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If interacting with people from all over the world on a laid-back platform sounds like something you’d be comfortable with, then Italki is right for you. Italki is a space where millions of language-learners and tutors interact on video.
You can start your journey today from any part of the world. All you need is a computer, a webcam, and stable internet connection.
#1 Pick a language you’d like to learn or improve on and become a student first
There is no better way to learn what good and bad tutoring looks like than by observing it. Being a student will also get you familiar with the Italki platform.
I suggest learning with a variety of tutors. This would expose you to different teaching styles and methods, which would also help you pick which ones you would be most comfortable using when it’s your turn to tutor.
Being a student first would also increase your confidence as you notice that it’s not a big deal.
Tutors on Italki normally use one of three teaching methods:
- The traditional direct-teaching method, which is basically when your Italki tutor acts like a high school language teacher. With this method, a lesson typically follows the following pattern:
- Provide students with an introduction or warm-up
- Model the language-skill you want the student to learn
- Practice with the student
- End the lesson with an assessment
- The conversational practice-method is for people like me who find traditional teaching methods tedious and boring. This is where you have a dialogue with people and correct their mistakes as the conversation progresses. I correct my Italki students consistently and at times provide a brief explanation of the grammar or concepts that we encounter along the way.
- Mixed direct-teaching and conversational practice. This method is what it sounds like, but as you’ll see from the tutors you sample, proportions vary. For instance, some Italki tutors teach grammar for the first half of the lesson and then have a free conversation for the second half. Others might do 40/60, 60/40, or even 90/10.
How do you know which Italki tutors to choose?
Price is always a factor in deciding, and it doesn’t always correlate with quality. Some tutors charge as little as $5 an hour because they live in a country where the US dollar goes a long way. Others charge much more because they live somewhere like New York City. I picked both inexpensive and expensive tutors to see if there was a difference — there wasn’t.
No matter how much you charge or where you live, Italki requires all tutors to provide a video of themselves speaking. During their video, most Italki tutors discuss their teaching methods, qualifications, experience, and fluency in more than one language if applicable.
You’ll find that Italki tutors have a list of courses they offer, like Beginner’s English or Intermediate English.
Italki allows each tutor a maximum of three course-types per each language they teach, unless you’re a professional tutor, in which case you can offer up to six courses (we will touch on how to become a professional tutor later).
Each course indicates its level. Always pick the levels you’re most interested in teaching. If you only speak beginner’s French, for example, then obviously your options are limited in this regard.
In addition, make sure to pick a variety of lengths when choosing your courses to see which length of time you’d be comfortable teaching in. Keep in mind, Italki requires its tutors to provide at least one 1-hour timeslot. Other timeslots are 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and even an hour and fifteen.
#2 After about a month of taking a variety of courses, apply to become an Italki tutor
The Italki application process is easy. After viewing a variety of Italki-tutor videos as a student, you’ve now gotten a sense of what you want to present.
There’s no need to film anything fancy but try to be unique. I personally added some background music and acted natural with a dash of cheekiness.
Remember, you don’t need teaching experience, so highlight your experience as a native speaker, any schooling, your interests, and what styles and methods you would use on your students.
Once you’ve made your video, go to the Italki platform and click on “Become a Teacher,” and the rest is self-explanatory.
#3 Set your schedule and set your rates as low as possible
It took a few days for my Italki application to be approved, after which I received an Email to take a one-day virtual orientation. After this step, I was able to start teaching as a Community Tutor on Italki.
The low rates you will charge during this stage is a temporary strategy to reel in as many students as possible. Italki gives its new tutors extra exposure during the first month, which is why this period is critical. This is when you’ll be receiving your first student-reviews with comments and star-ratings.
During my first month, all my reviews were five stars, and my student-comment section was full of lavish praise. Does this mean that I was an exceptional tutor? Not at all! I was just a regular person being kind, friendly, and supportive.
One more thing. Make sure to consistently correct your students’ grammar. Seriously. Don’t be shy. They won’t be annoyed. Italki students are very motivated to learn, so they appreciate constant correction.
#4 After a month, bump your rates up
At this point, you’re going to be bumping your rates up by 2 dollars, but this won’t be your last price-increase. It’s a way to ease your students into the real rate you plan to charge at a later date.
#5 Take a 120-hour TEFL certification course
This took me a month. It’s really easy and affordable (online programs range from $20 to $200). You just read these very simple modules online, at your own pace, do a few tasks, take a few assessments, and then you get a certificate.
#6 Go to the Italki platform and apply as a Professional Teacher!
After making an updated video that mentions your TEFL certification, apply to become a Professional Teacher on Italki. Make sure to upload your TEFL certificate on your updated application.
#7 Invent a special course for your loyal students
Remember your first month students? Those who gave you excellent ratings? Don’t increase the rates for them just yet. Instead, create a special course to the effect of something like “Course for Students who started in October.”
#8 Bump your rates up to $25 an hour.
You might think that this rate increase would lower the number of students you’d be teaching, but that’s not necessarily the case. While you won’t reel in the new loyal students as quickly as your older ones, remember that you still have income from the original students who decide to stay.
At this part of the process, you’re drawing in students who are willing to pay $25 because these students are searching specifically for Professional Tutors. Your 5-star-ratings and comments that you so cunningly acquired at the beginning would seal the deal for them.
Most of your original loyal students will phase out after six to eight months, but some of your newly acquired $25-an-hour students would eventually turn into loyal students as well. Eventually, you’ll reach the point where it’s time to close your special course for your original loyal students.
No more steps to take. Just enjoy!
I have other freelance work that I do, so I average around five students a day, six days a week, which is a total pay of $750, minus the small fee that Italki charges per lesson.
I love Italki. It has made it possible for me to live twenty minutes away from the Sahara in Tunisia, while also giving me time for my other freelance gigs as a writer.
If I want to take a vacation from Italki, all I have to do is notify my students as a courtesy and block out the number of days or weeks I would like to take off. It’s as easy as that.
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