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Please visit the official VIPKID website for up-to-date information.  This article is based upon my experience and the best information I have available at the moment. 

So the advertisements say from $19-22 an hour.  However, when you dive further into the process it is a little more complicated than that.  Let me try to make sense of the way you get paid at VIPKID.

First, depending upon your interview, your qualifications, and your mock class experience, you will be offered a Base Pay Rate.  This Base Pay Rate is usually between $7 and $9 per class.  Aside from the Base Pay, you will receive $1 per class for any class marked “as scheduled”.  You will also get a participation incentive of $.50 per class after you hit 35 classes in a month and $1 per class when you teach 45 classes in a month.

So let’s look at an example:

This teacher’s base pay is $8 and she has taught 40 classes in a month.  Her base pay will be $320 ($8 x 40) plus $40 (assuming all classes were marked as scheduled) plus $20 (participation incentive) for a total of $380.

If she hits 45 classes, that will be $360 base pay ($8 x 45) plus $45 (as scheduled) plus $45 (participation incentive).  That will be a total of $450.

As you can see it is worth the effort to reach the 45 classes to get the additional participation incentive!  You also get paid if a student cancels class within 24 hours or does not show up at all.  You can however get docked money for classes that you have to cancel within 24 hours.  All of these details will be discussed later or you can find the information on the VIPKID website.  There are referral bonuses if a teacher signs up using your link and several incentive bonuses are offered at different times for opening up slots in your schedule.  You may also earn a bonus if a student signs up for VIPKID after taking a trial class with you.  There is extra money available if a student books a class with short notice and you can also be paid to be a substitute.  After teaching with VIPKID for awhile, you can also be eligible for other positions to help train other teachers and further the community.

Let me give you a clear picture of what this means to me.  I was hired on at one of the higher base pay rates due to my experience teaching bilingual students in the public school system and my education.  During the month of April, I was able to make $450 teaching only about an hour a day on during the week and a couple of hours on the weekend.  In May, I increased my pay to $900 working mostly the same schedule until the last week of May when I was able to open up my schedule further since our school was on summer vacation. Now in June, we are only halfway through the month and I have already made $800 and I still have two weeks full of classes left to go.  I will easily clear $1000 even if I have multiple cancellations.

I only work from 6am – 9am Central time and a couple of hours on Friday evening because I have a regular student who requests that time.  And so far, I still have a few unfilled slots in my schedule.  I’ve only been teaching with VIPKID for a few months so I am very happy with this and I plan to continue to grow my online ESL business.  In particular, I would like to help other people who would like to teach at VIPKID get started.  If that is you, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I’d love to get you started.

If you spend any time with other VIPKID teachers you will hear about the “Booking Frenzy”?  This is not an official VIPKID term, but it is a very real event.  On Monday at noon Beijing time, parents are able to go into the VIPKID system and book their child’s classes for the next available week (which actually starts the following Monday).  This results in a huge number of classes booked in this magic time that hits around 11:30pm Central on Sunday nights.

Why is this important?  You need to have your schedule open in time for the frenzy if you want the highest chance to get bookings!  I like to have mine open as of Saturday morning in order to get some of the pre-frenzy bookings.  Your repeat students have an extra chance to book you before the frenzy.  I usually see these come in on Sunday mornings.  Students may also send a Priority Booking Request earlier in the week, but most of mine seem to book on Sunday.

Also, be aware that you may also get multiple cancellations as well.  Sometimes parents need to grab a slot and then juggle their schedule a bit.  I honestly don’t even take those cancellations into consideration because the parents are just trying to ensure their student has class at their preferred time before their favorite teachers are booked.  Honestly, I’m relatively new here at VIPKID so I’m not opposed to being a parent’s second or third or even fourth choice.  I’m still getting my schedule filled regularly and finding more and more repeat students.

To summarize:

•  Make sure your schedule is open and available for parents to book you before you go to sleep Sunday night!
• Be ready to see a larger number of bookings on Monday morning.

I would like to share with you the timeline of how I got started on VIPKID.  I initially put in my application on March 16 and had my initial interview the next day.  On March 21, I had my initial Mock class for levels 2 & 3.  While I was waiting for my background check to complete, I also did the certification for levels 4 & 5 as well as trial classes and Pre-VIPKID (level 1).  My first class was on March 29.

I did not get many bookings for the first couple of weeks.  I had three bookings the first week and two the second week.  I was concerned and a bit disappointed so I spruced up my profile picture, worked on the TESOL Certifications, and took some workshops.  The next week, I had 12 bookings.  I maintained around 15 bookings a week as long as I was teaching school, but when I could open my schedule for the summer I have had around 30 classes scheduled a week.

My April paycheck was over $450 and May’s check was over $900.  June is already $800 and we still have almost half of the month left.

I want to point out a few things I have noticed:

•  It usually takes a week for changes (new certifications) to take effect in bookings.
• Feedback numbers are still very low (28 out of 185 classes taught).
• Very few Student No Shows and cancellations are usually rebooked.
• Many of my slots are already filled before the “Booking Frenzy” on Sunday nights.

The month of May was very productive.  First off, I finished up the 2018-2019 school year as a first grade bilingual teacher.  I’m not returning to that school in the fall so that includes packing up my classroom completely!  I’m also more than like moving over the summer so I’m working on sorting through a lot of stuff I’ve been piling since moving here…so that is a work in progress.

I met most of my monthly goals!  I wanted to get at least 5 products up on Teachers Pay Teachers and I did even more.  I have 10 products available in my store!  I wanted to get 100 Instagram followers and I did that.  However, I did not meet my goals on Pinterest or Facebook (I decided to spend May working on Instagram).  I did publish one YouTube video which was my goal and 5 blog posts (I passed my goal here too).  I wanted to teach 60 classes at VIPKID and I ended up teaching 82!  I wanted to teach 20 classes at ZebraEnglish, but I was not able to do the demo due to a problem with my Internet connection.  I will try again after I move.  (I will say they are wonderful to deal with and I intend to follow up with them.)  So overall, I met and surpassed most of my goals during May.

I also like to figure out the class breakdowns for the month so I can see which certifications are doing the best for me.  I’m not sure why I had zero trials in May other than my schedule filled pretty quickly.  Here is the breakdown of my booked classes (some may have been cancellations or no shows):

Level 1 – 19 clases

Level 2 – 23 classes

Level 3 – 6 classes

Level 4 – 12 classes

Level 5 – 6 classes

VIPKID Voice – 4 classes

Perfect Pronunciation – 7 classes

Free Talk – 5 classes

This was quite a change from April when I had more Trials and Level 1 students booked.  The balance shifted quite a bit.  Also, my level 2 students went up significantly.  I had only 3 in April and 23 in May.  I added in the “specialty” certifications in May and immediately got bookings.  I also looked at how many “repeat” students I have.  At the moment, I have at least 18 students that I have taught 2 or more classes (or they are booked for a repeat class this next week).  Overall, I’m extremely happy with what I have accomplished in May especially since this is only the second full month working with VIPKID.

I recently had an amazing teaching moment at VIPKID.  It was one of those moments that remind you what teaching is all about.  The class didn’t start so well.  Just as class started, my little four year old student spilled his bottle of water.  I’m not sure exactly what was said, but I heard adult Chinese voices in frenzy.  I’m assuming the conversation was something along the lines of:  “Move the iPad!  Don’t let it get wet!  Don’t you know you can’t have water near the iPad?!”  Either way, within just a few short seconds, my student was quietly sobbing and not ready to start class.

My immediate reaction would be to hug him and tell him it’s okay.  But, how can I do that from the other side of the world when his English is very limited?!  I did tell him it’s okay in the most soothing voice I could.  Then Dino came in and said hi, (this student usually loves to see Dino).  He was still very sad.  I played around with the AR stickers for about a minute.  After a couple, I asked, “are you ready?” He shook his head no.  So, we played with a few more stickers (he did really like the panda on his head).  The next time I asked, “are you ready?”  He gave a tiny hint of a smile and nodded.

Class proceeded as usual (of course it was an assessment).  But my student was well prepared.  He knew all the vocabulary being assessed as well as other vocabulary.  He did a great job and even wrote letters and a couple of simple words for me.  At the end of class, he switched roles and started asking me questions about the words.  “What is this teacher?”

Time was up and we sang the goodbye song.  Then he did the most adorable thing ever.  He started repeating “good job teacher” and showing me two thumbs up.  When I reminded him to do his homework, he cheered!  Knowing that he went from a silent sob at the beginning of class to cheering me up in less than 25 minutes is amazing.  I will admit, I got into the files and make a video of his gesture.  From now on, when I’m feeling a bit down, I’m going to watch this precious little boy from the other side of the world tell me “good job teacher”!

I have a whole new selection of flashcards available on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store!  I created these cards from a necessity for my ESL classes at VIPKID.  I had bought some cards at the Target Dollar Spot, but they weren’t quite what I wanted.  So, I made my own.  They were perfect to use in my bilingual classroom as well.

I made cards for shapes, numbers, and colors and they are available in English, Spanish, or a bilingual bundle.  Several more sets are in the making, keep watching my store for more updates.

These flash cards are great to use if your student got through the material early and you need to review vocabulary or even teach new words.  You can easily cover up the word on the bottom for a quiz style review.  The cards are larger in size so they show up well on the screen or can be seen across the classroom.  They are also great for learning centers.

As much as I love teaching English as a Second Language online, I also love teaching Spanish.  I found a company that hires teachers to teach Spanish and Mandarin online… PandaTree.  I filled out the online application and sent in my resume.  Within a day, I had a response and a request for an interview.

First, I will let you know that there weren’t many available times for interviews.  Unline VIPKID that has constant availability for interviews, the interviews were mostly limited to weekends.  Also, I made a mistake.  I did not put my time with VIPKID on my resume.  I later found out this was a pretty big mistake (I’ll explain in a bit).

The interview was scheduled with Zoom…which I’m not a big fan of.  For some reason, I always have to take a few extra steps for my computer to connect with Zoom.  I was there in plenty of time and met the interviewer, Carlos.  First off, he noticed my VIPKID friendly classroom setting and we discovered my omission.

PandaTree does not hire independent contractors.  PandaTree hires part-time employees.  They require that you do not teach children online with any other company.  This was a deal-breaker for me (and for them).  They work much like VIPKID in that parents book you for classes, and there is no guarantee for a full schedule.  Even at that, they only hire “part-time” which means I would be limited on how many classes I could teach.  Therefore, after a pleasant discussion I know that PandaTree is not the right company for me with this structure.

I do highly appreciate the time I was able to chat with Carlos.  I learned a lot about his company and online teaching in general.  He was very supportive and wished me the best.  While this company is not going to work for me, I do know several friends who are native Spanish-speakers that are not interested in teaching ESL classes or do not meet the requirements that this might be a perfect fit.

So, if you are a native Spanish speaker (or Mandarin) and would like to teach online, this might be a good possibility.  If you need more information, you can always drop me a message or visit the company website directly.

After giving my resignation at my public school teaching job, I have been really trying to figure out what I’m going to do now.  At the moment, I am extremely burnt out of the public school situation and I really think I need at least a year off to get some of my energy back.  Thankfully, I am in a position financially where I can explore other options.  (And since I’m in Texas and hold my bilingual certificate, I’m sure that if I need to go back to school, I can find a suitable position.)

One of those options I’m exploring is teaching ESL online.  The first company I interviewed with was VIPKID (besides, their ads had been all over my Facebook for the last several years).  I had looked at this company a while back, but since I’m not really a morning person, I didn’t really think about it too seriously.  After watching a few YouTube videos of people who have made this their full-time job, I decided to look into it further.

On March 16, I sent in my initial application (a simple web form) and scheduled my initial interview on March 17.  I was accepted and began practicing for my certifications and uploading the required documentation.  On March 21, I had my first Mock Class for levels 2 and 3 (which I passed), and I took and passed my levels 4 and 5 on March 22.  As soon as I was eligible, I took the TESOL certifications even though I have my ESL endorsement from Texas and the Trial Class Certification and the Level 1 certification.  (Did I mention I’m a bit of an overachiever?)

My first class was on March 28.  Just a week after my first certification.  The first couple of weeks, things were pretty slow, but I changed my profile picture to a more fun picture and it seemed like the bookings began to flood in.

Now, on May 4, I have taught 44 classes and should receive my first paycheck any day.  I have not opened my schedule up as much as I would like to.  I’m still teaching first grade and it’s our crazy time of the year, so I do not teach more than two classes in the morning (and only on some mornings).  I was able to take advantage of some “participation bonuses” in April that made my check a little nicer, but so far I cannot open my schedule as much in May due to my work commitments at the brick and mortar school.

Overall, I am VERY happy with VIPKID.  I have only had a couple of students that did not leave me breathing a sigh of relief at the end of the class.  Most of the students have been very well prepared, polite, and just a delight to work with.  I don’t know how many times I have said this month, “this is what teaching is supposed to be about”.

If you hold a Bachelor’s degree and experience with children, maybe you want to check out this great source of income.  I will be writing more about VIPKID and other online ESL companies.  If you have any questions or comments please let me know.  If you want to sign up for VIPKID, click here and make sure to send me an e-mail.  I’ll be happy to help you through the process.

Today marks the birthday of our Teachers Pay Teachers Store!  Come celebrate with us and download our free product:  Spelling Test Paper – Hoja Para Examen de Ortografia

I have used these test sheets in my classroom all year when we do spelling tests.  It makes it much easier to read and it doesn’t waste a full sheet of paper since I can get two tests on one full sheet (I just slice the paper down the middle).  This especially helps the younger students use the handwriting lines.  This will be included in our Spelling unit that will be released soon.

Please download this and leave feedback.  Every comment helps as we are just getting started.  Also, mark us as a favorite seller.  That helps too.

This project has been simmering in my brain for quite some time.  For several years now, I have wanted to put my resources up on Teachers Pay Teachers to share with others.  I don’t know why, but life kept getting in the way.  These last few months, I have been really disillusioned with the public school system and am ready to do something different.  I have been teaching ESL online and love that, but I figured maybe now is the time to start putting these resources out.

Next week, the other first grade teachers are planning to do a Mother’s Day Tea.  Last year, I bowed out because I was swamped with everything else going on.  (Did I mention next week is also our final Math Benchmark window?)  I had planned on skipping this again this year, but I was “asked” to participate.  I don’t have any problem doing this for the moms in my class, they are amazing.  The problem is that the first-grade teachers found a beautiful project on TPT that has everything ready to go, you just have to print it up.  So, what’s the problem with that?  It is not in Spanish, and it is only editable to a small extent!  Which means one of a couple of things.  One, I can send it home in English and know that some of the moms will not be able to read it.  Or, I can translate it and come up with my own version.

Now, let me tell you.  This “invitation” to the party is beautiful.  It has pretty colored flowers and the text is several fonts with different colors to match the flowers.  It’s a really well-made product on Teachers Pay Teachers (I’m sorry I don’t have the name of the creator…I did not purchase the product, because after looking at the one my teammate had bought, I realized that it would not be editable).  Then comes the biggest part of the problem.  I was shown a copy during our conference period and I had to send the invitation that afternoon!

So what did I do?  I printed up a quick “title” for an invitation and a sheet with all the details the parents would need.  Rather than printing a beautiful color invitation, I had the students make cards for their moms using the title and details I printed along with their imagination.  I know the mothers will love the cards their babies made, but when I see the invitation the “English-speaking” first-grade class sent home and our version, I’m just sad.  I want our bilingual students to have the invitations with the pretty colored flowers on it.  I want bilingual teachers to have plenty of options to choose from when they search TPT for lessons.

I know I can’t do it all, but I can at least add a few more quality products to the mix.  I did a search on First-grade lessons for plants.  There are 12,635 resources available as of right now using the search term “plant” and selecting 1st grade.  The search term “plants Spanish” brings back 407 results and “plantas” gives 189.  That’s a huge difference!  Also, the quality of the products in Spanish is not the same.  Don’t get me wrong.  There are some amazing sellers that offer products in Spanish, but the majority of them seem to not pay much attention to the “cute” and aesthetic qualities of the product. Trust me I get it….they are probably just trying to get something done for their class and decided to share it.

So, that is my “why”.  I’m opening this store on Teachers Pay Teacher to offer products to bilingual and ESL teachers.  I have told several of my teacher friends, “send me pictures of what you want in Spanish and I’ll try to make something that will work”.  So friends, let me know what resources you need.  I’m putting in my granito de arena to help make sure bilingual teachers have equitable resources.