How to Make an Extra $1,000 a Month Teaching English from Home

How do you like the idea of making $1,000 extra a month working from home in your spare time?

Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not!

You can teach English to children in China from the comfort of your own home through a company called VIPKID.

Related: 21 Side Hustles You Can Start Today

VIPKID is an online teaching service that has become very popular over the years. Chinese students are paired with English speakers for one-on-one teaching sessions.

The requirements for working for VIPKID are fairly easy to meet.

You must be eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada and hold a bachelor’s degree in any field. You also must have a minimum of one year of teaching experience, but don’t let the experience requirement discourage you.

“Teaching experience” is very loosely defined. It includes mentoring, tutoring, coaching, and similar activities. (See what I mean?)

The best part: the company provides all lesson plans and course materials. All you have to do is show up ready to teach. The company handles the rest.

If all of that’s not enough, the pay is pretty good. Teachers earn a base pay of $18-22 per hour, but some teachers make a full-time income teaching with the program.

One teacher made $75,000 in one year teaching with VIPKID!

You can apply here if you’re interested.

Real life testimonial

Don’t just take my word for it.

I had the opportunity to interview one of our readers, Ashley, who teaches for VIPKID in her spare time.

Ashley works full-time as a middle school counselor and has made as much as an extra $1,000 in one month teaching on the side. What?!!

Below is my brief interview with Ashley about her experience with the company.

How did you get started with VIPKID?

I was in the market for a part-time job to get me through the summer between grad school ending and my new job beginning when I saw a post from a girl in a counseling Facebook group I’m in.

I messaged her about it and I was, honestly, really skeptical at first. I did some online research to be sure it was a legitimate opportunity and signed up a few days later!

You do need at least a bachelor’s degree, 1 year of experience working with kids in some capacity (this could be volunteer work!), and access to a good internet connection. After I completed the interview and 2 mock classes, I was in!

What are your typical hours at your full-time job?

I’m a middle school counselor, so I work relatively normal school hours (usually 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM).  

I know that VIPKID classes are scheduled based on the local time in China. When do you teach for VIPKID? How do you manage the time difference?

You are able to work anywhere from 9:00 PM EST to 10:00 AM EST. When I have to work [at my full-time job], I teach 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM EST Monday – Friday and 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM EST on Saturday morning.

I tend to work what they call peak peak hours (times when most kids are at home in the evening – 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM EST for me) when I’m off for breaks.

I think balance is really key in managing the time difference. Yes, you have to get up early or stay up late (depending on your time zone and other responsibilities), but know yourself and what you can manage.

I was a bit ambitious starting out and bit off more than I could chew (think working 10:00 PM – 3:00 AM...and also doing things during the day). Set more than one alarm and be well-rested; the parents watch the classes and know when you’re off your game.

How many hours do you work for VIPKID each week?

I currently work about 7 hours per week on average.

At my peak, I was managing my full-time job as a school counselor and working about 14 hours per week. This summer, I plan to try to work about 20 hours per week while I’m off.

This is a finance blog, so I have to ask:  About how much do you make with VIPKID each month?

Like I mentioned, I’ve cut back my hours to help me feel less overwhelmed during a very busy time at work, so I currently make around $400 per month.

The most I’ve made (working less than 20 hours per week) was just over $1000.

What is the pay schedule?

You are paid once a month around the 15th (this is not usually the exact same date & depends on your bank) and the money comes through direct deposit.

I would recommend using a bank account with a routing number and account number so that you are not charged wire transfer fees. I use my regular bank (Ally) and have not had any problems, but many others have just set up accounts through PayPal for more account security.

What are some tips for succeeding with VIPKID?

1. Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t getting booked at first. It takes most new applicants time to build up a steady base of regular students that consistently book with you. It was probably 3 months before I began to get booked consistently.

2. Remember that this is your business and your brand! You have to create a video and write a bio for parents to check out before they decide to book with you. Really consider the image you want to portray.

Some teachers present as goofy and fun, while others are more serious and focused on content. What is most comfortable for you?

You will find your tribe and parents know when you’re faking the funk. They just want to know what makes your a good fit for their child and that their child will receive quality instruction from you.

3. Take the workshops! VIPKID offers tons of workshops every month that help you improve various areas of your teaching. They keep track of who’s going, too, and this is one really good way to ensure that you’re getting booked shortly after becoming a teacher.

4. Set goals. Know how much you want to make each month and set a target number of classes to reach that goal. This helps a lot with balance and making sure you haven’t bitten off more than you can chew with your schedule.

5. Start slow & know your limits. Know how long you can handle teaching without a break. Each class is 25 minutes and, depending on pacing, you have about 5 minutes between back-to-back classes.

I started off only doing 2 classes at most back-to-back. My maximum now is 5-6 classes before I need to stretch, grab a snack/drink, and reset my mind.

They are kids, after all, and you WILL have some that are more challenging to teach than others. Prepare for that.

6. Find a support system. Network with other teachers! They will be a great source of support for you to quickly answer questions, provide feedback, or share resources.

I am in 3-4 groups on Facebook (search for VIPKID on Facebook and you will find a TON of different groups) and it is really nice to be able to bounce ideas back and forth, vent, or just share laughs when you’re teaching late at night.

Where can people contact you if they want to learn more?

Feel free to email me at teacherashleyvipkid@gmail.com. I’d love to answer any questions! Happy teaching!

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Thanks so much, Ashley, for sharing your experience and advice with everyone!

If you’re interested and ready to try VIPKID out for yourself, you can apply here.

Have you ever taught English as a second language? Would you consider working for a company like VIPKID?