Have you been thinking about teaching English online but aren’t sure where to begin? I’ve been teaching online since 2020, and I know it can feel a little overwhelming when you’re just starting out. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through five simple steps to help you get started teaching English online in 2025.
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission if you make a purchase using one of my links – at no extra cost to you! This helps me continue to create free content for teachers. Thank you!
1. Decide What to Teach Online (Your Niche/Specialty)
To begin, the first thing you need to do is decide what you’re going to teach. This is the most important step! The biggest mistake that I see new ESL teachers making is teaching “conversation classes” or “all levels.” Do NOT do this!
Instead, you’ll want to choose a niche or specialty. For example, you could specialize in:
- Business English for Lawyers
- IELTS Test Prep English
- Hospitality English
- English for B2 Level Spanish Speakers
So, how do I choose my specialty?
First, think about what you’re passionate about teaching. What can you imagine teaching over and over again? I chose to focus on Test Prep English as my niche because I love helping my students succeed and challenging them to improve their language level. It’s hard work, but very rewarding!
Next, consider what you are qualified to teach. What is your degree in? If you have a medical background, for example, then teaching Medical English for Nurses or Doctors could be a fantastic specialty.
If you want to teach ESL online and aren’t certified yet, I highly recommend getting TEFL certified. My favorite course for online teachers is The TEFL Academy because it can be completed online at your own pace. You can use the code ESL365 at checkout to get an extra 10% off.
If you’d like to teach Test Prep English online like me, then I recommend International TEFL Academy’s Test Prep Skills 2-week Course to help you better understand this niche. If you’d like to get certified to teach Business English, check out Premier TEFL’s Business English Course.
Finally, check to see what’s in demand. I recommend browsing through teaching marketplaces like Preply to see what types of classes are popular right now. You can also conduct your own market research by creating a Google Form and asking your target students what they struggle with, what types of classes they are looking for, and how often they would like to take classes.
Your niche will be the intersection of all of these things: something you are passionate about teaching, you are qualified to teach, and is in demand.
2. Choose How You Want to Teach English Online
Now that you know what you want to teach, the next step is figuring out how you want to teach it. There are a few different ways you can go about this:
- Online ESL Companies
This is a good option for new ESL teachers. Many online companies provide lesson plans, so you just show up and teach. While companies are great for beginners, the pay tends to be lower (around $10–$15 an hour) and you might not be booked solid. Companies also tend to hire native English speakers, so if you are a non-native speaker I suggest marketplaces or freelancing. For online ESL companies, it isn’t as important to have a niche or specialty.
- Online Teaching Marketplaces
If you’re ready to focus more on your specialty, but aren’t ready to do all of your own marketing, online teaching marketplaces are a good option. On marketplaces, you’ll create an intro video and write a detailed description to attract potential students to your classes. This is where having a niche like Test Prep comes in handy! For most marketplaces, you’ll need to create your own lessons and source your own teaching materials. On marketplaces, you’ll set your own rates and the platform will take a commission between around ~ 15-40%.
Not sure where to find jobs at online ESL companies or marketplaces? Check out my Online Teaching Jobs List.
- Freelance Online Teaching
Freelancing means that you are setting up your own business and finding your own students. There’s no application process. You get to set your own rate (many teachers charge $40+ an hour) and teach exactly what you want to teach. You’ll need a solid plan of how to get students and set up your own business, but if you’re up for it, this is where you can really make more money and have more control. Freelance businesses can also help qualify you for Digital Nomad Visas abroad. You can teach 1:1, small group, pre-recorded lessons – it’s up to you!
I personally started with Freelance Online Teaching because I already had many years of teaching experience. I then added on marketplaces like Outschool and now test out online ESL companies for my YouTube channel. Feel free to try one, or all three! Each online teaching journey is unique, so start wherever you feel comfortable.
3. Get the Equipment You Need to Teach Online
To teach online in 2025, there is some specific equipment that you’ll need. Here’s the good news: You don’t need anything fancy to get started. I recommend starting with what you have and then upgrading as your online teaching business grows! The basics you’ll need are:
- A good internet connection (wired is best and sometimes required by companies)
- A computer, webcam, and headset with a microphone
- Good lighting (sit in front of a window or a simple ring light works great)
- A clean background (can be filled with educational posters if teaching kids or shelves if teaching adults)
Looking for online teaching equipment recommendations at all price points? Check out my Online Teaching Favorites list on Amazon here.
4. Apply to Companies or Set Up Your Freelance Business
Now that your online teaching space is set up, it’s time to apply to online companies, sign up for teaching marketplaces, or set up your freelance business. If you’re a new teacher, I recommend focusing on online companies first. If you’re an experienced teacher, feel free to jump right into marketplaces or freelancing.
Applying to Teach on Online ESL Companies or Marketplaces
For companies and marketplaces, be sure to read all the instructions carefully and take your time with your application. Companies and marketplaces can reject your application if there are grammatical errors or you leave any information incomplete. Each company and marketplace has different requirements and a different application process.
Most companies and platforms will also ask for a demo video (where you teach a sample class) and/or an intro video (where you introduce yourself and explain what students can expect from your classes).
My tips for the intro videos are to write down some bullet points so you know what to talk about in your video, but don’t read a script or memorize. Make sure to inlcude a ‘call to action’ at the end of the video like “book a class with me today” or “sign up for a class using the link.”
For the demo video, use a lot of props if you are teaching kids and choose some fake names to use for your ‘students’ since you may be asked to teach a pretend class. They want to see your teaching style and energy, so focus on that, even if it feels awkward!
Click here to learn where to apply to teach online
Starting Up Your Own Freelance Online Teaching Business
If you’re going the freelance route, you’ll need to lay the foundations for your business by looking at:
- Which platform to teach on like Zoom, Koala, Classin, etc.
- Your booking and payment system such as Calendly, Super Teacher, Stripe, etc.
- How you plan on attracting students like by using social media, local ads, word of mouth, etc.
- Your lesson materials such as ESL Brains, Abridge Academy, Crystal Clear ESL, etc.
- If you need to register your business in your country or state
If you are interested in starting your own freelance online teaching business but need some guidance, you can download my free Freelance Online Teaching Handbook here.
5. Set a Realistic Online Teaching Schedule
The last step is setting up your schedule. I know it’s tempting to open up all your time slots and teach as much as you can, but trust me—start slow. Burnout is real, and you want to enjoy the process. Start with just a few hours a day and build up from there. You can always add more classes once you get the hang of things.
If you start with an online company, think about adding teaching on a marketplace later on when you feel more comfortable. Eventually, freelancing can be the goal, but don’t rush it. Take it one step at a time. I’ve been teaching online for over 4 years and have slowly built up my teaching (and raised my prices!)
Ready to Teach Online in 2025?
So there you have it. These five steps will help you start your online teaching career in 2025 with confidence.
If you’re looking for more support as you start your online teaching journey, I recommend enrolling in my self-paced mini-course Teach Online in 10 Days or scheduling a 1:1 coaching session with me. You can also send me a message on Instagram @eslteacher365.
Can’t wait to see where your online teaching journey takes you!
Happy teaching!
Jamie
