anywhere in the world. This will allow you to earn money from wherever your adventure may take you.
Teaching English online for approximately 15-20 hours per week can give you the financial freedom to travel full-time, without having to worry about your bank balance running low. It is up to you how little or often you teach. You can also choose to teach for less hours if you just want to earn some pocket money. Either way, any bit of extra income while you travel is a bonus.
TOP TIP: Book a private hostel room or Airbnb, or arrange a homestay for those days you are teaching online. This will provide you with a private and quiet space to teach your lessons. I also recommend emailing your accommodation provider in advance to ask them about the Wi-Fi speed. Just explain that you require decent internet as you will be working online during your stay. You generally need at least 10 Mbps upload and download speed.
Online English Teaching Can Open New Avenues
Teaching English online can open many doors for you in the future. If you are a keen traveller and love to experience new cultures then you may have considered or may be interested in the idea of teaching English abroad.
Teaching English online can provide you with key experience that could one day lead you to a position teaching abroad. Some employers in Asia, South America, or Europe may prefer candidates with one or two years teaching experience but if you have been already teaching online you may tick that box.
The skills that you can develop when teaching online are transferable to many other industries, such as communication skills, discipline, planning, being innovative, etc. These are all traits and skills many employers seek. So while you are travelling the world and earning an income you are also upskilling and improving yourself.
My Personal Experience Working as an Online Teacher
I have been working as an online English teacher for six months now and I am very happy with how it is going. I began establishing myself as an online teacher four months into a six-month-long backpacking trip. Working from a hotel or Airbnb took some getting used to at the beginning but it didn’t take long for me to get into the rhythm of things.
Now, due to the global pandemic I am based in Chiang Mai, Thailand and teaching online full-time. I am earning a solid monthly income from the comfort of my apartment and I am no longer location dependent. Once this global pandemic is over I will have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world as long as I have internet access and my laptop.
I am currently teaching online with two companies, PalFish and Wanderlustorg.com. If I had to recommend just one of these companies I would have to say Wanderlustorg due to the fact that the lessons are consistent. Students book my lessons for the same time each week, 20 sessions at a time. This makes it easier to budget my monthly income. PalFish is also a great platform. When I am available, I open my schedule.
Making Cultural Connections
Since becoming an online English teacher I have learned so much about other countries and cultures. Most of my students are from China and some are from Thailand. I love hearing all about their lives and traditions. It is so interesting. I have built great relationships with all my students and I really enjoy teaching each and every class. I have even been teaching one particular student for a few months now and I have developed a great friendship with them. I hope one day we can meet up, if our paths ever cross, for a face-to-face coffee and a chat.
Plan Ahead
Teaching online while you travel does require some forward planning and organizing. I have to ensure I schedule my travel days and activities around my lessons. I always try to teach early in the morning so I can then enjoy the rest of the day. This forward planning is a small price to pay, but without teaching online I could not afford to fund my travel adventures.
Now’s the time, give it a try
Like most travellers, travel bans have affected my plans for 2020. However, I am using this time to my advantage. With schools closed, the demand for online teachers has grown. I am spending my social distancing time teaching online and saving up a nice sum of money for when I can finally get out and explore the world again.
If you are considering teaching online while you travel then I hope this blog has inspired you to take that leap and get started. With so many companies to choose from you have a lot of options.
Why not start off by filling out this short questionnaire to discover the companies that best match your qualifications. Take some time to think through your options and start completing your application form.
If you have any questions about teaching English online while travelling or want to share your personal experience, then please let me know in the comments below!
Happy teaching and traveling!