How to Teach English while Traveling with VIPKID

 

In 2021, China created new laws regarding international ESL teachers. The information in this article can still be used with other teaching companies, but VIPKid will be changing to accommodate those new laws. I will update my site when more information becomes available.

I have always wanted to be able to work independently in order to travel more. I used to work as a veterinary technician in an animal hospital. Now, I teach English and blog online! I made the switch from an hourly job in a physical building, to working remotely from my computer in October of 2018. I was introduced to the company VIPKID, and immediately fell in love with my new lifestyle. Dozens of people have questioned me about my new job and lifestyle. Here, I will explain to you how VIPKID works, how to earn money, and what the job actually entails. Here’s how to teach English while traveling with VIPKID!

What is VIPKID?

VIPKID is an ESL company (English as a second language) based in Beijing, China. It is a fast-growing, online school where ESL teachers teach one on one with Chinese students. The classes are pre-planned by the company, so there is no lesson planning done by the teachers. All you have to do is review the materials beforehand, and show up with a positive attitude!

How Does it Work?

With VIPKID, the teacher is considered an independent contractor. That means you make your own hours! Accepted teachers open up time slots that they are able to teach, and students will book those open times. Parents and students cannot book you for a time you do not have open without your permission. Teaching English while traveling with VIPKID is incredibly easy because of this flexible schedule!

Each class is taught to an individual student; not an entire classroom. This ensures that the student gets individual attention for their specific needs during the class. The classes are all taught in English, so no Chinese knowledge is needed! Students are often low level. I often feel like Dora the Explorer acting out vocabulary words and actions!

 

There is no minimum or maximum number of hours or classes you have to teach a week; the schedule is entirely up to you! However, teachers do get a bonus by teaching more classes. Each class is 25 minutes long, so that is not difficult to do! Each teaching contract is for 6 months. However, if you decide you do not like the work, simply close all of your time slots, and you will not have to teach.

What Does it Pay?

Teachers make a base pay of $14 to $22 an hour with VIPKID. Your base pay depends solely on your previous teaching experience, and how well you do in your interview. You will definitely want to prepare for that interview, as it decides your pay! Check out Nancy Taylor on YouTube for the best interview tips.

Update: As of 2020, VIPKID has begun a new incentive structure. New teachers automatically receive $7.50 per class, or $15 an hour and receive bonuses based on the number of classes they teach. Below is a photo of the new incentive structure. Feel free to email me with any questions. I know I had a lot!

VIPKID is great about seasonal bonuses and referrals as well. There are often small bonuses every month for opening slots during peak teaching times or teaching during holidays. Teachers who refer other teachers will also get a small bonus as well.

I get asked all the time if VIPKID is a pyramid scheme due to the referral bonuses. I was skeptical at first too, but I can positively say that it is NOT a pyramid scheme. Your pay is not based on referrals. You will still get paid even if you decide to never refer another teacher! Most of your money will come from teaching classes, and it is completely up to you whether you want to refer other teachers or work for extra bonuses.

What you Need to Teach with VIPKID

All potential teachers need a Bachelor’s degree and some kind of teaching experience. The degree does NOT have to be in education or English. I have a degree in Biopsychology! Teaching experience can be anything from tutoring, being a camp counselor, or traditional classroom teaching. If you’ve taught a child something, it counts! A TESOL or TEFL certification is NOT required for this company.

For your classes and your interview, you will need a solid internet connection and a quiet place to teach. Normal household wifi will typically do the trick. They do suggest using an ethernet cable instead of wifi, but I only use wifi. Try to find a plain background to teach in front of, or hang up a background that is educational and not distracting. My “classroom” is a plain wall with my name (Teacher Stacia) on a sign and an alphabet poster!

I highly suggest you invest in a small whiteboard and a hand puppet. I use my whiteboard ($6 on Amazon) in nearly every class I teach! A stuffed animal or hand puppet is useful to mimic answering questions. Remember, these are young Chinese students, so the more you can act out what you want them to do, the better!

For travelers, a portable wifi disc and a ring light will help loads for class quality. Hostel wifi can be spotty or nonexistent, and you always want your face to be fully illuminated. Neither of these are required, but they may make your life easier while teaching on the road! Check out Teacher Erin on YouTube for great tips to teach English while traveling with VIPKID!

Pros and Cons of VIPKID

Pros

I love my new job! It gives me the freedom to move around and still earn a livable income. Choosing my own hours is a huge plus, so there’s no longer the need to approach a boss to ask for time off. The students are typically very sweet, well-behaved, and eager to learn. You will definitely connect with a handful of them, and they will become regular students!

 

There is room for advancement within the company as well. You can work towards different class levels and types, or even become a brand ambassador for VIPKID in the community or on YouTube. VIPKID also offers a free TESOL certification course!

Cons

The interview process can be long and daunting. The company is very particular on who they want to teach for them. They do require teachers to be from the US or Canada, as different accents can confuse beginner Chinese students. Completely booking your teaching slots can take a few weeks as well; it takes time for parents to notice your profile, and for you to create relationships with students.

While you will teach dozens of incredible students, you will occasionally come across a student that you just don’t click with. Inattentive students can be a challenge, and some classes it really feels like you are pulling teeth to get the student to participate. Classes are only 25 minutes long, so those not so fun classes won’t last forever.

Due to teachers being considered independent contractors, the company does not provide health insurance or other benefits. Teachers are also responsible for filing their own taxes at the end of the year. This can be annoying and sometimes difficult, but to me, it’s worth it for the freedom to work from home. Check out this article for information on filing taxes as an independent contractor. (I prefer to use TurboTax to file!)

Depending on where you live, classes can be crazy early in the morning, or even overnight. While home, I teach from 5-9 am EST, which is 5-9 pm Beijing time. Those on the west coast may be getting up as early as 3 am! You may need a lot of coffee to get through your strange new working hours! Students take classes all day on the weekends and during the summer, so you can open dozens of more time slots during those days. If you teach English while traveling with VIPKID, you need to make sure to watch the time zone differences so you don’t miss classes!

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Finally, the biggest con of teaching with VIPKID is that sometimes, your classes simply don’t get booked. Chinese New Year causes a major lag in bookings, as well as other Chinese holidays. I supplement my income by working with Rover, a dog sitting website, and with this blog.

That may look like a huge list of cons, but it is all honestly worth it to me! If you want more information on teaching with VIPKID, feel free to contact me directly via email, Twitter, or Facebook!

 

If you thought this article was helpful, please consider using my referral code STACI0121 when applying, or apply through this link. I will make a small bonus once you begin teaching, but I will be more than happy to help you in any way I can along the way! I also offer FREE coaching for your interview process to help you get the job!

 

Happy teaching!

 

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