How To Make Money Teaching English Online in 2025? | Side Hustles | South African YouTuber

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on their journey of teaching English online since the pandemic. They discuss the relevance of teaching English in 2024, addressing challenges such as market saturation, pricing concerns, and the impact of returning to normal life post-lockdown. The creator shares personal insights on their pricing strategy, platform experiences, and the shift from teaching children to adults. They also highlight the challenges of low pay and the fluctuating demand for online English lessons. Ultimately, they suggest considering teaching through a company for more stability and a consistent schedule.

Takeaways

• 😀 Teaching English online became especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many teachers starting during lockdown.
• 😀 Market saturation has increased over time, making it harder for new teachers to gain students quickly.
• 😀 The availability of students decreased after the pandemic as people returned to their normal lives, reducing demand for online lessons.
• 😀 Starting as a new teacher, setting a lower price (e.g., $2) can help attract students and build a solid reputation.
• 😀 As teachers gain experience and positive reviews, they can increase their rates. One teacher increased their price from $2 to $17 per hour over time.
• 😀 Some companies are offering very low pay, like $3 per hour, which many teachers find unsustainable and frustrating.
• 😀 Countries like the Philippines and South Africa are often underpaid for teaching English online, despite being proficient English speakers.
• 😀 Load shedding (power outages) in South Africa has caused some disrespect towards teachers, affecting their reliability in the market.
• 😀 While freelancing on platforms like Preply can be competitive, working for a company may offer more stability with a fixed schedule.
• 😀 The number of teachers on these platforms has surpassed the number of students, creating a highly competitive environment for English teachers.
• 😀 A teacher's success in this field depends on various factors, including patience, pricing strategies, and willingness to adapt to the changing market.

Q & A

Why did the speaker start teaching English online?

The speaker started teaching English online during the pandemic, specifically in lockdown, when they saw an opportunity to learn and dive into the career. Despite a slow start, the speaker experienced rapid growth in bookings as the demand for online education increased.

What impact did the pandemic have on teaching English online?

The pandemic significantly increased the demand for online English teachers, with many people starting to teach English as a foreign subject due to the shift to online learning. The market became saturated, and many teachers, including the speaker, found success during this period.

How did the speaker's experience change after the world started returning to normal?

Once schools and businesses reopened, many students returned to in-person learning, causing a dip in the number of students available for online lessons. This resulted in a decrease in bookings and a slower market for teaching English online.

Why did the speaker choose to focus on teaching adults rather than children?

The speaker found teaching children to be energy-draining due to the repetitive and simple nature of lessons, like learning colors and basic vocabulary. They preferred teaching adults, as it involved more engaging and dynamic conversations, such as discussions on travel or daily activities.

What was the speaker's pricing strategy when they started teaching?

The speaker initially set their lesson price at $2, as they were new to teaching and wanted to attract students. They felt it was important to build a student base and gain experience before raising their rates. Over time, as their experience grew, they gradually increased their prices to $17 per hour.

What challenges did the speaker face with the pricing of teaching English online?

The speaker observed that some platforms were paying as little as $3 per hour for teachers, especially in countries like the Philippines and South Africa. They found this to be financially unfeasible, considering the effort involved in preparing lessons and delivering quality teaching.

How did the saturation of the market affect the speaker's ability to get students?

With the increasing number of teachers entering the market, especially during the pandemic, the speaker noticed that it became harder to stand out and attract students. The market became more competitive, and the number of students available for lessons decreased once people returned to their normal routines.

Why does the speaker recommend teaching English through a company instead of as a freelancer?

The speaker recommends teaching through a company because it provides a more structured schedule and guarantees a certain number of teaching hours. As a freelancer, teachers may struggle to find consistent students and face unpredictable workloads, making the job more stressful and financially unstable.

What are the drawbacks of teaching English online as a freelancer, according to the speaker?

The speaker highlights that freelancing can be unpredictable, with teachers often struggling to secure regular students. They refer to it as a 'Hunger Games' situation where teachers compete for limited opportunities. It can also involve long waiting times without guaranteed work, leading to financial instability.

What does the speaker suggest to teachers who are struggling to get students on platforms like Preply?

The speaker suggests that teachers who are struggling might consider teaching privately, taking their existing students off the platform to create a more consistent income stream. However, they note that building a private tutoring business requires a solid base of loyal students and word-of-mouth referrals.