Teaching with Cambly: My Experience

 

Teaching English as a Second Language has allowed me to work from home and on the road without worrying about my bank account. I work as an ESL teacher for two major companies: VIPKID and GoGoKid. Both of these companies teach young Chinese students English in a very structured way. However, I have also taught for a third ESL company: Cambly.

Teaching on Cambly: What it’s Like

Cambly is another online ESL program. However, it differs in many ways from these other two companies. Cambly mostly focuses on teaching adults in a loose, conversation-based environment. Teachers are free to teach how they see fit, and students have the freedom to choose teachers that fit their learning style and English level. Each class can be adjusted to fit the individual’s needs.

Every single student I have had on Cambly preferred to practice their conversation skills. We sat and chatted, and I politely corrected grammar or pronunciation as needed. Every single one of my students had a firm grasp on the English language, but every student will be different and have different levels of understanding. I have had some incredible conversations with people all over the world!

Cambly has an extensive library of reading, teaching, and other types of materials to help students and teachers. Some students may need help with job interviews, studying for an English exam, or perfecting their conversation skills. This library is an incredible tool to help each of your students and to never run out of teaching topics.

More recently, Cambly has also added structured courses students can choose to take, similar to GogoKid and VIPKID. I have not used these courses yet, but I will update this article when I do!

Cambly Requirements for Teachers

Unlike VIPKID and GoGoKid, Cambly does not require teachers to have a degree. You need only to be a native speaker of the language you are speaking. They offer classes in more languages than English, so if you speak multiple languages, you have more opportunities for students!

Cambly is taught online and therefore has technology requirements. Teachers must have stable, strong internet access, a clear microphone (I just use my Beats corded headphones), and a clear camera. A clean background and quiet place to teach are highly recommended, and conservative clothing should be worn due to the various cultures you may be teaching.

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human:

 

How Much do Cambly Tutors Make?

Cambly pays $0.17 a minute, or $10.20 an hour. This pay is much less compared to VIPKID and GoGoKid. However, you can log on and teach at any time! Cambly is available in nearly every country around the world, so you are not limited to teaching on BJT. There is no minimum hour requirement, so it’s a great way to earn a little extra cash whenever needed.

Cambly pays every single Monday via PayPal once you hit a $20 threshold. You easily see the money you have earned at the top of your dashboard. However, you will NOT get paid until you meet the $20 threshold.

What are Cambly Priority Hours?

While teachers can simply “turn on” their visibility to students or have students reserve time slots, they can also sign up for priority hours. Priority hours are signed up for ahead of time. Teachers with priority hours have priority over student calls. This means that when a student comes online and calls for a random teacher, you receive the call first! I always get way more students during priority hours than at any other time.

 

Even if you don’t receive any calls during a scheduled priority hour, you still receive payment for 15 minutes of the hour you were logged in. The more priority hours you teach, the higher ranking your profile is to students, and the more students you will teach! I have never NOT received multiple calls during priority hours, and top hours have a “30 minutes guaranteed” label, meaning this is a very popular time and you will be guaranteed to teach at least 30 minutes straight of the hour. This is a great option to log on and do some other work while you wait for a call, and get paid in the meantime.

A Quick Warning for Cambly Teachers

Because of the massive reach of Cambly, there is potential for some not-so-great students. There have been reports of people using Cambly to harass teachers or to try and scam them. I have had an overall excellent experience on Cambly, but here are some rules you should generally follow:

1. NEVER give out your personal information. You choose the name that is displayed as your teacher name, and that is all the students see. I have had people try to pay me to teach them off of Cambly. This is against Cambly’s rules and can potentially be dangerous.
2. Hang up and report any misconduct from students. Other than one student asking for my personal information, I have not had any issues. Cambly is quick to remove profiles of these types of people.
3. Be mindful of other cultures and others’ English levels. A student may say something considered rude here, but not realize the cultural meaning behind the word or phrase. Kindly correct them, and move on.

Sometimes students will also “shop around” for teachers. Students get a small amount of time free to try out Cambly before purchasing hours. Often during priority hours, you will receive very short calls that end very suddenly from multiple students before one sticks. That’s ok! These students are often just trying out the platform.

My Final Thoughts on Teaching with Cambly

Overall, I enjoy the flexibility of Cambly. At only $10.20 an hour, it is definitely not my main source of income. However, I love being able to log on anytime to earn some extra cash. VIPKID and GoGoKid don’t offer that! If I know I have a trip or big expense coming up, Cambly is an excellent way to make sure I make that bit of extra money. This program is also excellent for students, digital nomads, or others who have hectic schedules!

 

Like this article? Pin it!