Hello! Today I’m sharing an excellent piece by Janice Cook about teaching English from home through online tutoring with VIPKID. Many people have told me great things about VIPKID, and I’ve been curious about how online English teaching works. Janice is a reader of Making Sense of Cents who has been a school teacher for 12 years and began teaching ESL online to students in China with VIPKID in February 2017. Below is her account of teaching English online:
Do you want to be a stay-at-home parent who earns money in the early morning hours before your partner leaves for work?
Do you want to work an extra 10 hours on weekends to supplement your income, pay down debt, or reach financial goals faster?
Do you want a job you can take with you while traveling the world?
Are you looking to increase your income but worry you don’t have a consistent schedule or enough time to commit?
Would you like the flexibility to choose when to work—putting in more hours when life is calm and stepping back when other priorities demand your attention?
VIPKID teachers come from many backgrounds. If you have a four-year degree, reliable high-speed internet, and some experience working with children ages 4–12, you should consider teaching English from home and see how it could help you reach your goals.
Related articles on ways to make extra money are included for context and ideas.
My story of learning how to teach English
I began teaching for VIPKID while working full-time as a middle school music teacher. I taught primarily on weekend mornings and late evenings, earning about an extra $1,000 a month. The work became a delightful escape: a chance for one-on-one connection with a student on the other side of the globe, and I often finished classes feeling energized and successful.
At first it was a side gig—I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much or to have those short teaching sessions add up to meaningful income so quickly.
With a full-time job and two young children, I didn’t have many second-job options that fit my lifestyle. Committing to regular hours each week wasn’t realistic, but finding 25-minute pockets of time to teach was. Most people can find similar opportunities.
A break from multi-tasking
I value the chance to teach one student at a time and give my full attention for 25 minutes. VIPKID provides lesson materials, so I don’t worry about planning, grading, or developing curriculum. There are no staff meetings—just teaching.
Each 25-minute class offers a focused sense of accomplishment. After years in the traditional classroom, I appreciated these concise, rewarding sessions. The company’s support infrastructure—technical help available during lessons and responsive staff afterward—adds a layer of reassurance that lets me concentrate on teaching.
VIPKID is a place where my contributions matter. Classes are acknowledged and rewarded, and I can end the workday feeling proud and accomplished.
A better teacher with VIPKID
Working with VIPKID improved my teaching. I had a habit of speaking quickly in a busy classroom, and online teaching forced me to slow down and be clearer. On stressful days, patience can wane; teaching young language learners reminded me how effective patience, encouragement, and clear modeling can be.
The VIPKID setting pushes teachers to simplify explanations, reduce incidental language, model skills more deliberately, and involve learners physically in lessons. Those are strong teaching practices, and I found myself applying them in my in-person classroom during the week. Over time, my teaching improved and my confidence grew.
Some teachers worry that a second job will leave them too exhausted to teach well, but my experience was the opposite. The short, focused classes gave me energy; I often returned to weekday teaching refreshed by the smiles and positive feedback from students and parents. To truly understand the value VIPKID can add to your teaching, it’s worth trying.
A better mom
Teaching with VIPKID positively affected my family life. My daughters enjoyed hearing about the lessons and playing with props from my online classroom. My five-year-old felt proud when the students learned concepts she already knew.
Running lessons for beginning readers gave me insight into teaching that helped prepare me for supporting my own child’s reading journey. The increased patience and presence I developed while teaching online translated into being calmer and more engaged with my children—something I valued immensely.
A better wife
VIPKID improved family balance. As I became less stressed and more fulfilled, my husband and I found ways to share in the experience. He used his digital art skills to create reward systems and classroom materials, and he supported our family routine so I could teach on weekend mornings. This collaboration brought balance and joy to our household.
How to teach English online with VIPKID
VIPKID is a well-organized company with a strong sense of community. The CEO communicates regularly with teachers, sharing vision and inviting feedback. Weekly company updates help unite more than 20,000 teachers so everyone stays informed about improvements and direction.
The teacher community is collaborative rather than competitive. Teachers freely share tips to ensure every student receives the best possible 25-minute class. VIPKID provides one-on-one training before you begin, free weekly workshops on teaching topics, and a tech support team that can contact families during lessons to resolve issues. If any concerns arise after class, the company handles them and appreciates teachers’ input.
As a VIPKID teacher, your role is to teach. The company values teachers’ strengths, recognizes hard work, and supports instructors to deliver great classes.
Do I need to prep outside of class time?
VIPKID provides the curriculum. Your responsibilities are to teach the 25-minute lesson, leave feedback for the family and the next teacher, and you’re done. There’s very little outside preparation required, which many classroom teachers find refreshing. This focused teaching time offers a break from the multitasking of everyday life and allows you to concentrate on improving one student’s skills during each session.
How much will I get paid to teach with VIPKID?
Pay typically ranges from about $7–$13 per 25-minute class (roughly $14–$26 per hour). Several factors influence pay:
- Your teaching experience
- Your performance in the interview, including a short teaching sample
- How many classes you teach each month and other incentive measures
Payment is made monthly by direct deposit. Teachers are independent contractors and are responsible for their own taxes. You control your schedule and can teach as many or as few classes as you like. Some teachers transition to VIPKID full-time, but many teach part-time.
How do I get started?
The application process is straightforward and does not require a traditional resume and cover letter. A four-year degree is important, and any experience teaching or leading children—whether formal or informal, such as mentoring, coaching, tutoring, or running youth programs—will help your application stand out. After applying, you’ll be connected with an experienced VIPKID teacher who will guide you through the interview and support your first classes.
VIPKID accepts a bachelor’s degree in any field. The company provides a simple online application process to begin your journey.
Author bio: Janice Cook is a public school music teacher with 12 years of experience and has taught ESL online with VIPKID since February 2017. She lives in Connecticut with her two daughters and husband, who helps create custom classroom materials. For questions about VIPKID, she can be reached at [email protected].
Are you interested in learning how to teach English online with VIPKID? What questions would you like to ask Janice?