The technical requirements:
1. A Laptop/Computer (or iPad) with a camera: You will need a computer with a camera in order to teach online. Be sure you have a camera, as you’ll need it to videoconference with your students.
2. Strong Internet Connection: Be sure you have a solid Internet connection, wherever you are. When I travel and teach online I often book Airbnb’s so I can teach from home, and I ask my hosts to check the Internet speed for me beforehand so I know its strong. You can check your speed for free at SpeedTest.net. The company you apply for will tell you what the minimum speed requirement is.
3. Headphones: You will be required to use headphones or a headset to teach.
To think about:
4. Props: Online teaching requires A LOT of TPR (Total Physical Response). With that being said, I like to have a lot of props to help me in case I have a shy student. I made my own alphabet flashcards, reward system, and purchased animal puppets. Flying Tiger is a great and cheap store for props in Barcelona.
5. Quiet Location: I recommend having a quiet room to teach from. The less distractions/noise, the better for your student and your class.
Lastly, be sure to take it seriously. Teaching online may be fun, but it’s a job. The students and families take it very seriously and have high expectations and you should too. This means, never miss a class if you are booked (However, emergencies happen, each company has their own cancelation policy), and don’t show up late. Since I live in Barcelona, I sometimes stay out late, and will make sure I don’t give myself an early schedule the next day.
Now, be sure you do your research on companies; they all have different requirements/obligations for teachers, contracts for hours, Internet speed requirements, etc. But, once you get started, you won’t regret it!
A few companies to check out:
–https://t.vipkid.com.cn/?_version=2
–https://www.dadaabc.com/teacher/job/
–http://51talk.ph/
–https://www.cambly.com/english?lang=en
–https://www.abc360.com/Teacher/Teacher/index
–https://teacher.landi.com/