PHOTO BY allyou.com
With the high cost of having a family and raising kids today, one working parent's income may not be enough. Sometimes even with two parents working, the family income can still come up short. In fact, a government report says that an average Filipino family of four will need over P100,000 monthly to have a comfortable life.
While we can heed these tips to manage income and save household expenses, earning extra cash is always on our minds, and we found one possible option you can probably do: become an online English teacher.
Shu Ting, Philippine country manager and co-founder of 51Talk (pronounced as "five-one-talk"), an English Teaching Language (ELT) platform, says they are constantly in need of online teachers, a job that brings in good income and "a fulfillment like no other." The company’s unique teaching platform--home-based, flexible work schedule, and regular and continuous training--is ideal for moms or dads who wants to focus on family and yet bring in the extra bucks while working from home.
Around 60 percent of 51Talk's students--around 100,000--are kids ages 4 to 12 years old from China. It currently employs over 8,000 Filipino home-based teachers across the country. What are the requirements to be an online English teacher?More from Smart Parenting
You don't need a master's degree to qualify.
If you're a college graduate who has a good command of the English language and great communication skills, then are qualified for the job. The company encourages the conversational method of teaching English. But a background on teaching or education units is definitely a plus. 51Talk helps hone your skills via free online training and actual teaching conferences.ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWYou definitely need an Internet connection.
The hardware and Internet connection will be the most expensive investment, but you probably have it anyway. You just need to upgrade to certain specifications like a computer with a webcam and headset, at least 3MBPS Internet connection, and backup power support. The company also takes pride in the tech support they offer their teachers on a regular basis.
We need to emphasize though that you need a quiet corner in your home to do this work. When you're doing the 30-minute air classes (what 51Talk calls online classes), there shouldn't be distractions like barking dogs, blaring car horns, and the like.You can earn P1 million annually.
That's over P80,000 monthly. However, your earnings will depend on how many classes you teach. Teaching hours are usually at night, from 7 to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 9 to 11 p.m. on weekends. You can choose your hours as long as you render a certain number of hours in a 15-day period. Incentives are also given if your students give you a good evaluation.
The good news is Chinese students, especially the young ones, like having Pinoys as teachers. Since the students choose their teachers, and if you teach well, then that means more work for you--ergo, more income!For inquiries, visit 51Talk's website and their Facebook and Instagram.
