Monday, November 19, 2018

Make Money Teaching Online with VIPKID!

Make Money Teaching Online with VIPKID!


It has been just over a couple of months since I started my VIPKID journey. I absolutely love it! At first I was a little suspicious about it being a legit deal, so I did some research. I found that VIPKID hires people to be online teachers for kids in China. They want the kids to learn English correctly, so they hire native English speakers. After feeling comfortable that VIPKID was not some sort of scam, I decided to follow through. I logged onto the sight and started the interview process. I clicked through the questions and was immediately given the option to set up an interview.  The requirements were a bachelors degree and teaching experience. The website that I learned about VIPKID from also mentioned them wanting a commitment of at least 7.5 hours a week, but that was never brought up during the interview process.

My online interview took place 3 days later. I chose to give myself some time, because after the first portion of talking with an interviewer I had to do a lesson. I wanted to be sure I was prepared. It was pretty easy. The interviewer acted like a student from China as I went through a lesson that was provided. The key is that you definitely need to be energetic, animated, talk slowly, smile, and use TPR (total physical response – hand gestures). At the end of the interview I was offered a position and given my pay rate. I was also told that I would need to submit all of my documents, and pass a mock lesson before I could start teaching.

I didn’t pass my first interview, which was a bit nerve racking, but It didn’t seem like a realistic expectation for me to have passed it the first time through. I had no idea what I was doing. Teaching online is definitely different than teaching in the classroom. Anyways, the tips I got after my first mock interview and tips from YouTube videos were very helpful. I passed the second time.

I have to say, that it was quite a process getting started. If you are a quick learner I’m sure you will find the process much easier. I have to study hard for everything. Anyways, I was ready to start teaching. This is probably the stage in which most new hires get discouraged. They have gone through the process and are ready to start rolling in the bucks. That doesn’t always happen right away. It takes time for parents to know you are out there. I only wanted part-time, so a slow start was fine with me. As it turned out, I was pretty lucky. I spent my wait time getting a couple more certificates. You are certified to teach certain types of classes. It was about 2 weeks after passing my mock lesson that all my open slots started getting booked. This is about 15 hours a week, which equals 30 classes. That is plenty for me, because again I only want part-time.



Okay, so there are some other things to know if you are considering  a job with VIPKID. First are the hours, remember that you are teaching kids in China. I live in Arizona, so it is a 15 hour time difference. The kids go to school during the day, so that means VIPKID teachers need to be available during the very early morning hours. Their weekends are our Friday and Saturday, so all-nighters are a definite option.  Basically, the hours are ruff.

The pay is good, especially since you get to work from home. It varies based on your experience. I have classroom experience with a Masters in Education. I have a Bilingual supplement, but I am not a certified ESL teacher. My pay is $10.50 for a 25 minute class (5 minutes feedback/prep) x 2 is $21.00 an hour. This rate is broken up. It is a base pay of $8.50 plus $2.00 of incentives. It equals up to a pretty good check for part-time work. I get paid twice a month.

At VIPKID you are considered self employed with a 6 month contract. You get to choose when you want to work, but remember our daytime is their nighttime. That means this is not an 8-5 job. Being self employed also means the company does not offer employee benefits. There are lots of incentives though if you want to do the extra work.
Having a reliable internet service, a good computer, good headphones, and a good camera is important. If you don’t have these things then teaching can be a bit of a challenge. The bad part is that you can get dinged for it. Internet issues could cause you to miss a class. This could mean getting charged for it, or it just showing on your record. I don’t know how much of an impact that has on your VIPKID journey, but the fear is not having your contract renewed after 6 months.

As all teachers know, prep time is part of the teaching gig. I think the amount of prep time that you put in as a teacher really depends on what you feel comfortable with. Also, some people have a gift for seeing something one time and remembering it. I don’t have that gift at all! So even though the lessons are on PowerPoint slides, I still have to spend time looking through each lesson and getting my props ready. I know that the longer I teach with VIPKID the less I will have to prep for a lesson, but at this point it still takes time.

Lastly, the best part of teaching with VIPKID is the kids. There are some that are a challenge, but understandably. They are tired after a long day and are listening to someone that they may not understand. Other students are so fun! They are excited about learning and just bring a smile to your face. You leave the class hoping  that they will book you again.

Okay, since this post is already way longer than I had planned, I will stop. I hope that you find this information helpful. Good luck! Anna


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