The biggest mistake that I made as an independent freelance English teacher?

Are you looking to attract and retain a private student base? An online English teacher wanting to make a break from a large foreign company and go out on your own? 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, how I accidentally become independent.

Anyone that has taught English in a foreign country is likely to have quickly found themselves with one of their students (or their aunt, their cousin, their best friend etc.) approaching you for “private” tuition. 

Like many others in similar circumstances, while teaching English to adult professionals in Colombia, I began to be approached by parents who were considering sending their teenagers to study at university in Australia and wanted help in achieving the prerequisite IELTS score.

Australasian teachers, being fairly uncommon in the capital city, Bogotá, 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, eventually amassing a large folder full of lessons on every facet of IELTS 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 and continued on with a similar story, 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!

Teaching English online for introverts – is it a good choice?

Is teaching English online for introverts? It might be for many who prefer more solitary, quiet time. Online teaching, done from the comfort of my own home, has allowed me to connect while also having the privacy and space critical to my well being. 

Photo by MIXU from Pexels

Teaching ESL online; my introverted experiences.

Firstly, what exactly is introversion?

It might be helpful to quickly define ‘Introversion’ as there is often a bit of confusion about what is (and what it isn’t). Often confused with shyness, “Introversion is a preference, while shyness stems from distress. Introverts prefer solitary to social activities, but do not necessarily fear social encounters like shy people do“. 

Introverts are “easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation from social gatherings and engagement, introversion having even been defined by some in terms of a preference for a quiet, more minimally stimulating external environment“. So, it’s easy to see how the noisy, chaotic environment of the brick and mortar classroom is a major challenge for those who identify as high in introversion.

According to this Psychology Today article, between half and two-thirds of the population are ‘ambiverted’, that is, they exhibit a mix of introverted and extroverted traits. So, it is statistically likely that most of you reading this article are also this combination. Maybe you have some introverted traits but you are likely able to balance them with a healthy dose of opposing people-centric skills.

The thing is, for most of my life, I have been VERY HIGHLY introverted. To the point of collapsing into my bed at the end of each teaching day, drained of every ounce of energy, never wanting to see another human being ever again. Yet, I simultaneously found teaching deeply satisfying, so I struggled through these duelling forces for many years before discovering online teaching and a balance that allowed me the best of both worlds.

If you are still teaching face-to-face or wish to continue doing so in tandem with online work, here is some fantastic advice about how to thrive as an introverted teacher.

Why teaching English online works for me:

What first excited me about online English teaching was the ability to put myself in a teaching/people space for the duration of my lessons, then to turn off my computer and return to my safe, solitary environment. This allows me to begin to ‘recharge’ and reclaim the feeling of lost energy from the lesson. In a traditional classroom, after the lesson was over – I would then have to navigate the staff room, students in the hallways and a million other personal interactions – leaving me feeling drained for the next lesson and without sufficient time to myself. Over the course of a day, it would frequently take me to the point of physical and mental exhaustion.

The second benefit to online teaching is the ability to schedule classes earlier in the day, so that I have enough time between the last class of the day and bedtime. I often feel tired yet also strangely ‘wired’ from many hours of back-to-back lessons and I try and wrap up by early evening, followed by a walk and some reading to ground and calm me before sleep.

I have also used my introversion as a part of my brand as an independent teacher. Many students are also highly introverted and appreciate and respond really well to a teacher that respects and accommodates their needs. I freely admit to being an introvert and have worked extensively with both introverted and shy/anxious students who I believe opened up more readily and admitted to their difficulties in public and group speaking knowing that I empathised and did not judge.

I believe that Introverted teachers bring a lot to the table and that we have great insight into many of the difficulties that our students face. We are often thoughtful and passionate educators who too often ‘burn out’ due to work environments that do not support or accommodate our personalities. Online teaching is not for everyone but if you are an introvert who wants more space, privacy and flexibility – it might just be for you.

3 easy ways to pronounce difficult ESL names

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.  

Preface: Before we start, if your students are old enough and have the language ability, I highly encourage you to ask them their preferred name. Some students like using an “English/Western” name, while others prefer it when you call them by their real name. The goal is respect and effective pedagogy.

Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna from Pexels.

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. 

So, how can we pronounce new or ‘foreign’ names?

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). This way, you can go back and review the names again 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.

Do you think pronouncing student’s names correctly is important?
What tips and tricks do you use? Comment below.

10+ FREE online English lesson plan template ideas Australia

New to teaching? Lesson planning can be a bit overwhelming to begin with. To make your life easier, we 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 lesson planning resources.

Photo by Max Fischer from Pexels
Photo by Max Fischer from Pexels

This post is part of our “Ultimate teach English online guide“. Go check it out. 

Why free online English lesson plan templates with an Australian focus?

One of the biggest challenges for new teachers is planning your lessons. Some even wonder why you should even create a lesson plan, especially for conversational and informal classes. A lesson plan doesn’t have to be complicated and 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. Here is a great post on the “Essentials of lesson planning” from Future Learn, who offer many great free short courses for new teachers. See our full list of FREE courses.

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.

Want more lesson planning help?

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!

I’m curious, what free lesson planning resources for TESOL/teaching English online do you use? Comment below.

This post is part of our “Ultimate teach English online guide“. Go check it out. 

10 steps to make more money teaching English online

Teaching online is a fun and flexible way to make money online but salaries can be low, especially for new teachers. Here are 10 easy things you can do pre- and post-interview to make more money teaching English online.

This post is written for Australian and New Zealanders but all of our information can be used by teachers worldwide. We are not financial experts, so please consult a professional for financial advice. We use affiliates links, which earn us a a small commission (at no cost to you) but always aim to give you the best quality advice that we can provide.

This post is part of our “Ultimate teach English online guide“. Go check it out. 

BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW

Do your research

There are hundreds of online English teaching companies, with salaries ranging from less than $5 to over $55 (AUD) per hour. Only a few run ads on Australasian jobs sites. As these companies hire 75-80% of their teachers from the US, Canada and the UK, they do not spend their recruitment budgets ‘down under’.

If you want to find out more information about smaller companies, you will need to either spend hours of research or you can buy our list of online English teaching jobs here

Hourly rates can be confusing to calculate, often being a ‘base’ rate + bonuses. Once you decide on a company, we recommend following a few steps:

  1. Search for the name of the company and look for teacher reviews and information. Some companies have a good FAQ page and are quite transparent while others are not. Take negative reviews with a grain of salt and focus on information posted about salaries.
  2. Search for facebook groups for current teachers at your chosen company. Teachers are generally a friendly bunch and other than bombarding you with referral links, will often help you with salary information. Remember to search the group to see if there are recent answers around salary before asking. It’s a common question.
  3. Ask your recruiter/interviewer before the interview. If you have an email address, send your question there but remember they are some of the busiest people in the company and cannot always answer. Ask about salary at the end of the interview and definitely make sure you understand the rates before signing a contract. Read it carefully and confirm anything you don’t understand. Bonuses are often much harder to achieve than they seem, so estimate an average amount (around 50%).
  4. This is an optional step and slightly dishonest, so take this as a suggestion only. If you are an Australian/NZ citizen or resident based at home your salary will be higher than if you are located overseas in SE Asia, for example. In order to circumvent this, you might be able to use a VPN (like Express VPN) to make it seem as if you are in Australasia. While we have not done this ourselves, we have heard people have.

A high hourly salary may seem like the only consideration when selecting a company …but see if you can get a sense of the booking rate before signing a contract using the above methods. If there are no students, 40 hours a week x $0 is still $0.

The longer that you work for a company, you may be offered a pay increase for your loyalty, although this is the exception, not the rule. Check for bonuses such as being a substitute teacher for cancelling teachers, working unusual or off-peak hours and to recruit other teachers. Being flexible and carefully researching potential benefits before starting makes you ready to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.

Submit an A+ resume

A clear and concise resume will show your skills, attributes and why you deserve the highest salary in the range that the company offers. Remember, they make money from you so show them how you can be of benefit to the company. For our complete and detailed post on writing the perfect resume, click here.

Just remember, the person reading your resume is likely NOT a native English speaker and keep this in mind when writing it. Keep language simple and sentences shorter than usual. You don’t need a professional headshot but a clear, smiling photo is key (if you add one).

Make a short introduction video

This differs from company to company, with some asking for a short video and others not. This is a way to show off your personality and on-camera performance skills. Those new to speaking to a camera might feel shy and awkward…. that’s ok! It takes practice.

Our top tips: write a script, have good lighting and do some basic editing. Oh… and look AT the camera, not at yourself.

Read our full blog post on how to make the ultimate online English teaching introduction video here.

Get a TESOL certificate

A TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate takes between a few days and a few months and will make you a better teacher from the interview to your first day on the job. Read our full post here.

Why? With knowledge and experience comes confidence and someone who gets the basics of teaching and a ‘classroom’ will act more confidently in the interview. Premier offer a 250 hour certificate in which you can practice teach over Zoom with some peers before your interview.

There are also lots of FREE courses
that you can study before you begin – check some out, they’re free!

Set up your teaching space

A professional (and higher paid!) teacher will have a clean, appropriate teaching space. You might be sitting at your kitchen table with your laptop sitting on a shoebox, with your pyjama pants and slippers on…. just don’t let THEM see that.

A few basic items of technology, good lighting, a quality headset and a well-decorated (or plain) background will likely earn you a higher rate and the respect of your students (and their parents).

Practice, practice, practice

Just like an ”in-person” interview, being prepared makes it much more likely that you will succeed and be able to negotiate a higher hourly salary. Check YouTube for anyone who explains the interview before hand.

The interview will likely consist of a Q&A session followed by a ‘mock/demo/demonstration’ class for real students or staff posing as them in lieu of that. Find out beforehand what is required, if possible. Record yourself teaching a class for a few minutes and watch it back beforehand. Or, practice in front of the mirror. They both seem very cringe , we know… but it will show and will likely affect your offered salary. For new teachers or teachers who have moved online for the first time, it is worth that extra effort in the beginning and can pay off financially over your teaching career with the company in the form of cold, hard cash.

AFTER YOUR INTERVIEW

Negotiate your salary

This can be scary and many teachers are intimidated to negotiate a higher salary but please, if you only take one piece of our advice today…. negotiate. They can only say no. Our experience from talking to hundreds of teachers is that online English teaching companies rarely offer the highest rate upfront. The more qualified/experienced you are and the better you performed in the interview the higher your offered rate will be but you can ask for more. Be firm, state your reasons and do it in email if it makes you feel more comfortable. There are 100’s of companies out there. DON’T TAKE THE LOWEST OFFER!

Self-promotion and social media

Many companies have some form of ‘in-house’ social media, a section where you can customise a profile or the ability to connect with students in some way. Take full advantage of these if you can. Some companies do not permit direct contact while others do. Do note any company policies regarding this as many consider this ‘poaching’. If you can add extra slides to a .ppt, make up one with your name, education and working hours (see image).

Promote yourself and your classes! Ask for feedback and reviews, sell yourself and your skills. Teachers with a loyal following have more power and are in a better position to negotiate with a company. If you can promote your classes on other outside social media sites, do so. Just like the resume, keep promotional language simple and short.

Payment options

You can lose A LOT of your salary due to the fees and charges involved in International payments. Ask about your payment options and research the best one for your situation.

Taxes

Often, as an online English teacher, you are employed as a contractor. As a contractor, there is more involved regarding your taxes. There are also some things you can now claim on your annual tax return (see sites for more information). Check out the Inland Revenue or ATO website for more info about saving money when the tax man (or woman) comes collectin’.

Finally, you will always be limited to a certain salary if you work for a company. To truly earn the ‘big bucks’, you are going to have to go out and find students yourself. It takes a lot of time, energy and marketing to cut out the middle man but teachers can make $100 (AUD)+ per hour when they go freelance. If you want more information about how to break out on your own, please book a coaching session with an experienced freelance teacher.

We hope that these ten tips help you to make more money online, by getting you the highest salary to start, earning you bonuses and saving you in fees and tax. It takes a few hours upfront but can earn you a lot of money over the course of any given financial year. Be prepared, have fun and do your research and you’ll make more money than those who don’t – guaranteed. Do you have other tips and tricks? Leave them in the comments below.

Good luck and happy teaching!

Do you have any money maximising tips for teaching online? Comment below.

This post is part of our “Ultimate teach English online guide“. Go check it out.

International payments for online English teachers (Australia & New Zealand)

If you are getting paid into your bank account from foreign online English teaching companies or students overseas, the process can leave you receiving much less than you anticipated. We’ll compare the costs and fees for both traditional banks and online money transfer services to find the best way to save yourself 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) to some of the listed companies below …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.

This post is part of our “Ultimate teach English online guide“. Go check it out. 

International payments for online English teachers - your options:

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!

This post is part of our “Ultimate teach English online guide“. Go check it out. 

Best TESOL online courses Australia? Compare all TEFL / TESOL certifications: A teacher’s guide (2023)

Do you want to study a TEFL / TESOL course online? Earn a TEFL / TESOL online certification to teach English online or teach and travel the world? If so, you’re in the right place. 

With online courses starting from ≈$200 to over $20,000, it can be overwhelming! After 10+ years of teaching and having completed multiple courses/certifications myself; I’ll guide you through everything that you need to know.

You can compare them side-by-side and select the best one for you. Plus, you’ll learn what you’ll be able to teach at each level once you graduate – including TEFL, CELTA, Certificate IV, DELTA, Diploma and Higher Education qualifications.

DISCLAIMER: We use affiliate links and may receive a small fee for your referral (at no extra cost to you). Please see our Disclaimer. Prices are correct at date of publishing and are in Australia dollars (AUD) unless otherwise stated.

TESOL online courses
A cheap Groupon-style TESOL certification can cost <$20 but won't really help you to be a confident, prepared teacher.
Reading Time: 10 minutes

(Updated: November 2023).

Why I wrote this post…

A small group had gathered together on Zoom to discuss the first assessment for our post-graduate TESOL studies. Most of the group were experienced teachers and found the work challenging but exciting. Suddenly, mid-conversation, one of the students burst into tears. “I have no idea what I’m doing and I’ve just realised that I won’t get an opportunity to learn how to be a teacher…”

Later, I found out that she hadn’t done a lot of research and had started the course thinking that it would be like a ‘hands on’ Certificate IV or CELTA course; not realising that university courses are often far more theoretical. She left the course a few days later. This post is here so that you don’t spend thousands of dollars on something that isn’t right for you.

online english teaching
A good TEFL / TESOL course helps you to be a confident, prepared teacher. (Photo by Vanessa Garcia)

What is a TEFL / TESOL course?

Essentially, a TEFL / TESOL course/certification/qualification provides the fundamentals of how to teach or tutor one or more students from a non-English speaking background to improve their language skills, including grammar and pronunciation. 

TEFL / TESOL courses take from 120 hours to 2 years to complete but can be done in as little as three weeks

The main topics you’ll cover in the introductory courses (120 hour TEFL/Certificate IV in TESOL/CELTA) are:

  • English grammar – think verbs, adjectives and nouns etc; 
  • Teaching basics such as: how to plan and deliver a lesson, manage students and conduct activities, games etc;
  • Observation of a classroom and/or practice teaching (teaching classes to your fellow students or with real ESL learners).

The students may be located online or in-person, but the focus of this post is courses that can be completed 100% online.

The more advanced courses (Diploma or higher) will cover topics such as linguistics, English education within specific contexts and/or for developing skills required in managing other teachers. 

Quickly, what do all these acronyms mean?

* TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
* (T)ESL – (Teaching) English as a Second Language
* (T)EFL – (Teaching) English as a Foreign Language

While there are technical differences, they are generally interchangeable. 

TESOL is more commonly used in Australasia and TEFL internationally. CELTA/DELTA are equivalent qualifications provided by Cambridge Assessment English (UK) that is widely recognised in the English speaking world. 

TESOL
 in Australia and New Zealand refers to both the general  “field in which teachers provide English language instruction to people living in an English speaking country” and the online courses and certifications discussed in this post.

The course is what you’ll be studying and the certificate/certification/qualification is what you’ll receive once you graduate. 

Should I study a TEFL / TESOL course or certification online?

This post is focused on courses that are offered 100% online – but – if you thrive in an environment with other people and think a face-to-face course would be better, many of the following courses have hybrid (online + in-person) versions.

Are online TESOL courses valid?

Yes, an accredited online TEFL / TESOL certification is equally valid to one completed offline. The main difference is that the teaching practice occurs online instead of in-person. If you plan on teaching online, there is a distinct benefit to this, as you’ll be more prepared for your first online class. Online courses are more convenient and can be done from the comfort of home.

What is 'teaching practice' and do I need it?

Many TEFL / TESOL courses provide an opportunity to practice teaching to a class to your fellow teachers or real students. See if your course offers teaching practice (also called a ‘practicum’) below. This is usually via video call and you are often provided feedback on how you went. If given the option, we recommend that go with any practice teaching opportunities, especially if you don’t have any previous tutoring, mentoring or coaching experience. If you’ve never taught before, this experience is invaluable.

It’s important to note that many post-graduate online TESOL courses/certifications/qualifications DO NOT come with the required teaching practice required to teach in Australia, according to NEAS guidelines. If you want to teach in Australia, make sure you confirm that the included teaching practice meets any requirements beforehand (more below).

Practicing with other students before a 'real' class can help relieve your nerves and give you an idea of what to expect.

What are my TEFL / TESOL course options?

TEFL, Certificate IV, CELTA, DELTA and Diploma

A 120 hour TEFL is a short course [O] designed to give you an introduction to the field. It isn’t as involved as the higher-level courses, but is inexpensive and can be completed in as little as three weeks! Best for roles online or overseas (but it is best to check the requirements of the role before you apply). You can also purchase additional extras and upgrades for more in-depth learning.

If you are uncertain about teaching English and you want to “wet your feet”, a course like a 120 hour TEFL [O] from Premier TEFL (Ireland) will be a great introduction for roughly the price of one single unit of Certificate IV. There are no Australasian providers currently running this course, but we recommend Premier TEFL as their practice teaching sessions are conveniently held on Saturday and Sunday evenings (AEST). Use the code [TEO.AU] for an extra 15% off at checkout! Check out their course here

[O] – OFQUAL – The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation [UK].
[AC] ASQA – Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) [AUS] accredited.
[NA] – Not ASQA accredited.

ASQA is the regulatory body that ensures quality for all accredited courses and the process to have a course accredited in Australia is extremely rigorous.  Organisations must be registered to deliver these courses and are regularly audited to ensure consistent and relevant content.

The next step up is a Certificate IV in TESOL [AC] – an Australasian certification (AQF Level 4) – and the CELTA [O] certificate (UK). There is some debate on which is better, but a Certificate IV in TESOL is best if you might want to teach in Australasia in the future, as it is accredited by an Australian authority. If you plan on teaching online or abroad, both are sufficient.  

TESOL is usually undertaken over a longer period, providing time in between ‘learning’ for further reading, research and putting into practice what has been learnt. The CELTA is about twice the price, so you are somewhat paying for the CELTA ‘brand’, it isn’t Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) accredited and has slightly higher entry requirements; you must apply and be approved to take the course. CELTA is also often undertaken as an ‘intensive’ course crammed into a shorter period.

So while the 120 hour TEFL [O] covers the basics, a Certificate IV in TESOL [AC] from TESOL Australia – for example – includes topics such as how to assess language learning and how to help learners to improve their pronunciation, speech and grammar.

If you want to study with an accredited Australian provider, TESOL Australia currently offer the lowest cost Certificate IV in TESOL [AC] in Australia. They can also arrange “6 hours of teaching practice with 8 or more ESL learners”, or “mentoring and supervising by a fully qualified ESL teacher and TESOL Assessor with ESL students and virtual classroom set up provided” – perfect for new or beginner online English teachers. Check out their course here

Low-medium cost TEFL / TESOL online courses + certifications:

All prices are Australian Dollars (AUD), correct at the publishing date. Tables best viewed with a computer, not mobile. #Code: FREECIV21

For New Zealand teachers, please check out your additional options at English New Zealand and TESOL ANZ

Graduate Certificate, Diploma, Master's (and even a PhD)

The next step up is a Diploma in TESOL [AC]. If you want additional practice teaching and more in-depth learning opportunities, this is a good choice. A DELTA [O] has stricter entry requirements than the lower-level courses, so double check your eligibility.

Basically, each course is a step above the previous one, adding more in-depth study and potential for research. 

Postgraduate TESOL courses can be from 1-4 semesters (~6 months to two years) and can cost easily cost $20,000+. As I mentioned earlier, a number of my fellow students dropped out after a few weeks once they realised that the course was more academic than practical. Postgraduate study is often very theoretical. TESOL can also come under a number of post-graduate degrees in Education, Adult Education, Teaching and Applied Linguistics. Each has a slightly different focus so it’s best to check them out carefully and ask questions of your provider on whether this is the best option for your particular career plans.

If you want to teach in a Primary or Secondary classroom in Australia/New Zealand, you’ll need a Bachelor of Education (TESOL) or a Bachelor’s degree + selected postgraduate TESOL qualification. Check with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) or Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. All Bachelor of Education courses (and Higher Education courses leading to Australian teacher registration) require in-person teaching practice, so I won’t be covering them in detail here

Medium-high cost TEFL / TESOL online courses + certifications:

These courses are for those who are more serious about TESOL as a career. There are a number of university course providers and they vary in price. This is just an example of a few providers for comparison purposes.

Your online TESOL/TEFL certification might lead to job opportunities abroad. (Photo by Naomi Shi)

What can I use my TEFL/TESOL online certification to teach?

Other certifications that you have (in addition to your TESOL/TEFL certification) will affect what you can or cannot teach once you have graduated, as well the level of certification you decide to do. If you are also a qualified Primary or Secondary teacher, you will have the most opportunities, for example. Other qualifications in Education will also be beneficial, such as a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. This is a general guide:

If you want to teach in Australia in a company/institute, university or government program, it’s best to check with your course provider that it meets NEAS requirements. Their site gives detailed information about course requirements, but you’ll usually need a Bachelor’s degree + a TESOL qualification with approved teaching practice.

The TESOL association in your state/country can also give you more information about state requirements: QATESOL, ATESOL NSWVicTESOL, ATESOL NT, WATESOL, TasTESOL, SATESOL or TESOLANZ (New Zealand). University courses don’t always lead to national or state teaching registration either, so if you are considering teaching TESOL (EAL/D) in the primary or high school classroom, please confirm this with your university beforehand. 

For New Zealand teachers, please confirm requirements with TESOL ANZ or Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you want to teach ONLINE at an overseas company/institute/university to students located abroad, you’ll need to confirm individual requirements, as they vary widely – but generally – a certification like a 120 hour TEFL [O] is usually sufficient for online positions, especially entry-level ones. A course like the Certificate IV in TESOL [AC], CELTA [O] may help you secure a higher rate, and would likely be the minimum required for formal in-person teaching. 

The demand for online English teachers is growing. If you’re interested in teaching English online, read our ULTIMATE TEACH ENGLISH ONLINE GUIDE or check out our list of the top 50 highest paying online English teaching jobs.

If you want to teach privately/independently/freelance to students located in Australia and/or overseas, all courses will suffice (120 hour TEFL, Cert IV, CELTA, DELTA, Diploma or HigherEd) and your choice comes down to your existing experience, budget and how seriously you are considering a TESOL career. Success as an independent teacher is equally about good teaching and strong business, sales and marketing skills. I offer coaching to support those who want to start their own business, having done so for the last decade. Please get in touch if you’re interested.

If you want to teach overseas in person or teach online from inside another country (yes, that’s a thing) – I recommend researching the country, looking at some job ads, joining groups of expat English teachers and asking about what qualifications are expected in that particular country. It varies so much from country to country and job to job! For many places, a 120 hour TEFL [O] certificate will be accepted, while others require a Master’s degree.

The higher the education/economic levels in that country, the higher the requirements will be for teachers. In developing nations, you might find a job without a lick of experience or anything more than a 120 hour TEFL [O] certification. In other English speaking countries, The Middle East and much of Europe (for example), a Bachelor’s degree + AC/post-graduate qualifications will likely be the minimum. Again, it varies so much that it’s difficult to give a simple answer, so please do your research.

Which online TESOL / TEFL course should I study?

As you’ve seen, there are quite a few options and the right one will be based on your circumstances and what you want to do with English language teaching in the future. Here are a few things to consider before signing up:

  • If you want a low-cost, quick, entry-level course, consider a 120 hour TEFL [O] course;
  • If you want a mid-range priced course with some practice teaching, consider a Certificate IV in TESOL [AC] or CELTA [O]; 
  • If you want more practice teaching and more in-depth knowledge, a Diploma in TESOL [AC] might be for you.
  • If you want to move into higher-level ESL teaching/coordination, consider a Diploma in TESOL [AC] or DELTA [O].
  • Postgraduate study [AC] might be best if you are serious about a long-term TESOL career, academia or a leadership position.

Summary

I hope this helped clarify the different TEFL / TESOL courses and certificates available to you. Having been in the field now for over ten years, I cannot recommend a good certification enough – especially as a new or beginner teacher. Teaching fundamentals and the foundations of the English language are more complicated than they first seem. 

A good TEFL / TESOL course will set you up for success from day one and you’ll be confident and prepared for what your students throw at you. For experienced teachers, higher level study can be an amazing challenge, propel you to greater heights in your career and offer opportunities to do important research.

So what are you waiting for? Go out there and do a TEFL / TESOL course online. You’re able to study an online course that might open up a work from home opportunity, a new career or the ability to travel the world.

Have you studied a TEFL/TESOL course online? What was your experience?
Any other courses that I missed? Comment below!
Interested in a CELTA in Toronto? See The Canadian Wanderer’s experiences.

25+ FREE TESOL courses online

Are you a new teacher looking to learn more about how to help your students or an experienced teacher searching for professional development opportunities? If so, read on for a list of FREE online short courses that are available to study right now.

Note: We recommend that if you don’t have one already, you study an accredited TESOL course of more than120 hours. These free courses below are supplementary study only. 

An accredited TESOL / TEFL course sets you up for classroom success and adds to your teaching confidence. Read more on the “Best TEFL / TESOL online courses in Australia“.

NOTE: Some of these courses require payment to issue a certificate, which is always optional and at your discretion. Some may be for teachers from certain locations only, so please check course details. Also, course dates are constantly changing so keep “an eye out” for newly available ones and let us know of any updates in the comments!

Professional Development

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Teaching Online

Young Learners

IELTS/Other

If you know of any other FREE courses for Online English teachers, please comment below.