We’re living in a digital age

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 20 years, you’ll have witnessed firsthand how technology is taking over our lives.

The efficiency and speed of communication over the globe is increasing at an exponential rate – some may even say too fast with the implementation of 5G (but that’s another story…) Nevertheless, the need for face-to-face contact is becoming far less vital to our everyday lives, from socialising to even filling our bellies. Just think about it: we live in a time when we can tap a few buttons on our iPhone and make food arrive at our door an hour later. Pretty crazy, eh?

2020 brought this fact home with hammering realness. The global Covid-19 pandemic saw people forced to work from home, and not only did they survive – some thrived. Seven weeks after the UK went into it’s first lockdown, Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey told his employees they would be able to work from home forever after reporting “no significant change in productivity” from his teams. And while the social media network trailblazes, we bet they won’t be the last company to allow their employees more flexibility as traditions of physically going into the office are looking ever more outdated.

Not only is WFH now a realistic option for many – it could be the way of the future.

So why teach English online?

We’ve explained why having a digital role is a smart move in this day and age, now let’s jump into why it should be an English teaching one. Here are just a few ways why ESL teaching is the best:

The industry offers such good pay and flexible hours. Schools will pay anywhere between £12 to £25 per hour, plus bonuses. The teaching times are from 11:00 – 15:00 GMT (for those based in the UK) and most schools let you pick and choose your hours.

It’s a progressive industry that is only going to grow. With around 300 million English language students in China, and simply not enough ESL teachers physically in the country – the demand completely outweighs the supply. Parents and educators are turning to online teaching schools – and they need people like you.

There are an estimated 100,000 English teachers needed in China – a figure which is expected to grow further over the next few years. The graph below illustrates the size of the English language training (ELT) market in China in 2017 and gives a forecast for 2022.

English language training (ELT) market size in China in 2017 and 2022 (Statista)

Native-English teachers are especially in demand from Chinese parents. Even though a skilled Chinese native (or other foreign national) is perfectly capable of teaching English, parents still prefer native-speaker, or someone with native-speaking proficiency, due to the correct pronunciation and the development of cultural understanding for their child. Also, many parents hope their children will study in the UK or US in the future.

However, the most important thing for any parents is your individual skills, how professional you are and your ability to engage with their child.

To conclude, all you need to teach English online and get started in this booming industry is a TEFL and willingness to try something new and develop your skills. Happy teaching!