If you are looking for a new stream of income you can earn through your computer during the pandemic and afterwards, consider teaching English online. You should be a native English speaker or have excellent understanding of English grammar, and little or no accent. Schools are looking for enthusiastic people who can quickly establish a good rapport with their students whether one-on-one or a small group.
Teaching English online is a huge market around the world. At any one time, hundreds, if not thousands, of people are sitting at their computers, doing 30-45 minute lessons with students overseas. All you need, apart from good English language skills, are a computer with a webcam, Skype, and a headset with a microphone. You can even just start with just a computer and Skype, which is free, and your computer’s audio system.
This will be of particular interest to early birds. China and South Korea are where most of the students are and they study online after school. Because of the time differences, you may be teaching from 6:00-10:00 am. Can you handle that? They also study on weekends so Friday and Saturday evenings (6:00-10:00 pm your time) might also be possibilities.
Online teachers are paid up to $22-24US per hour (deposited right into your local bank account). Teaching 4 hours a day could earn you up to $400-500 US per week and your work day will be done by 10:00 am, leaving you the rest of the day free.
My book Teaching English Online, tells you all you need to know about setting up a corner in a room in your home, where to find jobs, how you get paid, and generally what else you need to know.It is available on Amazon websites worldwide in paperback or Kindle. Amazon ASIN # B0863SB1Q7
The pandemic has impacted local and overseas schools with the result that online teaching has become more popular than ever. To teach online locally, you would have to be licensed in your state or province. To teach overseas students, you do not have to have teaching credentials. A degree is always preferred but there are many positions where only a TEFL certificate is required. Some agencies may even accept an applicant without a TEFL Certificate if the need exceeds the number of applicants, but having one opens many more opportunities and better pay. It also looks good on your resume or CV.
If teaching online interests you, you may want to check out my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Having a TEFL Certificate qualification shows schools right away that you are a serious and knowledgeable applicant.
Several people I know love to travel. They teach from wherever they happen to be in the world. This earns them enough to pay their travel expenses. They are teaching nomads and love it. Save that for later once travel restrictions are lifted.