The word wanderlust is used to describe someone with a strong desire to travel, but the reasons behind the urge to discover, learn, and explore are very subjective. It’s easy to assume that it’s a way to run away from something, especially for those left behind, but that’s not always the case. In fact, walking away from your comfort zone and stepping into the unknown can help you understand more about yourself as well as others. As it has been said, wanderlust isn’t about running away from it all; it’s about experiencing the outside to discover the inside.
Well, now you can combine your love for travel and language education through online teaching! Online teaching allows you the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, giving you the opportunity to satisfy your wanderlust while also providing invaluable language training to eager learners.
The recent global events have served as a wake-up call for many people who have taken the time and effort to look introspectively and analyse their life. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that a large number of people across the globe have decided to transform their personal and professional lives in more ways than one – in the way they work, socialise, and do their shopping. Because of these changes, people have been able to uncover hidden skills and reconnect with long lost interests and passions. Perhaps you didn’t know what a talented teacher you could be until you started homeschooling your children, or you might not have known how much you enjoyed travelling until you were unable to do so.
As a result of a few years of self-reflection and transformation, many have taken the bull by its horns, ditched their familiar and predictable lifestyle, and started travelling the world while making money on the go. That’s how the new professional sector of digital nomads began: a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular worldwide – and not only among the younger generation – especially since many countries have launched visas specifically for digital nomads. You might be thinking that this lifestyle is an option only for those who are privileged enough to already have plenty of money in the bank to fund their travels, or are blessed with a stable job that allows them to work remotely. This could be true for some, but not for most.
The ABC of online TEFLing
There are different ways to make money during your nomadic adventure, as a freelance writer, designer, blogger, or influencer. Another popular option is to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) online. This is an excellent way to have a steady income while travelling, allowing you to teach your students from anywhere in the world. The real appeal to online TEFLing beside its convenient set up, however, is that it is a rewarding and fulfilling profession.
To ensure that you set off on the right foot with your new teaching career path, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Your tech is fundamental. It goes without saying that to teach online you need some equipment. Keep it simple to start off with – a laptop in good working order with an in-built camera and mic is all you need. Be sure to have installed the latest (free) software updates. Depending on the country or the area you are teaching from, the quality of the internet connection may vary. Check the internet speed before you book your accommodation.
- Your teaching area is important. Although you could literally teach from anywhere, both students and yourself would benefit from having a designated spot for your teaching time. Ideally, find a quiet place in your accommodation – that’s a trick if you’re staying in hostels – and make sure you’re comfortable there. If you are edgy or disorganised, it can have an impact on the delivery of your lesson.
- Choose your background props for the cherry-on-the-cake effect. There’s nothing wrong with a plain background, but it’s not memorable. On the other hand, your background might change frequently if you are travelling a lot, and that can be distracting for your students. Take with you some language-related posters like a phonemic chart, or something related to the lesson you are going to teach. Alternatively, you can have a dry-wipe board as a background that you can use during your lessons.
Getting into online TEFLing
Most people who become freelance online teachers are looking for more flexibility in their work schedule, and online TEFLing offers just that. However, teachers come with different requirements, qualifications, skills, and levels of experience. Have a look at the two options available for getting into online teaching and see which one is suitable for you.
- Standing on your own two feet. Starting a solo TEFL teaching business is a great idea for those who want to be completely independent. In this case, however, you’ll need a lot more than teaching experience, from legal insight to marketing know-how.
Once you’ve set up your website and established which platform to use to deliver your lessons, you’ll need to think about writing up contracts, including subscription and cancellation policies. Most importantly, you’ll need to attract clients/students. Social media is currently the most powerful tool that allows you to be seen by thousands of people – be prepared to film yourself several times before you’re entirely satisfied with your promotional video!
- A helping hand from the experts. On the other hand, if you want to avoid the background work that goes with setting up your own freelance activity, you can offer your services to established online schools that provide language courses to learners worldwide through their platforms.
With this option, you’d be working on a freelance basis but you wouldn’t have as much freedom. Only very few online schools will allow you to set up your own fees. However, most schools have a reward plan in place where your starting hourly fee increases depending on your recommendation rates, reliability, and punctuality.
Each of these online institutions has its own list of requirements, from qualifications to teaching experience, so be sure to do your research and find the one that best suits you. Usually, previous experience isn’t required and an increasing number of online schools have a support system in place with training and opportunities for professional development. Some will even provide new teachers with ready-to-use lesson materials. It is important to note that while a university degree isn’t always necessary to teach English online, it’s almost impossible to find an English language course provider (online or not) that would hire you without a TEFL-related qualification.
More than a career, a lifestyle choice
Your desire to travel might have you scratching your head trying to figure out how to make your digitally nomadic life financially viable, but TEFL could be the answer. If you are thinking about a career change and this industry has sparked an interest, find out more about TESOL and TEFL to have a better picture of what teaching English as a foreign language entails.
