While backpacking through Southeast Asia, I have met a surprising number of travelers that have found teaching gigs throughout the region. While I have never done it myself, I was amazed at how easy it is for someone to get a job teaching English for any amount of time in Asian countries. I’ve met many Westerners who have found teaching jobs in countries like Vietnam, South Korea, and China, and used that to springboard their adventures throughout the rest of Asia.
Thinking about it, teaching while traveling abroad really is a dream gig for any adventurous free spirit that wants to travel, make money, and change the world at the same time.
While looking into teaching abroad myself, the best option that I’ve found so far was through a company called VIPKID. I’m not going to lie, the first thing that caught my attention was that the hourly rate was much higher than other companies that I looked into. Qualified applicants could make anywhere from $14-22 an hour, which for anyone who has traveled through Asia knows, is more than enough to survive.
Looking into the company more, I realized how competitive and quality-oriented VIPKID is when it comes to selecting its teachers, which is why they are able to offer much higher rates than other teaching abroad programs. I’ve met a few travelers who joked about how easy it was for them to get a teaching job with little to no educational experience, but you do need to have some sort of experience ESL in the past.
If you want to check if you are eligible, then you can check out the application process by clicking here.
In contrast to other opportunities to teach abroad, VIPKID can be done entirely online, meaning that you can work from wherever you want instead of being tied down to a single city. If you want to live in Hanoi for a week before moving on to Bangkok or Tokyo or wherever else your heart desires, you can.
According to VIPKid’s website, “you can work with VIPKID from anywhere as long as you have a stable internet connection.” So seriously, just go find yourself a nice cafe or lock yourself up in your hotel room for a few hours a day and have the freedom and extra money to explore the world beyond your wildest dreams.
Obviously, I’m passionate about traveling and am always looking for new ways to earn money online while traveling, but the truth is, with VIPKID, you don’t even have to leave home if you don’t want to. When I go back to the United States, an hourly rate of up to $22 is a very livable wage, even in the city that I live in. Using that to supplement my other forms of income, I can make enough money to continue funding my travel addiction. It really does amaze me how much the Internet is changing the world, and teaching online with VIPKID is an opportunity that I believe is something that any passionate teacher should look into.
Whether you want to teach English for a living, supplement your current income, or even just gain some more teaching experience, VIPKID is an amazing opportunity.
What are you waiting for? Click here for the application process.
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