This article was written in May of 2019. The information is still correct as this was my experience, but there have been many changes at VIPKid. I still feel this is an important part of my story, so I will leave it active on the site. I have many great experiences with VIPKid and I will leave this here as a memorial.
My VIPKid Adventure
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.
***Update****
China decided in 2021 that they no longer wanted foreign teachers working with their children. VIPKid still exists, but is no longer the thriving side hustle that it was. I was tempted to archive this post, but it was an important part of my story and I am very grateful for the opportunities and experiences I had with this company. I was very sorry to see it end. I will forever cherish my students and the memories I made (especially with my trip to China….you can read about that here). Unfortunately, my VIPKid Adventure has come to an end.
