Upskilling for the Remote Job Market: Why TEFL for Teaching Kids Is a Smart Move

The remote job market has exploded in recent years, and how we worked just a few years ago feels like a distant memory for many of us. More companies are embracing flexible work, and job seekers are looking for skills that travel well - in-person and remotely - and are flexible, portable, and in high demand.

More and more jobs can be done from home, which has opened up new job opportunities and created new challenges. The job market is more competitive than ever, and automation is a real concern. This is why being adaptable to find a location-independent way to earn money is so important. You think you’re looking for a job? Think again - you’re building a career that can withstand change.

One way to do this is to teach English online, a job always in demand and hard to replace. Let’s look at this option in more detail.

Is there a global demand for English teachers?

English is still the undisputed global lingua franca, the common language for business, travel, and education worldwide. This means that the demand for teachers of English as a foreign language (TEFL) is growing constantly worldwide. For many, the obvious choice is to teach adults—every teacher dreams of a classroom full of well-behaved students eager to learn—but actually, there are more opportunities in teaching young learners. 

Here’s why. Many countries, like China, Japan, Vietnam, and Spain, have been investing heavily in English lessons for children. With the help of online platforms, connecting to young students from all over the world is easier than ever - and you don’t have to leave your home!

Another advantage of teaching children is that it can lead to repeat business from happy parents and, in many cases, better pay. It also helps you develop excellent communication and teaching skills which are highly transferable to other fields. Also, as children take classes after school or at weekends, your schedule will look pretty consistent and predictable.

What’s the first step to get into TEFL?

There was a time when teaching English abroad only required a passport and a sense of adventure, but today, most schools and countries expect teachers to have a proper TEFL certification. The market has become more professional, and certification is now the standard for landing good teaching jobs.

Your first step is choosing the right TEFL course. Look for one with at least 120 hours of training, as this meets the requirements for most employers worldwide. Accreditation is also key—since the TEFL industry isn’t strictly regulated, some courses are low-quality or even misleading. A reputable accrediting body ensures the training meets professional standards. It’s also helpful to find a course that includes real teaching practice, whether in-person or through online simulations, so you’re better prepared for the classroom.

Now that you have your basic teaching skills, you can find your niche and specialise further, earning a TEFL certification for teaching children online.

How do you start teaching English online?

At this point, you have a very important decision to make: will you build your own business from scratch, or will you partner with an existing online language school?

Becoming a freelance teacher and going solo gives you complete control over your business, but it requires a significant amount of work behind the scenes. You’ll need to:

• Create your own brand. This means building a professional website and creating a strong online presence to attract potential students.
• Handle the business side. You'll be responsible for drafting contracts, managing payments, and taking care of all legal and financial details.
• Find and keep clients. It's up to you to market your services, find new students, and keep them coming back with engaging, high-quality lessons.

One of the advantages of this approach to freelancing is your autonomy: no more following pre-defined procedures if you feel they’re no longer working for you. However, the biggest benefit is that you can set your own rates and keep all the income you earn without splitting it with a third party.

Being a teacher, it’s completely understandable that you might not want to ‘waste’ your time on paperwork and admin. Instead, you’d much rather dedicate your non-teaching time to planning engaging lessons for your students. If that’s the case, working with an established online school can be a great option:

• Less admin work. The school handles student contracts, promotions, and marketing, so you don't have to worry about the business logistics.
• Guaranteed students. They will connect you with students and offer a schedule that fits your availability. Some schools even provide pre-made lesson plans, saving you prep time.

These advantages come at a cost: the loss of some business freedom. Usually, you get paid directly by the school, depending on how many hours you teach. However, some platforms allow you to choose your fee and then take a percentage. In either case, you might be required to commit to a minimum number of teaching hours each week or month.

What if I realise TEFL isn’t for me?

Teaching English as a foreign language - as any other form of teaching - is a vocation and, as such, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But what if your TEFL experience was just a stepping stone for something greater?

You got your TEFL qualification and gave online teaching a go, only to discover it’s not the right job for you. Don’t worry -  you haven’t wasted your time and money. In fact, you’ve just unlocked a wide range of (transferable) skills that will be useful for some other jobs. Here are some examples:

• Communication and listening skills: adjusting your tone and your words depending on whether you are talking to the children or their parents
• Time management and organisation: planning your lessons in advance and sticking to your schedule
• Patience and emotional intelligence: keeping calm under pressure and showing empathy
• Public speaking and presentation skills: Talking in front of a group of people is pretty scary. If you master this, you can do pretty much anything!

The bottom line

You’re dreaming of becoming more independent in your work to make time for your personal life. Or perhaps you want to build your own business to free yourself from the constraints imposed by the corporate world or your employer. Teaching English online to children all over the world can be what you need to take charge of your career. But if TEFL isn’t the right fit for you, no sweat. Take your newly developed skills and use them somewhere else. It’s a win-win situation!