How to Teach English Online: The Complete 2025 Guide

If you’re excited by the idea of teaching from home, setting your own schedule, and meeting learners from around the world, online English teaching is a brilliant path. This guide walks you through everything you need to get started, from qualifications and platforms to lesson craft and career growth. I’ll keep it practical, honest, and teacher tested.

Why teach English online in 2025

Online teaching has matured. There are more platforms, better tools, and learners at every level looking for flexible lessons. You can start small, build a portfolio, and scale in a way that suits your life. The best part is the people you’ll meet. I still get a lift when a learner messages months later to say a new job interview went well or a holiday conversation felt easier.

What you need to teach online: skills, kit, and simple setup

Core skills

• Clear, kind communication and the ability to explain ideas step by step

• Lesson planning that balances structure with space for conversation

• Gentle classroom management in a video setting

• A habit of short reflection after class to improve the next one

  
  

Basic kit

• A reliable laptop and stable internet

• A USB microphone or a quiet headset

• Soft front lighting and a simple background

• A shared drive of lesson materials and a few go-to slide templates
  

Nice extras

• A second screen for notes and chat

• A digital whiteboard or doc you can type in together

• A scheduling link and simple payment flow if you go freelance
  

How to teach English online without a degree

Yes, it’s possible. Some large marketplace platforms accept fluent speakers without a degree, especially for conversation-centred lessons. Preply states that no specific certification or teaching experience is required to open a tutor profile, although credentials help you stand out.

Cambly is also beginner friendly and confirms that no teaching certificate or degree is needed, though availability can vary.

If you do not have a degree, a reputable 120-hour TEFL or CELTA-style qualification is still worth it. It raises your conversion rate, supports higher rates, and opens doors on platforms that verify credentials.

Where to find online English teaching jobs

Marketplace platforms you can join

• Preply – large global marketplace with flexible scheduling. No formal qualification required to start a profile, though proof of training helps you rank better.

• Cambly – conversation led, very low barrier to entry, rolling intake. No degree or certificate required per their tutor page.

• italki – two tracks: Community Tutor and Professional Teacher. Community Tutors focus on conversation with fewer formal requirements, while Professional Teachers upload credentials and typically charge more.
  

Tip: build a simple one-page tutor site in parallel. Platforms bring traffic. Your own page gives you control.

How to teach English online: crafting lessons that work

Great online lessons are simple, focused, and human. Here’s a blueprint you can use tomorrow.

1. Warm, short opener: Two minutes to check in, set the aim, and outline today’s steps.

2. Model plus guided practice: Show a clear example, then practise together before you set students off independently.

3. Personalisation: Use prompts tied to real life: work, travel, study, family. This is where fluency grows.

4. Feedback that moves one thing: Choose the single most useful upgrade: pronunciation of one sound, a clearer sentence frame, or an extra example with because or for instance.

5. Tiny takeaway: End with one line the learner can use this week and note the next aim.
   

For method ideas, the British Council’s TeachingEnglish hub has solid remote-teaching advice and free resources you can adapt.

How to be a good online English teacher: profile, pricing, and bookings

Profile that converts

• Headline that says who you help and how

• A short, friendly intro video filmed in quiet light

• Clear offers: conversation for fluency, IELTS speaking, business emails, travel English

• Social proof: a few student quotes once you have them
  

Pricing

• Start at a realistic entry rate, offer a single low-cost trial, then move to a fair ongoing price.

• Review rates every 8 to 12 weeks as your calendar fills.
  

Bookings

• Keep a dependable timetable and respond quickly. Reliability builds reviews, and reviews build the pipeline.
  

On marketplaces, read each platform’s rules carefully. For instance, Preply has specific profile and certification sections that influence approval and search visibility.

Tech and resources that save time

• Video platform of your choice plus a back-up link

• A cloud folder with lesson slides, an editable notes doc, and a tracker

• A small library of authentic texts, short videos, and role play cards

• For pedagogy and planning inspiration, the British Council’s resource libraries are a safe bet.
  

Common questions

Do I need a degree to start?

Not always. Platforms like Preply and Cambly accept fluent speakers without a degree. Quality training still helps you earn and retain students.

Which platforms pay best?

Rates vary. On marketplaces you set your own rates and improve earnings as your profile grows. Check each platform’s commission and policies before you commit.

How do I avoid burnout?

Plan short breaks, set a maximum number of lessons per day, and reuse well-tested materials. Consistency beats heroic sprints.

Ready to start teaching English online?

Let Wellbeing English be your go to resource for lesson plans, teaching tips, and teacher wellness. Explore our free and premium plans, grab ready to teach activities, and build a calmer, more confident online classroom.