As an online English teacher…
How do you know it’s time to level up?
You want your teaching to make a positive difference
and you want to connect with people all over the world
You dream of teaching online
so you can live life to the fullest and not be tied to one location
You want the flexibility of setting your own schedule
so you can work whenever, wherever, and however you choose
You’re ready to be in demand and earning more money
because your students can’t stop recommending you!
I know the feeling.
Five years ago, I was feeling burnt out from the hard work, low pay, and unpredictability that comes with working for in-person language schools. I loved teaching and training, but I was ready to do it on my own terms.
But I thought online teaching could never replace my job in a brick-and-mortar school.
Then I took the leap and found success online.
Fast forward to today: I now work with students and teachers completely remotely. I make my own schedule, set my own rates, and create my own offers and courses. I have the freedom to live and travel where I want, and the joy of doing what I love.
You’re a current (or hopeful) online ESL teacher,
But you’re running into challenges.
Lack of Experience
“I need experience before I can get an online teaching job, but how do I get experience if no one will hire me?”
The Tech Transition
“I have in-person experience, but nothing seems to work online. How do I engage my students through a screen?”
Analysis Paralysis
“There are so many options, companies, certifications, and random materials out there. Where do I start? What works best?”
Competition
“These days, everyone is trying to teach online. How do I stand out, book students, and make money?”
I Know where you’re coming from.
I didn’t expect teaching online to be a big challenge when I first started.
I already had years of in-person classroom experience. I was even a certified teacher trainer and CELTA tutor!
But I was wrong. Going online was tough. I struggled with the tech. I made mistakes. I spent hours upon hours searching for, adapting, and creating digital materials. And along the way, I realized…
none of the resources, trainings, or certification courses out there were designed specifically for online Teachers.
So I made it my mission to develop an online teaching method that really works. My system simplifies lesson planning and cuts prep time in half. I figured out how to use common tools in unexpected ways to bring online classes alive.
I learned how to book - and retain! - online students and built my own online business.
And then i packaged everything up into one ultimate course that’s everything you need to teach English online…
Become a Successful Online English Teacher
with this 10-week certification program
jump start your online teaching career and start booking students!
Online English Teacher Enrollment is currently closed.
Join the waitlist to be the first to know when the doors open again… and to get a special discount!
Just Two months from now…
💰 you could have an extra income stream that supports your family, funds your hobbies, or even finally allows you to quit your day job
🏖️ you could be teaching from a scenic spot in that place you’ve always wanted to visit
🌏 you could be helping students around the world achieve their big goals - from the comfort of your home
♥️ you could be waking up excited every day to do a job you love
…because you took the first step today.
Course Content
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You’ll learn…
The differences between lesson types and why this matters in your planning and teaching
How to best use Zoom for teaching, including mastering those breakout rooms, the best ways to share audio and visuals, and other important features
Strategies for engaging students and transforming online lessons from lectures into interactive workshops
Troubleshooting for common online teaching issues
+If you choose to do the live practicum, you’ll also attend an orientation meeting and teach an introductory communicative lesson
In this first module, we’ll take a practical and in-depth look at how to distinguish and plan different types of lessons, as well as the fundamentals of communicative online methodology.
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You’ll learn…
The different reading sub-skills, why these matter, and how to how to help students develop them
The best tools for adapting and sharing texts over Zoom
The ‘do’s and ‘don’t’s of teaching reading - avoid these big mistakes!
Techniques for adapting effective reading activities for an online format: jigsaw reading, longer texts, difficult texts, and more
+If you choose to do the live practicum, you’ll also plan and teach a reading lesson online.
Reading lessons really can be useful and fun! This module covers how to make your students more confident and independent readers through communicative online reading lessons.
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You’ll learn…
The different listening sub-skills and how to use them to improve students’ comprehension
How to incorporate audio files right into your slides that sound crystal clear
How to draw on students’ knowledge of context to make them more confident with fast-paced speech
Engaging listening activities that students actually enjoy
+If you do the live practicum, you’ll also plan and teach a listening lesson online.
This module shows you how to develop your students’ listening skills by seamlessly integrating audio into your lessons.
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You’ll learn…
How to select, present, clarify, and practice sets of vocabulary words online
How to use a test-teach-test structure to build on what students already know and teach them what they don’t
The three essential things students need to know to really learn new words; in other words, how to teach meaning, form, and pronunciation effectively through the screen
Fun review games that students will ask to play over and over again
+If you do the live practicum, you’ll also plan and teach a vocabulary lesson online.
In this module, I’ll show you how to help students master and remember new vocabulary words with well-organized presentations and fun, interactive practice and review activities.
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You’ll learn…
How to use a text-based lesson structure to grab students’ attention and help them grasp the meaning of grammar through context
How to use visuals, eliciting, and guided discovery techniques to clarify grammar in a student-centered way
Information gaps and other communicative practice activities that will actually make students want to use the new grammar
Grammar teaching techniques so simple and engaging that your students will hardly realize they’re studying grammar
+If you do the live practicum, you’ll also plan and teach a grammar lesson online.
Do you dread teaching grammar? Don’t worry- in this module you’ll master the seemingly impossible: how to teach grammar in a way that’s fun and easy for students (and you!) to understand. Yes, even online.
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You’ll learn…
Why students love learning functional language and how it helps them become more fluent English users
How to structure a functions lesson to exploit context and guide students through levels of strength and formality
How to really focus on what makes English sound natural: intonation, collocations, colloquialisms, and common expressions
Role plays: they actually do work online!
+If you do the live practicum, you’ll also plan and teach a functional language lesson online.
Not sure what “functional language” is? In this module, you’ll find out! You’ll learn how to teach “real world” phrases to help students communicate more confidently.
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You’ll learn…
How to contextualize and scaffold speaking lessons so students are actually getting better at speaking- not just chatting
How to design speaking tasks with communicative goals and why these are essential when teaching speaking
How to motivate your students to speak over Zoom so they see noticeable improvement in their fluency
Fun speaking activities for pairs and small groups and how to keep them without having to beg the students to speak
+If you do the live practicum, you’ll also plan and teach a speaking lesson online.
Teaching a speaking lesson is so much more than just getting students to chat. You’ll learn exactly what that entails, including how to truly develop and support students’ fluency.
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You’ll learn…
Product and process writing: how to exploit a model text and take students step-by-step through a the process that truly improves their writing ability
How to design a writing task that is authentic and why this is the #1 thing that determines the success of your writing lesson
Techniques and tech tools you can use to get students excited about writing online
The best ways to set up, monitor, share, and correct online writing tasks
+If you do the live practicum, you’ll also plan and teach a writing lesson online.
Teaching writing online? It really is possible! But just because students are physically writing (or typing) in a lesson doesn’t mean their writing is actually getting any better. In this module, we’ll look at writing fluency as a skill to be developed and how to guide students through the writing process.
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You’ll learn…
How to conduct a needs analysis to determine students’ unique needs and goals
How to plan full courses or cohesive series of lessons for different types of classes and students
Ways to engage and motivate your students throughout the course, including how to set up a “flipped classroom”
The best ways to continue your own development and continually improve your teaching skills
Now that you’ve mastered how to teach different types of individual lessons, you’ll learn how to plan full courses, tailor a syllabus to students’ needs, and also more about teaching exam prep, business English, and one-to-one.
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You’ll learn…
The basics of setting up your online teaching business
The big “DOs” and “DON’Ts” of working as a freelance online teacher
How to market your teaching skills and book paying students
How to create self-study courses online and other ways to generate passive income as an ELT professional
At this point, you’re an expert in online English teaching methodology, resources, and tech tools - great! Now let’s talk business. How do you find students and MAKE MONEY teaching English online?
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You’ll learn…
The best tool to use as an online white board (spoiler alert: it’s not the built-in Zoom version!)
How to use and share different types of visuals and materials with your online students
How to best present and format visual information as a clear and meaningful teaching tool
Tips and tricks for visual feedback on tasks
PowerPoint tricks that will save you countless hours of planning time
Your lessons don’t mean much to students if they can’t actually see the material you’re teaching. In the physical classroom, you can hand out exercises and write everything up on the white board. But how does that translate to the computer screen? In this bonus module, you’ll learn how to make your material clear and visual for students over Zoom. You’ll learn:
Each Module Includes:
A Video Tutorial
Each module begins with a video lesson in which you get practical, step-by-step instructions and advice for how to plan and teach the lesson type covered in that module. There are optional brainstorming and note-taking tasks in the Guide chapter to help you get the most out of the video.
A reference chapter in the Online English Teacher Guide
The Online English Teacher Guide is your workbook and reference book throughout the course. With brainstorming exercises, sections for notes and reflections, resources, and a complete online activity bank, you’ll gain deeper insight into what you’re learning and have an online teaching library at your fingertips.
A Video Observation of an Actual Online Class
After you’ve learned how to teach the type of lesson covered in the module, you’ll observe an actual online class for that lesson type so you can see see exactly how the techniques you’re learning work with real students. There is additional commentary included about the lesson to answer any questions you might have about the methodology or material used in the class.
EXERCISES AND QUIZZES
A quiz at the end of each module will help you check your progress and celebrate what you learned. Each chapter in the OET Guide also includes a “DO or DON’T?” exercise for that particular lesson type. Test yourself by predicting the answers before you start, and then confirm how much you’ve learned when you check the answers at the end.
A FULL LESSON PLAN
You’ll be able to download the full lesson plan and all materials (including the PowerPoint presentation you can use yourself or edit as a template) for each video lesson you observe. You can follow along with the plan as you watch and even use the plan and materials to teach your own students, if you’d like. What’s not to love about 8 different done-for-you lesson plans? This is the course that keeps on giving— you can turn around and teach all these lessons yourself when you finish!
TECH TUTORIALS AND VIDEO EXTRAS
If you’re new to the tech aspect of teaching online, don’t worry! You’ll learn tips and tricks for PowerPoint, Google docs, Google forms, Google Jamboard, and more, through quick step-by-step video tutorials. I’m somewhat tech-phobic myself, so I’ve designed these to be crystal clear. If I can learn it, you definitely can!
Online English Teacher Enrollment is currently closed.
Join the waitlist to be the first to know when the doors open again… and to get a special discount!
Self-Study or Live teaching Practicum?
What’s the difference? Which one is the right fit for you?
Online English Teacher: self-study
Online English Teacher is a fully self-study course. You have the freedom and flexibility to work through the material at your own pace. You can can go through the modules as slowly or quickly as you’d like. It’s up to you! You get lifetime access, so you can sign in and review anytime.
The self-study version includes all 10 course modules (+ bonus module), access to all past webinar recordings, and ongoing membership in the Online English Teacher community group.
This version is a good fit for you if you already have online English teaching experience and you’re looking to refine your skills. You’ll gain insight into how to make your lessons more fun and communicative, how to use tech tools more effectively, tons of new activity ideas for your online classes, and much more.
Online English Teacher: live practicum
This version includes everything in the self-study version, plus an eight-week live teaching practicum in which you’ll teach a different online lesson every week to real ESL learners, while I observe you.
This is the higher-touch version of the program. I’ll be there to coach you! We’ll meet for a one-on-one guided planning session before each lesson and a personalized feedback session afterwards. Just like the self-study version, the live practicum includes lifetime access to all course material as well as ongoing membership in the Online English Teacher community.
The live practicum upgrade is ideal for you if you’re a new online teacher or if you’re ready to seriously upgrade your current teaching skills through targeted, hands-on experience. This is practical, personalized training at its best!
Teaching Support and Community
“Will I get to work with you directly in Online English Teacher?”
Yes! When you opt-in to the Live Practicum version, I personally observe each of your 8 practice lessons in real time. Afterwards, we’ll meet for a video chat to talk through it, and I’ll give you detailed feedback. We’ll talk about everything that went well and we’ll go over concrete strategies for how you can improve your teaching going forward.
We’ll also meet one on one before each of your practice lessons so you can ask me any questions you have and we can make sure you’re feeling great about your plan before you teach it to the students. If you’re looking for personalized coaching on your teaching skills, the Live Practicum is the perfect option.
“What kind of support and community do I get in the self-study version?
Online English Teacher includes membership in a private online network just for those enrolled in course, where you’ll be able to ask questions, post comments, and share your learning experience throughout the course.
You’ll be a part of a small community of teachers dedicated to developing their craft, and you’ll get to learn from your Online English Teacher cohorts at the same as you’re learning from me and the course material.
I’ll also be posting extra videos, materials, and resources in the group, so you’ll get continued support in real time on top of the course material.
What happens when I enroll?
Click on “Enroll Now” to get started!
You’ll be able to choose between the self-study version and the live practicum version. You’ll also select whether to pay in full or in 6 monthly installments.
Select the options that work best for you
and then click on “enroll.” You’ll be taken to a secure check-out page to pay the course fee and make it official! Congrats- just like that, you’re in!! You’ll automatically be guided to set up your unique course log-in information - this only takes a few seconds.
Get instant access to The Course
You can start working through the course and interacting in the Online English Teacher community right away! Download the Online English Teacher Guide, hit “play” on the welcome video, post a question you have about online teaching in the community, say hello to your fellow Online English Teachers, download a ready-made lesson plan for your next class, or whatever else you’d like! You have lifetime access to the course so you can set your own training schedule.
Check your email
You’ll get a confirmation email from me welcoming you to the course and outlining instructions for getting started, including how to join the private Online English Teacher community.
If you opted in to the live teaching practicum, I’ll reach out to you personally to confirm your teaching schedule. Then we’ll set up our first one on one planning meeting together.
Welcome to the World of Online English Teaching!
You get lifetime access to the course as soon as you enroll, including the full Be Your Own Grammar Guru course and all other bonuses. Anytime the course is updated or a new resource is added, it will automatically be there waiting for you the next time you log-in. Even after you finish all the modules, you can log back in anytime to access the resources, review the material, or connect with your fellow Online English Teachers!
Questions and Answers
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The live practicum version of Online English Teacher is an 8-week certification program. You’ll work through one module a week and teach one live lesson a week. You’ll then receive your certificate and recommendation letter at the end of the eight-week practicum.
The timing for the self-study version of the course is completely flexible. You can follow the modules week by week or you can work through the material as quickly or as slowly as you want - up to you!
With either version of the course, you get lifetime access to the material. So you can go back and review the modules, re-watch the videos, access the lesson plans and materials, and benefit from all the information as much as you want, whenever you want. You’ll have the full training course on demand!
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Each module on the course takes an estimated 4-8 hours to complete, depending on how much you like to review the material.
The live practicum involves teaching one 60-minute lesson per week and one 30-minute meeting with me each week for planning and feedback. You'll want to set aside several hours a week for lesson planning as well.
On the self-study version of the course, the time commitment is completely up to you! It’s 100% flexible, so you can complete the course as quickly or gradually you like, and take as much or as little time as you need.
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Nope! The course is perfect for someone just starting out. You'll get thorough training in ELT methodology as well as the confidence you need to run your virtual classroom on Zoom and teach communicative online lessons.
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Absolutely! If you have in-person teaching experience, Online English Teacher will show you the best ways to adapt to an online format. And you'll learn new teaching strategies in general, too!
Even if you've already been teaching online, I guarantee you'll notice a big difference in the effectiveness of your lessons and your students' engagement once you start using the techniques you learn in Online English Teacher. And it will help you cut down on your planning time!
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It was designed to be online. Other online certification courses are either cheap and of low quality (lacking a hands-on teaching practice & feedback option) or were initially in-person courses that were hastily crammed in to an online format. These courses lack built-in tech training and don’t cover the unique challenges and benefits of teaching in a virtual format, nor do they provide training on how to acquire and retain online students.
Online English Teacher uses a unique “flipped classroom” approach. Traditional classroom learning first presents information in a live lecture or class, which you need to attend at a set time on a rigorous, external schedule. You are then left to digest and review the information on your own, hoping you understood correctly.
“Flipped classroom” learning starts with independent learning. You take in the information through videos, exercises, and other curated resources at your own pace, on your own schedule. You then meet live with your trainer afterwards to receive further clarification, address any questions, and demonstrate your learning through hands-on practice (with feedback). This approach is more proactive, more time-efficient, and tailored to each individual participant to maximize development.
You get lifetime access. When you enroll in the course, you’re not just purchasing an eight-week learning experience. You’re investing in all the material to have forever, plus lifetime membership in the Online English Teacher community.
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Both! Module 9 is all about how to create a whole course and how to design an effective syllabus. You’ll also learn more about how to teach in different contexts, such as one to one students, exam prep, and business English.
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Module 10 of Online English Teacher is all about how to find and retain online teaching work. You’ll get a comparison of different schools and companies you could work for, as well as step-by-step advice for how to market yourself and succeed as an independent online ESL teacher. Additionally, I have contacts in a variety of teaching organizations and often personally refer teachers from my pool of OET graduates.
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Yes. Once you've enrolled in the self-study version of the course, you're welcome to add on the live practicum later and then join the next upcoming session that works for your schedule. The add-on price for the live practicum is $597. So you will save a little money by booking the live practicum version from the start - you can always defer to a later session if needed. And just make sure you book your spot on the practicum as soon as you decide to opt in, because space fills up quickly!
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No. The self-study course is a pre-requisite for the live teaching practicum. It’s ok if you haven’t completed all the self-study material by the time you start your teaching practice, but you do need to have access to all of that material along the way. I often refer to what you’ve learned in the videos and other online content during our feedback and planning meetings, so I need to know that you have access to this.
Remember that your access to the self-study material never expires! Online English Teachers in the program have found it incredibly valuable to go back and review periodically, even after they’ve finished their live teaching practice.
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Yes. You are eligible to enroll in an additional teaching practicum. You’ll teach each of the seven lesson types again (different material, of course!). Your second practicum will be structured in a way that gives you a “next level” teaching experience, in which we’ll really build your independence in planning and lesson design.
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Yes. You can transfer your enrollment to a practicum session at a later date. Every enrollment includes instant access to all the self-study material, so you can still start working through the modules whenever you want and then start the practicum when you’re ready.
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No. Because of the digital nature of the course and the number of downloadable materials and resources, there is a no-refund policy on Online English Teacher. If you enroll in the course and then realize now isn’t a good time, don’t worry - you have lifetime access, so you can wait and start whenever you’re ready. You set your own deadline for completing the self-study material.
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I’m happy to answer! Just send me an email at info@teflhorizons.com.
More Online English Teacher Experiences
It’s time to take the leap
Our industry is changing. Over the past few years, we’ve discovered that online English learning is actually far more effective and in-demand than we ever could have imagined. Students can hand-pick a teacher from across the globe and achieve their language goals from home: no travel, visa, or expensive study-abroad program needed. Teachers no longer have to depend on language schools for employment or compete for students in the same local area. The world has virtually opened up.
Online Learning is here to stay.
Having the skills to make a living online is no longer just a plus - it’s becoming essential. Investing in yourself can feel scary, but think about where you’ll be a year from now if you don’t take that leap. What will you miss out on? What’s the real cost of inaction? It’s up to you -
You can stay in your comfort zone or take the first big step towards becoming the teacher you really want to be.
ONLINE ENGLISH TEACHER: SELF-STUDY
ONLINE ENGLISH TEACHER: SELF-STUDY + Live Teaching Practicum
Online English Teacher enrollment is currently closed. Join the waitlist to reserve your spot for the self-study course or next live practicum session once the doors open again!
Plus, waitlist members get $100 off the price of the program!
About your Trainer
Hi, I’m Shannon - nice to meet you!
I’ve been an English language teacher and teacher trainer for over ten years. Like many of us in the ELT industry, I was first drawn to the idea of teaching ESL as a means to travel, explore, and connect with others from different cultures, but I quickly fell in love with the art of teaching itself. I realized that English language teaching wasn’t just a step on the way to my “real” career; it was my career! From there, I went on to complete my CELTA and DELTA certifications before becoming a certified CELTA trainer as well as an ELT course designer and consultant.
I love traveling, so it was important to me to build a career that allowed me to be location-independent while doing work I truly enjoy.
I created Online English Teacher so you can do the same thing (But a lot more easily!)
Nowadays, I work online to train teachers all over the world. Through live training sessions, online courses, and resources such as webinars and the Expand Your Horizons podcast, I love inspiring teachers with new ideas, sharing insight on methodology, and making sure both new and experienced ELT professionals have access to quality training and advice. In short, I want to turn you into the very best teacher you can be, so you can build the life you want while doing it!
