vipkid or other teaching english

[EmilyGF]

Does anyone on the board still work for one of these companies? I have been thinking about doing something like that, especially since I'm an early riser (5 am).

What company do you recommend? Suggestions about how to start?

Thanks, Emily

[vonfirmath]

I've been seeing a lot of videos lately that VIPKID is in the midst of changing their pay structure and a lot of teachers are jumping ship to other services. (Outschool is mentioned a lot)

 

[katilac]

1 hour ago, vonfirmath said:

I've been seeing a lot of videos lately that VIPKID is in the midst of changing their pay structure and a lot of teachers are jumping ship to other services. (Outschool is mentioned a lot)

 

Most of the ESL platforms are a red hot mess right now. They all seem to be revising pay structures. VIPKid is havings lots of other issues as well, that they are blaming on the new software.  I'd consider waiting a few months for the dust to settle. 

Whether or not 5 am is an early rising time for remote ESL depends on your time zone, lol. 

[ashfern]

I've been with VIP Kid since Feb. My bookings are down to 1 kid per week. They have about 100,000 teachers and 800,000 students. 

[Soror]

I have been working at VIPKID 2 yrs this August.

Yes, they are changing pay structure, but any new hires have been under the new structure for months now- the big change is that they are putting everyone under this. So, the ones talking about leaving are veterans. For me it will work out to about $50 decrease per month and no more opportunity for raises after my next contract (before you could max out base pay at $10 per class- now there is no more adding to base pay) you can only move up the structure but they have rigged it to where you have to teach a bunch to really get ahead and with them cutting out the last hr of teaching (due to changes in China's laws) and the hours you have to work it is difficult for most of us to get that many unless you want to work overnight.

Bookings have been a little wonky, I think that is many faceted. There have been many more teachers home w/ schools shut down so there are more available- also China has had a lot of changes too with COVID- openings and closings etc. They say there are actually more bookings now but with more teachers bookings are done, IDK. I've had a bit of a decrease but nothing big. 

I've not had any big tech issues, not sure what that is about.

I've heard Outschool talked about too, but it is entirely different, you design your own curriculum.

 

I'm staying with VIPKID for the time being b/c it has been steady enough for me and the money is helpful. I've thought about trying to add another company but they all have their own ways and I don't want to mess with it.

[EmilyGF]

2 hours ago, ashfern said:

I've been with VIP Kid since Feb. My bookings are down to 1 kid per week. They have about 100,000 teachers and 800,000 students. 

That makes a lot of sense!

I've been learning foreign language online for a year and a half and my tutor was completely booked at the beginning of the pandemic, but it makes sense that now there are new teachers online and people also aren't taking as many classes.

Thanks for the input.