10 Online ESL Teachers (past & present) share their stories

Discover the stories behind 10 online ESL teachers…

Are you considering becoming an online ESL teacher?

Are you unsure of whether to take the leap?

This diverse collective of women from all over the globe are at various points in their teaching journey. Some are just starting out, some are digital nomads and for some online teaching has been a stepping a stone to new business ventures. However, what all these women have in common is that they’ve been fuelled with the desire to create a workstyle that gives them flexibility and a lifestyle rich in experience.

Why have I invited these 10 women to share their stories? If you have read my other posts, you will know that I am passionate about work freedom. I am also fascinated by the opportunities that present themselves, and the unexpected doors that open when you make that decision to try things your own way.

It’s not easy to step out of the traditional work web, and yet a funny thing happens when you start dreaming and following that heart of yours, good things really do happen!

What about the recent changes in China?

Many online ESL teachers began their careers with one of the large Chinese ESL tuition companies. I think it would be true to say that shock waves were felt across the online teaching community as China recently announced that new regulations would prohibit companies from offering online academic teaching.

Whilst many of us are going to be sad to say goodbye to our Chinese students, it’s important to remember that there are ample ESL online teaching opportunities globally.

Change, especially unexpected change is a challenge, but perhaps it was time for a shake-up. The world of online ESL teaching is just getting started and as these 10 teachers show there is a vast ocean of opportunity out there.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new” -Socrates

10 online teachers share their stories

Digiteach

“Hey! My name is Michelle, and I am a former online ESL teacher turned into a full-time online business owner. I spent 4 years teaching ESL online and it gave me a taste of mobility, flexibility, and freedom I so craved in my life. I am a passionate traveller and it allowed me to choose my hours, earn from anywhere in the world and make an income whilst travelling.

One thing online teaching really gave me back was ‘time’. I went from 40-hour weeks to 25-hour weeks working online and that extra time was the greatest gift of all because I used it to work on my online teaching business Digiteach – https://digiteachesl.com/

Online teaching was a pivotal stepping stone for me in realizing my passion for helping teachers make their own money online. At the start of my business, I helped teachers become online teachers within my Jump Start mentorship program and that has been very successful and rewarding. I now focus on coaching teachers to build their own business by selling teaching courses online in my business program, Digiteachers Biz Academy, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for online ESL teaching. I will always be grateful for that period in my life and the ‘time’ it gave back to me to focus on building my own passion project.”

Learn more about Michelle at Digiteach

The Ninja Gypsy Teaches English

Chelsey the Ninja Gypsy began her nomadic career as an online ESL teacher — Chelsey the Ninja Gypsy

Online teaching opens doors, windows, and even the cat flap when it comes to opportunities if you are willing to look for them. After teaching English in South Korea, I decided to teach ESL online because of the numerous benefits. I was able to make my own schedule, teach who I wanted to teach, and fund my lifestyle.

When I first began teaching English online, I did it while traveling the world as an international pet sitter. I bounced from country to country and balanced exploring each new place by taking care of peoples’ homes, which gave me access to a quiet space and plenty of wi-fi to teach. By choosing this lifestyle fuelled by teaching, I started a blog, wrote a book, ‘Inspired’ – a combination of stories from nine solo female travellers around the world, founded my own company as a professional writer and as a 3rd degree black belt in Uechi-Ryu Karate I designed the The Ninja Gypsy to teach others how to travel the world safely.

While I am no longer teaching ESL, I am thankful for what it provided me: adventure, opportunities, and the ability to connect with fascinating people worldwide.

Learn more about The Ninja Gypsy

Healthcare English with Kate

Learn Healthcare English with Kate

I had always dreamt of moving to Spain and so after completing my TEFL certification I finally decided to take the plunge, moving to Barcelona in 2018 to teach English for the year. I had been working for the NHS as an Occupational Therapist and was lucky enough to be granted a career break, enabling me to fulfil my dream. Whilst in Barcelona, I taught children aged 3-14 years at a local school. It was great fun and I enjoyed the variety of teaching both younger children and teenagers.

Following my career break, I returned to the U.K and as I settled back into my previous job, I really began to miss teaching. I therefore decided to combine my skills and experience as a health professional and ESL teacher, teaching English online to those working in a healthcare setting.

I feel that I have found my niche and find it extremely rewarding to be able to help health workers all over the world. Completing a TEFL certification has opened up so many doors and with the flexibility of teaching online; I hope to be able to return to Spain in the near future.

Learn more about Healthcare English with Kate

The Introverted Online Teacher

Almost 5 years ago, I first heard about teaching ESL online and was intrigued. At that point, I had left teaching in the classroom after 2 years and was working as an hourly Home & Hospital tutor for a local school district. I wasn’t sure whether to continue working in education or go back to grad school, but tentatively decided to give teaching ESL online a try. To my surprise, I loved working with students virtually, as well as the flexibility of setting my own schedule as an independent contractor.

Teaching online has allowed me to foster a more healthy work-life balance and find the joy in teaching again. Over the past few years, I’ve expanded my online teaching “umbrella” by teaching with other companies (such as Outschool), starting a blog/social media pages, creating an LLC for selling teacher goods & teaching services, and more! Years later, I still teach ESL online at least a few hours a week with VIPKid and am so grateful for finding education work that’s flexible, fun, and fulfilling.

Learn more about The Introverted Online Teacher

The Grateful Gypsies with Rachel

Sasha and Rachel the Grateful Gypsies online teachers — Sasha and Rachel: Grateful Gypsies

Teaching English online has completely changed my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true. My husband, Sasha, and I both started teaching English in China.

Living in China was an incredible experience but being so far away from home and having full-time teaching jobs meant that we missed out on lots of things like concerts and music festivals (our favorite things), weddings, and all sorts of other important occasions.

I found myself feeling really disconnected from my friends and family back in the US. I would daydream about having the ability to travel for as long as I wanted, without having to ask permission.

In spring 2016 I started teaching English online and it finally gave me the ability to work from anywhere and be my own boss. I truly believe that teaching English online is the fastest way to become a digital nomad. Here are 5 reasons why:
You can start right now
It frees up time to create other income streams
It’s financially secure
It’s flexible
It’s fulfilling

Sasha and I have been traveling as digital nomads for 5 years now and we couldn’t be happier!

Learn more about The Grateful Gypsies

The Teaching Nomad

An image of Jocelyn teaching online — Jocelyn the Teaching Nomad

I’ve always had a passion for traveling and teaching so when I learned about teaching online I knew that it was the job for me. This job has allowed me to travel throughout Central and South America and live a nomadic lifestyle where I can financially support myself and simultaneously explore the world around me. While the pandemic has put a pause on some international adventures, I am looking forward to getting back abroad in the near future. In the meantime, I am happily teaching online and exploring more of my home country.

I currently work for three online teaching platforms; Vipkid, Cambly, and Outschool. Each company gives me complete autonomy over my schedule which means I get to decide when and how often I work. These platforms have also allowed me to grow as a teaching professional. When I first started teaching English on Vipkid in September 2019 I was so nervous and wasn’t sure how effective a teacher I would be. Fast forward to the present and I now comfortably teach on three platforms and create my own lesson plans and content on Outschool. I have grown in confidence and could never have imagined how much I would grow to love this profession.

Learn more about The Teaching Nomad

Spark ESL with Kyla

An image of Kyla from Spark ESL — Kyla creator of Spark ESL

Teaching English online was never in my plan. The work found its way into my life and I’ve been grateful that it did ever since. I began teaching ESL online after a friend of mine became involved in the industry and suggested I look into it too. After getting my TEFL qualification, I began teaching for one of the largest companies in China. Although it was challenging at first, I quickly found my groove and came to love the work, but even more so I came to love my students!

Almost as soon as I began teaching online, I also began creating printable and digital props and reward systems to use with my students. I have experience in the world of digital design, so this was not a chore for me, it was (and still is) fun!

One thing led to another and I decided to make my resources available online to other English teachers and, a few months later, Spark ESL was born. Now, as well as continuing to teach ESL online, I sell printable and digital resources to English teachers around the world from my website and on Etsy and Teachers Pay Teachers.

The greatest joy I get from my work (besides connecting daily with the cutest students around!) is seeing resources I originally created to use in my own online classroom being used by teachers around the world!

Learn more about Spark ESL

Mia on the Map

Hello everyone, Mia here! I am a traveling teacher and mental health advocate working my way
through anxiety one country at a time. My teaching career began in a small town in rural Georgia, USA while teaching English in an intentional community. Our classroom spanned continents as we gathered together bite sized sentences to learn about each other’s cultures, hopes and dreams.

I fell in love with the cultural mix of each classroom as an ESL instructor and have continued my
teaching journey both in-person and online. I have worked just outside of the largest refugee
camp in Thailand as well as in a private English school in Japan. After transitioning to teaching
online with two companies, (VIPKID and Cambly) I now have the flexibility to live abroad on my
own timeline.

Teaching online has been a game changer for me, especially after leaving my beloved teaching
job in Thailand due to the start of the pandemic. I was able to continue the work that I loved from
the comfort of whichever country I was calling home. My students have given me a unique
glimpse into their own country and have even extended invitations for me to visit! I now have
plans to work remotely in Costa Rica Brazil, Turkey, South Korea and China for my next global
trip. If you are considering teaching online, start today! You never know what adventures may
come from it. 🙂

Learn more about Mia on the Map

Sarah’s Teaching Corner

I started teaching ESL online back in 2017. I was a 2nd grade public school teacher at the time, and I was looking for a way to make some extra money. A year later, I had my daughter and was able to quit my classroom teaching position because of teaching ESL online. I never imagined what teaching ESL online would lead to. I have since gained confidence with teaching online and that has lead me to mentoring and helping other teachers to teaching online. I have also been able to create my own lessons and teach students online outside of ESL teaching. I am so thankful for this journey that I began four years ago. It has lead to me being able to be a stay at home home, flexibility, and added so much freedom to my life!

Learn more about Sarah’s Teaching Corner

Curiously Erin

An image of Erin on a boat — Curious Erin

Teaching English online was the first job that allowed me to work and travel. It was during the time I was living in Asia and went on a 2-week trip around Myanmar. I’d been looking for a digital nomad job for some time and after completing my TEFL certificate and researching companies I found a job with Whales English teaching Chinese children aged 3-12.

The longer I was with the company the more regular students I picked up. I would spend all day exploring Myanmar and make sure I was home by 5 pm to teach. I loved the regular faces and building a rapport with the kids.

The biggest takeaway I got from Whales was that I didn’t need to fit into regular societal norms and could take my work with me around the world. Since starting the work and travel lifestyle I have met and become friends with so many other like-minded people who live this lifestyle.

Learn more about Curiously Erin