Community Q&A

I'm just getting started with online teaching and wondering what the minimum setup is. Do I need a specific webcam, headset, or lighting setup, or is a laptop with a built-in camera enough to get hired by most platforms?

Many platforms seem to require it, but I've seen some that don't. What's the real situation — can I get hired without one, or is it becoming a hard requirement everywhere? I'd love to hear from teachers who got hired recently.

Each platform seems to have different commission rates, student demographics, and scheduling flexibility. Which one is best for a brand-new teacher who wants to build a student base from scratch?

I'm based in the US West Coast and have students in China, the Middle East, and Europe. The timezone math is killing me. How do you all manage scheduling without burning out from odd hours?

I keep seeing wildly different numbers — from $500/month to $4,000/month. For those teaching full-time (30+ hours/week), what's a realistic monthly income after platform fees and taxes?

I live in a small apartment and don't have a spare room to dedicate to teaching. Will platforms or students care if my background is just a bookshelf in the living room, or do I need a dedicated space?

I see job listings mentioning both synchronous and asynchronous teaching. Can someone explain the practical differences, pros and cons of each, and which tends to pay better?

I have a few repeat students who cancel 10-15 minutes before class at least once a week. It messes up my schedule and income. What policies or strategies do experienced teachers use to handle this?

CELTA costs significantly more and takes longer than a standard 120-hour TEFL. For online teaching specifically, does the CELTA give you a meaningful advantage in getting hired or commanding higher rates?

Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, ClassIn — there are so many options. Which platform do you find works best for online English lessons in terms of stability, screen sharing, and interactive whiteboard features?