Have you been wondering how to teach English online with no experience or even a degree? 

The answer is simple.

1. It’s about knowing the right companies to apply for 
2. Preparing all the needed requirements 
3. Knowing how to get hired. 
4. Getting all the information needed to start teaching English online.

Although it may appear to be a simple task.

If you skip over some important things, it may take some time to get you employed.

Getting caught up in “the waiting game” is another possibility.

Let this guide help you how to teach English online with no experience. 

As a long-time ESL tutor, I’ve always felt compelled to tell others about how I got started.

Particularly to those who are eager to learn and have a desire to teach. 

FYI, I don’t have a bachelor’s degree in education, but I do have a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

I applied to several online English schools before starting to work from home. And, as I expected, it wasn’t simple. 

In general, most schools demand a bachelor’s degree in education as well as teaching credentials and experience.

I didn’t have any of those at the time. Imagine my struggle. I was in my first trimester of pregnancy with no work. 

Not to mention most schools accept native speakers only. That’s why I want to share how I landed my first teaching gig.

If you want to take this online teaching seriously but have no degree nor experience, you must save this post. 

How to teach English online with no experience or degree?

Look For Schools You Qualify

Look for schools you qualify for and find the best online teaching jobs. Or online ESL jobs.

As a newbie, It’s best to search for schools that accept inexperienced teachers. 

One school believes that every teacher is different, has their own talent, and is trainable. 

And I can’t agree more. 

In the beginning, don’t expect to be paid very well. 

You have to keep in mind that you need to get accepted to be able to have the ” teaching experience” in your resume. 

You’ll get the rate you deserve after months to a year of experience from these schools. 

The list below is a mix of schools that accept applicants either inexperienced, no degree, or both

SkimaTalk

Currently, SkimaTalk is not accepting non-native speakers but they are open to this in the near future. 

This institute accepts only native speakers from the US, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Ireland, UK. 

Or if your native tongue is the English language, then you can try Skima.  

You must be 18 years old to apply. And yes they do not need any teaching experience and certificates. 

Teachers need to maintain good standing. This can be achieved through student’s ratings. 

VIP Kid

I’ve mentioned this company many times before. 

Because it’s a good place to start. The pay starts from $14 up to $22 per hour. 

English lessons are also provided giving you less headache. 

Students are Chinese kids ages 5 to 14. You don’t even need to know Chinese to get accepted.

 Topica Native

Another school that caters to Southeast Asian students is Topica Native. 

Although the school requires a degree or a teaching certificate. 

They accept applicants without teaching experience. 

Just like most of the schools on this list. They prefer those with native-like of speaking.

TUTOR ABC

Applicants with a degree and a TESOL (or similar) certificate are accepted by this Taiwan-based corporation. 

English level should be at an idiomatic level.

And can commit at least 6 hours a week.

ITALKI

One of the companies I often mention throughout my blogging. You can teach in two ways. As a professional teacher or as a community tutor.

If you have no degree or experience. This is where you start.

As long as your English is native-like or near-native you’re good to go. 

This company not only concentrates on the English language.

If you know any foreign language, you can also add that language to your teaching list. 

All you have to do is check if the languages you intend to teach are open.

A good company to start teaching English online with no experience

Tes (Formerly Two Sigmas)

If you have credentials but no experience, this is a fantastic place to start. 

The company does ask that you be available to teach at their busiest times. 

This is another place if you are looking to teach English online to Chinese students. 

It pays $30 per hour. 

They only hire native English speakers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Real Talk 

Although I haven’t tried teaching with them, this institution has been around for a long time. 

Their basic qualifications for candidates do not involve experience. 

They only require native/fluent speakers. They supply all of the necessary instructional lessons. The starting pay rate for a 55-minute lesson is $17.

Eigox

This Japanese-based company pays teachers with no experience as long as they have good communication skills, Punctuality, friendliness, and have a PayPal account. 

They hire native speakers from the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. 

Students have the freedom to choose if they want text-book based lessons, Free talk, and online lessons. 

Rates start at $5.50 up to $11.00 /25 minutes of lessons. So it’s up to $22/hour. If you’re a native speaker you can apply here. 

If you are a non-native, the rates are different and you can apply here.

Qkids

Although they accept US and Canadian residents only. 

This company is more relaxed than other programs. You can apply if you’re a college student. Pay is $20/hour. 

They focus mainly on kids 6-12 years old.

They accept any formal or informal teaching experience like coaching, mentoring, or alternative education as long as you have the passion to teach.

Perfect for online teachers, stay-at-home parents, college students, and those who want to start teaching ESL online, 

SayABC

Here’s another China-based online ESL school that would fit non-degree holder applicants. 

Although a bachelor’s degree is a requirement they still accept applicants who don’t have one. 

They believe that training the new generation of teachers is best done through hands-on practice. 

And they offer applicants with relevant teaching experience a chance to show their skills even if they don’t have a bachelor’s degree. 

The pay rate starts at $21/40 minute class, meaning you can have up to $28/hour. They accept native and non-native applicants.

Magic Ears

Now this company helps their applicants pass their own application process. How’s that sound? You can add this to your list. 

You will teach mostly kids and 4 students per class. 

They hire native speakers and fluent English Speakers. 

Although experience is a requirement, having a degree is not. 

Basic pay starts at $22/per hour up to $ 26/hour. This is the highest base pay rate so far.

Cambly

Although the pay may not be as high as the other schools ($10.20/ hour). 

You can gain experience with Cambly. As well as the freedom to choose your time. 

You can teach as much or as little as you want. Students are mostly from Korea, Turkey, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Another good place to teach English online with no experience

Palfish–

This teaching app was one of my top picks before. But, recently they are now loaded with applicants, and screening for new teachers may take some time.

Still, I suggest you should try it as I once enjoyed teaching using this app.

Pay starts at $15 up to $45/ hour.

It’s a very convenient way to gain teaching experience.

If you want to learn more you can check my full review here.

DADA ABC

Dada is looking for native speakers only.

They prefer those who have teaching degrees and experience, but it is not a requirement.

The company teaches Chinese students and has all the necessary teaching tools you need.

The pay starts at $20 up to $25/ hour

What are the requirements of online English teaching jobs?

Expect that each school receives hundreds of resumes to filter and screen. Make sure you have the following before you apply. So you can teach English online with no experience

• A good and stable internet connection.

• A laptop or a desktop computer.

• A smartphone. Almost all schools now use apps as a teaching platform just like Palfish and Cambly. 

You can check the rest of the schools that use apps in my previous post. I love this actually, it’s so convenient. 

And you can teach anywhere you are as long as you’re connected to reliable internet.

• A noise cancellation headset. – It’s essential to have this kind of headset. 

Because you don’t want your student to get distracted by unnecessary noise such as cars passing by, a crying baby, and your pet dog. 

If you have a very quiet room then a regular headset can work.

• A clear web camera. (Depends on the company) 

• A  quiet room.

• TEFL/ TESOL Certificate. If you want to get hired fast, better get certified first. There are many online institute that you can take TEFL courses and get your teaching certificate

Tips on how to  get hired as an online English tutor.

Make sure you properly prepare your video bio.

Some schools require a video bio. They want to see and hear how you present yourself before the interview. Here are some tips that could help you.

1. Introduce yourself with a smile.

Like what they say, smile with your eyes. If it’s audio, make it a point to sound happy and cheerful.

2. Tell interesting things about yourself (that are acceptable lol).

Being funny is an advantage, students like teachers who can make them laugh.

Just make sure you don’t overdo it.

3. Tell them how much you like to teach both adults and kids.

And you are willing to be trained. If you don’t have the patience to deal with children, this is not the job for you.

But if you are willing to give it a try. You will quickly understand that you are being patient and that you require it in order to stay on course.

But never to worry Asian kids, in general, are submissive.

4. Look presentable—just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’re not brushing your hair. Wearing a suit and tie is not required. Simply put on something that is nice, clean, and not overly revealing.

What can you do to ace the interview?

It’s the interview that’ll make or break your way of teaching English from home.

Before you speak, you have to make sure you’re on the right track. So how do you ace that interview? And start teaching English online with no experience

1. Before the interview, it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on your English.
2. Make your introduction short but precise.
3. Answer confidently, lively and happy
4. Let them know how passionate/patient you are, especially with children.
5. Smile.

Once accepted. You are now ready to start teaching. But here comes the part where it all gets a bit fidgety and uneasy (drum roll)… 

Your first class ever!

My first few days as a teacher were a little tense, to be honest. Because I had a lot of adult learners and only a few kids at the institute.

I had assumed that teaching kids would be challenging, but speaking with an adult appears to be even more difficult.

I’m afraid of being judged as a teacher and as a person.

Afraid that I might be pushing away my student by means of miscommunication, or just simply afraid of not being liked in general.

So let me give you tips on how to handle Asian students

Tips on how to handle foreign students. (Asian)

1. Asian students, in general, have high respect for teachers.

So expect them to be obedient and submissive, especially children.

2. Make sure you know what nationality you’ll be teaching.

Did you apply to a Chinese English school? Japanese? Korean?

Learn their culture,traditions,beliefs, etc.

They like it when you know so much about them.

It’s also a good icebreaker to talk about something that interests both of you. Like Food, Music, Top tourist spots, etc.

Don’t talk about sensitive issues such as politics, religion, etc. If the student started it, make it a point to take control of the conversation and change the topic smoothly.

3. BE ON TIME! (Screaming all caps). That’s how important it is. Not only to Japanese students but to everyone in general.

You have to establish a good rapport from the very first meeting. You don’t want to lose your students, don’t you? Make sure to be online 5 minutes ahead of time. Always.

4. Allow your learner to speak more freely than you. Okay, so you’re ecstatic because you’ve finally found a student who is fluent in English.

And you get a little chatty, to the point where your student only responds to you with yes or no.

That’s very wrong. You have to make certain that your student speaks more than you do. 

If the student has zero English then it’s okay. But if not, ask follow-up yes or no questions if you feel that the student has nothing more to say.

Tip: If your student is very young, like 5 to 10 years old. Most of the time they have their mom and dads beside them (hiding and listening).

So, let the student speak more. If the student has zero English, let them repeat the words you say.

Based on my experience, parents are happier when they hear their kids speak in phrases and simple sentences rather than just yes or no. Therefore, happier parents mean more booked classes.

Free English Resources for online english tutors

If you want to teach English online especially with no experience. You better save these websites for free English resources.

1. Elllo–

This is one of the sites that I first used when I went freelance. It was introduced to me by my own student. And you can use it too.

This English listening library is free to use. It has Audio, video lessons, games as well as worksheets.

What I like about this site is they provide a quiz right after each audio lesson.

Each audio lesson indicates which type of learner is appropriate to it (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc).

They are downloadable too so if you’re using a teaching app this could be very useful as well.

It also has a script of the audio so students can easily read while listening. Each lesson also indicates the nationality of the speaker.

Making it easier for students to learn accents.

2. Real English–

This website is another online video library that is very useful.

They provide exercises after you view a video, just like Ello.

They also indicate the appropriate level for each of their videos.

Real English also provides how you can maximize the use of their videos to teach students.

Aside from the video the site also provides interactive lessons

3.Using English–

Are you too busy to make lesson plans? This is an easy-to-navigate website that you can try. Not only do they provide English lessons.

They also provide a selection of downloadable lesson plans for students of all levels.

If you have learners who are intending to take the IELTS exam, this site offers IELTS preparation lessons.

They even have test preparation materials that you won’t find on most other websites.

4. BBC Learning English–

This awesome website provides tons of grammar lessons, worksheets, quizzes, lesson plans that are all based on current events. 

Perfect for adult learners. It has categories like English at work, English at University. As well as pronunciation and vocabulary.

It’s actually a fun site to use for students who want to learn more about Everyday English.

5. English Page-

This site provides all the English grammar lessons you need. It provides everything you need on a topic.

For example, you need to review your student about simple present tenses.

The website provides all the uses of the tense. It’s different forms, a visual image of how it is used, a number of examples, and exercises with key answers.

This site is beneficial to both teachers and students.

The Internet is a large pool of Online English Lessons for every kind of student. I just gave you a few of those that I used and enjoyed sharing with my students. 

FAQ’s

How Can I teach English Without Experience?

To sum up the whole article, You can teach English without experience.

It is possible but you have to keep in mind that you need to.

List all the schools you qualify for to avoid wasting your time and effort.

Prepare all the requirements.

Learn how to get hired the right way and Gather all the necessary information you needed to start teaching English online with no experience.

Can I Teach English WIthout TEFL?

Yes but I highly suggest getting one as soon as possible.

There are more and better opportunities when you have TEFL or Similar.

In general, Most schools require certified teachers.

But, If you don’t have one, It’s alright you can start with other institutes.

But don’t expect to have a very high pay rate.

Final Thoughts:

These tips may be simple but they worked for me. And I do hope it somehow guides you on how to teach English online with no experience.

Now that you are equipped with all the information you need on how to teach English online with no experience.

You shouldn’t miss my Big list of online English schools. I categorized them so it would be easy to choose which schools you can apply to.

I wish you all the luck in finding your first school.

Remember that once you’ve gained some experience, you may always enroll in courses to become certified.

As a result, transferring to high-paying online English schools will be much easier for you.

As well as a better portfolio for your freelancing profile if you wish to go independent.