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Whether you’re looking for a way to teach kids and teens in China or adult students from around the world, EF English First can be a good option. A flexible work schedule and the opportunity to work from home make working with EF English First worth it. In addition, if you’d like to take one step forward in your life and move to China, the company helps you do so. And while EF English First might not have the most attractive earning potential, it can be a great option to start your online teaching career.
Pros
- Flexible schedule
- Work-from-home opportunity
- Choose to teach kids and teens or adults
- Opportunity to move to China
Cons
- The low pay of $12 to $19 per hour
- Since it’s online, managing class discipline can be a bit tricky
Jump to: Full Review
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How Does EF English First Work for Teachers?
Founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult, an entrepreneur with a penchant for success and a passion for international education, EF English First is a program from EF Education First that’s been in the education market for over 55 years.Â
Whether you’re a newbie English teacher or a veteran, you can start teaching through EF English First. When you join EF as a teacher, you’ll be able to teach english online and become a part of a large network of educators.
EF English First essentially allows you to;
- Apply to work with them in the less than 5 minutes
- Get accepted and start teaching your own lessons
- Earn money teaching online
EF English First offers a range of online teaching jobs. With EF, you can teach from the comfort of your home and set your schedule around your other commitments.
All you need to start teaching online is a reliable internet connection, degree, and TEFL qualification. Once you’ve joined EF as a teacher, you’ll get all the lesson materials in EF’s online classroom.
As an EF teacher, you can choose to teach online to kids and teens in China or adults worldwide – you choose.
Teach Kids Online
If you like spending time and communicating with kids, then teaching kids can be a fun and rewarding experience.Â
Chinese culture rates teachers as members of society who nurture the next generation.
Your key responsibilities teaching English to kids include:
- Deliver 25-minute one-on-one online lessons that focus on vocabulary and grammar
- Complete a short summary (in English) at the end of the lesson for parents to review their children’s progress
- Communicate availability for lesson hours in advance using EF’s scheduling system
Teach Adults Online
If you choose to teach adults, you can teach students from all over the world online. Classes for adults are available throughout the day, meaning you can set a more flexible schedule.
As an online teacher for adults, your primary responsibility is to deliver engaging English lessons to students from around the world.
There are three class options:
- 20-minute private lessons
- 40-minute private lessons
- 45-minute group classes
Typical EF lessons usually include:
- Introductions
- A review of the latest in-class lesson
- A review of the in-class lesson the student just participated in
Teach Online in China
Teaching ESL online from the comfort of your home is a fulfilling job. But if you’re looking to take the next step in your life journey and get into an adventure, EF offers online teaching opportunities in China.
EF English First has online teams based in an online center in the heart of Shanghai, China.
While you’ll still teach online, you’ll be physically in China.
Here’s what EF English First offers if you decide to teach online in China:
- Training and professional development
- Weekly teacher events
- Competitive local salary (12k – 15k RMB per month – equivalent of $1,860 – $2,300 per month)
- Performance bonus after 6 months (up to 2k RMB per month – equivalent of $310 per month)
- Flight allowanceÂ
- TEFL certificate
- Health insurance
- Legal Z work visa
- Free hotel for your first two weeks in China
- Airport pick-up upon arrival
- Free Mandarin Chinese lessons
- 21 days of paid holidays per year
While no experience is required to teach English online in China, there are a few requirements you should meet:
- Have a bachelor’s degree
- Pass a background check
- Be able to live abroad for at least one year
- A TEFL certification
- Be a passport holder of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa
Difference Between Teaching Kids vs. Adults
| Kids | Adults |
|---|---|
| Previous teaching experience is required | No previous teaching experience is required |
| Teach between 8 AM and 2 PM every day | Teach throughout the day |
| Teach Chinese kids aged 5 to 14 | Teach adults from around the world |
| Hold one-on-one classes | Hold group classes and/or one-on-one lessons |
How Much Money Can You Make With EF English First?
On average, you can expect to earn $12 to $19 per hour teaching English to kids and teens or adults. EF English First teachers teach up to 20 hours per week. With this rate and workload, you can earn around $1,500 per month.
But the salary potential is higher if you go to China and work from there. In that case, EF English First would pay you a fixed monthly salary of 12k – 15k RMB, which is equivalent to $1,860 – $2,300 per month.
Who is EF English First Best for?
EF English First is designed for teachers who want to make money teaching English online. The website is also meant for children, parents, and teachers who require online English lessons.
EF English First Benefits: What Does EF English First Offer?
Competitive Salary
EF English First will ensure you are paid a competitive local salary like other employed teachers. In addition to the salary, you are given a flight allowance.
21 Days Paid Leave and Health Insurance
EF English First offers 21 days of paid leave and health insurance that covers you and your family.
Free Hotel
EF English First also offers a free hotel for the first two weeks. The company also picks you up upon arrival.
Free Chinese Lessons
As an EF English First teacher, you can enjoy Free Chinese lessons and also attend social and cultural events.
Requirements to Become an EF English First Teacher
You should meet the following requirements to become an EF English First teacher and teach kids in China online:
- Be fully fluent English speaker (C2 level)
- Have a TEFL certification (EF offers a free TEFL certification course)
- Have at least a bachelor’s degree in any field
- Have access to a personal computer with a reliable internet connection and a headset
- Be computer literate and be comfortable teaching entirely online
You need to have previous teaching experience if you work with kids. But if you choose to teach adults, teaching experience is not necessary.
EF English First Costs to Consider
While EF English First is free to register and start working, you are responsible for your costs such as internet and power costs.
EF English First Payout Terms and Options?
EF English First pays every month in the local currency, which is way above the local average.Â
EF English First Reviews: is EF English First Legit?
EF English First is a legit company that pays teachers. reviews on Reddit state that the experiences ESL teachers got with EF differ and mainly depends on who your manager is.
In addition, the company scores 3.5 rating on Indeed, 3.1 on Trustpilot, and 3.5 on Glassdoor.Teachers on these platforms state that they’re happy with the freedom to have a flexible schedule.Â
They also like that lessons are planned, and they don’t have to spend time structuring the classes.
However, teachers have a few major complaints with EF English First. Some ESL teachers reported problems like student cancelations and no-shows. A lot of teachers also state that the pay rate is an issue because it’s too low.
While EF English First has room for improvement, it’s a legitimate and safe company to work with.Â
Kids’ lessons are available between 6 AM and 2 PM, while adults classes can take place throughout the day.
What Are the EF English First Pros & Cons?
EF English First Pros
- Flexible schedule
- Work-from-home opportunityÂ
- Choose to teach kids and teens or adultsÂ
- Opportunity to move to China
EF English First Cons
- The low pay of $12 to $19 per hour
- Since it’s online, managing class discipline can be a bit tricky
How Good is EF English First Support and Knowledge Base?
EF English First offers a detailed support and knowledge base, including a frequently asked questions page, blogs, articles, and other information related to how the platform works. You can also contact them by going to the contact page, filling out the form, and submitting
EF English First Review Verdict: is EF English First Worth it?
Whether you’re looking for a way to teach kids and teens in China or adult students from around the world, EF English First can be a good option.
A flexible work schedule and the opportunity to work from home make working with EF English First worth it. In addition, if you’d like to take one step forward in your life and move to China, the company helps you do so.
And while EF English First might not have the most attractive earning potential, it can be a great option to start your online teaching career. After all, earning $12 to $19 per hour is an excellent starting point.
How to Start Earning With EF English First?
Becoming an EF English First teacher is a straightforward process. Let’s go through it step by step:
- First, apply online by providing your contact details and general information about you and your experience.
- Next, provide EF with necessary documents as prompted, including your TEFL certification and bachelor’s degree.
- The EF recruiter will contact you within 78 hours of applying, notifying you whether you’re approved or not.
- Finally, get familiar with the platform, take classes, and start working.
If you decide to go to China and work from EF’s office online, you’ll also need to go through the visa procedures. But EF English First will help you with everything related to getting a visa.
Sites Like EF English First
EF English First vs. DoorDash
DoorDash Summary
- Choose your own flexible working hours
- Earn $25 per hour during peaks
- Get $150 when you refer a friend to join
- You get to keep 100% of all tips
DoorDash is a gig economy job that lets you make money delivering food. Like EF English First, DoorDash is free to sign up and use. DoorDash also lets you snake up to $20 per hour compared to EF English First’s expected earnings of between $12 to $19 per hour.Â
As for payout options, DoorDash pays weekly compared to EF English First which pays every month. Overall, DoorDash pays better than EF English First with enough job flow.
EF English First vs. Grubhub
GrubHub Summary
- High average earnings of $12 per hour
- Instant cash out for your earnings
- Earn more from tips and peak periods
- Deliver with car, bike, scooter, motorcycle
Grubhub is a gig job from home that pays you for delivering food. In terms of earnings, Grubhub pays between $12 to $13 per hour compared to EF English First, which pays $12 to $19 per hour.Â
Grubhub also allows you to withdraw your earnings every Thursday compared to EF English First which pays every month. Apart from the fact that the two platforms let you make money as side hustles, they don’t share much in common.
EF English First vs. GoPuff
GoPuff Summary
- Potential to earn up to $21 per hour
- Additional ways to earn extra cash
- Good side hustle even with a full-time job
- Work as much or as little as you want
GoPuff is one of the best gig job apps that let you make money delivering food and groceries. While both platforms allow you to make money online, GoPuff focuses on food delivery compared to EF English First, which focuses on teaching adults and children.Â
GoPuff also allows you to make up to $13 per hour compared to EF English First’s expected earnings of between $12 to $19 per hour.
EF English First vs. Magic Ears
Magic Ears Summary
- Work from the comfort of your home
- Constant support and assistance available
- No cancellation penalty
- No doctor’s note is required for a sick leave
Magic Ears is a higher-paying alternative to EF English First that also offers you a work-from-home opportunity and a flexible schedule. Like EF English First, Magic Ears lessons are also pre-designed for you and take about 25 minutes each. With Magic Ears, you’ll be teaching Chinese children up to the age of 12 only. Unlike EF English First, Magic Ears doesn’t have an option to teach adults from around the world.Â
EF English First vs. VIPKID
Like EF English First, VIPKID is an online ESL teaching platform connecting you to Chinese students up to grade 9. VIPKID also lets you set your own schedule and change your availability from week to week. As you can see from the table above, VIPKID pay is just slightly higher compared to what EF English First offers.
EF English First vs. Skooli
Similar to EF English First, Skooli is an online teaching platform. But unlike other alternatives on this list, student age varies up to university level. Unlike other platforms, Skooli students come from around the world.
Other Sites Like EF English First
EF English First FAQs
What is EF English First?
Since 1965, we’ve grown into a successful global company with over 52,000 employees, over 600 schools, and offices in 50 countries.
Is English First reputable?
EF English First has a rating of 3.5 out of 5 on Indeed, based on over 941 reviews; hence can be considered reputable.
Is EF English First free?
EF English First is free to apply and use
On average, how many hours do you work a day?
You can work 4 to 10 hours depending on how busy it was.
Do I need to be able to speak Chinese?
No, but it helps.
Does EF English First offer short-term or summer contracts?
Due to visa regulations, EF English First can only hire teachers on 12-month contracts. To work with EF English First, you must be willing to live and work abroad for at least a year. EF English First also allows you to work online.
