Online tutoring involves helping students improve in subjects like math, science, languages, test preparation, and more. Whether you’re teaching younger students, college-level courses, or adults looking to learn a new skill, online tutoring can be a rewarding career.
What Does an Online Tutor Do?
- One-on-One Sessions: Tutors typically meet with students via video calls to explain concepts, answer questions, and help with homework.
- Group Lessons: Some tutors may teach small groups of students, facilitating discussions or group activities.
- Test Preparation: Helping students prepare for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT.
- Homework Help: Assisting students with homework assignments and projects.
- Progress Monitoring: Tracking the student’s progress and adjusting teaching methods as needed to help them succeed.
Where to Find Online Tutoring Jobs
- VIPKid: VIPKid specializes in teaching English to children in China. It’s a popular platform, and teachers can set their own hours and work from home. You’ll need a degree (preferably in education) and teaching experience.
- Chegg Tutors: Chegg allows tutors to work with students on a variety of subjects, including math, science, engineering, and English. You don’t need a teaching certificate, but expertise in the subject is necessary.
- Preply: A global tutoring platform where you can teach a wide range of subjects, including languages, test prep, and academic subjects. It allows tutors to set their rates and work with students from all over the world.
- Tutor.com: Tutor.com offers online tutoring in subjects ranging from elementary school math to college-level calculus. Tutors must go through a rigorous application process, including subject tests.
- Wyzant: Wyzant connects tutors with students who need help in specific subjects, like programming, mathematics, or writing. Tutors can set their rates, and it’s great for flexible, one-on-one teaching.
- Italki: Focused on teaching languages, Italki lets you teach students from around the world. You can teach a variety of languages, including English, Spanish, French, and many others.
Skills You Need for Online Tutoring Jobs
- Strong Knowledge in a Specific Subject: Whether it’s math, history, or a foreign language, you should have a solid understanding of the material you teach.
- Clear Communication Skills: Being able to explain concepts in a way that’s easy for students to understand is key to successful tutoring.
- Patience and Empathy: Many students may need extra time or encouragement to grasp new concepts. Patience and the ability to adjust your teaching approach are crucial.
- Technological Competence: You’ll need a reliable internet connection, a webcam, a microphone, and familiarity with virtual classrooms (Zoom, Skype, Google Classroom, etc.).
- Teaching Certification (Optional): While not always required, a teaching certification can give you an edge, especially for platforms that focus on children’s education.
Tips for Succeeding as an Online Tutor
- Set Clear Expectations: At the beginning of each session, set clear goals for what you want to cover with the student. This helps keep the session focused and productive.
- Use Interactive Tools: To keep the student engaged, use whiteboards, screen sharing, and educational tools to illustrate concepts.
- Be Encouraging: Celebrate small successes with students, as positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and learning.
- Prepare for Each Session: Plan your lessons in advance, and have resources (worksheets, reading materials, practice problems) ready.
- Be Consistent: Consistency is key in tutoring. Regular sessions with your students will yield the best results.
2. Teaching Online Courses
If tutoring one-on-one is not your thing, you could create and sell your own online courses. Teaching online courses is another flexible way to earn money while helping others.
What Does an Online Course Instructor Do?
- Course Creation: You design and create a full course, typically consisting of video lectures, reading materials, quizzes, and assignments.
- Teach via Video: You record lessons or conduct live video sessions to explain concepts, share knowledge, and engage with students.
- Provide Feedback: Instructors may provide students with feedback on assignments and quizzes.
- Market and Promote the Course: You may need to promote your course on social media, websites, or through email marketing to attract students.
Where to Create and Sell Online Courses
- Udemy: Udemy is one of the most popular online learning platforms. You can create a course on virtually any subject, from marketing to coding or photography. Udemy handles marketing and payment processing, but you can also promote your course to a wider audience.
- Teachable: Teachable allows you to create your own branded courses and set your pricing. It’s an excellent platform if you want more control over your content and revenue.
- Skillshare: Skillshare is another platform that allows you to create video-based courses. Unlike Udemy, Skillshare operates on a subscription model, so you earn money based on how many students watch your course.
- Thinkific: Thinkific is a platform that allows you to create, market, and sell your courses. It offers flexibility in terms of content delivery and allows you to build a business around your course content.
- Coursera: If you have credentials (like a degree or work experience), you can partner with organizations or universities to offer courses on Coursera. This platform is perfect for academic subjects and professional development.
Skills You Need for Creating and Selling Online Courses
- Subject Matter Expertise: Your course will need to be informative and valuable, so you must have a deep knowledge of the subject matter.
- Presentation Skills: Since your course will be based on video or audio, you’ll need to be comfortable speaking clearly and confidently on camera.
- Course Design: Create a structured course outline that leads the student through the material in an organized way.
- Tech-Savviness: Familiarity with course creation tools (like Teachable or Thinkific) and video editing software can help create a more professional course.
Tips for Success as an Online Course Creator
- Engage with Your Audience: Provide quizzes, assignments, and interactive elements that will engage your students and encourage them to complete your course.
- Market Your Course: Use social media, blogs, email newsletters, or paid ads to attract students to your course. Word-of-mouth can also help once you build a reputation.
- Offer Free Content: Consider offering a free mini-course or lessons as a preview to your paid course. This can entice students to pay for the full course.
- Update Regularly: Keep your courses up-to-date with new information and content to stay relevant and attract new students.
- Start with What You Know: Don’t feel the need to teach something entirely new. Start by creating a course about something you are already knowledgeable about or passionate about.
General Tips for Online Tutoring and Teaching Jobs
- Create a Quiet Learning Environment: Students will appreciate a quiet, well-lit space where they can focus without distractions.
- Stay Organized: Have lesson plans, teaching materials, and any tools you need (like a digital whiteboard) organized and easily accessible.
- Be Adaptable: Every student learns differently. Be flexible in your teaching methods and adjust your approach as needed.
- Promote Your Services: Don’t be afraid to market yourself, whether you’re offering tutoring or online courses. Create a personal website, use social media, or join relevant online communities to get the word out.