Author: Roselle Brennan

Hi everyone,

It’s Audrey, but you probably know me as @travelrichmoneypoor! I completed my certificate with i-to-i TEFL in 2018 and have had no problems finding a job (or jobs I should say!) since then. In the past four years, I have taught at a Bilingual Kindergarten in Milan as well as with multiple companies online, and I’m now mainly freelancing. During the past three years, I’ve been accepted to three different online teaching platforms, so I know a LOT about the application process. Today I’m going to take you through how you can apply and land some amazing TEFL jobs.

Step One: Pick the right TEFL course

Step number one is extremely important and before you can pick the right TEFL course for you, you need to have an idea of who/what you want to teach. For example, it’s a bad idea to complete a 120-hour TEFL qualification if you want to teach Business English and IELTS, as the 120-hour doesn’t contain any specialist training in these. You’d be better off going for a 420-hour qualification that does!

So, before you select your course, make sure it will get you where you want to go. Want more information on the different types of TEFL courses out there and what they include? Check out i-to-i’s courses page! Eager to find out which course is your perfect match, and want to know right now? Fill in this quick 2-minute quiz and it will tell you!

Step Two: Find the right school/company for you

This is a SUPER important step as well. Please do not be one of those people that will apply to every job possible without researching each school or company… Why? Each school or company has it’s own rules and regulations, a different way that they teach, and different students that they teach. I personally love teaching children so I wouldn’t waste my time, or a potential employer’s, applying to schools or companies that solely teach adults.

This is also when you need to decide whether you’re looking to teach online or in-person overseas, as this will affect which schools/companies you look at and apply to.

Step Three: Set up the perfect profile and/or CV

Whether you need a profile and a CV, or just a CV, will depend on whether you’re looking to teach online or overseas.

When it comes to online teaching, you’ll usually need both. I like to break it down like this: A profile is for your potential students to read about you while a CV is strictly for the company’s eyes! Your profile is like a public version of your CV that you build on the company’s platform, so your potential students can check out what you have to offer.  Your profile will be a little bit more relaxed, friendly, and engaging (compared to a traditional CV) and not excessively formal. Think of it as chatting with a friend. But don’t forget to mention, in this chat, all your transferrable skills, your experience within the field, and what you learned during your TEFL certificate. If you are applying to a children’s platform you can make your profile more inviting with emojis!

For your TEFL CV for both online and overseas positions, make sure you don’t include any emojis! It should be professional, in a logical format, free of mistakes (proofread a few times before you send it!), and detail all your relevant experience and why you’re the best candidate for the job. Want some more top tips on creating the perfect CV? Head to this useful blog.

Step Four: Put in a great application and ace your interview!

The application process will differ slightly, depending on whether you’re applying for online or overseas roles, so I’ve laid out the different structures below:

In-Person Teaching Jobs

Application

Once you have received your TEFL certificate, researched a few schools to apply to, and created your CV… it’s time to write a Cover Letter for each individual school. What is a Cover Letter? A Cover Letter is where you write a brief summary to a specific school (in letter format) telling them why you are the best candidate for the job. In the summary you can share more of your experiences, why you think you are the perfect match for this specific school, and how their schools values align with your own. With this Cover Letter you really want to show the school you have done your research and are motivated to work for them!! Once your CV and Cover Letters have been completed it’s time to send in your application!

Want some top tips for writing cover letters? Check out this blog.

Interview

Great work! You have made it to the next stage of the job application, the interview! Dress professionally, make sure you research key TEFL interview questions, practice some answers, and think of key questions to ask your interviewer. This is make or break time and you want to make a good first impression.  So, make sure you have prepped and are ready to go! The school might ask you to perform a quick demo class as well. They will either send you a structure ahead of your interview to follow, or they will just ask you on the spot! I recommend checking out other demo lessons from the same school on YouTube and then practice doing your own versions (don’t just copy and paste!), until you’re comfortable planning and delivering them.

Want more tips on mastering your TEFL interview? Check out this blog.

Online Teaching Jobs:

Now that you have found a few companies to apply to online, it’s time you create your profile for each company.

Fill in Basic Information and Profile
This step shouldn’t be too difficult! You are going to write a profile that shares your experience as a teacher, what Certificate you hold, and your teaching style! Once you have done this it’s time for your intro video.

Create An Introduction Video
I like to have two introduction videos: one for adults and one for kids! Make sure to keep them generic (no company logos and or saying the company’s name so you can use them for multiple platforms). Make sure to dress professionally, have your camera at eye level, good natural lighting, and have an idea of what you are going to say. Note that I said have an “idea of what to say” – it’s important that you’re not reading from a script. A script will force you to become uncomfortable if you miss anything, will encourage you to be more monotonous in your voice (think boring teacher voice), and will make your eyes move oddly as you read from your script! Instead have a few talking points that prompt you and aim for around 2 minutes (as people will struggle to concentrate for much longer if English isn’t their first language). Top tip? DO NOT EVER put music over the top of your video. It will imply that you’re not confident enough in what you have to say and it could be really distracting/make it difficult for non-English speakers to understand what you’re saying. Speak slowly and make sure your pronunciation is perfect, your employers and students are watching!

Want some more top tips for intro videos? Check out this blog.

Prep Your Demo Classes
This is the fun but nerve-wracking part! The demo class or lesson is where you are going to showcase your skills to your future company and give them an demonstration of how you will be as a teacher. Make sure to give yourself enough time to practice beforehand. Do NOT schedule your demo class for the day after you find out you need to do it. You’ll need to create a background, make props, and practice, practice, practice!! So, you’ll need time to do this. I recommend that you practice at least two hours a day until your interview, so you have memorized what you’re teaching and the information will flow more naturally. If you’re nervous you can always check out examples from this specific company on YouTube to use as a reference point.

Want some more pointers about demo classes? Check out this blog.

Well, that’s all I have for you and I hope it helps! Best of luck with all your job interviews, and if you ever need any pointers just head to my Instagram @travelrichmoneypoor!

Already qualified and ready to start applying for roles? Head to the LoveTEFL Jobs Board to start your search!

It’s been two months since I left my belongings in storage and travelled to South-East Asia with nothing but a 40L backpack and my laptop! My name is Tab (@whereistab on Instagram) and I’m a full-time backpacker and digital nomad, which means that I spend my time travelling the world and working remotely. How do I fund my travels? By Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)! Working from your laptop on a Thai island or Vietnamese mountaintop sounds heavenly, but what’s the real story? Here’s everything I’ve learned about how to work from – almost – anywhere.

How to get started as a digital nomad

Don’t skip the fundamentals! Being a digital nomad offers freedom, flexibility, and endless travel opportunities – but it also requires lots of organisation. As a self-employed TEFL teacher, you are responsible for paying tax in your home country and filing any necessary paperwork. Make sure to do your research and get your freelancer career off to a flying start.

After you’ve qualified as a TEFL teacher, it’s time to put the hours in. Full-time travel is full of new experiences and plenty of challenges, so it’s a good idea to test your digital nomad set-up whilst you’re settled in your home country and get comfortable teaching online. I spent six months teaching English online in the UK before I booked my flights to Asia. That gave me plenty of time to get familiar with lesson planning, student support and time management before jumping into the nomadic lifestyle.

If you’re looking for advice on how to find your first remote teaching role, check out this article about teaching English online.

What equipment does a digital nomad need?

My number one digital nomad tip for solo travellers and full-time backpackers? Pack LIGHT! A 40L backpack might seem tiny but after lugging my bag around Asia for two months, I can honestly say I’m grateful it’s not even one pound heavier!

In my experience, here’s all you need to succeed as a travelling TEFL teacher:

• A laptop with a decent webcam
• Headphones with mic (preferably in-ear, as they take up less space)

Yes… that’s it! Although I used a ring light, laptop stand and keyboard/mouse as an online teacher in the UK, this equipment simply takes up unnecessary space when travelling. Whilst on the road, I typically raise my laptop’s webcam to eye-level with whatever I can find in my hotel room and try to teach in front of a window to ensure good lighting.

Where can a digital nomad work?

The simple answer: almost anywhere! All you need is some privacy and a good internet connection. Here is a top tip for finding cheap hotels to teach from: filter your search on Booking.com to show “laptop-friendly workspace”, and tick “I am travelling for work”. You will be shown properties that were popular with other digital nomads! In addition, make sure you check the reviews for mentions of WiFi – nothing is more frustrating than poor WiFi whilst you’re trying to deliver a class.

What happens when the WiFi fails? Even though broadband speed is typically very reliable in South-East Asia, anything can happen. Blackouts and internet lag are not unheard of! It’s a good idea to choose a SIM card with unlimited data and the option to hotspot when you arrive in a new country. These packages are surprisingly cheap (around £10, or $13 USD) and will allow you to have a back-up in case of emergency. The show must go on…

How does a digital nomad balance work and fun?

This was a huge learning curve for me! When I started my digital nomad journey two months ago, I struggled to keep on top of my professional life whilst enjoying the backpacker experience to the fullest. I remember sadly waving off my friends as they went to a waterfall whilst I sat in my empty room, preparing to teach. The FOMO (fear of missing out…) was real, but I quickly realised that my lifestyle was a privilege, not a curse! Whilst other backpackers had worked for months to afford this trip, I was funding my travels in real time. Their trip would end, but mine could continue for as long as I wanted! What’s more, I felt connected to my life back home as I have a wonderful relationship with my students – seeing them was like seeing old friends.

I recommend staying in different accommodation depending on your schedule. On teaching days, I enjoy the privacy and comfort of an Airbnb or hotel room. On my days off, I stay in hostels and connect with likeminded travellers. This allows me to balance work and play and focus my attention on whatever I’m doing. When I stay in hostels, I make the most of the backpacker experience (sightseeing, nights out and cheap dorm rooms!) When I stay in hotels, I can teach in privacy, catch up on emails, and get some rest.

Can anyone be a digital nomad?

Being a travelling teacher is a unique lifestyle! The digital nomad experience is not for everyone. In my opinion, here are some of the key qualities for a freelance TEFL teacher looking to travel:

• Organisation. You should be highly organised and able to multi-task between travel and teaching. After all, they both require a lot of planning! You can use tools like Google Calendar to manage your time.
• Flexibility. Things change! WiFi drops out, a hotel is overbooked, your new destination has no workspace – be prepared to turn on a dime, and try to see the funny side when things go wrong.
• Independence. Digital nomads spend plenty of time alone in hotel rooms. If you enjoy your own company and are able to motivate yourself to work hard, you’ll find it easier to adjust to the freelancer lifestyle.
• Responsibility. Even though you are island hopping and jumping on a plane or boat every few days, your students need to be able to rely on you! Try to respond to messages quickly and show up to classes prepared and on time.

The past few months has been full of useful lessons, and I’m learning more about being a successful digital nomad every single day. Teaching whilst travelling has allowed me to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and I feel so lucky to make a living from my laptop. Here’s the secret… you can do it too! Get in touch with the i-to-i team to start your digital nomad journey today.

Want to find out more about Tab’s teaching and travel experiences? You can follow her on Instagram and YouTube, and check out her blog here!

Let’s start with the why. Why should you want to complete your TEFL certification online instead of in person? Lots of reasons really but to name a few…

• You can work around your existing schedule – no need to take blocks of time off work to attend in-person classes or run yourself ragged trying to drive, bike, or walk to a class after work. With online courses, you can just log on whenever you’re free, at whatever time of day, and carry on where you left off.
• You can study from wherever you are in the world – as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, you can complete your course! So, you don’t need to worry about missing classes if you decide to travel for a while or move house.
• More for your money – online courses tend to be cheaper than in-classroom courses as providers don’t need to hike up their prices to cover additional expenses, such as classroom rental costs.
• Excellent signposting – because the information is already online, it’s easier to include really useful links to lots of different online teaching resources. You can save these on your computer/laptop and use them for your own classes, once you’re working as a TEFL teacher.
• Complete your course more quickly – you’ll be setting the pace, so this means you could complete your course as quickly as you’d like. This means you could be earning good money as a TEFL teacher before you know it!

Now we’ve got that sorted, let’s find out HOW you get your TEFL certification online!

First off, for those that don’t know, an ESL teacher teaches English as a Second Language (ESL). This is basically the exact same thing as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), just worded slightly differently! Thinking of becoming an ESL teacher? That’s a great idea! And we can help you get started.

Keep reading for our easy 5-step guide to getting qualified and finding your first job as an ESL teacher…

1. Find the right course provider

This is such an important one, as the provider you pick will be preparing you to become a well-rounded ESL teacher! They should be very experienced, fully accredited by a government-affiliated body (like Ofqual in the UK), and dedicated to you as a student – providing tutor support throughout the course and assisting with job applications once you qualify (handy hint: i-to-i offers all this and more!).

As tempting as it might be to go for a super cheap provider (we know times are tough!), it often turns out to be false economy. The qualifications you get from cheap providers are rarely accredited and, therefore, highly likely to be rejected by reputable ESL employers around the world. This means, after all that time and effort, you won’t even be able to use the qualification to earn money. So, you’ll be back to where you started! Better to do your research initially and make sure your course provider is the right one before you invest.

Once you think you’ve found the right one, make sure you check out their reviews on independent review sites, such as reviews.io and trustpilot, to get confirmation from current and past students that it’s a good one to pick! And if you can get in touch with the course provider before you buy, even better! Speaking to ESL teaching experts, like ours at i-to-i, can really help you make the decision. They will also be able to answer any questions you might have about becoming an ESL teacher.

2. Pick your perfect course

There are lots of different TEFL courses out there per provider, so which one do you pick?

Some employers will advertise that they only require a minimum of 120hours at Level 3. So, do you really need to go for more hours and a more comprehensive qualification (e.g. a Level 5 Advanced Diploma)? This depends on what you want to do with your TEFL course! We’ve included a quick breakdown of two courses below, to give you an idea of which one might be best for you:

• Level 5 420hour Advanced Diploma
  • Perfect if you want to be an ESL teacher in more competitive locations, as it’s a Level 5 qualification (Foundation degree-equivalent according to Ofqual)!
  • Ideal if you want to access the higher ESL teacher salaries – it contains specialist modules in coaching IELTS and teaching Business English (the more lucrative areas of ESL teaching)
  • Great if you want to teach online – it contains a specialist module in teaching online and one-to-one

• Level 3 120hour Certificate
  • Perfect if you want to get qualified quickly (can be completed in as little as 4 weeks)
  • Great if you’re looking for entry-level or volunteer ESL teacher positions
  • Ideal if you want to cover all the essentials of teaching ESL

You don’t have to decide on your own though! Good course providers will have TEFL experts for you to speak to, who will be able to go through your options and advise which course might be the best fit for your needs. Not a fan of phone calls? No worries! Check out our quick 2-minute course matching quiz to see which one is your perfect fit.

3. Work through the course (and pass!)

Now for the main event… You’ve done your research and enrolled on your course, so it’s time to get stuck in and work your way through all the modules, testing your knowledge with quizzes and assignments as you go. And, if you picked the right course provider, you won’t be completely on your own! You should have great support available from qualified tutors as well as academic and customer support teams. They will be able to assist you with any technical difficulties you might experience, any queries you may have about your course content, and be able to provide you with comprehensive feedback on your assignments.

With this level of support, you’ll be able to pass your course in no time and you’ll feel properly prepared for life as an ESL teacher!

4. Decide where/how you want to teach

You’re qualified – wahoo! Now you just need to decide where you’d like to be an ESL teacher and how you’d prefer to teach. Do you want to teach ESL online from home, around your current job and/or schedule? Would you prefer to be a digital nomad, teaching online and travelling the world? Or do you think you’d prefer a more traditional ESL learning environment, such as teaching in a classroom abroad?

There are lots of ESL teacher job options open to you, so it’s time for a bit more research to see which one would suit you best. Need help deciding? Check out our other blog posts about teaching abroad, being a digital nomad, and teaching online to help you figure it out! You can also take one of our quick quizzes:

• Teach Abroad quiz
• Teach Online quiz

5. Apply for ESL teacher roles

Then, the final step before you can get paid for teaching English is finding the right ESL teacher job!

And, although it might seem daunting, it’s really no different from applying for any other role. You’ll need to have a stellar CV/resume (check out our other blog post for top tips on how to create the perfect ESL CV/resume) and you’ll need to adapt this and your cover letter for each position you apply for. Then, if you’re successful, you’ll go through an interview process before being offered an ESL role. Pretty standard, right?

So, where do you start your job search? There are a number of ways to do it:

• Online ESL Jobs Boards – there are plenty of ESL-focused jobs boards out there where you’ll find all the latest ESL teacher jobs. The best place to start is LoveTEFL Jobs.com. It’s really easy to use and you’ll be able to find both abroad and online vacancies on there!
• Contacting Schools directly – this is great if you’re looking to teach abroad as, even if they don’t have any immediate vacancies, they’ll have you in mind for when positions open up. It can be quite time consuming though, and you’ll have to be organised!
• Recruitment agencies – one of the most straightforward ways of finding a job, as they will do all the leg work for you and can help chase for responses. It’s worth noting, however, that they do take a fee for placement (usually from the employer) and this might affect your employment package. In other words, you might not be getting as many benefits as you would if you went direct.
• Internships – Not ready to go it alone yet? Would you prefer a bit more support and to have everything organised for you? Then an ESL Internship could be perfect for you! With internships, you’re fully supported the whole way through. From starting your application until you finish your placement – the process is stress-free!

Just remember, if you picked a good course provider (like i-to-i!), you shouldn’t be alone at this stage either! There should be full support available from an in-house Jobs Team. They will be able to check over your CV and make sure everything is in tip-top TESL shape before you apply.

After you land your dream role, you’ll officially be an ESL teacher! Congrats!

“So, how long does it take to get TEFL certified?” This is a question we hear a lot and it’s a fair one! We know you’re eager to get started with your plans, whether than involves teaching online from the comfort of your own home, teaching online as a digital nomad while you travel the world, or teaching in classrooms abroad, so it makes sense that you want to know how long it will take you to get there.

Online vs Classroom

First off, online courses vs classroom courses. The learning method you choose will make the biggest difference to how long it takes you to get your TEFL certification. Online courses are much faster, as the material is available to you 24/7 and you can study at your own pace. You’re also less likely to miss study sessions with online courses than you might be with physical classes – for example, if the teacher is unwell, or your car breaks down, or you’re running late from work etc. (it happens more often than you might think!). This is important because the fewer sessions you miss, the sooner you can qualify.

In-person courses are also more expensive, so you might have to save up for a while before you can get started, delaying your teaching career further.

Additional factors

There are also a number of additional factors that will affect the time it takes to get your TEFL certification, once you’ve decided to take an online course. These include:

• How much training you want to do – the longer the course, the longer it will take to complete (seems obvious, but it’s worth mentioning!)
• How much time you can dedicate to studying per week – the more time you can dedicate, the faster you’ll progress through the course material
• Your willingness to reach out and ask for help if you get stuck – if you don’t like to ask for help, you’re more likely to halt or delay your progress if you find something you don’t understand or can’t work through on your own
• How quickly you work through the material – if you’re the type of person that reads extremely quickly and powers through study material, then you’ll probably work through the course more quickly than the average person. And the reverse also applies – if you like to take your time and absorb everything at a slower pace, you’ll progress more slowly (but that’s OK! Better to make sure you understand everything first!)

Average timescales

Despite all these additional factors, we can give you an average of how long it’s taken other people to complete each of our online courses. This will give you some idea of how long it might take to get TEFL certified before you get started:

500-hour Level 5 Advanced TEFL Diploma

This course has an average completion time of 15-24 weeks, but you could be earning in as little as 6 weeks into the course, as you’ll get an initial certificate after you complete the first 180 hours. With this certificate you can apply for online teaching roles, so you can earn while you continue to work through your course and increase your hourly teaching rate as you increase your qualification level.

420-hour Level 5 Advanced TEFL Diploma

The average time taken to complete this course is 12-20 weeks but, as with the 500-hour course, you’ll receive a certificate after you complete the first 180 hours (usually around 6 weeks in) so you can earn while you study!

300-hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma

This course usually takes around 8-16 weeks to complete.

180-hour Level 5 TEFL Certificate

Our 180-hour course takes an average of 4-8 weeks to complete.

120-hour Level 3 TEFL Certificate

With our shortest course, you could get your TEFL certification in just 2-6 weeks (!!), as this is the average time it has taken past students to complete.

Things to remember

Don’t forget to take into account that if you can study your course full-time, you could complete it in less time than the average person. And, conversely, if you find you don’t have much time in the week to dedicate to learning, or something unexpected happens to interrupt your studies for a period of time, it might take you a bit longer than the average person. The timings given above are just rough guides to give you an idea of what is possible, if you’re able to study part-time and continuously.

Remember, you have a whole host of support teams behind you if you take a course with i-to-i, who will help you to get TEFL certified more quickly. From our TEFL Course Experts, who will help you select the right course for your needs, to our Customer Support team, who can help you with any technical issues you might have with the course, and our Academic Support team and Tutors, who are available to answer any questions you might have about the course material and provide comprehensive feedback on your assignments. The more support you have, the less likely you are to get stuck and the more motivated you’ll feel – so you’ll be more likely to complete your course in record time!

Want some top tips for completing your course? Check out South African TEFL teacher Samukelisiwe’s blog post.

Now you know how long it takes to get TEFL certified, are you ready to get started? Head to our courses webpage to select your course or arrange for a free call back from one of our TEFL experts, if you have questions or would like some advice on which is the right one for you.

You received your TEFL certificate, want to travel the world, and don’t want to have any restrictions imposed on you… It sounds like you want to be a freelance teacher my friend! Let me help you!

Hi everyone, my name is Audrey but you probably know me as @travelrichmoneypoor. Last month I gave you some insight on everything you needed to know before starting your TEFL journey. Well today I am going to give you some information about how to become a FREELANCE TEFL TEACHER! Usually you hear about people receiving their certificate and moving abroad to teach or working online for a company, but today we are going to focus on another aspect of TEFL teaching. 

So, what is Freelance TEFL Teaching?

Freelance TEFL teaching means that you DO NOT work for an established company, like Cambly or Palfish. Freelancing simply means that you work for yourself: you find your own clients, make your own rules, and decide your own schedule and rates. Sounds good, right?

Why should I become a Freelance Teacher?

I have helped over 130 people become online TEFL teachers working with platforms. I, myself, have worked on online platforms and made great money doing so. However, I always recommend freelancing to people. Why? 

1. You can make more money

Online platforms pay anywhere from US$10 to US$24 an hour. My current cost per hour is US$40 (which is usually what the platform charges the parents 😉 and then takes their cut off the top of your wage)!

2. You don’t have to worry about fines

Some companies, not all, will fine you if you cancel last minute or have technology problems. If you’re a freelancer you don’t have to pay fines to anyone so, if you have a problem, you can always give a few extra minutes for free! For example, if I have a problem with WiFi (it happens no matter who you are) I can offer my students that amount of time they lost in their next class. If I have to cancel last minute, I could offer a free class. Either way, NO money is taken away from your wallet. And, trust me, your students will be happier when they get their full teaching time or a free session. 

3. You can be more flexible with your schedule

You do not have a minimum hour requirement as a freelance teacher, and some employers do. For example, I went to America for 3 months and I work with lots of students in China, which is 16 hours ahead! When I had to drop some students to once a week instead of twice a week OR I was in a place with no WiFi and had to take a week off, I never had to worry that I was going to lose my job for not meeting the minimum hour requirements. 

4. You can teach ANYTHING and ANYWHERE

That is right! You can teach group lessons, 1:1 lessons, adults, kids, teens, businesses, or any subject in English. The sky is the limit! And you get to decide the curriculum, so you can really tailor it to your students and make sure they find the lessons interesting. It’s a great opportunity to be creative and really build on your existing skillset.  

You can also teach from anywhere! As a freelancer, you’ll be setting your own schedule and deciding when and where you get to work, so you can travel while you teach and explore amazing new places in your time off.

This all sounds amazing, how do I get started?

It’s super simple, as everything you need to become a freelance TEFL teacher, you would need to become a regular (with an employer) online TEFL teacher anyway. To get started, you will need:   

1. A Laptop, Desktop, or Tablet
2. Strong Internet Connection 
3. A background with props, if you are teaching kids
4. A professional or “plain” background, if you are teaching adults
5. A quiet space to teach
6. Premade lesson plans to make your life easier!!! You DO NOT become a freelance teacher charging €40 an hour to work 3 hours outside of class prepping. That would drop your hourly wage right back down to €10 an hour. Do not do it, trust me. Buy the premade lesson plans. 

Okay, I have everything I need… except students, help!

Don’t you worry! This is actually a lot easier than you think, if you are willing to put in the work. Here are my top tips for stress-free ways of finding students to teach:

• Reach out to friends and family: Did you know that you can still tutor English while living in a native English country… how? 
  1. Tutor Children and Teenagers that could be struggling in school
  2. Put on a homework club, not all parents have the time to help their children
  3. Teach foreigners! That’s right in every single country there are people from abroad! Teach them

• Know someone that lives in a foreign country? Send them your flyer and ask them if they wouldn’t mind spreading the word! 

• Create an Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook where you make short educational English videos. Make sure in these profiles you link your schedule.

• Live in a town or city? Post on the cities Facebook group! I did this and in one week had 13 private students! 

• Post flyers around the city you are living in! This is old fashioned but it works

• Promote yourself with Instagram, TikTok or Facebook ads. I recommend that, before you do this, you have a legitimate website set up that looks professional. If not, people might think it’s a scam

• The last and most important… WORD OF MOUTH! Have a student? Ask them to spread the words to their friends! And make sure you have a referral program!

A referral what?!

Just what I said, a referral program. Now bear with me here… I know you aren’t a coffee shop or your favorite sandwich shop… but what do you have in common with them!? YOU ARE BOTH SMALL BUSINESSES! Their referral program might look a bit different, usually these places will have punch cards and then eventually when you hit 10 purchases you get something for free, but the concept should be the same. Why? Because it works!

If my friend asks me to go for a coffee, I am more likely to recommend the place I have a punch card to. Why? Because eventually I will get something for free AND, if I decide to be nice and pay for my friend, I will get not one but TWO punches on my punch card. So I get a reward for doing something I want to do (get coffee) and I get to save money. I feel valued and I like the rewards, so I’m more likely to keep going there and recommend it to others.

Do you see where I am going with this? If not, keep reading… Give your students an incentive to bring their friends to you. Eric brought me a student, BOOM, Eric gets 25% off 1 package of classes. Wow, Eric saves money and he likes that. BOOM Eric brought in another student, because he likes me as a teacher, loves that I value his input, and still enjoys saving money! Then the students Eric brought in recommend me too, as they feel valued and like saving money. And this happens again and again. Eventually your schedule will be full and you won’t need the referral program any longer. Remember that this incentive is off 1 package of classes, not every class from now until forever. This means you’re still earning good money and it’s a much cheaper way of advertising your services. People also tend to trust word of mouth a lot more than other sources, so they are more likely to take the recommendation in the first place! 

And that’s everything you need to know about Freelancing as a TEFL Teacher!

That’s it. 

It is that simple. 

Do NOT overcomplicate things for yourself and get ready to enjoy your job! 

I wish you the best on your journey to becoming a Freelance TEFL Teacher and make sure you keep me posted on your progress via my account @travelrichmoneypoor.

Want to find out more about freelancing? Check out our free guide to freelancing as a TEFL teacher. 

Need a course that includes some specialist freelance training? Check out our 500-hour Advanced TEFL Diploma!