VIPKid Reviews – 36 Teachers Share Their Honest Opinions

Wonder what it's really like working at VIPKid? Get the inside scoop, straight from real teachers' mouths, with these VIPKid reviews. 

We spoke to 36 teachers, who pulled back the curtain and told us exactly what they love and what they hate about working for VIPKid. You won't get a more authentic look at the company anywhere else.

Keep reading to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly behind one of the most popular and fastest-growing companies for remote work and teaching English online. 

My name is Courtney, and I'm from Washington state.

I left my 10-year banking job, sold everything, and moved to teach English overseas to follow my dream of traveling the world. Since then I have traveled to over 12 counties. Now I work online teaching English along with other freelance work as I travel. I blog at Nourish the Free Life, and you can follow me on Instagram, too. 

I have been working with VIPKid for about 5 months now, and my experience has been a 10.

I found the hiring process to be really straightforward and it can go very quickly. There are just a few steps to go through including an interview and mock class. They give you all the tools, information and materials you need to be successful. 

The best part of VIPKid is the flexibility. You can literally work from anywhere as long as you have Wi-Fi and you get to set your own schedule, which is another big bonus. 

There really is nothing bad about the job. The only thing you need to think about is that there are certain times of day that are peak hours, so to really get in lessons you have to make sure you can be available then. It really isn’t a negative, it’s just something to just be aware of beforehand. 

I have been teaching English for several years now both in person and with other online companies, and I am happiest working with VIPKid. I feel they treat their employees very well, with so many opportunities for incentives plus opportunities to grow within the company over time. There is also so many resources and trainings for personal growth as a teacher. 

The kids can be anywhere from 4+, depending on what courses you get certified in. All students, of course, are unique. I have several students that I now see every week and it is so nice to be able to build that relationship with them. Most parents are also super great at making sure their students are focused and they help out when needed. 

If you do come to a student that is a bit more difficult or you are having issues, VIPKid is there to help you and also listen. Plus the classes are only 25 minutes, so the time frame is good for this age to stay focused. 

The lessons are all ready for you in slides and they are interactive, but you also have the freedom to add your own props, which is encouraged. I feel the plans are created really well and we can have fun in the classroom. 

For me, to be a successful online English teacher you need to smile, use TPR, and have patience.

As for the equipment, you have to have a computer and also a headset. To pass your mock class you do need at least 2 props. Props can be things you have around the house. You don’t need to make a huge investment, but it really adds to your lesson. 

For anyone out there thinking about joining VIPKid, I would say just go for it! It can be a great way to be able to work and travel like me, or even just as a side income. You can choose to just work a couple days a week. For a part time job it pays very well. I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Hi, I’m Jenny, a current VIPKid teacher. I live in Canada, I studied Linguistics, and I have taught ESL in many different countries. I also coach new ESL teachers.

I have you been working with VIPKid for two years.

I would give VIPKid about 8.5 out of 10, and I’d give my previous teaching jobs about 5 or 6 out of 10.

The pros, for me, are the one-on-one classes, the flexibility, the fun students and the pre-prepared materials. The cons would be the strict cancellation policy, low bookings when you first start, and the early mornings.

The hiring process is hard work, but if you follow the materials and learn the key VIPKid techniques then it’s not difficult to succeed. 

The process involves a basic info form, a demo / interview, mock classes, and uploading documents and signing your contract.  

I highly recommend finding a referral teacher or a mentor before you start, as it’s free and super helpful for the interviews and starting teaching.

The absolute best aspects of working for VIPKid are the fun students and the flexible schedule!

However,although you are free to set your own schedule, it’s difficult to cancel a class after it has been booked. The cancellation policy is very strict unless it’s a genuine emergency.

Something people might not know about VIPKid is that because parents choose which teacher to book, your regular students tend to be the ones who really love your teaching style and have fun in your classes. 

About 90% of the students are super fun and engaged and/or very studious. You get a few who don’t want to be there, but often you can motivate them with rewards, games and encouragement. 

The lessons are pretty fun! The slides can easily be adapted to your own teaching style. They usually include dialogues, songs, games, matching activities, timed activities, phonics words and reading texts. They are based on the K-12 curriculum.

Some slides/units are better designed than others. Teachers have the option to leave feedback on slides and make suggestions for updates.

You will need a computer with webcam, stable internet, a headset with microphone, a kid-friendly backdrop, good lighting and some props. There is no need to spend a lot of money on props & backdrops before the interviews, maybe $5 is all you need.

If you’re thinking about trying to get a job with VIPKid, I would say read about the position and requirements before you apply, so you know all the pros and cons. Be aware it takes some time to get started, and apply early. 

Then make sure you have referral teacher who is easy to get in touch with and willing to help you with questions and share resources/tips. 

My name is Moira. I have been married for 4 years, but my husband and I have known each other for over 20 years! My beautiful, smart daughter is 22 years old. I live in South Jersey. I was a teacher and then an administrator at a large childcare center for 13 years. I mostly worked with the infants and toddlers, but also taught preschool and school-aged children. 

I have been teaching with VIPKid for a little over a year. 

I would rate the company a 10! VIPKid is mindful of its contractors. They have a great cancellation policy. I have had some medical issues come up and the company has been very gracious to grant me soft cancellations so those absences don’t count against my contract. I also love that I am in control of my schedule. 

For me, the hiring process was easy. I did a live interview and then two days later I did my mock class. At the time, the mock classes were set up differently than they are now. During my mock class I did two 10-minute lessons. I passed on my first try. I was then offered the opportunity to be a level 1 only teacher for my first 30 days. 

Being in complete control over my schedule is the best aspect of this job. I love that there are no minimum number of classes that we have to teach. If I need to close my schedule for a day, week, or month, I can do that without worrying about losing my job.

I admit that the hours can be challenging. I am fortunate to live on the east coast, but the 5 am wake-up can be hard. 

Working for VIPKid is my dream job! I get to have fun teaching kids from the comfort of my own home!! 

I teach lower levels, so my kids age range is 4-10 (I have had a few older students, but not many). Most of the students are eager to learn. Sometimes they get distracted, but that’s to be expected with the younger crew. My older students are very respectful and love to try to have conversations. 

The classes are all planned for you! I love that there is very little prep work involved. I often teach the same lessons in a week, but to different students. Each student is different so I don’t get bored with the lessons. The lesson are PowerPoint presentations that are super easy to follow.

I think the three most important qualities an online English teacher must have is the ability to speak clearly, have reliable equipment, and have lots of energy!

For anyone who’s thinking about working with VIPKid, I would say that if you are willing to work early morning or late night hours, this could work for you. 

I’m Michelle, a Midwest girl, born and raised in Wisconsin. We have four kids ages 7-16 who are involved with sports, jobs and school, a big sloppy Sheepadoodle. We also love to travel as a family. 

Some might be surprised that I’m a marketing consultant for my full time job, and VIPKid teacher for my part time job. I have a marketing degree, an MBA, and the TESOL certification through VIPKid. Many VIPKid teachers already have a 4-year teaching degree with appropriate certifications, but it’s really nice that VIPKid offers the TESOL for those of us who do not have teaching certifications already. 

I love interacting with children; VIPKid allows me an outlet for my goofy side, while earning vacation money for my family. I originally started with VIPKid as a backup income to buy the groceries in case I lost my day job. Now, I have actually increased my hours dramatically with VIPKid because I really do love it. The kids are amazing, and so much fun. 

While many VIPKid teachers are also teachers at brick and mortar schools by day, I have found that there is such a variety of degrees and skills and experience among the VIPKid teacher community.

I’ve met lawyers, postal workers, SAHMs, businesswomen, preschool teachers, paraprofessionals, and even police officers who teach for VIPKid. I love that anyone with energy and a passion for children can do this. 

I’ve been with VIPKid for about a year. The time is going fast! My bookings are solid and I have no plans to slow down. As mentioned above, we love to travel as a family of six and this supplemental travel income has been beyond my craziest expectations. I plan to continue as long as I can.

I would rate VIPKid a 10! There are 60,000+ VIPKid teachers today. Anytime there is such a large population, experiences will vary due to individuality and circumstances. My experience has been fantastic. I’ve been paid on time, if not early, twice a month.

My class bookings have increased (when I want them to) and my regular students are pretty established. I’ve had no problem taking time off here and there for holidays or vacations and returning to a fully booked schedule.

I’ve had no problem getting my questions or issues answered quickly via the support tab on the portal or via the teacher groups on Facebook. The Facebook groups can be helpful to join – I find it’s a great resource for quick questions and answers from experienced teachers. 

I did not feel it was difficult to get hired, but an applicant should definitely prepare and do their best and take it seriously, just like any other job interview. 

The hiring process varies by individual and experience, but it would typically include the application phase, the virtual face-to-face interview/short demo, and mock classes. Some teachers are hired after one mock class, some teachers are hired after two or more mock classes. VIPKid is willing to provide feedback after each mock class and the company allows many opportunities to succeed.

I completed two mock classes before I was hired and I learned a lot of valuable information from the mock class mentors who evaluated me. I still use many of their suggestions in my teaching today. My coach, the person who referred me, was also super helpful during my interview process.

I had a lot of questions during the interview process and after I was hired. I needed help navigating the portal, learning how to open/close my time slots, and I even had questions about pay and what to do if a student doesn’t show up for class, or if there is a technical problem.

Your coach, or the person who refers you, is so valuable. Yes, he or she mightearn a referral bonus if you become hired, but that person typically invests a lot of time helping you through the process. 

When I coach someone, I typically spend 6-8 hours with the applicant or new hire before they are up and running independently. This time investment includes 1:1 coaching and questions during the interview, mock classes and after-hire phases.

I often talk with an applicant by phone (easier than so much texting/typing) for their first demo as there are just so many things early applicants usually don’t know in advance of their first interview that can put them in good favor with VIPKid evaluators (visible equipment, background, props, key words and key hand gestures to use, etc.).  

I am just as passionate about coaching others through the hiring process as I am about teaching the kiddos. I love to help others succeed as there are just so many great things about working for this company. With talks of VIPKid expanding into other countries, it’s a great time to get more teachers onboard. 

The best part of working for VIPKid is definitely the kids. I’m not going to say that every class is an awesome experience, but most are definitely great. I love building a relationship with kids on the other side of the world.

After a few months, I established a regular following of students and love to see their name pop up when a class is reserved with me. I love when I know I really connected with a student and either helped them truly learn a new concept for the first time, or connected with them personally. 

Kids have shown me their siblings and pets and favorite toys on camera and it is fun to have that relationship with them. With other, older regular students, we have a fun joking relationship - we’ll talk in funny voices or play jokes on one another. Sometimes we even play tic-tac-toe at the end of class. We really have a good time.

Occasionally, super early mornings are difficult. If those are the hours you choose to work, it can be difficult if you aren’t naturally a morning person. The hardest part is just getting out of bed. Once I get into my first virtual classroom, it’s worth it and I’m awake! Coffee is my secret weapon and many teachers say that their bodies adjust to a new routine pretty quickly. 

Some things people might now know about VIPKid is that you do NOT need to know or speak any Chinese! Really, you don’t. 

Also, early mornings are not the only prime teaching times, if those times don’t work for you. Weekend classes are pretty much available around the clock and when students are on holiday from their regular schools, there are many evening hours that will book for you as well. 

All curriculum is provided. Your prep time is up to you. Some teachers prefer to review their slides for the next day or organize props ahead of each class. Others like me, fly by the seat of our pants and manage very well also. After a while, you do really get to know the lessons and slide content and have a good feel for the pace of each class.

I keep a few of my “go to” rewards or props for the kids on-hand (a clapper for applause, a panda puppet, small whiteboard, a giant smiley face and a few cupcakes and ice cream magnets) and I’m really pretty ready for any lesson. My prep time is almost zero, so for me, it’s a “wake up and go” type of side hustle. 

Most of my students are between 8-12 years of age and most are very cooperative, happy and engaged in their lesson. Like any child, sometimes after their daytime school, they are tired. But if your class is fun and you have a good relationship, they will like come to class to “see” you. 

As for the lessons, each lesson is sequential and builds upon the previous lesson that the child completed. Slides are provided and ready to go as soon as you enter the virtual classroom. Teachers can review the slides prior to class, if needed. There are also teaching tips on each slide, which is helpful for prep.

Levels 1 and 2 are pretty basic and lessons typically cover the alphabet, letter sounds/phonics as well as basic vocabulary about family or the home or classroom.

All lessons in these levels are aimed to help the child learn to speak independently, answer in the own words, hopefully in a complete sentences. Verb conjugations appear in level 2 as well. Higher-level classes cover everything from folktales to culture in other countries to independent projects. 

Classes are as fun as you make them! If you use a high-energy approach and try to engage and build a relationship with your student, class will be very fun for both teacher and student! Incorporate music or an instrument if you’d like!

Sing your lesson, add voice variety, use puppets or surprise props. It’s really up to each teacher – make it as simple or complex as you’d like. There’s no one-size-fits-all teacher or student. Students who fit your style will find you and book you for their classes. 

A stable Internet connection, preferably via Ethernet cable, is critical to your success and I think it’s a good idea to have a backup method to teach as well. For example, I teach from the VIPKid teacher app on my laptop with an Ethernet cable. However, I also have the teacher app loaded on my IPad (and have access to a Wi-Fi hotspot) in case I need it.

You just never know what can happen in the few minutes before a class (like an unscheduled computer update) so it’s good to have a backup to arrive to class on time. Other than a good Internet connection, you just need some sort of device that supports the VIPKid Teacher app and headphones.

If you’re thinking of applying, my advice to you is to just do it! I was nervous and sat on the sidelines for months thinking about it. I’m so glad I jumped into it. It’s legit. Work as much or as little as you want, it’s up to you. But just DO IT. You might love it, and most people like the money, too. 

Energy, enthusiasm and relatability during the hiring process are the most important characteristics for hiring a new teacher. Remember you are teaching through a screen, not in person, so you need to be high energy. I once heard someone say, “If you think you are ‘over the top,’ you are probably doing it just right.” 

If you apply, make sure you are hooked up with the person who referred you. The VIPKid business model does not support educating applicants during the hiring process. The company relies on current teachers to do most of the mentoring and coaching of applicants before hire.

Yes, the company pays a current teacher a referral bonus when an applicant becomes hired and teaches their first full class successfully, but it is small compared to the amount of personalized coaching an applicant typically gets from their mentor.

Take advantage of the person who refers you and take all the help you can get. Also, search YouTube for VIPKid sample backgrounds, demo lessons and mock class lessons. Soak up information and develop your own style. 

After you’re hired, the company does support you with many workshop opportunities and access to fantastic tools to help you grow. 

If you have thought about applying, and are motivated to earn money, you might consider applying now so you are hired before summer.

The kids in China will be out of school for summer in mid to late June. Many teachers say that bookings really increase during summer months and there are more available time slots to teach around the clock, as you wish.

Many teachers teach evening hours in summer, instead of mornings as the kids are out of school. Summer is a great time to get established with regulars and increase your bookings. 

My name is Janita, and I have been a teacher for 29 years. I was raised on a farm in South Dakota and I have five children. I’m also a holistic mindset coach, author and speaker. I blog over at Janita Pavelka.

I have been working with VIPKid since November 2017.

I would rate the company a 10, definitely. It’s a great job for stay-at-home moms, retired teachers, people looking for part-time or full-time work, people who want to work at home, or digital nomads. I highly recommend it.

You need a college degree and experience working with it with children to work with VIPKid. They train their teachers well and have high expectations for the classroom. The applicant just needs to go through all of the hoops, training and requirements.

The absolute best part of VIPKid is the students. Even when I don’t want to get up at 3:30 am, I’m still happy when I see my joyful students. It has brought more joy into my life.

The worst part of the job is getting up so early. I do sleep in once a week, but I do miss having my morning routine. Teachers in Europe or Southeast Asia have better working hours.

You could easily be a digital nomad and work anywhere in the world where there is good Wi-Fi. You can travel and teach, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past school year: housesitting and teaching from wherever I am.

Chinese students in general are very motivated and driven to succeed in academics. They take their classes seriously. They prepare for class, have the class with us, then review the class and video and finish with workbook. They go over their lesson content many times. I like having fun in the classroom and making it lighthearted and enjoyable to learn.

The lessons are all planned out for you. For the most part, it’s great content. VIPKid wants us to have fun in the classroom and make it an enjoyable experience for the children. I use puppets, hats, wigs—all sorts of props to keep them engaged and laughing.

If you meet the company’s qualifications, I would say apply, if you’re thinking about it. Be ready to make money at home, set your own hours, teach joyful children and be happier because of it.

My name is Carrie and I’m a mom of 2 homeschooled kids, ages 10 and 8. We live in Texas and I’ve worked various jobs over the last two decades.

My degree is in Biblical Studies, but I left full-time ministry when I married in 2004. I taught in the private school sector for two years and then became a leasing agent, a personal tutor/homeschooling assistant, and a sales assistant. I really wanted to be home with my kids. VIPKid has made this possible. 

I’ve been with the company since January 2019.

I would rate them a 10. I have no reason to complain. Last month was my first fully booked month and I made more than my hoped-for $500. 

The hiring process was nerve-wracking, simply because the learning curve, even for experienced teachers, his really high. I had never taught with TPR (total physical response) on an online platform.

All my ESL experience has been face to face, which is helpful but still very different. Going through mock classes was hard. But honestly, there is a lot of grace in the process. The company wants us to succeed, but they also want us to be qualified. 

The absolute best part of VIPKid, apart from achieving my goal of earning money AND being with my kids, is definitely the kids I teach. We have a ton of fun. And once I figured out how the lessons are set up, my prep time went down rapidly. 

The worst part of the job is prepping. There’s no compensation for prep time. However, after a month of teaching or so, the time I spent preparing for class went down significantly. Now it takes me 5-12 minutes per class.

I have many of my go-to props on hand and the rest are gathered in the evening before my early-morning classes. Also, a close 2nd: getting up at ungodly hours (5 a.m. in my case). 

VIPKid is a very professional company. It’s respectful and supportive of us teachers. They expect us, in turn, to be professional in class. 

Most of the kids are also super respectful. I’ve not had to deal with disrespect, but I’ve had very young students (6 year olds) who just would not focus. However, once I communicated this with the company and recommended a parent be in the room during class, things got tremendously better.

Most of my kids are delightful. Most of them are crazy smart and enjoy class. Most students are between 6 and 12. I have had a few 13 and 15-year-olds, but they are the exception. 

Classes are what you make of them. The younger kids have an interactive curriculum (they can move things around on the slides, like puzzle pieces). The older kids have more word-based classes. A slide takes roughly an average of 60 seconds. I teach for 25 min. That includes a brief greeting and connecting time. Making the class fun is up to the student and I. We adapt to their personalities without jeopardizing the quality of the class. 

I think it’s important for teachers to be professional (clothing, makeup, hair should be presentable - I do not teach in my PJs and I do not have the dog, kids or other distractions in my classroom while I teach; also, be on time!); have excellent equipment (just like a carpenter needs good tools to deliver excellent quality,

I make sure my internet is “high-octane” so there are no interruptions on my end; I have a good computer - starting in summer 2019 computers/laptops will need Windows or Mac OS- good lighting, quality back-drop, props); and teach to the kid.

It really does feel like they are across the table from me. I have some kids that are quiet and others that will read everything and talk about everything. I honor each child by challenging him or her to grow, but also by respecting his or her individual personalities. I meet them where they are and move them forward.

As for advice for anything thinking about applying, I would say that you’ll probably fail your first mock class. That’s ok, most of us did. 

Get a mentor teacher (one who’s referral code you use) who can coach and encourage you. There will be days you’ll want to give up in the beginning.

Cecily is my name and I’ve been living outside of Washington, DC in suburban Maryland most of my life. I am the married mother of fraternal twins (one boy, one girl) who are almost seven years old. I am a teacher and I have been teaching for 17 years. I have taught second, third, fourth, and fifth grade.

Currently, you can find me on my blog, Teacher Ces​, or you can or listen to my podcast, The TeacherCes Podcast, on Apple Podcast, Sticher, Google Play, or Spotify.  

Four years ago, I obtained teacher certification through the University of Maryland via graduate level courses to become an English as a Second Language teacher.  I’m pointing this out as the process for state teacher certification is a lot different than an online certificate. In addition to teaching online with VIPKid, I teach ESL to middle school students in a public school, full-time. 

I have been with VIPKID since January 2017, so over two years. 

I preface my VIPKid rating with the knowledge that everyone will have a different number based on their lifestyle and expectations. For me, I rate the company a 5.

VIPKid can be a great opportunity depending on your goals. However, I feel like there is not much room for economic growth for part-timers like myself.

It’s a catch-22, trying to get a raise on top of the already ultra-low base rate. You won’t be considered unless you work a certain amount of hours. This is nearly impossible for teachers who work full time.

Don’t get me wrong, I have had positive experiences, but I have issues with how VIPKid runs. Additionally, I feel like the headquarters call us “contracted employees” when something is not in our favor, but “teachers” when they want or need something from us.  

The process was a lot different when I was originally hired. You applied, and if you passed the initial screening, you were offered a chance to teach a mock lesson. It was not too difficult for me as I taught ESL as my full-time job in middle school.

My favorite aspects of VIPKid are that I can work from my home, the lessons are pretty straightforward, and the vast majority of students are super nice. In fact, most of the students at VIPKid are very well disciplined and behaved.  

The worst part of the job is the fact that the chance for growth is low. Additionally, I am not a fan of solely being rated based on how parents feel about you. I think that should play a part, but not be the only factor.

Overall my experience has been positive. It is a great opportunity to earn a little extra income. For me, it would never take the place of my full-time job as it does not offer benefits. I appreciate it for what it is: an opportunity for extra income.

The kids that I work with are primarily between 10 and 17. Most of them are very studious and serious. I tend to believe that VIPKid promotes certain types of students to certain teachers. I get a lot of students who are preparing to take the TOEFL, so that tells me that they are trying to attend an English language college or university.

For the most part, I enjoy the classes. I never take on more than I can chew, so I am not up all night teaching. I don’t need a lot of prep time, but I do prep. My version of prep is reading the lesson a few hours ahead of the scheduled class. If I am giving an assessment, I look over the questions and answers and print out a copy of the assessment checklist sheet.

I believe that a successful online teacher must be flexible, understanding and unbiased. 

VIPKid is a great opportunity for someone who wants to earn extra income, but it’s not for everyone. I would not expect to be fully booked when you begin; however, if you keep your expectations reasonable, you will probably be happy. 

My name is HollySue. I live in northern California with my husband and 4 young daughters. We are a homeschooling family, living (previously) on a single teacher's salary, so finding a way to supplement to our income was becoming necessary. 

I was starting to look for work outside the home late at night, which wasn't ideal. We live in a small farm town, so any evening work would have included a commute to a bigger town or city.

When I first learned about VIPKid, I was skeptical about working for a China-based company I had never heard of, but it sounded too perfect for our situation to ignore the possibility. 

I applied in September 2017 and taught my first class the beginning of October. It started out slow, only teaching about 35 classes that first month, but increased to more than 90 classes in the month of November.

Now I have a Facebook group where I help aspiring VIPKid students.

I would rate my experience a 9.5. Nothing is perfect, but this work from home job has been pretty amazing.

When I was hired, the process was fairly simple, yet terrifying. I filled out the application, which requires a 4-year degree and 1 year of experience teaching. I knew that my years of homeschooling, tutoring, Sunday school, etc. would suffice as teaching experience. 

I got my degree in sign language more than 10 years prior and I had stayed home for the majority of that time. I was nervous, but who isn't when starting something new? The process at that time included an application, online (video chat) interview, and two mock classes (also video chats). 

The current hiring process is easier. There are many more resources available on the VIPKid page to help you prepare for certification.

You’re also able to choose your certification level, which was not available when I started. My certification was assigned to me based on the interview and I was given certification to higher levels only. I have since applied and received certifications for all age groups.  

The best part of working for VIPKid is working from home (or working on the road while traveling). I have no commute, no childcare costs, no travel expenses (money or time). If a class is canceled by the student, I still get paid. It's a pretty sweet deal. 

The worst part of the job is planning ahead. Classes typically get booked about two weeks before teaching time. This doesn't allow much wiggle room for sickness or emergencies.

Canceling a class for an actual emergency (with proof provided) might get excused, but non-emergency cancellations will cost you. Too many cancellations are cause for termination. 

With that said, parents are understanding if you teach through sickness (there’s no cross-contamination factor, which is is nice). I have only canceled one class, and that was in February 2018. 

Working for VIPKid is both exhausting and exhilarating. Yes, I lose time that I might be sleeping, but I have never felt so alive as when I am teaching a young child clear across the world. These children are excited to learn. They are taught respect for teachers, and adults in general. They come to class eager to participate and get so excited when you reward them for their effort. 

I have taught children as young as 4 and as old as 16. However, 80% of my students are 9 years old. Age doesn't always matter, though. I have had 6-year-olds that are nearly fluent, and 13-year-olds that can't introduce themselves. 

I have had a few students with behavioral problems. It's bound to happen when you teach so many (I have now taught 835 different students). However, 99% of my students have been amazing. I can say that teaching children in China is much different than teaching children in America. Teaching a one-on-one class is also much easier than a classroom full of children.

Because I teach so many levels, I do not get bored with the classes. Classes also get updated fairly often, so there's always something new. The amount of fun you have teaching is entirely up to you. Use hand puppets, props, silly faces... they all help the student learn and they help you enjoy the experience. 

To be successful at this, I think you need to:

1. Smile. This is so important. It helps the student feel comfortable.

2. Be patient. Allow slow responses. Allow the dead air while the child thinks. Take a deep breath and wait.

3. Adjust. Every child is a bit different. Just because they come to a level 3 class and the other level 3 students have been able to read the slides, this child may not be able to read well. Adjust your teaching for this student. Allow them to be where they are, and improve with baby steps. Don't expect them to be where they’re not. Accommodate. 

As for props, it’s hard to choose just one as the "most important." I have purchased a good laptop, a headset with microphone (and mute button), and many props... But if I had to choose one, it would be my small whiteboard. 

I use it for everything. I can draw (though rather poorly) the concept of a word that the student doesn’t know and teach that word. If a student does not know the word "grapes", I can draw grapes and they will understand. Teaching English visually is so helpful!

For anything thinking about applying, I would say it’s important to prepared. Study the online material. Talk with someone that’s already teaching. Use my referral code. Ask questions. Then do it. You won't regret it. There is no cost to start, so you have nothing to lose. 

My name is Lauren, I’m 31, and I live in Florida with my boyfriend and our brood of four-legged children. I have a bachelor’s degree in communications and envisioned myself as a PR big shot, but it turns out I didn’t love that line of work and sitting in an office chained to a desk is not for me. 

I have long been fascinated by flexible jobs and the rise of the gig economy. I have actually waited tables most of my life. Surprisingly, I liked that job but I felt that my bachelor’s degree was a bit of a waste if I was going to keep waiting tables and I was looking for a new challenge that was just as flexible and lucrative (because $20+ an hour is tough to walk away from).

I have been searching and trying out different gigs for the past two-ish years and have settled on a mix that includes VIPKid. 

I just started working with VIPKid about three months ago. 

I would rate VIPKid a 9. They’re pretty awesome. It’s flexible with your schedule and you choose what slots you want to open. The support team is quick to respond when there are issues and payment comes through when it’s supposed to, etc. 

They also offer bonus incentives frequently to boost your pay. My only qualm is that the incentives qualifications are a little tricky and I’ve missed out on them a couple of times because of a technicality. 

It was fairly simple to get hired, but there were several steps. As I understand it, it’s easier to get through the application process if you have another teacher’s referral code. This pushes you up in the system and the referring teacher gets a bonus and can coach you through the hiring process.

You basically apply, and then wait for them to review your application and complete a background check. You also must prepare for a mock class where you pretend to be teaching so that they can evaluate your teaching style and determine a pay rate. 

You must also have a “classroom setting” background for your classes/interviews. You can get a lot of good stuff in the dollar section at Target or the dollar store. I have a Cricut, so I made my backdrop.

There was an option to do an express interview, where you record a 2-minute lesson to speed things along. I did this but didn’t pass as I wasn’t enthusiastic enough in my video. 

I then recorded my class where I basically pretended to teach a student based on the lesson content they provided (who wasn’t there - this was a bit awkward). I was over-the-top cheesy enthusiastic (and that was a bit fake feeling to me) but that was what they were looking for. They want you to be very cheerful, smile a lot, and use lots of TPR (hand motions, body language). 

After I passed this, I scheduled a class with a VIPKid advisor/senior teacher and she pretended to be a student. I had to teach her the lesson provided for 10 minutes and then waited for an approval e-mail with my pay rate, etc.

After I received that, I had to record a welcome video and draft a biography about myself, as well as take several different pictures of myself for my profile. They want you to showcase your personality, so I took pictures with my dogs and with my plants (since I like to garden).

My favorite aspect of VIPKid is that I get to choose my own schedule, which is a big deal. That said, fact that I don’t have to leave my house or get dressed is probably the best aspect. I get up and shower every morning and put on comfortable clothes. The kids can only really see from the neck up so you don’t have to dress up.

I really struggle with the hours, though, and I dismissed this job several times for that reason. I am a struggling morning person at best, and I get up at 5:30 am every day to get ready for class (and I don’t start class until 7 am - there are 6 am slots). That being said though, it is pretty cool to be halfway done with my workday by 9-10 am and I have time for a nap if I really need one.

Overall, VIPKID is great. The perks definitely outweigh the hard parts. There are no negative coworkers or a boss trying to micromanage you, and it really doesn’t feel like work.

I teach level 2 and most of my kids are in the 5-11 age range. I would say 90% of them are interested and want to learn. It’s amazing how well some of them speak and what they understand. Most of them are excited when they get answers right, and with some of the more advanced ones, you can hold more of a conversation and they’re excited to learn about you. 

There are a handful that do not want to participate and those are tough. You typically spend most of those lessons redirecting their attention and trying to get them to participate, but the lessons are only 25 minutes so it’s not too long to deal with it.

The classes are structured for you, which is awesome. There are even tips on each slide that guide you through what to say and what to ask. I typically review each of my classes before they start so that I am not fumbling through them, but you don’t have to create your own content. 

You do have to include extra props that might help them understand, but you can be creative. I will sometimes teach the same lesson more than once a day, so it can feel repetitive, but I usually think of different or better ways to go over the content so I think it’s ultimately beneficial. 

When I signed up for this gig, I was more excited about it paying $20 an hour than the idea of being able to teach kids. I’m still excited about the lucrative pay, but I also find it fun. I have become more relaxed and play more with them. They’re learning but they’re also enjoying it.

In my opinion, a good online English teacher must be patient, enthusiastic, and creative.

You have to remember that this is after-school tutoring for them. It’s late night for a lot of them (7 pm - 10 pm) and most of them are ready for bed. You have to make it entertaining and engaging for them so that you can both enjoy it.

You definitely have to have a computer but you also have to get a headset (it helps with the echo on the video). High-speed internet is very important too, and can affect the lesson and result in a teacher IT penalty (you lose your pay for that class if it’s too big of an issue). 

As for props, for the mock interview, they’ll want to see 2-3 different kind of props that reinforce the lesson. I used a magnetic whiteboard with magnetic letters, and printed pictures that I taped to popsicle sticks.

I’ve picked up props in the dollar section at Target, at the dollar store, and in clearance sections. Once you start actually teaching, you’ll see what kinds of props will be most helpful.

If you’re on the fence about VIPKid, I say just apply and try it. I expected to not like it, but I really do. It’s also a great consistent income for me to go along with other gigs I do that are less consistent.

My name is Lauren and we are a family of 3, with 3 pets living near the Smoky Mountains National Park in Sylva, North Carolina, about 20 minutes from the Cherokee Reservation. My husband and I met in college at Western Carolina University where I was getting my elementary education degree.

I taught for three years at Cherokee Elementary on the reservation, in Transylvania County Schools and Henderson County Schools. I worked retail during the summers for Lowes and different clothing stores in the area. While teaching, I questioned whether or not I could handle the politics and constant drama from the administration/state regulations for another 30+ years. 

When I was let go from my job (all of the teachers in the grade level were let go), the decision was made for me. It took me a while to come to realize it was God working me over!

I have been with VIPKid since December of 2018.

On a scale of 0 to 10, 10 being awesome, I would give the company a 10! A million times over 10! 

I love working for them so much, my family wishes I would hush because I cannot stop talking about VIPKid.

The company listens to its teachers. Many teachers will comment in the official Facebook group or on lessons, and there is even an advice button for each lesson you teach. You can click to give VIPKid advice, and within weeks or months you will see it noted in the newsletter they send out each week to our email. Change usually follows shortly after. I never felt like I had a voice in the brick-and-mortar classroom, so this is huge to me!

This company makes sure we have a voice and gives us such flexibility in our schedule, it’s hard not to like working for them! I get to choose when, how long, how little and what days or times I want to work. I feel like I’m in total control and that motivates me even more. 

There’s also support while we teach from the “firemen,” who are watching lots of teachers teach at once but are available for us to message on the side if we are having trouble with a student, with a parent, with sound, or anything tech-related.

They are there as a liaison or for IT support, anytime we need. They will call parents for us, translate, fix the IT issue or tell us what we need to do to make our experience with that student even better. It’s such a relief!

I also love the community the company has instilled in its teachers. We are encouraged to meet up in groups and sent “swag” from the company to share with one another. Journey conferences are held on a regular basis to meet the top-performing teachers and they are always willing to share their advice, tips, tricks etc. 

When you’re booked for a lesson, there’s a section under the lesson notes where teachers leave tips and ideas for other teachers. Instagram is another great source for new teachers to find resources or receive information from other teachers. 

There are many Facebook groups where anyone and everyone can join, once they’re hired, as a safe place to ask any questions they have, from how do I teach a certain slide to where is the button for such and such. Usually, within the hour, I get responses for all my questions, regardless of how silly there are.

When you’re hired, you become part of a family.

I was so nervous about the hiring process! Turns out, it was for no reason. The first step is to complete an application. If anyone does apply, they can use my referral code, which can be added during the application process or even after applying in your account.

This allows me to help any new teacher before, during and after the hiring process achieve their first booking. I love to follow up with all of my new referrals and check in on those who have been teaching periodically to see if there is anything I can support them on. Consider me your “phone a friend.”

When you complete the application, you choose a time to interview and a person from China will come online in a Skype-like atmosphere to video chat at that time. You’ll be asked to introduce yourself and answer typical interview questions like, Why VIPKid and why now? What’s your experience with children? etc. 

The person interviewing you will pretend to be a 5-year-old who does not know English at all. You’re expected to teach a lesson that is like a PowerPoint presentation made up of 10 slides within a 10-minute time frame. The lesson is provided to you ahead of time and you’re expected to use different kinds of props during the interview. 

I actually explain all of this in my post here and I have many links to various videos to help you prepare for the interview.

It all sounds daunting, but I can promise you, it’s the easiest interview I’ve ever done! 

When the interview is over, you may be asked what you thought went well, what you could have completed better and what you think you should be paid per class.

The pay rate is $7-$9 per class (28 minute classes so $14-$22 an hour plus incentives and bonuses are offered monthly to increase that amount. I average about $21 an hour) depending on your experience and how the interview goes. 

You will be sent an email, breaking down how you did plus what to improve on and your pay rate. If you’re approved after your first interview, you go on to do a “mock interview” which is exactly the same thing, only with a teacher from America (aka: peer teacher trained to interview). Same process following that interview too. 

All of this is explained on my blog, Cannons Compass. I'd be happy to answer anyone's questions, just get in touch on email.

It’s so hard to pick one thing that I love about VIPKid.  

Flexibility, support from the powers that be, cutest kids ever, great pay, I get to be at home and wear pajama bottoms while I teach (no joke) and spend all day with my little girl while the kiddos in China are fast asleep (no teaching during the day). 

We’ve paid down mega debt with my extra income (makes me feel good to still contribute) and my goal of being a stay-at-home mom has become real thanks to this job. 

I don’t have to sit at a desk all day (I teach standing now) and I don’t have to miss my baby girl or miss out on lunch (or any meal for that matter) with my hubby. 

I suppose the biggest and most awesome thing about VIPKid compared with a regular classroom is that I get to be me. I can be the teacher I want to be and have fun without hearing from superiors that I am having “too much fun” and I need to be strict with my kids. Fun is the goal at VIPKid as long as the objectives are covered and I’m free to do that how I choose (professionally, of course). 

On the flip side, the hours can be rough for some. I don’t mind because I wake up so often in the night and my husband snores, so I figured I would make money while I was awake instead of laying there frustrated that I cannot sleep. 

I am EST, so the hours available to teach are 8:30 pm - 9:30 am. You get to decide when you work. Many brick-and-mortar teachers or anyone with a full-time job doing this on the side will work maybe 2 hours before they leave for work each day.

Some do this full time. I was doing that for a while to build my student list up, and that could mean working evenings, during the night, early mornings, whatever you choose! 

I can make around $1700+ from doing this full-time each month. Taxes are not withheld and insurance is not covered, but I can manage that by saving 30% of whatever I earn, and my other job covers my insurance for now. 

Overall, working for VIPKid is awesome! I genuinely would be sad if something happened and my 6-month contract was not renewed. According to my husband, working for them has made me happier and less tense. This surprised me as I thought I was busier, more tired and working more

The ages range from 5 to 14 years old. Attitudes vary as with any kid, and I would say most (maybe 90%) are always polite and ready to learn. There are some, like any classroom setting, that are extremely difficult to keep focused, but as an ADHD adult, I can relate. I use what works for me to focus to help those students. 

They are hilarious and they love to show you their world or see yours! I have one student who has her kitty cat named Mango in every class. I get to teach Mango and her at the same time! She usually asks me to bring my cats into class or our dog so I do as a treat at the end of class. 

One student wants me to teach her bear and she makes up funny voices for him to answer questions on her behalf. They love to tell me about their travels or what they did that day, and one student loves to draw so she draws my portrait almost every class at the end. 

I’m always fascinated with how much they teach me and what they are so excited to share. 

One student ran upstairs really fast in the middle of a lesson to show me her mom had a $10 bill from America in her wallet. Then, she showed me what her money looked like. We had a full discussion on this and she was able to use English she has learned so far, which made her parents very proud of her. 

The parents are usually sweet and supportive. Some are extra tough on their kids while others are very laid back. Like any classroom, you come across all kinds! I have some parents that watch the recordings of the lessons and leave amazing feedback.

There are picky parents, chill parents, fun parents, parents who use this as a babysitting service, parents who depend on this to provide a better life for their kids, and then parents who are sometimes overly involved and give their kids the wrong answers thinking they know more than they do. ALL TYPES!

The classes are planned, which is awesome from a teacher’s perspective. VIPKid gives you the ability to make these lessons work for you as long as you cover the objectives they want you to achieve for the assessment at the middle and end of each unit. 

My advice for teachers would be to:

- Smile! The more you smile, the harder it is for anyone in the room not to have fun or smile back!

- Have fun. The more fun you have, the more fun the student will have. VIPKid encourages this!

- Don’t stress. I used to feel so paranoid every time I was booked for a class that I wouldn’t be fun enough, have enough props, the student wouldn’t understand the concept, etc. As soon as I let go of the worry and stress, I started having a blast. 

This is not the same as a regular classroom with EOG testing around every corner. The concepts are easier to teach than you’d think and I was surprised that I connect better with the little ones, but I have more fun teaching the older students when I’ve never been an “older student” teacher type. 

For anyone considering applying, I say don’t forget to be you! It’s hard not to worry about how it will go. Watching YouTube videos helped me pass my interviews well, but copying the teachers you see there is not a good idea. 

Be true to who you are, how you teach and love these babies and have fun doing it. The interviewers and the students will love you so much more for it!

My name is Greta. I live in rural Pennsylvania with my husband and 2 daughters. After my second child was born in October, I decided I wanted to quit my full time job to be a stay-at-home mom. I have a bachelor’s degree and previously worked as a clerk-typist. I do not have any formal teaching experience or a degree in teaching.

I got hired by VIPKid in September but officially started teaching in March.

On a scale of 0 to 10, I would give them a 10. From the very first step of applying to teaching your first class, everything is laid out very well. If you’re unsure of something, there is wonderful support. The classes and students are very fun. I have nothing but great things to say.

I do not think it was difficult to get hired; it was more nerve wracking at times than anything else. First you submit your basic information, such as experience teaching and your degree, and then there are several options to choose from for a “demo lesson”.

There are currently 3 choices. You can have a live interview with someone from the company, record a 10-minute demo lesson, or you can use the VIPKid Teacher app to send in a 2.5-minute demo teaching one slide. This option does not require a background\backdrop or props of any kind. 

After passing that step, you will schedule a mock lesson with a “mock class mentor.” This is the step that is the most nerve wracking because you will go in front of a real person pretending to be a young student and you will teach and interact with them like you would in a real classroom. The lesson you teach is given to you ahead of time to practice and there are two different levels you can choose from.

The best part about VIPKid is being able to have a job from home to help our household with extra money. I also learned that I have a passion for teaching, which I did not know I had until I started with VIPKid. 

The worst part of the job is probably waking up early, but I have gotten used to little sleep with two kids under the age of 3 so it doesn’t bother me as much. 

Overall, I think this is a great job. The students are so fun and cute and put a smile on my face every day. The lessons are easy to teach and the platform is easy to use and understand. The pay is great too! It is truly a unique job.

The kids are so adorable! Sometimes you get a shy student, but most will open up by the end of the lesson. Ages do vary from about 3 years to about 15 years old. As far as attitude, they are like any other child their age. They can be sweet, funny, or shy depending on their personality. 

There are a variety of levels to teach depending on age and ability of speaking English. Sometimes you will get a somewhat “dull” lesson like the days of the week, but most are very fun and some of the levels even have interactive features such as noises, the ability to click and move characters around, etc. The students really love those features and they make class even more rewarding. 

In my opinion, an online English teacher must be patient, outgoing, and dedicated.

As for equipment, a nice background is great to have but you don’t need anything fancy. I use a map I got from the Dollar Store. Props are also fun to have, but most of them come from my child’s room.

For anyone on the fence about applying, my advice is to give it a shot! You can use my code here​. If you have the experience needed to apply, it’s a great way to earn extra money and it’s is a very rewarding experience.

My name is Jessi, and I’m from New York. I’m currently living in Nova Scotia, Canada with my husband, 3 bonus kiddos, 1 brand new baby boy, and a cute cat! I have a degree in English education and I love teaching! Before relocating to Canada, I was a middle school English teacher in Nashville for a few years. 

I’ve been teaching with VIPKid for two years now. 

I would give the overall experience a 9, for sure! It is SUPER fun, the kiddos are so sweet, and it’s a lot easier than teaching in a classroom. No lesson plans or grading… just teach, write some feedback, shut the laptop, go about your day! 

As for the hiring process, for me it was not terribly difficult to get hired. I did a ton of research and practiced a bunch. It is weird to be so silly and animated at first, but you get used to it. I love helping other teachers get hired, too.

The best part of the job is only teaching for 4 hours a day (or less if I need to), and getting to spend the rest of the day with my family. No workplace drama, little-to-no prep work, and it’s good money! I can teach from anywhere, so I don’t have to miss “work” when we travel! 

Also, this job doesn’t really feel like work most of the time because you get to play with kids! 

​The worst part is the hours, hands down. Sometimes it’s pretty early in the morning because it’s evening in China. But hey, with kids I’m up pretty early anyway! 

​Working for VIPKid has truly been a blessing for our family. I make good money, and it’s so fun. The students are wonderful and it’s so cool to learn about Chinese culture along the way! 

The students range in age from about 4 to 14. Most of them have great respect for their American teachers, and boy do they love to giggle! I love teaching the older students because we have some awesome conversations. 

This is definitely nothing like teaching in a regular classroom, so don’t let that deter you if you’re not coming from a teaching background. The classes are planned out, but there are plenty of opportunities for extending the material and making each lesson your own. 

For an online English teacher to success, he or she must:

- Be able to have fun! Channel your inner child and roll with it.

- Be patient. Students won’t always get it right away. English is a tough language (there, their, they’re… am I right?!) Keep at it and be encouraging!

- Be yourself! These students want to get to know you and are fascinated by you. 

My advice to you is to be patient with yourself while you’re learning! This can feel a little silly to start, especially during the interview with an adult. If you don’t get hired after the first mock class, keep trying! It’s worth it for the freedom to work from wherever you want. 

Also, have a good morning routine to get you jazzed and in a positive headspace before teaching! 

My name is Kristina. I’m from Pennsylvania and I have a background in education and leadership. Although I teach English, my degree is in Spanish and K-12 Education.

My husband and I recently moved to be closer to my parents... a great decision, for sure!  When I’m not working on VIPKid-related tasks (with one of our two black cats on my lap), you can find me catching some rays outside!

I’ve been with VIPKid since July 2017, so I’m coming up on two years as a teacher!  I became a Brand Ambassador in June 2018.

As for rating it, I know that I should give it a 9 because there’s always room to grow... but I simply can’t give it less than a 10!

VIPKid has completely transformed my life and I’ve watched it transform the lives of thousands of other teachers, too.  The company is still fairly young (5 years old), yet it’s the leader in the industry. I love being a part of something bigger than myself... something that’s growing like wildfire! 

VIPKid allows teachers to empower themselves every day. For me, that means I get to create a work schedule that fits around my life... not the other way around! And, of course, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to encourage children and teachers around the globe!

The hiring process is hard work, but it’s certainly doable... especially with help!  When I got hired, I didn’t have anyone helping me and it was a bit overwhelming. I wasn’t sure who I could even ask when I had questions.  That’s one of the reasons I began coaching aspiring VIPKid teachers, and I’ve created a helpful community of support. 

I find what pain points my aspiring teachers have and I create a program that suits their needs.  The hiring process is a lot less daunting—and even fun—when you have a caring hiring coach (referring teacher) and a community of support!

The best aspect of working for VIPKid is the people, for sure!! VIPKid students are some of the most hardworking, polite, and sweet children you will ever meet, and many of the teachers and employees have the same attributes!

The worst part of the job is reining myself in. When I was a new teacher, I loved VIPKid so much and so I wanted to teach every possible time slot. Eventually I realized that I needed to back off in order to maintain my sanity and sleep schedule!  The temptation to overwork is very real when a company is as flexible as VIPKid!

Overall, the company is fun and flexible!  It has a very cheerful, teacher-centric attitude.  It would be easy to feel like “just another teacher” in a sea of over 70,000 VIPKid teachers, but the company does an amazing job of listening to teacher concerns and requests. 

The flexibility means that I am the one in control of my calendar. If I need to schedule a medical appointment or get invited to an event, I simply don’t open teaching slots that day... easy peasy! I think that the insane flexibility is one of the reasons VIPKid consistently ranks on Forbes for “Top Remote Work” (most recently, VIPKid was #1!). 

The kids typically range in age from 4 to 12 years old. VIPKid markets mostly toward the younger end of the age range, so the majority of the newest students are young, which is great for business (for VIPKid and for teachers) because they’ll likely stick around for years!

The company plans the classes and creates all of the curricula for the students; the teachers simply show up and teach!  Of course, it’s important to be prepared, so I always recommend that teachers get into a pre-class routine so they have an idea of what props, TPR, language, etc. they will use. 

This is why one of the live coaching sessions that I offer to aspiring teachers (my referrals) is all about how to “think like a VIPKid teacher” and quickly decide the best way to teach a lesson slide! The lessons are fun and become more interactive over time.

I believe an online English teacher needs to be adaptive, patient, and energetic.

As technology and the needs of students continue to change, we must adapt accordingly, and we must also adapt during each class to adjust to our student’s learning needs!

Patience is essential; technology doesn’t always work as expected and our students may not always have the right answers or remember a correction (although, really, these kids are brilliant!). 

The importance of bringing energy to the online classroom is amplified by the fact that we teachers become a little video box on a flat screen. We have to be even more energetic in an online classroom in order to engage our students, especially since so many of them have had a very busy school day followed by numerous after-school activities before coming to our online classroom!

As for equipment, you will need a computer (desktop or laptop) or an iPad. A headset is also a “must.” Props help to engage our students and to simplify concepts that would otherwise require too much language.  A couple of my favorite prop “basics” are a white board, a puppet, and letter flashcards. 

For anyone thinking about applying, just go for it!  You’ll be getting in on the ground floor of an amazing company that truly cares about its teachers.  You’ll be totally in control of your schedule. Fair warning, though... these kids will melt your heart!  

Be sure to buddy up with a referring teacher who can guide you throughout the process. This is Your VIPKid Journey, and you're the hero here!  

I also suggest finding someone who will assist you even after you’re hired. You may have more questions then! And join a hiring support community for support. After hiring, my referrals (who have used my link) also get to join the Your VIPKid Journey Hired community. My team and I continue to provide free support (such as live coaching sessions) after hiring!

My name is Karen. I’m from Texas, but our family moved to Florida a couple of years ago.  We have truly embraced the Sunshine State and love it here. I have been a preschool teacher for over 6 years.  I truly enjoy working with young children.

I’ve been a VIPKid teacher for two years.

I would honestly rate VIPKid an 8.5 out of 10. It’s wonderful being able to work from home and the pay is great. I’m able to teach a few hours in the morning before I get my son ready for school. It’s been an amazing addition to our family finances.

It wasn’t very difficult to get hired 2 years ago. I watched many YouTube videos to learn about the hiring process. The lady that referred me gave me tips in the hiring process, too. She was also helpful in preparing me for my interview/demo and mock class. The entire hiring process took me about 7 days. Now I try to coach aspiring teachers. 

I have some amazing students that consistently book me several times a week.  I love my students.  It’s amazing seeing their English skills grow.  And they are so appreciative of me.  I love it!

The hours that are available to teach are from 8:30 pm to 9:30 am (EST), with the most requested booking times being between 6:00 am and 9:00 am and 8:30 pm and 10:00 am (EST) on Saturday and Sundays.  Many of us wish we were able to work late mornings through the afternoon; however, the children are asleep in China during those times.

I also wish the company had better communication channels.  Currently we must submit tickets through our teaching portal and we don’t have the ability to call anyone if we have urgent matters to discuss. But we were told they are working on a better the situation.  We are optimistic that positive changes will occur soon.

I love working for VIPKid because it’s really a fun and easy way of bringing in extra income.  Many teachers work fulltime for the company. It’s a wonderful alternative for stay-at-home moms who want to earn extra money.  And we have amazing support system amongst the teachers in the many VIPKid Facebook groups.  I feel fortunate to work here and I intend to work with VIPKid for a long time.

The students are usually excited to learn English.  Most of my students are hard workers and are very pleasant to work with.

For anyone thinking about applying, I would say that VIPKid is a great company to be an independent contractor for.  It’s nice to have control over my teaching schedule.  Teaching at VIPKid can become addictive because you have so much fun with your students.

Hi! I’m Melissa. I'm a homeschooling mother of 3 and I also teach 5th and 6th grade at a local homeschool co-op. I have a degree in communications and political science. I worked on political campaigns before getting married and starting a family.  My family and I live in Georgia.

I have been working with VIPKid for about 2 years. I’m a teacher, a mentor, and an online coach for applicants going through the hiring process.

I would rate my experience with VIPKid a 10! This company has made me love teaching, connected me with families across the globe, helped me to grow personally and professionally, and helped me contribute financially to our family as well!

The hiring process is daunting to some, but it’s necessary as it’s the only time we have to train teacher applicants. It can take from 2 weeks to over a month and it includes teaching several mock lessons.

The absolute best part about this job is that I can literally take 10 steps, put on an orange shirt, and be at work in the mornings.

The worst part is the early morning hours, which can be hard to get used to when beginning to teach with VIPKid. We teach the student in the evening and on the weekends in BJT time.

Overall, I feel supported and encouraged in this job. They work to build the teacher community both online and in person in North America. They listen to the teachers, and they’ve made several changes based on teacher comments. Some of these changes are soft cancellations, easier access to personnel in the home office, and conferences held in North America for professional growth in the company.

The students range from 3 years old to 16 years old. There are 7 levels of curriculum, and many supplemental courses to help the students with their English.

The majority of the students want to be in class and are cooperative. Most of the time a parent is watching and helping nearby during class. They are serious and dedicated to learning our language in order to succeed in their school system.

The classes are super fun! They’re all planned and laid out for us as teachers. There’s no lesson planning or grading involved, only short feedback for the parents after each class. The lessons build on each other but follow the same structure, so it’s easy to pick up the 8th class in a unit and work with a new student.

The three most important qualities in an online teacher are: a cheery personality, the ability to adapt to a student’s instructional and interpersonal needs, and willingness to be trained.

As a teacher, you will want an educational background and props to help you teach the lessons. You will accumulate props as you begin to teach, and the company has a plethora of resources where you can find and print images as well.

For anyone thinking about getting a job with VIPKid, I would tell them to go for it! You won’t regret your decision.

It’s valuable to have a referral teacher to help guide you through the many steps of the hiring process. Their advice and one-on-one help can keep you encouraged and relaxed. I also suggest taking advantage of all of the training sessions and materials provided by the company. You can do this! It will just take some time to learn the company expectations and techniques up front.

My name is Ashley and I’m a wife and mother to 3 kids under 8 years old. I live outside of Charlotte, NC. I was a police officer and detective for 10 years before deciding to stay at home with my kids. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and I do not have any formal teaching experience. I blog over at Budgets Made Easy.

I have taught with VIPKid for a year and a half. I started in December 2017. 

I would rate the experience with them a 10. They are incredibly helpful and pay well. It is a very easy job if you can handle the hours. 

I thought the hiring process was easy. I only had to do one mock interview. I know if can be difficult for some people. I know some people do not get hired without formal teaching experience, but it’s all about how you word things. 

For teaching experience, I listed jobs where I trained new employees, so don’t sell yourself short just because you don’t have any formal teaching experience. 

The best parts of working for VIPKid are that it’s fun, easy, and pays well. The kids are entertaining and I haven’t had many issues. 

However, there are times when a kid won’t listen, but as long as you’re prepared for how you’ll handle it, you will be fine. The only thing that can be an issue with working for them is if you can’t fill your schedule. 

Overall it is fun and enjoyable. The lessons are easy and you don’t have to do much preparation. All you do is teach the lesson plan in a fun way. 

One thing they could improve is making it easier for people to fill their schedule when needed. I was the opposite of most people. I was slow when others were busy and busy when others are slow, so it just depends. 

The kids can start fairly young, 3 years old, and go up to teenagers. The young kids are a lot more work because you have to put more energy into keeping their attention. 

For the older kids, it just depends on if they really want to be there or not. I’ve had fun older kids and ones that didn’t want to listen as well. 

The lessons are planned out for you and it’s as fun as you make it. You do not have to be crazy like the YouTube videos you see online. I can be upbeat and fun without being silly and crazy. 

The attitude and atmosphere really depends on the child and his or her attitude. 

For someone who’s thinking about applying, my advice is to just go for it and see if you like it. Do not get stressed out about the ins and outs, it’s pretty easy to learn and get used to. 

My name is Karyn and I’m from Nova Scotia, Canada. I have been married for 21 years, my hubby travels for work, and we have three daughters under the age of 13. I have worked in retail, hotels, restaurants, MLM and I even ran a home daycare. 

I am happily signing my 5th contract in September, and have taught just shy of 4,000 classes. I only taught 2 classes a day for 4 months, as this was something to fill up my cup. 

Then our eldest daughter got sick and I had to close my home daycare. I was needed at home. My family needed me, and I needed to be available for various trips to the hospital. Thankfully, I had VIPKid. It took about 4 to 6 months to determine the schedule that worked for me. 

I would rate my experience with VIPKid a 10++++++! Being a part of this company has been an amazing experience. I truly believe that if you are positive, willing to work and have a sense of urgency, great things will happen. 

Take the workshops, and learn from those that are in a position that you want to be in. Results come with smart and hard work. Do what is suggested, follow the leaders, do one thing daily to get you closer to your goal, make it happen. 

In terms of getting hired, I was very fortunate as I had an amazing mentor that referred me. I asked many, many questions as I was very skeptical. She displayed patience, kindness and always replied to my many emails.

The hiring process can be overwhelming, intimidating and frustrating. Having support and guidance makes a huge difference. That is why I refer: because everyone deserves to be able to put his or her family first, be happy and make an income. 

The best part about working for VIPKid is the LOVE. VIPKid gives me love each day. Love for my students, laughter, smiles and joy. The love is contagious to my family. I am now stress free, happier and more at peace. 

VIPKid gives me the opportunity to better my mental and emotional wellbeing. And this will lead to a better physical wellbeing. Yes, I know it sounds sappy, but VIPKid allows me to give love to my students, family and my life…. and I get LOVE in return.

The worst part of the job is that some days it’s hard to teach at 4 am. But then I see the students’ smiles. Plus I have my daily nap when our daughters are at school. 

One thing that surprised me about VIPKid is the connection I have made with people all over the world. I was always told that being self-employed in your home can get pretty lonely. I had a fear of this job making me “shack wacky.”

However, I’m not lonely. I reach out and ask questions. I’m constantly learning with this job. I loved being a Community Ambassador. I love attending job fairs and information sessions to share this opportunity. 

The role of Community Ambassador, for those of you who don’t know about this, is to help bridge the gap between the official Facebook group and their own social media site, The Hutong.

Community Ambassadors help with questions that are asked, and support the VIPKid Community. It really is all about working together to create a positive and encouraging community, with support and education. We provide links to help answer many questions. We help people and guide them in the proper direction. 

VIPKid has grown astronomically. They are now over 650,000 students in 32 countries. And over the next few years they plan to expand to over 100 countries. The teachers have now grown to 70,000 globally. 

Community Ambassadors and other roles in the Builders program help to bridge the gap between all of the positions. I love this company so much, as they are continually improving it to make it better for the teachers and students. Communication is the key, VIPKid is effectively doing this in a wonderful way.

I created a FB group called VIPKid Positivity and Praise, plus an exclusive Facebook group for my referrals, VIPKid Teacher Support. VIPKid is not just a job for me, it’s a LIFESTYLE.

In terms of improvements, I would love to see all new teachers get a guarantee of getting their first class. This would encourage and motivate new teachers. 

Just like in life, the students are a mix. Some are attentive, some are sleepy, and some participate while others pick their nose. Yes, our students are like all other students around the world. 

I love change and variety. I am a big believer that if a certificate/course is available to take, take it. I am certified to teach levels 1 through 6 as well as lots of supplementary courses, plus the curriculum is provided to you. I LOVE IT!

Once I developed a schedule that worked for my family and myself, I was able to short notice my weekends. This means that all my weekend classes are booked within 24 hours of teaching. 

Doing this allows me to meet new students. I love having a combination of regulars and new students. Doing this also increased my followers from 150 to 600. This allows me to keep a full schedule during slow times, such as Chinese New Year.

As a new teacher, each page has an objective. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. I love the simplicity.

One thing people might not know about VIPKid is that you can take this job with you wherever you go. All you need is good Internet. I have taught on our family’s farmstead, in the car and in a hotel.

For anyone thinking about applying, my advice would be to find a mentor that you connect with. Ask questions. Just like other job, it takes time to build up your students and strengthen your skills. Have patience and give it time. VIPKid is definitely worth it.  

Hello! My name is Nichole, aka Teacher Nichole.

I'm 29 years old. I have a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Mount Union in Ohio. I live in North Carolina, and I have 8 years of experience working with children in the classroom. I teach in a brick-and-mortar public school as well, where I specialize in reading and special education. 

I have ESL experience teaching reading and English to students from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, Laos, and Russia. I have my TESOL Foundational and Advanced Certifications. 

My classroom is fun and engaging. I am very patient and detailed. I help students learn in a positive way and am very encouraging.

Outside of the classroom, I like to spend time hiking, jogging, gardening, swimming, and hanging with my fiancé and our fur baby, Bentley. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you and helping in any way that I can should you also choose to join the VIPKid family! 

After familiarizing yourself with my experiences and the company, should you choose to apply, I’d love to help you through the process and mentor you through the hiring stages!

I have been working for VIPKid for 3 months.

I would rate my experience a 9, only because summer is a time for slow bookings, which I didn’t know prior to starting, so I haven’t made as much income as I had hoped I would over the summer. If bookings were consistent during the summer months, then I would give them a 10. 

It does take awhile to build up a regular student base, so starting out it can be slow getting bookings. The reason for this is that parents get to choose from a huge database of teachers who they want to book a class with and, as a new teacher, you obviously have no parent ratings yet, which can keep parents from choosing to book with you. This is not everyone’s experience though, so it can differ from teacher to teacher. Some teachers get tons of bookings right away! 

For me, it wasn’t difficult to get hired because I have 8 years of experience as a teacher. You do need to prepare by watching recommended videos and practicing your demo and mock lessons. The content for those lessons is provided by VIPKid. 

The hiring process requires that you pass an initial background phase, which means that you meet all company requirements for employment. You need to have a bachelor’s degree, have at least one year of some type of experience working with children (babysitting, camp counselor, volunteering, etc.), a TESOL/TESL certificate (can be obtained for $19 on Groupon or for cheap on other websites), and you must be eligible to work in the United States or Canada. 

Once you pass this initial step, you will be asked to either record and send in a demo lesson or you may complete a live demo lesson with a VIPKid teacher at your convenience. You cannot fail as they let you try as many times as needed to pass this step. 

Once you have passed, you move on to a mock class where you teach a live lesson to a VIPKid teacher using the VIPKid curriculum and platform. Again, this step can be re-done if needed. That’s one of the great things about the company is that they really do try to set you up for success! 

The flexibility and freedom are the best aspects for me. You have to do little-to-no prep work, as lessons are already completed for you by the company. The only prep that I do is read through the lesson and teacher directions to familiarize myself with the lesson and possibly grab a prop related to the lesson. Props are optional, but they can enhance the lessons if you have something around the house that can be used. 

The flexibility of the scheduling is amazing! You can post your schedule weeks in advance, or you can open slots day by day/week by week if you wanted. There are short-notice time slots or 24-hour time slots that you can open and classes can be booked up to an hour before the class start time. 

This is nice for me, as sometimes I’m not always sure of my schedule, so if I’ve opened a time slot and it hasn’t been booked yet, I can just quickly open the VIPKid app on my phone and close that slot, no problem. If my schedule is wide open on the weekends and I want to teach all of the weekend slots, I can open those last minute if I want as well. 

At the moment, not being completely booked is the worst part for me. As a brick-and-mortar teacher as well, I typically try to make some extra money during summer break, so as a new VIPKid teacher, I didn’t have the student base yet to provide me with as much extra income as I typically would make over the summer. Chinese students typically take long holidays over their summer break too, which affects all teachers’ bookings no matter what company you work for. 

During the month of September I've been told is when students start to return from their vacations, so I’m hopeful that bookings will become more consistent at that time, which will allow me to build my regular clientele. 

Overall, it has been a very positive and stress-free experience! The company is very honest, upfront, and has excellent communication. 

One area were they could improve is if the company would book students for you instead of parents being able to always choose which teachers they want to book classes with. It would allow for a more even distribution of bookings. 

The students are great! I’ve not taught a class where the students didn’t pay close attention and participate to the best of their abilities. The kids are so excited to see me and are very sweet. It has been a very pleasant experience! 

The classes are planned out for you by the company. They are fun and stress-free. The company has their own platform which is used to teach their curriculum. You can add your own flair to the lessons and make them your own.

Each section in the lesson has a teaching objective, and as long as you meet the objective, you can add to the lesson as you’d like. The lessons are very interactive, which makes it fun for the students and the teacher. 

One thing people might not know about VIPKid is that the platform is very user-friendly and the company has excellent communication!

I’ve worked with some other online teaching companies as well, and there were many times where the teachers and companies would lie about various things or just completely fail to communicate, which was extremely frustrating after having spent so much time preparing and learning the new platforms of other companies. 

VIPKid is honestly a very stress-free and positive experience for me. I look forward to teaching classes because they’ve set me up for success and it’s fun! 

When applying, find someone you trust and use their referral link. I personally didn’t have a referring teacher, I passed all steps in the hiring process on the first try (it’s common for teachers to be asked to adjust based on feedback and complete additional mock classes), but I wish that I had someone to answer my questions along the way. 

Your referring teacher should help you through the referral/application process, answer any questions you have, and help with anything you may need. I personally love to assist new teachers and would be happy to help! Please feel free to use my referral link when applying.

There you have it! Opinions from more than 30 teachers, who offer an insider's view of VIPKid and let us learn a little bit about how it works.

If you're serious about applying, you'll want to learn more about VIPKid requirements, etc. If you're looking for other opportunities, check out our Golden Voice English Reviews, Magic Ears reviews, Gogokid, or Whales English.