View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
markc
Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Taiwan
|
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:24 am Post subject: Freelance Online Teaching |
|
|
I've read the interesting thread on online teaching and I noticed that all of the respondents have been working for, or considering working for, companies.
Has anyone here ever set up their own freelance online teaching operation? This is something I'm interested in, although the technical aspects are something I know little about. I would like to teach up to two students at a time. The biggest difficulty I see is finding the students, although I think I may be able to find some in some of the countries I've taught in by word of mouth.
Does anyone here have this kind of experience? Any thoughts? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
markc
Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Taiwan
|
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 3:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
I guess not.
I think relatively few teachers work for themselves - either online or offline. It's harder in some ways, but gives certain freedom. I've worked freelance and had my own language schools, but not yet online. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
jda
Joined: 11 Dec 2010 Posts: 13
|
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've set up my own operation. It's taken me a lot of time and effort but I now have a website that gets lesson requests everyday. I'm looking at expanding and taking on more students.
It's quite easy getting a template and building a site. But without spending quite a bit on advertising, it's quite difficult to bring in students. The online teaching industry is growing and recently some ebooks have appeared that give you the 'secrets' to teaching English online!
Some sites seem to only really offer conversational lessons but others are quite sophisticated. PM me if you want to ask me more about online lessons. _________________ spoken English tips |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
markc
Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Taiwan
|
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the information jda. Your site looks good. I do have a couple more questions, I'll pm you later. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JamesAtRealize

Joined: 09 Sep 2010 Posts: 118 Location: Kobe, Sanomiya, Japan
|
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
do you mean skype lessons? that kind of thing?
student retention might be challenging.
I'm surprised how many of my students used to do skype lessons, tried them a short time and then bailed because it was not authentic enough or some other reason. _________________ マンツーマン 英会話 神戸 三宮 リアライズ - James |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
markc
Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Taiwan
|
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yes, using skype. Why would retention be harder for students learning online? What reasons did your students give for dropping out? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JamesAtRealize

Joined: 09 Sep 2010 Posts: 118 Location: Kobe, Sanomiya, Japan
|
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
quality of conversation was one, delays causing confusions, inability to share a textbook easily, a few other things like that I guess
There were also some people that needed a more human connection, for which English lessons are also a social event and they don't feel that with skype, it was too cold for them.
Also maintaining motivation with an activity outside your home is easier, like people who go to the gym vs owning weights in your garage. _________________ マンツーマン 英会話 神戸 三宮 リアライズ - James |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
markc
Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Taiwan
|
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
I agree that online lessons would not be for everyone. I think they would be best for a motivated adult student. I think some software allows for sharing of materials. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JamesAtRealize

Joined: 09 Sep 2010 Posts: 118 Location: Kobe, Sanomiya, Japan
|
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah there's great software for that but then it's targeting adult, motivated, technically somewhat-savy students. It feels like a huge minority when I think of my student base lol.
Then again, it does feel more ideal for a busy business man, which there are a lot of! _________________ マンツーマン 英会話 神戸 三宮 リアライズ - James |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
zoeharrison
Joined: 24 Feb 2011 Posts: 1
|
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:24 am Post subject: online teaching secrets? |
|
|
jda - do you know the title of a good ebook that outlines the secrets?
also, congrats on having a successful website that gets daily requests. what is your secret? do you advertise?
jda wrote: | I've set up my own operation. It's taken me a lot of time and effort but I now have a website that gets lesson requests everyday. I'm looking at expanding and taking on more students.
It's quite easy getting a template and building a site. But without spending quite a bit on advertising, it's quite difficult to bring in students. The online teaching industry is growing and recently some ebooks have appeared that give you the 'secrets' to teaching English online!
Some sites seem to only really offer conversational lessons but others are quite sophisticated. PM me if you want to ask me more about online lessons. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Nelly English
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 2
|
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
I would like to comment on Skype on line teaching.
I have had a few local students, introduced to me, and they were quite surprised by the quality of the teaching. They never expected it to be so interactive.
I believe that you cannot JUST teach online, you need lots of experience in
teaching first. Then you need to be able to visualize the student's position and fill in the void. In the beginning it was utterly exhausting for me, but now I have
it down pat.
However, with a total stranger in another country I think there would be a lot
of setting up before lessons could take place.
I am in the process of setting up my own site, but would really appreciate advice on how to advertise, and would like to know if the earlier post spent a lot of money on advertising, or can some of it be done for free!
Good Luck to anybody out there going on such a venture, but plan and foresee before you take the step. You need to deliver quality.
NE |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
lakers100
Joined: 29 Mar 2011 Posts: 1
|
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yes online teaching could be possible. My friend, even though he is not yet a graduate (but I don't know if he has a certificate about online teaching), he teaches korean people how to speak english. I think he's earning 5-10$ per hour of teaching. That's actually a great amount of money already.
Skype would be a good way of communicating and for the materials, I still don't have any idea of transferring them in the most comfortable way.
I guess he found this job in outsourcing sites like oDesk, Freelancer, Elance, etc. _________________ Offshore Outsourcing Guidelines |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|