Kate Zarb

Kate (GradCertEd TESOL) studied a TESOL certificate in 2010 and has been teaching English ever since. Tutoring ‘freelance’ for many years before starting an independent teaching business, she began Teach English Online to support Australians and New Zealanders to do the same. Just starting out, want to apply to one of the 300+ global companies or build your own small independent teaching business? She can help.

50 life-saving TESOL lesson plan resources

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What if you could halve the time that you spend on planning lessons!? Here are 50+ online teaching resources (lesson plans, curricula and textbooks) for freelance online English teachers and those needing pre-made materials.

lesson plan

I’ve put together the biggest list of lesson plan resources for online English teachers, with access to an estimated 10,000+ lesson plans! I’ll discuss the different types of resources on the list and which ones might be best for you, no matter your planning style. 

My lesson planning experiences

When I first started teaching English overseas (more than a decade ago!), I didn’t have much experience beyond what I’d learned during my TESOL certification. Being so inexperienced, for the first year I barely deviated from the Cambridge ‘Interchange’ textbooks that my company provided me. While I always tried to make things fun and engaging with additional warm-ups and games, the classroom content in my lesson plan came directly from the page.

Five years later, working as a private tutor, I had swung heavily in the other direction. I was writing a lesson plan for every class and creating all my own curriculum. Now, while my teaching confidence and quality had improved exponentially, I was also spending hours a week on preparation time. When I realised that there were many quality lesson planning resources out there that would make my classes quicker and easier to plan, it was a life saver! I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of free and paid resources for you here.

Kate Zarb
Kate Zarb, BA (Education), Grad Cert Education (TESOL)

What lesson plan resources do I need?

Wherever you are on your online English teaching journey, you likely lie somewhere in between my two stages above. I’ll refer to these stages generally as ‘from scratch’, ‘inspiring’ and ‘pre-made/done for you’.

Lesson plans 'from scratch'

Freelance online English teachers and private tutors might need to write their own plans “from scratch”. Occasionally, companies ask you to provide your own lesson plans, but this is less common. 

If you have the confidence and you want to create your own, see my post with 10 Free online English lesson plans and ideas that includes links to lesson planning templates and videos on the basics of how to do this. 

'Inspiring' lesson plans

If you are interested in having the ‘inspiration’ provided for you (in terms of theme etc.) and using this as a shortcut to creating your own lesson plan, you are most likely to have luck with the free lesson plans on the list. I’ve enjoyed using British Council and BusyTeacher resources in the past ‘in a pinch’ but they didn’t work for me long-term. Some are able to be taught ‘as is’, but more often than not I find that free resources require adjustment both to the level and age of my students and the larger learning goals.

While there are some great free lesson plans out there, they tend to be part of a short series or based on some of the most common English challenges. They usually do not have worksheets or activities aligned with the curriculum and may or not be based on common language levels like CEFR or age-appropriate. You may need additional sources for this. 

'Done for you' lesson plans/curriculum

If you’re looking to save the most time, you might need to pay for ‘pre-made’ lesson plans or curriculum. I was reluctant to pay for resources for many years but they can save you many, many hours of time and energy. Your time is valuable!

They tend to work best for General English classes or teachers with students that are approximately the same age and level, although some resources on the list apply to multiple demographics. The main speciality areas that you’ll find resources for older learners are test preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC etc) and Business English. For children, phonics and reading are common areas of focus. 

Have a good look at their website and exactly what you’ll receive for your money. If they have a free plan or trial, sign up and see if the materials work for you. Email the publisher or site and ask any questions. 

Alongside being a huge time saver, you can map your classes onto a pre-made curriculum. This means that you can be assured that your students are working towards clear language goals. Built-in assessment, activities and homework will save you even more time. 

You may prefer to purchase a curriculum/lesson plan series that is designed specifically for online teachers or to purchase a textbook from one of the major ELT publishers and adapt it to your needs.

Your lesson planning is a highly individual choice

It took me many years of trying a number of different lesson plan resources before finding something that worked. Using pre-made lesson plans can be a great place to start for new teachers or those short on time. You may use lesson plans or textbooks as inspiration or decide to tailor a curriculum for a specific learning outcome. 

There are 100s of options and the best lesson plan resources for you will be highly individual – based on the ages, levels, demographics and needs of your students. Enter your email for the FREE list of 50+ lesson plans, curricula, textbooks, graded readers and reference books (to help you save precious time, energy and importantly, your sanity).

Good luck and happy teaching!

How to teach English online to Chinese students

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With ≈400 million Chinese ESL learners, there is large demand to teach English online to Chinese students. Here is what you need to consider to be successful, including the 2021 law that could land you in hot water. What was the 720/double reduction policy and can you still be successful teaching English online despite it?

teach english online to chinese students
In my experience, Chinese students are generally respectful and dedicated. Photo by 绵 绵

Why teach English online to Chinese students?

With a population of 1.4 billion (and growing), China has been home to the largest number of ESL (English as a Second Language) students for the last two decades. Chinese students made up the largest section of the International Student cohort in Australia in 2019, with over 250,000 enrolments. Demand for online English lessons grew exponentially at the start of the pandemic, as Chinese students faced school closures and travel restrictions.

From my experience, Chinese students are highly dedicated and diligent, with a respectful attitude towards teachers. Parents are willing to spend large amounts of money to help their children succeed in a very competitive domestic education system and place great value on international education, especially that provided by “Western” and “native English speakers”. 

Adult professionals from China often reap large professional (and therefore financial) benefits from becoming proficient in English and pay well for quality tuition. “So how do I sign up!?”, you might be asking…

An important consideration beforehand...

A few years ago, the Chinese online ESL market was booming. Between 2013 -2017, it grew from 7.1 to 50.7 billion dollars annually. Hundreds of Chinese ed-tech companies jumped on board, in turn hiring thousands of online English teachers to supply the growing demand. At their peak, VIPKid hire more than 70,000 teachers. 

That was, until mid 2021. In a complex set of legislation referred to as the “double reduction/720 policy” [Chinese], the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) banned the hiring of foreign teachers located outside China to teach English online to Chinese youth under the age of 18 (among many other reforms). I won’t go into the details of this legislation here (read more here), but the main message is this: As of 2021, it is illegal for a Chinese company to hire non-Chinese teachers to teach English online to children in China.

Almost all of the companies in the Chinese Youth ESL Market closed or moved to markets in other countries during the second half of 2021. You can still theoretically teach freelance or on a marketplace to Chinese children but it’s worth remembering that if you choose to teach English to children in China online you (and your students) are operating in a legal grey area.

Shanghai, China. Photo by Nuno Alberto.

How to teach English online to China

The main alternative to teaching English to Chinese children is to teach adults instead. Research indicated that adult online ESL makes up 68% of the total market, potentially worth $1.21 billion or more. There are few companies in China that offer ‘jobs’ teaching classes to adults online to those located overseas on our complete job list. Check it out. 

You may want to consider either applying for roles with companies in neighbouring countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong and to a lessor extent South Korea and Japan. There are, anecdotally, many Chinese students taking classes with these operators. 

You can also consider the profile/marketplace platforms in the region. This is a website where you advertise your teaching profile and students choose to take lessons with you. If you speak Mandarin, Cantonese or have some experience with Chinese culture and language, this will assist you to attract students very quickly on these platforms. If you have an understanding of (or are willing to do some research into) the major Chinese exams (like the gaokao (高考) and/or overseas university entrance exams like SAT, TOEFL and IELTS, this can also be a major drawcard.

You can offer freelance teaching to students located in China but it is worth considering the Great Firewall of China, which blocks access to many sites to Chinese citizens, including “Western” social media such as Facebook.

The final option is to market your teaching services to Chinese students located in Australia. There are many International students studying in Australian universities who are looking for ESL tuition as well as students in Primary and Secondary who require additional assistance. Parents located in Australia will pay much higher rates for tuition, with a constant demand. Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) speaking tutors in Australia are paid a premium ($100 AUD/hr or more), but tutoring roles are available for “native” English speakers as well.

Teaching English online in China

If you are a little more adventurous, you could always consider moving to China itself and teaching English online from inside the country. This circumvents many of the restrictions of the 720/double reduction policy. This could also be done in combination with in-person teaching (being sure to follow any work visa/immigration policies carefully, of course).

Teach English online to Chinese students FAQ

How much can you make teaching English to Chinese students online?

While highly variable, the average hourly rate offered by Chinese online ESL companies is ≈$25 AUD/hr, profile/marketplace platforms (≈$40 AUD/hr) or freelance (Up to $100 AUD/hr). Tutoring Chinese students in Australia will likely net you ≈$40 – $100 AUD/hr. This depends on multiple factors, such as your TESOL qualifications, experience and sales and marketing skills. Qualified Primary and Secondary teachers usually earn higher rates.

Accredited TEFL Courses

Do you need to know Chinese to teach English online?

No, you do not need to know Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) to teach English online to Chinese students, but even basic Chinese language skills will dramatically increase your ability to attract students and charge a higher rate. 

If you want to attract Chinese students (especially beginners), having your profile professionally translated from English will help a lot, as well as including Chinese subtitles on your introduction video. Just make sure you state that you don’t actually speak Chinese or you will start receiving messages from students that you can’t understand!

Where can I find Chinese students who want to learn English?

The Chinese Firewall makes contacting students challenging, so consider English teaching marketplace platforms or Chinese apps like WeChat. LinkedIn is accessible on the Chinese mainland or you can build your own website. Have a look at our job list for tutoring companies that cater to Chinese students located in Australia.

Summary

There are millions of Chinese online ESL students, but as you’ve read, teachers encounter challenges to entering the market. If you navigate the policies limiting the teaching of children, CCP Firewall and understand the benefits of basic Chinese language skills and/or translation – you could be very successful teaching English online to Chinese students. It’s not the most straightforward path to teaching online but the rewards can be great. If you’re looking for well-paying and dedicated students, this option might be perfect.

My biggest independent freelance English teacher mistake?

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Are you looking to attract and retain a private student base? Here’s the biggest mistake I made after “accidentally” becoming an independent freelance English teacher. I hope it saves you from making it too.

Photo by Liza Summer from Pexels

First off, how do I 'accidentally' become independent?

Anyone that has taught English in a foreign country has found of their students (or their aunt, their cousin, their best friend etc.) approaching you for “private” tuition. While teaching English overseas, I was approached by parents who were considering sending their teenagers to study at university in Australia and wanted help in achieving the requisite IELTS score.

Australasian teachers – being fairly in the capital at the time – were hard for these parents to find. Before I knew it, I had a side-hustle in conjunction with my main job teaching ‘business English’ at corporations during the day.

Having a $3000 TESOL certificate and a few years of experience under my belt did nothing to assuage the feeling of insecurity that arose from not having a university degree or “real” education qualification (plus not knowing the first thing about the IELTS test). When these parents asked me what I charged, I did some vague mental calculations and came to a figure something like this:

The hourly rate I earned from the company I worked for + bus fare = hourly rate.

So, when the executives went home for the evening, I would squeeze myself into hot, overcrowded public transport and go to their large suburban homes and help their children too. This went on for a few years, reading every possible book that I could on the test, amassing a large folder full of lessons and a number of successful students ready to embark on their international dreams. 

On returning to Australia to pursue an Education degree, I continued to be contacted by people in this extended network whose children were now in Australia, tutoring between afternoon lectures and returning home in the evening. My hourly rate remained similar (now about $30AUD/hr) but with an increased awareness of the thousands of dollars of mounting student debt, I did some additional mental calculations and came to this figure: 

The hourly rate I earned from the company I worked for in Australia + 10% + petrol costs = hourly rate. This was about $40AUD/hr.

This continued on for the duration of my university degree and beyond, until I realised my mistake.

What was my biggest mistake?

I wasn’t charging enough!

I undercharged for years and had no idea.

Without going into my entire life story, I grew up very poor. Neither of my parents graduated from high school (both actually ‘dropping out’ before Year 10), I was raised by a single mother and I was the first in my immediate family to travel overseas.

At every stage of my journey, I was both constantly grateful for the opportunity and carried around a huge sense of inferiority. No-one I knew ran a business or taught me what a good rate for a professional was. So, I just made it up, feeling lucky that they were even paying me. I had no idea that the skills that I possessed were so valuable. 

It was only in 2020, when I was forced to move online that I saw people with half my qualifications and experience charging double what I was! The light bulb finally went off.

Once I became aware of how much I was undercharging, I changed the concept of myself from a private tutor who did this ‘on the side’ to an independent English teacher who ran a business. I began to see that my decade of experience was valuable. Yes, now having a degree increase my ‘market value’ but without this internal change in perspective, I may have simply added another 10% and gone on my way in the same way for years. I slowly increased my rates to $50AUD/hr, to $100AUD and now $150AUD/hr.

So, let’s do another one of those mental calculations, shall we?

Your current hourly rate should be what you are worth as an independent teacher based on the value that you give to your students.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

....but what am I worth?

 “How will learning with you provide tangible value to your student and by how much?”

The more value you add, the more that you can charge.

Until you can measure the value that you offer your students, your hourly rates might simply be an arbitrary number in your head that is based on nothing other than what you think or have been told that you deserve. It’s likely much, much more.

You have your own story of how you came to your current hourly rate mental calculation and it is probably based on an incomplete understanding of your true value. It took me ten years to understand my value. Save yourself a decade and learn from my mistakes. 

Would you like me to support you to…

  • Discover the unique value that you offer?
  • Find those high-paying students most likely to value your services and keep them studying with you as long as possible?
  • Overcome your doubts and reluctance to increase your prices or change your student or tuition type?
  • Say “No” to the wrong students who don’t value you?

Express your interest in a Coaching Power Hour and let’s go!

Pros and cons of Superprof, Preply and Outschool Australia?

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Do you want to find students for your online English teaching lessons without the hassle of running your own business and the accompanying administration? Find students without a website or large social media audience? A platform might be for you.

online teaching platforms

What is an online teaching platform?

Let’s begin with what a teaching platform is. A platform (also known as a marketplace or post-a-profile site) is a way to connect students and teachers with each other via the internet. It is often free for both parties to join and use the site, although there is sometimes a joining or subscription fee. Teachers usually pay a portion of their earnings from lessons to the platform for the connection with students, with fees varying widely.

The online English teaching platform is a relatively recent phenomenon. When I began teaching in 2010, teaching online was still relatively uncommon. Teachers used craigslist-esque sites to advertise their services locally but the connection between the two concepts had not been made on a large scale. Fast forward to 2022, and there are seemingly new platforms appearing every day. Yet, are these platforms worth your time?

I’ve researched over 20 online English teaching platforms for you, including three of the largest (Preply, Superprof and Outschool), to see what the major pros and cons are. Then, practical tips to how you can overcome these cons and start finding private students.

Pros of platforms like Preply, Superprof and Outschool

Save time finding students and the associated administration

The companies that create these platforms build the website including the search infrastructure, advertise to attract students (Preply platform boasts over 10 million lessons booked), and process payments. This saves you a lot of effort in the running of your own business to advertise to, attract and retain students; manage a referral system; send invoices and chase up payments; keep records of attendance and assessment; etc.

Each platform will be different, offering anything from a simple connection to a comprehensive set of administrative supports. Yet, the first pro of platforms is the removal of some or all of these additional non-teaching tasks.

No need for a website

A website can be a more complex (and costly) operation than many teachers consider. While it is relatively easy to set up a basic website, it is more tricky to build one that processes payments from multiple currencies and acts as a global marketing funnel. 

Using a platform, you do not have to learn the tech skills to build, maintain and advertise a website, nor the costs of paying someone else to do so. The same goes for social media management and promotion.

Again, while platforms may only offer some of these features, they are often designed for profitability and with an emphasis on ease of use and payment. You receive the fruits of a large sales and marketing staff whose sole job is to bring students to the platform and IT/design staff with the skills to make it user-friendly and appealing. 

If you are considering a website, BabelTEQ is run by Paul Sallaway, an former Australian ESL teacher.

Set your own hourly rate

On a platform, you are able to see what other teachers are charging and to set an hourly rate accordingly, as opposed to an often arbitrary number set by those who go out independently. You receive immediate feedback on your pricing and can adjust accordingly. You can choose your own rates, with highly qualified and experienced teachers able to demand higher compensation. 

Help establish a teaching niche

You can see what other teachers are offering and respond in real-time to growth in student demand. On platforms that allow students to post requests (like Outschool), you can respond to students looking for your specific skills. You can see and respond to gaps in the market and test the demand for your teaching niche without much risk.

Learn self promotion, marketing and sales

Having a ready audience means that learning how to promote, market and sell your services on platforms is much easier than alone. You are able to observe and replicate what other successful teachers are doing and many platforms come with some training on these skills. They often provide prompts on what you should put in your profile to attract students and examples to follow. 

A quick search on YouTube may also bring up videos of teachers who can provide tips and tricks to succeed within that platform’s landscape. Each platform has quirks and best practice, so with so many other teachers, gain as much information as possible.

Cons of platforms like Preply, Superprof and Outschool

Fees and charges

The major con of teaching platforms is that you will have to pay fees. This can be the entire first class to a percentage of each class booked and paid for and occasionally a subscription model. The average is ≈20-30% of your income. 

You must compete with many other teachers

While there are many benefits to having other teachers to learn from and compare strategies, there is also competition. With limited methods of filtering teachers, you can end up getting lost in the shuffle of those with the most reviews or lowest prices. 

You need to deal with other teachers undercutting your prices

A common complaint that I hear is a perceived “race to the bottom”, where teachers (often from lower income countries) undercut each other until the hourly rate being charged is no longer tenable. Where there is little filtering available to students except by price, teachers often think that lowering their prices is the only way to attract students, leading to the “race downwards” concept. 

You still need to do all the lesson planning and preparation

Unlike a salaried ‘job’, you may still need to do all of the teaching administration and assessment. This can be time consuming. 

You still need to self promote, market and sell

Even though there are students who are on the teaching platform, you need to find a way to stand out and to attract students to study with you. These sales, marketing and sales skills are foreign to many teachers and can pose a steep learning curve. 

Overcome cons to succeed with platforms

General advice

  • Compare platforms and be 100% clear on the fees and charges involved. My complete job list has transparent information on the 3 platforms mentioned here and 10 other popular lesser-known platforms from around the world, saving up to 25% in fees!
  • Don’t make your profile all about you! Instead, describe exactly how you help students and what you can help them achieve. Many teachers simply list their qualifications and experience like it’s a resume. Boring!
  • Students have goals and want English to help them reach them. If you can help them study at that prestigious university, or a highly paid job, they’ll pay more. If you’re teaching kids, talk to the parents about their goals for their children’s future.
  • Have a professional (or professional looking) profile photo and make a short video, if possible. Check out my post “How to make the ultimate online English teaching video” for more details on how to make it great.
  • Think about a teaching niche that you can offer that will make you stand out among other teachers. When there are 100s of profiles with teachers who offer General English, why would a student pick you? If you’d like tailored advice about what niche to select, book in a 1:1 session. Having a niche offer also allows you to charge a higher rate.
  • Consider how you can use filters to stand out. If students can filter by price, why try and appear on the lowest price filter? Why not the highest priced? In my research, the teachers that charged the highest amount on a popular platform earned more than the lowest – and in fewer lessons!
A major platform's teachers listed as 'Australian' with their prices in AUD. Image (c) Kate Zarb
  • Can students filter by subject, location, reviews, popularity etc? How can you use these filters to your advantage?
  • Don’t hesitate to use pre-made lesson materials that you can adjust and customise, especially for beginners. Save yourself hours of lesson planning and preparation with over 50 lesson planning resources with 10k+ lesson plans. See the list here.
  • Search for and join online groups with teachers from your chosen platform. While these groups can be terribly negative at times, they are also a good place to share tips and workshop issues.
  • Spend a few hours reading all that you can on how to market and promote your services. In addition to the info in this post, there are lots of blogs with tips and tricks for specific platforms that can be really helpful, as well as the following links:

Conclusion

For those who want the freedom of teaching private students in a freelance capacity without the hassle of starting their own business, a teaching platform might be right for you. There are significant cons worth considering, but many of these can be minimised by taking a few hours to plan and research the best platform for you and strategies for using it to your advantage. 

Considering your own freelance teaching business? Express interest in a coaching session. 

Digital security for online ESL teachers

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Online English teaching can leave you vulnerable to a range of different dangers than the average user. We’ll cover some easy tips that you can use to keep yourself safe; like using a VPN, avoiding remote access software and maximising your device protection.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Why is digital security for online English teachers important?

The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) online reporting tool (ReportCyber), which “assists members of the community to report different types of cybercrime” receives a report every 10 minutes. It is incredibly common and can lead you to be at risk of identity theft or fraud. Online English teaching can incur some additional risks and working for a company based overseas means that you are potentially at risk from data breaches and hackers outside of Australian jurisdiction, so it’s worth spending a bit of time securing your system as best you can.

Note: We are NOT cyber security specialists, just online English teachers. These tips are based on our own personal experiences and research. If you want more information, consult a professional or visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) website.

TOP TIPS

Do not include personal information on your resume

I recently found a copy of a resume that I had sent to an international company almost two years ago online. Luckily it did not contain anything too personal. It’s worth remembering though that once it’s on the internet, it’s hard to remove. My general advice is DO NOT INCLUDE ON YOUR RESUME: Home address; Passport/Driver’s License/Birth Certificate/Social Security Number; or Phone number.

Use a VPN.

We personally always use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when connected to the internet but feel that is particularly important to do so when teaching online. A VPN is a secure tunnel between two or more devices (such as between your computer, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and your teaching platform) and is used to “protect private web traffic from snooping, interference, and censorship” by encrypting your data and making it more difficult to intercept or steal at it travels through this tunnel. This is even more important when using public wi-fi, as this is more vulnerable than your ‘private’ home connection.

Use Antivirus software.

You’re likely already using some form of antivirus program but if not, it will help protect you from malware, ransomware, spyware and adware. We use Avast, which have both excellent free and paid versions.

Avoid remote access software.

Many online English teaching companies ask you to download remote access software such as TeamViewer so that they can access your computer and troubleshoot any IT problems that you might be having. While this might be integral in certain situations, there are obvious risks in letting a staff member in a foreign IT department access your personal device via this type of software, so we recommend that you proceed with caution before downloading this software and particularly before opening it and sharing your connection. Other common remote access software includes: Remote PC, Zoho Assist, Splashtop, LogMeIn, ConnectWise Control and Remote Desktop Manager (among others).

Maximise your device protection.

There are many small things that you can do to increase your device security, depending on whether you are using a computer, laptop or mobile device (phone/tablet) to teach classes, including (but not limited to!):

  • Cover your webcam when not in use. You can do a ‘Zuckerberg’ and use a piece of tape or post it note but you will end up with sticky residue on your cam after a while. You can buy an inexpensive webcam cover slide for only a few dollars.
  • Choose a strong password, change it regularly and use a different password for your online teaching platform than you do for other sites as online teaching platfoms from overseas companies are not always well secured.
  • If you teach over Zoom, set a password for students to enter and/or use a waiting room to avoid Zoombombing.
  • Many Chinese companies use apps such as WeChat and DingTalk to communicate between staff and teachers but there are security concerns so be cautious and avoid sharing identity documents through these channels.

Be careful.

In summary – if you follow the above tips, you are less likely to encounter some the dangerous elements that teaching online can expose you to – but caution and carefulness are always the best approach to security. If your company asks you to download software, do a quick google search first and look for online reviews. China, in particular, has their own version of many common programs used in other countries so it helps to do your homework before downloading and ask your company if an alternative is available. In the world of digital security, a little bit of prevention is better than a possible lifetime of cure.

10 FREE online TESOL lesson plan template ideas Australia

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New to teaching? Lesson planning can be a bit overwhelming to begin with. To make life easier, I have compiled a list of 10+ free lesson plan templates for you to use in the design of your online English lessons, with Australasian-specific planning resources.

lesson plans

Why lesson plan templates with an Australian focus?

One of the biggest challenges for new teachers is planning lessons. Some even wonder why you should even create a lesson plan for conversational and informal classes. A lesson plan doesn’t have to be complicated or have each minute of the class written down. 

What it does is provide you with a framework to follow and a goal for the time that you have with the student/s. It also helps tie your classes into bigger goals that will be achieved over a longer period of time, not just what can be accomplished in a single lesson. 

Do you want to introduce yourself and your classes with some Australian-themed content? Perhaps you just want things using UK English spelling and grammar? We’ve got you covered and you should find more than enough resources to get you going and planning great lessons – so “get crackin’ mate”.

Blank online English teacher (TESOL) lesson plan templates for free.

  1. Teacher Planet offers a free “Basic ESL Lesson Plan Template” in a easily customised Google Doc here. “
  2. Teachers Pay Teachers have hundreds of thousands of teacher-created materials, including free “ESL Lesson Plan Templates” here. Don’t be afraid to pay for some materials as well, it helps support other teachers.
  3. FluentU have an interesting blog post about “How to Make the Best ESL Lesson Plans with a presentation, practice and production (PPP) Template”, with downloadable .pdf.
  4. Canva offer some really attractive lesson plan templates, for the visual and aesthetically-minded.
  5. Venngage have some amazing lesson plans (with examples and tips for teaching).

Australian-specific lesson planning resources:

There are some great Australian resources as well. Not just lesson plan templates, all of these sites also have great resources for English teachers.

  1. TESOL Australia provide some lesson plans.
  2. Aussie Educator have great general resources, including video and associations.
  3. Australasian Training Academy have free lesson plans including subjects such as “Food” and “Phrasal verbs”.
  4. Australian Curriculum Lessons offer lesson plans such as “Around Australia”.
  5. ATESOL ACT offer a list of Australian only resources such as books and videos.

Videos on lesson planning basics:

Designing your own lesson plan "top tips":

  1. Imagine the end point and break down the time between now and then. How will your students achieve their goals?
  2. You don’t need to make your lesson plan a novel. A basic structure is all that is needed.
  3. Four or five dot points can form a solid basis for a lesson plan. Consider the language goal/s and the methodology.
  4. Draw, journal or use many different colours to create a ‘mind map’ for inspiration, then search the idea and borrow heavily from other prepared lessons (by others).
  5. Brainstorm topics based on free or low cost lesson plans from experienced teachers. Once you know the basics, from learning from others, you’ll be ready to design your own.

Why not ask our teaching Facebook community for lesson plan templates and ideas?

Finally, don’t worry if your lesson plans are simple in the beginning. The more you teach, the better you’ll get at planning and thinking about how to structure your classes. Use the above resources to give you a boost, then experiment and adjust those plans until you’re happy. If something in your class works well and your students respond positively, then you know you’re “on to a winner’.

Good luck and happy teaching!

How to make an online English teaching introduction video

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A good online English teaching introduction video can be 50% of what gets you hired. Why? With a good script, a few pieces of budget technology and planning; you’ll be best showcasing your skills and personality in a professional and captivating way.

WHAT TO SAY

Write a script (with bullet points).

As a general rule, it’s best to include (some or any of) this information:

  • Name and country of origin or location;
  • Education (brief and relevant is best);
  • Relevant experience;
  • Languages spoken;
  • Teaching strength/s or specialties and how you can help students with these (concrete examples are best);
  • Showcase teaching props or materials;
  • Examples of how you’ve helped past students;
  • Showcase your teaching style – fun, energetic etc.
Short and succinct is best. 

Practice a few times in front of a friend (or the mirror). Remember, it will be watched by non-native speakers so keep the language simple, clear and speak slowly. Try and talk 50% about you and 50% about how you can help your students. Especially for private students, remember the WIIFM principle – students are asking “What’s in it for me?”. 

Extra tips

Treat the camera lens like the eyes of the student. Look at them. It makes a world of difference. If unsure, try and keep your video short and concise. Research the company and include what’s relevant to the learners that target. If for private students, focus on a particular area of teaching or student and try not to be too broad. End your video with a call to action (CTA) asking them to book a class with you or to send you a message.

TECHNOLOGY

Whatever your budget, buy a few items of technology to improve the way that you are seen. Camera, microphone, headset, adapters etc. can make an enormous difference to how the recruiter and student will hear you. Here’s my guide (on a budget)!

Lighting.

A well lit teaching space makes you instantly look more professional. ‘The more lights, the better’ is a good general rule but mindful that lights pointed directly at your face can wash you out. Lighting at 10 and 2pm (clockwise) is recommended by experts (read more here) so two covered lamps on the table or desk in front of you can work as well as a ring light, which is what I use and recommend.

Avoid overhead or ceiling lights. Natural/window light is best when behind your camera and shining on your face.

Editing.

If you are not technologically/design/video ‘minded’, ask a friend. Free programs like iMovie (iOs) or any free (safe) Windows Movie Maker-esque programs will do. No need for complicated editing. You can hire a freelancer on Freelancer or Airtasker to help for a fee.

Add subtitles, if you can.

Free programs exist to add subtitles to your video. This is worth the extra step. Remember, your audience is not fluent in English and this particularly appeals to parents, young learners and beginners. Search for “add subtitles + program” or hire a freelancer to add.

Extra tips

Shoot your video horizontally (phone turned sideways). Record in the quietest place you can – preferably inside. If it’s really noisy you can record your video on Zoom with background noise suppression turned on. Use a headset or microphone if you can for the best sound. If not specified, the most common video formats are .mp4, .mov or mpeg-4.

Summary

Your teaching introduction video is your opportunity to showcase your teaching talent. Don’t worry about how you will be perceived. You cannot know that, no matter what that anxious voice says is true. Relax, take a deep breath and speak naturally, following a brief outline. Edit until you have a concise video that displays your strengths. Take note of any specifications from your hiring company.

If you follow the steps from our article today, you will be able to make the ultimate online English teaching introduction video. Creativity and personality make up for technical know-how much of the time, so relax and show them why you’re great.

3 easy ways to pronounce difficult ESL names

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While many ESL students use an “English/Western” name, you may find yourself with a group of learners with names that are not familiar to you and difficult to say. Here are three easy ways for online English teachers to pronounce pronounce difficult ESL names so that you’ll be saying “秀英”, “براهيم‎” and “สมชาย” correctly in no time.  

Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna from Pexels.

How to pronounce difficult ESL student names

In Australia, I have a really common name (Kate). In fact, it is so common that I remember at one time having knowing five girls at my school with variations of the same name and growing up, no-one ever mispronounced it… until I began teaching English in Latin America. I quickly realised that there was no equivalent sound in Spanish, so anyone reading my name or meeting me for the first time would usually say Katé (car-tay). I would then politely correct them, they would say it accurately and we would move on quickly. Yet enough people either couldn’t (or couldn’t be bothered to) say it right, that after a while I relented and began responding to my ‘new’ name. Even so, it was always a little annoying. In the early stages, I too struggled with pronouncing some of my student’s names but I always made an effort to keep trying until I got it right. This habit followed me into my online teaching career and it’s one of most valuable lessons I’ve learned from living abroad. 

1. Encourage students to introduce themselves and each other.

The aim is to try to hear the student’s name pronounced multiple times, so that you can then pronounce it correctly. 

You can do this in a few ways:

  • The most obvious way is to simply ask the student to introduce themselves. Ask them to repeat their name and clarify that you are saying it correctly. Don’t be afraid to do this a few times but if you are still having problems, move on and don’t get too focused on names you cannot pronounce and make the student feel awkward.
  • Write down a phonetic version of the student’s name as it sounds to you. I always make a list of the students and then write down how their name sounds to me, e.g. hye jung (I wrote: HEY-JONG). It’s often not perfect but helps move you closer.
  • Ask students to write their name in the chat section (if possible) for future reference or to use online tools (below).
  • “Name + favourite thing” game. Say your name, followed by your favourite colour/food/animal etc. Ask all the students, one by one, to say their own name and their favourite thing (or age, for basic learners). Then, begin to ask students information about the others. Repeat a few times during the introduction stage and adapt to the topic of the class. You can do this again during the first class (or every class as needed) by changing the thing and asking the students again, e.g:

    “Kate, who likes x?”
    “X, who likes Y?”
    “Y, who likes F?”
    and so on….

    The idea is to hear names said by multiple people, multiple times. Some students have strong accents and hearing their name said by another person might help you. Of course, other students might also get the name wrong but more often than not names are common in a particular country and students are familiar with the pronounciation (well, more than you are anyway!).

  • Screen record the screen during introductions (Mac, Windows). You can then go back and review the names after the class.

2. Ask someone to help you.

If you have any kind of regular contact with your company, make a list of names that you might be having difficulty with and ask a staff member to help you pronounce them. My experience has been that people are usually really happy to share their language and culture and it shows that you’re putting in a little extra effort. If you know anyone from that country (or speaks that language fluently), you could reach out to them as well.

3. Use technology.

If you’re still having problems pronouncing student names, you can use tools to help, such as nameshouts.com. a site that have over 360,000 names in Mandarin, Spanish, French, Hindi, Greek, Arabic, Japanese, Russian and more. You can search for up to 50 names a month, spoken by native speakers, for free.

Another free site is pronouncenames.com. While not as comprehensive as Name Shouts, it’s a great option if you’ve already used up your 50 names and are unable or unwilling to pay for a subscription. If all else fails, you can try Google Translate but as anyone who has used that service before, results vary.

Conclusion

Of course, there are many factors that make it a little more difficult to learn and remember student names online (only seeing students for a limited period, age etc.) but when possible, it is worth the time and effort. Not only does it show respect and care but it also helps keep them engaged with the lesson. A 2017 study on the importance of students perceiving that an instructor knows their name can be best summarised by the following quote: “I know there are close to 200 kids in this class and I’m not in any way a top student or someone special, but I sure felt like I was when the instructor knew my name.”

Although it takes a little extra time and can be uncomfortable, unless you’ve been repeatedly called by name that isn’t your own, you may not understand how much it can mean for someone to make the effort to say your name correctly. Ask your students what they want to be called, try a combination of the above tips and ultimately, just give it your best try. Even if you don’t get it exactly right, your students will respond to the effort.

International payments for online English teachers in Australasia

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If you are getting paid by foreign online English teaching companies or students overseas, the process can leave you receiving much less than you anticipated. We’ll compare traditional banks and online money transfer services to save some serious $$$!

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels.

Disclaimer: We are teachers, not financial experts, so please take all of our information as suggestions not financial advice! If you are unsure, please speak with a professional. We receive a small commission for sending you (at no cost to you) but we offer all of your available options in an unbiased fashion. We are based in Australia so our information is “Aussie-centric” but if you have any New Zealand related info, please comment below or email us and we’ll update our post.

Receiving money from overseas

If you receive your salary from a foreign/overseas company or students to your Australian/New Zealand bank account, it is known my many terms, including:

  • BANK-TO-BANK transfer; SWIFT transfer; Wire transfer; Telegraphic transfer; IBAN money transfer; Inward transfer;
  • Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT);
  • International money transfer;

These are all electronic transactions but differ slightly in how the money goes from A to B.

BANK-TO-BANK TRANSFER

Also known as an “Inward transfer, SWIFT transfer, Wire transfer, Telegraphic transfer, or IBAN money transfer”, this is the most common way to receive money from overseas. Most of the major online English teaching companies use this method. The sender has to ‘initiate’ the transfer of funds from their bank account to yours. This then occurs via a third party system such as the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) International payment network, for a fee (of course).

You’ll need to provide information including your name, bank account and BSB number, residential address, your bank’s name and a SWIFT or a Bank Identifier Code (BIC) to receive money. If you don’t know these, a quick search for “Bank X SWIFT and/or BIC” will usually bring them up but you can request these from your bank if in doubt.

As well as the most common method, it is also usually the most expensive. Banks generally charge a ‘receiver’ fee to accept the money into your account.

How much are "bank-to-bank" transfer receiving fees?

Receiving fees (per transaction) for the major Australian/NZ banks (2021):

Why not just use those banks that charge $0?

If only it was that simple!

As you can see from the table above, two of the “fee-free” banks (Beyond and Heritage Banks) use Western Union Business Services. If you are working for an overseas company, they must be happy to use this for payment and most don’t (or won’t). You can always ask or check your contract to see your options. Suncorp only offers transfers in limited currencies, so check if your company’s bank is available and if so, you might save yourself money here. Citibank charge 2.50% on the Australian dollar conversion of the relevant transaction which might be cheaper but it will depend on the total amount of the payment as to whether this is true. As per usual, what you save in one area, you might pay for another, so read the T&C’s carefully.

Other fees

As well as receiving fees, some banks also ‘skim’ a little more of your money off in the form of a foreign exchange fee. Read the T&C’s of your bank (in the above links) to see if there are any other hidden fees that you are being charged as well.

Transfers may also pass through another intermediary ‘middle-man’ bank between the sender and you and they may also take a fee as well. It’s really hard to find out IF this is going to happen and all the literature on the bank’s websites isn’t totally clear on this either. If you see another charge on your account from a bank that it not yours, it is likely to have come from this third party.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels.

Exchange rates

It’s also important to consider the exchange rate that your bank uses to convert your money from another currency to AUD/NZD. The exchange rate that appears when you search for “CNY to AUD” in a search engine, for example, is called the mid-market rate. This is the average of all the rates. This is not the one the bank uses though. They use their own rate. Consider this when calculating your salary. Unfortunately, banks are far from transparent about this and we could not compile a list of exchange rates (as they change daily) but if you receive a little less than you were expecting, this is likely the cause.

Real-life example

I was paid 135CNY for a class. This converted to $27.48 (AUD) by the mid-market rate but my bank (NAB) paid me $26.94 (AUD) using their “own” rate. They then charged me $4.94 (AUD) in foreign currency transfer fees, leaving me with $22.00 (AUD). I paid $5.48 (AUD) in fees – or 22%!!!

As you can see, bank-to-bank transfers are NOT the best deal around.

Finally, think about sending fees as well.

Some companies will also charge you a monthly fee to cover their costs to send your money, so check your contract.

If you are getting payments directly from students and they insist on bank-to-bank transfer, it is worth looking into the sending fees for your bank as well as the receiving ones, as this adds to what the students pays for your services.

ELECTRONIC FUNDS (EFT) TRANSFER

If you and the sender of your money use the same bank, the transfer with be considered an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), just like a domestic transaction within the country. It’s worth asking the company that you work for what bank they use and opening an account with the same bank to save yourself money. This is going to be the exception (likely with international banks like HSBC or Citibank) rather than the rule but it never hurts to ask. If you are teaching privately, ask your students the same question.

INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER

There has been a big surge in the use of online money transfer services such as PayPal, Payoneer and Transferwise and they are a great way to avoid some of the fees that we encountered from the traditional banks above. If you are working for a company, you’ll need to ask if they send payments via these methods but at this stage, only about 10-15% of companies do.

Wise

Many teachers rave about Wise and for good reason – they will convert your money at the mid-market rate instead of the marked up rate that the bank offers and their fees are very reasonable (A flat fee of 0.58 AUD (approx) + 0.42% of the total amount per transaction). Unfortunately though, at this stage, there are some limitations.

How does it work?

Firstly, you’ll need to open an account. You’ll get an Australian or New Zealand Account (with a BSB for Australians) that functions just like a bank account. You can open a multi-currency account to receive payments from (as the name states) multiple currencies, currently – EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD, RON, HUF & SGD. If you are receiving payments in any of these currencies, you get them straight into your Wise account and then transfer them into your ‘traditional’ bank account if you want. This way you can avoid the receiving fees that we covered above. A physical Mastercard can be purchased for an additional $10 (AUD) and you can withdraw $250 AUD for free each month.

This is from Wise customer support:

“We’re unable to support CNY payments into the multi-currency account due to regulations. Additionally, we’re unable to accept SWIFT payments into the AUD balance for this reason; however… we can support receiving USD via SWIFT.

We don’t charge a fee for you to receive USD into your account via SWIFT but there’s a possibility you may receive less due to SWIFT fees charged by intermediary banks.  You can read more about SWIFT payments here.

To send the money from your USD balance to your Australian bank account, we charge a fixed fee of 0.44 USD (approx. 0.58 AUD) plus 0.42% of the amount converted.

You can use our pricing calculator here to confirm fees for the multi-currency account.”

So, if you work for a major Chinese company or your students are located in other countries/currencies, you can ask them to pay you in one of the eligible currencies. If not, Wise might not work for you at this time.

Up bank and TransferWise

If you also send money overseas on a regular basis, you may also want to consider opening an Up bank account. Up is a “neo-bank” (or a digital bank) backed by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. While you can’t use Wise to receive money (yet), it is integrated into your account for sending payments. Save yourself the sending fee from the major banks. They offer the (joint) lowest receiving fee at $10 (AUD) and you even get $5 (AUD) just for signing up. Read more here.

Payoneer

Payoneer works similarly to Wise, accepting EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, MXN for free. You pay between 0-1% to accept USD but the exact fee is different in each country. They also convert at the mid-market rate. Their fees to withdraw money are a little confusing (see below) but it appears that on top of that mid market rate, you’ll pay up to an additional 2%. Again, like TransferWise, they offer a physical MasterCard but you’ll be converting currency with MasterCards rates plus a conversion fee of up to 3.5%. We recommend emailing their customer service and asking about your specific situation.

Many of the major English teaching companies are now offering this as alternative to a bank-to-bank transfer so it’s worth investigating. It’s a great option if you also work for freelance platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr, which pay via Payoneer. They are also offering $25 to sign-up, so go check them out.

Paypal

The most well-known online international money transfer service, this is the service most commonly used by online English teaching companies other than bank-to-bank. We counted 24 currently supported currencies. You’ll save yourself the receiving fee but you’ll also pay PayPal’s own fees. In our research, we found PayPal’s fees the most confusing of all (see below).

If your company offers you the choice between receiving payment via PayPal or bank account, we recommend “guesstimating” a likely monthly salary, calculating the bank fees then emailing PayPal’s customer service with your particular scenario (currency, amount etc.) and asking them to calculate the fees you’ll likely pay. It might be cheaper, it might not.

I have paid approximately ~5.5% fees on payments via PayPal and WooCommerce on WordPress, after all fees are considered (but this is just a guide and you might pay more or less).

Stripe

Another option if you have your own website is Stripe. You’ll need to set up your classes as a product using a WordPress Plug-in such as WooCommerce. You can then accept payment using a variety of methods (Credit Card, Apple Pay etc.) via Stripe. If you want to accept payment from Chinese students, you can use AliPay.

I’ve found that Stripe fees are about half (~2.7%) of PayPal.

CONCLUSION

Traditional ‘bank-to-bank’ transfers are still the most common way to receive payment. While the receiver fee from your bank is generally the highest of all your options, it is also the most simple to calculate and you don’t have to convert the currency yourself. For this convenience, you will be also be losing a portion of your money during the currency conversion and possibly via any ‘middle-men’ banks that your funds pass through.

Depending on your currency and the willingness of your payer to use a service like Western Union, some banks will not charge the receiver fee but check T&C’s carefully as there are often hidden charges. If you can use the same bank as your payer, there are real savings here. For freelance teachers, also consider Sender fees encountered by your students.

International Funds Transfer companies like TransferWise, Payoneer and PayPal are all excellent alternatives if your company offers them and will GENERALLY be much less than via a traditional bank. BUT… Again, please take a look at the T&C’s and email them if you are unsure or contact a financial professional. Intermediary banks may still charge a fee during the transfer.

If you have your own website, Stripe is an affordable option.

Ask your teaching company or students for their preferences and check your contract. Email the customer service of your chosen International Transfer Fund company and ask to get an idea of the particular fees and charges for your situation. When you start teaching English Online, spend an hour or so looking at your options and you can save yourself a nice chunk of change every pay day.

Any other payment options we have missed or any tips and trick on how to save on fees? Comment below.

Good luck and happy teaching!

What is the essential equipment to teach online?

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Internet, a computer or laptop with a webcam, a headset and good lighting is all the essential equipment to teach online that you’ll need. There are a few more items, though, that can really make you stand out. Let’s find out more.

My first online English teaching setup was pretty basic! (c) Kate Zarb

5 years ago, when I first began teaching online, I bought a cheap pair of ‘call centre’ headphones with a microphone, a clip-on ring light and little else. While the classes were OK, it soon became apparent to me that a few pieces of quality equipment would also increase the quality of the classes. If you want to stand out amongst a sea of grainy-looking classes with bad audio, keep reading.

Kate Zarb
Kate Zarb, BA (Education), Grad Cert Education (TESOL)

Internet

To teach English online, you need the internet. English teaching companies may require that you have a minimum internet connection speed (which can vary greatly). Freelance and marketplace teachers will also benefit from a fast, steady connection. 

A GENERAL guide is 10Mbps Download/10 Mbps Upload or higher. Australia has slow internet overall, so “the faster, the better”… but it’s normal for your upload speed to be slower. If your connection cuts out regularly or is patchy on a Skype/Zoom/Video call with friends and family, it might not quite be enough. You can check your internet speed at speedtest.net

Here is an example of my connection (top) via wifi and Ethernet cable (below).

One of the easiest ways to increase your internet speed is by purchasing an inexpensive ‘Ethernet Network LAN Patch Cable’ (from ≈$5AUD on eBay Australia). By plugging your computer directly into your router/modem via Ethernet cable, you can increase your speed significantly. You may need a USB (or Micro) to Ethernet (RJ45) adapter (≈$20AUD on eBay Australia). 

I have been teaching for almost two years with the above speeds and have not had any issues, except for a few nights with stormy weather, but the faster the better. Even moving closer to your router/modem will help improve your speed. You may have luck with a wi-fi extender that can dramatically increase the wi-fi speeds in hard-to-reach areas of your house (from ≈$50AUD on eBay Australia).

Also, if you use a VPN, you may wish to turn it off before class and back on again after; I’ve found that they slow your connection.

It’s also good to have a back-up connection via wi-fi hotspot (on your phone). I‘ve relied on this a few times and it has been a lifesaver. It looks slightly different on every phone. On Apple phones, it’s ‘Personal Hotspot’ (see image). If you don’t have unlimited data on your plan, it can be expensive, so best for emergencies.

Computer

Like internet speeds, some companies will require that your computer has minimum operating specifications.  A Windows 7 (or above) laptop/desktop or Mac with 4GB+ RAM and Intel 5i+ (AMD10) are generally required, but please check out the technical requirements of each company as they are all different. 

Teachers have reported issues with Chromebooks and Linux systems on some teaching platforms. Some companies run their software on Google Chrome, so you may need to download this browser. Some companies allow you to teach from a tablet (like an iPad) or phone, but the majority require a new-ish laptop or desktop.

If you’re using a laptop, a stand (≈$50AUD on eBay Australia) that elevates your webcam to eye level is really helpful if you can’t adjust your chair, although a stack of books or a shoebox will also do in a pinch. Remember, try and get the webcam to as close to your eye level as possible, as you don’t want your students staring up into your nostrils or feel like you are looking down on them.

Webcam

If you have a less than 5 year old laptop, you should have a integrated webcam that will be sufficient. If you are working on a desktop computer, you may need to purchase one. Aim for 1080p (at 30fps) for best video quality. 

Note: Check if the webcam you want is compatible with your operating system (Windows or iOS) before buying as many released this year are only compatible with the newest version of major operating systems.

After good lighting and a quality microphone, a good webcam will set you apart in the job interview and make your classes much higher high quality, so it’s worth the extra expense if you can afford it.

Our recommendations:
Budget webcam: (≈$70AUD on eBay Australia) Creative brand 1080p webcam.
Mid-range webcam: (≈$120AUD on eBay Australia) Logitech brand 1080p webcam.
Hid-end webcam: (≈$300AUD on eBay Australia) Logitech brand HD Pro webcam.

Photo by tyler hendy from Pexels


Lighting

The fastest way to improve the quality of your appearance online is to set up some basic lighting. In my first budget setup, I used a $6 LED lamp from Kmart (which is sadly no longer available), so a cheap desk lamp or two is a perfect way to start.

Cinematographer Greg Middleton recommends that you bounce the light from a desk lamp off a wall instead of pointing it at yourself directly, if possible. He also says that “cinematographers favour tungsten bulbs or energy-efficient LEDs, which generate steadier light than fluorescents”, so be mindful of the bulb in the lamp too. 

I’ve seen a few that are quite yellow and make people look a bit jaundiced. There is something called the Kelvin Scale which ranks lights from blue to yellow. 

It is a bit complicated, but basically, you want to aim for light in the middle of the spectrum – that is – closest to ‘Cool White’. Keep an eye out for white bulbs if you are using a lamp, but my experience has been that most LED lights are near to this goal white area. 

This article suggests that “The optimum points when adding lights around your face are at 10 and 2 pm if you’re sitting at, and facing, high noon. You’ll also want a slight light behind you – again from an angle”.

Ring lights used to be only in the purview of Instagram models and YouTubers, but they are also indispensable for those educating online. You especially want the students to see your face (and mouth) to help them imitate your movements and to help elicit communication. Ring lights are great at focusing light right onto your face, but you may want to turn on your overhead bulb, a desk lamp and maybe even a light or two behind you. Turn on your webcam and play around with different arrangements until you find the best setup for your situation.

Our recommendations:

Budget Ring Light: (≈$10AUD on eBay Australia). The ‘clip on’ selfie ring light can clip on the top of your laptop over your webcam and usually comes with three settings – low, medium and high. It’s a great option if you are on a budget and/or just getting started. You can use it to make yourself look good in selfies too, which is a bonus. 

The main ‘con’ is that looking into it for long periods of time is not great, so I actually recommend a larger ring light that sits behind your laptop or on your desk that can you look through the middle of. Your eyes will thank you.

Mid-tier Ring Light: (≈$40AUD on eBay Australia). This well-reviewed ring light is 10″ and sits on your desk (for the smaller sizes) and the floor (for the larger lights). It is adjustable, with many different light/brightness settings. 

High-End Ring Light: (≈$65AUD on eBay Australia). The next step up is to invest in professional ‘soft box’ 

Headset

Although you might get away without having a headset, we don’t recommend that you skip this purchase. After being able to see you clearly, students need to be able to hear you clearly too. You also need to be able to hear them too! 

Communication with a non-native English speaker is not always easy, so make your life easier and buy the best headset that you can afford. We recommend headsets with a built-in microphone, like the ones that you see in call centres, as they provide the best sound quality.

A few considerations before buying a headset:

  • Noise-cancellation. If you are working from a noisy space, having a noise-cancelling microphone is a must.
  • Mute button. If you think you may be interrupted frequently by young children in your home, for example, you may want a headset with a quick and easy mute function.
  • Wireless headset. If you are a very animated person and especially if you plan on teaching young children, being wireless will help you tremendously.

Do your research and read a few reviews before buying a headset. If you plan on teaching full-time a lightweight and comfortable headset will be worth its weight in gold, but an inexpensive headset from Logitech (see below) was our choice when we first started and is still a reliable backup after a year of daily use. 

Note: Depending on your laptop/computer, you may need an adapter for some headsets. Be mindful when looking and buy a USB or wireless headset for maximum compatibility.

Our recommendations:

Budget Headset: (≈$25AUD on Amazon). Basic and with none of the aforementioned features, this is the cheapest well-reviewed headset on the market. You may need an adapter (≈$7AUD on Amazon).
Mid-tier Headset: (≈$50AUD on Amazon). With a noise-cancelling microphone, a mute button, and a USB connection.
High-end Headset: (≈$99AUD on Amazon). All of the above features, but wireless.

Tablet

This is an often overlooked item for teaching but we think it is one of the things that can really increase the quality of your class. By tablet, we don’t mean a device like an iPad, but a drawing tablet that is common among graphic designers. It usually consists of a small drawing surface and digital pen, known as a stylus (see above).

Depending on the platform that you use when teaching, you can draw on the presentation to underline words, draw pictures and bring focus to certain elements of the class. In classes where you can write on a whiteboard-esque white screen, you can write ‘on the board’ just like in a real-life classroom.

Our recommendations:

Budget tablet: (≈$50AUD on Amazon). Simple, cheap and easy to use.
Mid-tier tablet: (≈$69AUD on Amazon). Comes highly recommended, slightly larger.
High-end tablet: (≈$90AUD on Amazon). We use a Wacom tablet personally and find them the easiest devices to plug-and-play. 

So, that’s all for the tech. Just remember that a few items will greatly increase the quality of your face and voice. Online English teaching companies often offer you an hourly rate based on your demo(nstration) class, so if you are in a quiet, well lit room with a clear, high quality image and sound (plus, give an enthusiastic class) you’ll likely receive the upper rate. The small amount that you pay will be recouped in a few hours work at a better hourly rate.

Backdrop/Background

What you have behind you while you are teaching is really important. The students have only a small ‘window’ on their screen in which to view you and just like when you watch a video online, a messy bedroom in a background is really distracting.

Some companies ask that you have a plain, white background, while others encourage you to decorate your background with colourful signs, posters and child-friendly decorations.

For plain backgrounds: You can purchase a photography backdrop (above) that includes both white and green screen fabrics, but as you can see in the photo – the cheap fabric that comes with it is unable to be ironed and leaves creases. We recommend that you buy a frame (≈$45AUD on Amazon) and a decent muslin fabric (≈$40AUD on Amazon), or you can use any plain fabric like a sheet, for example. Using a green screen gives you the potential to use virtual backgrounds through programs like ManyCam. This can be really spectacularly used for young learners with animations and fun filters. Using a program like ManyCam is quite RAM-heavy so works best with new systems. You can also purchase a small portable green screen that you affix to the wall (≈$68AUD on Amazon).

For decorated backgrounds: You can get really crafty and make yourself a personalised background with cardboard, your name, and an Australian/New Zealand-themed collage – you are only limited by your imagination! Lots of people have a World Map (≈$30AUD on Amazon). Some companies require you to display the company logo on your screen and you can do this by printing it out on paper or using a program like ManyCam to add it digitally. If you have a lovely, tidy home or office – you might not need a backdrop.


Whiteboard

You might want to buy a small ‘mini’ whiteboard ($10AUD on Amazon) to write on and can be especially helpful when explaining a vocabulary word, by drawing an image or breaking it down letter by letter.

Props

What props you use will depend on the age of the students that you are teaching and your own comfort level with using them. The list really is endless. You might want to have a puppet, prop food, costumes etc.

Remember, you can use use props for adult learners as well. Use a phone to ‘call’ your students, or put on a paper moustache to role play a discussion with an angry boss etc. Surprisingly, adults often respond to the same, fun activities that children do – just take your cue from how your students respond. Not all cultures are as comfortable with the notion of play and fun, so start conservatively and get ‘sillier’ if and when appropriate. 

Summary

You can go ‘all out’ when teaching online and you are only limited by your wallet, but in order to be a great teacher, focus on WHAT you’re teaching and let the technology and props support you. If you are on a tight budget, we suggest that you buy the best headset that you can afford and spend the most you can on good lighting and a webcam (if you can). This will really help the student to see and hear you. A tablet, a few props and a fun background will take you to the next level.

Good luck and happy teaching!