If you’re interested in becoming an online English teacher, you’ve probably heard about a popular teaching company called VIPKID. In this truthful VIPKID review, I’ll let you in on exactly what it’s like to work as a teacher for this company.
I’ve been an English teacher with VIPKID for 3 years now and am here to share my insider information with you.
This first-hand review of VIPKID will cover everything you need to know about this online ESL giant, including what to expect as a VIPKID teacher and how to decide if it’s best for you.
តោះចាប់ផ្តើម! Here’s my extensive review of what it’s like working as a VIPKID teacher.
Update August, 2021: teaching English online looks a little bit different these days. China has changed its guidelines concerning foreign English teachers. This implies that unfortunately, numerous online platforms aren’t hiring at the moment — however, our contact at VIPKID has informed us that they are still hiring new English teachers.
There are still numerous companies that aren’t China-based that you can apply to, such as: Preply, Cambly, iTalki, Outschool, Teachable, and Profy.
តារាងមាតិកា
About VIPKID
What Are The requirements To become a VIPKID Teacher?
How Do I apply To VIPKID?
What materials Do I need For VIPKID?
VIPKID Review: My First-Hand Experience
VIPKID Review: The Pros
VIPKID Review: The Cons
Is VIPKID A good fit For You?
About VIPKID
Created in 2013, VIPKID is one of the largest and many recognized online English companies in the industry. They are based in China and focus on providing English lessons to Chinese children between the ages of 4 and 12.
Classes are one-on-one and students learn a curriculum developed to match a North American elementary education. This implies that teachers will cover science, math, and social studies topics in addition to English grammar, reading and speaking.
VIPKID lessons are 25 minutes long and are taught through the VIPKID App. teachers can enter the classroom and hold classes on a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet as long as there is a strong Internet connection.
Teachers are paid between $14 – $22/hour and scheduling is incredibly flexible. There are no minimum or maximum working hours each week so you can instruct as much or as little as you want. You can also change your schedule each week as needed.
I learned about VIPKID when I was teaching in a conventional classroom back home in the USA. I was interested in remote work and a colleague discussed that she had been able to earn a few hundred dollars a month teaching English online on the weekends and before school.
As you can imagine, I was intrigued. This was in 2017 and online teaching wasn’t as widespread as it is now. The idea that you could actually make good money teaching online was very new and I concerned that it was too good to be true.
Still, my skepticism didn’t stop me from signing up once school let out for the summer. It didn’t take long for me to become completely hooked on the online teaching lifestyle.
VIPKID has changed a lot because I started in the summer of 2017. I think these changes are for the better.
The hiring process has been simplified, the classroom design and functionality has improved drastically, and teachers are much more supported than they were back in the day.
☞ SEE ALSO: 10 things To know before becoming An online English Teacher
What Are The requirements To become a VIPKID Teacher?
Unfortunately, the VIPKID requirements are strict compared to some other online ESL companies. To become a VIPKID teacher, applicants should have the following credentials:
You should Be From The USA Or Canada
While you can instruct classes from anywhere in the world, you should be from the USA or Canada to be hired with VIPKID. as of 2020, VIPKID no longer hires teachers that live in California.
You should have A BA degree Or Higher
Your degree can be in any subject, but you’ll need to have at least a BA or higher to get hired by VIPKID. They are strict about this requirement and will require verification of your degree later in the hiring process. No degree? គ្មានបញ្ហា! check out this list of 10 companies that will still hire you.
1+ Year Experience working With children Is Required
Many types of experience will fit this requirement. If you have experience coaching, mentoring, babysitting, teaching, or tutoring, that counts toward your year of experience.
While conventional classroom teaching is a plus, it’s not a requirement to instruct English with VIPKID.
You’ll need a computer or tablet With High-Speed Internet.
It makes sense that you’ll need reputable Internet for a job that takes place online, so this requirement probably doesn’t come as a surprise. VIPKID teachers need to have a device for teaching as well as consistent access to the internet.
If possible, the optimal Internet speed for teaching online is at least 20 Mbps. I’ve been able to conveniently instruct on around 10 Mbps, but higher speeds are preferable.
Special Mention: TEFL Certificate
When working for VIPKID, all teachers will need either a TEFL certification or a professional teaching license. but don’t worry, you can still apply even if you don’t have one of these qualifications.
If you don’t have a TEFL certificate or teaching license, VIPKID will require that you take an in-house TEFL course while you complete your onboarding. This course is totally free and offered within the VIPKID platform.
As far as I know, this special VIPKID TEFL course won’t transfer to other teaching jobs, but it is enough for you to meet the VIPKID requirements and start teaching on their platform.
If you do have your TEFL, your odds of being hired over someone who doesn’t are much greater. find out about the best 7 TEFL Certificates on the market here.
How Do I apply To VIPKID?
The VIPKID hiring process used to be a deterrent for prospective teachers because it was so complicated. In recent months, however, VIPKID has overhauled its hiring process and now it’s much simpler.
Here’s what you’ll need to do to start teaching with VIPKID!
បង្កើតគណនី។ This is totally free and easy and is done online and you’ll need to make sure you meet the criteria above.
Complete an interview Demo Lesson. You can do a short “Smart Demo Lesson” on your phone, record yourself teaching a Demo Lesson.
Review materials in the certification Center. After passing the interview, you’ll have access to the certification center on the VIPKID website. You will find information about teaching, valuable resources, and the lessons you’ll need to instruct in your mock classes.
Complete your Mock Classes. Mock classes take place with an existing VIPKID teacher called a mock class mentor. You’ll instruct a mini-lesson and your mentor will give you feedback. many people will do their mock classes 2-3 times before moving on. think of this as your teacher training!
Upload your documents. You’ll fill out your payment information and submit the required documents. getting your files verified can take a few days, so in the meantime, you can work on the final step…
Complete your Profile. This is where you’ll create your teacher bio, welcome video, and submit profile pictures.
Apply to VIPKID here
What materials Do I need For VIPKID?
Many VIPKID reviews don’t mention the materials that you’ll need. When I first started teaching with VIPKID, I used some flashcards I purchased at the dollar store and canine toys as props. These days, my teaching equipment is a bit much more refined!
Teaching materials and Resources
For this part, you can get creative! While VIPKID does expect you to use some props and classroom decorations, you can be as inventive and distinct as you want.
To get started, it’s a good idea to find some sort of academic posters, a chalkboard, or decorations to put on the wall behind you while you teach. This gives your little computer thumbnail much more of a classroom feel.
For props, you can’t go wrong with a set of flashcards and a small dry erase board. You ought to also have a stuffed animal or puppet to help demonstrate question and answer scenarios to younger students.
You can find these items at dollar stores, teacher supply stores, or on Amazon.
Technology Requirements
You’ll need a reasonably new laptop, desktop or tablet for teaching classes. You’ll also need a headset with a microphone attachment so that your students don’t get distracted by any background noises.
If your computer doesn’t have an HD video camera (most modern devices have one built-in), you’ll need to purchase a separate webcam video camera so your students can see you clearly.
It’s also a good idea to connect your laptop to your Internet source through an ethernet cord if you’re able to do so. using an ethernet cord implies your connection will be much more reputable and guarantees a smoother classroom experience.
VIPKID Review: My First-Hand Experience
As I discussed at the start of this VIPKID review, I’ve been a teacher for 3 years now! Here’s a bit about what it’s like working as a VIPKID teacher.
My common day as a VIPKID teacher begins early in the morning. When I’m on the east coast time zone, the tiខ្ញុំគឺផ្ទុយពីខ្ញុំនិងនិស្សិតរបស់ខ្ញុំនៅក្នុងប្រទេសចិន។ នេះបញ្ជាក់ថាល្ងាចរបស់ប្រទេសចិនគឺជាព្រឹកព្រលឹមរបស់ខ្ញុំ។
តម្រូវការខ្ពស់បំផុតសម្រាប់ថ្នាក់គឺនៅពេលរសៀលនិងពេលរសៀលបន្ទាប់ពីក្មេងគឺនៅផ្ទះពីសាលារៀនដូច្នេះខ្ញុំឡើងយ៉ាងល្អមុនពេលពន្លឺសប្តាហ៍មុនពន្លឺ។
បន្ទាប់ពីទទួលបានកាហ្វេមួយកែវហើយផ្លាស់ប្តូរទៅក្នុងអាវយឺតបង្រៀនពណ៌ទឹកក្រូចរបស់ខ្ញុំខ្ញុំធ្វើដំណើរទៅថ្នាក់រៀនរបស់ខ្ញុំដែលត្រូវបានតំឡើងនៅជ្រុងបន្ទប់គេងរបស់ខ្ញុំ។
របៀបដែលខ្ញុំត្រៀមសម្រាប់ថ្នាក់ Vipkkid របស់ខ្ញុំ
ជាមួយ vipkid អ្នកបើកពេលវេលាដែលអ្នកអាចណែនាំបាននៅក្នុងវេទិកាគ្រូ។ អ្នកអាចបើកថ្នាក់រៀនពីរបីសប្តាហ៍ក្នុងការជឿនលឿនឬពីរបីថ្ងៃជាមុន។
ឪពុកម្តាយអាចមើលឃើញកាលវិភាគភាពទំនេររបស់អ្នក។ ចាប់ផ្តើមប្រហែល 1-2 សប្តាហ៍មុនឪពុកម្តាយអាចកក់ពេលវេលារបស់អ្នកសម្រាប់កូន ៗ របស់ពួកគេ។ ខណៈពេលដែលអ្នកនឹងឃើញសិស្សដដែលម្តងហើយម្តងទៀត (ហៅថាជាប្រចាំ) អ្នកក៏អាចជួបសិស្សថ្មីផងដែរ។
នៅពេលដែលរន្ធដោតពេលវេលាត្រូវបានកក់ដោយនិស្សិតខ្ញុំអាចមើលឃើញមេរៀនដែលខ្ញុំកំពុងបង្រៀន។ នេះបញ្ជាក់ថាខ្ញុំអាចមើលលើស្លាយក្នុងការជឿនលឿនដូច្នេះមិនមានការភ្ញាក់ផ្អើលទេ។
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ឧទាហរណ៍ប្រសិនបើខ្ញុំបង្រៀនថ្នាក់អំពីផ្លែឈើខ្ញុំអាចទៅផ្ទះបាយហើយទទួលចេកដូច្នេះខ្ញុំអាចប្រើវាបានក្នុងមេរៀន។ ប្រសិនបើខ្ញុំកំពុងបង្រៀនសិស្សវ័យក្មេងអំពីពណ៌ខ្ញុំនឹងព្យាយាមរករបស់ពណ៌មួយចំនួនដែលខ្ញុំអាចប្រើបាន។
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ខ្ញុំក៏មើលតាមរយៈរូបភាព 2D របស់ខ្ញុំហើយទាញរូបភាពណាមួយដែលអាចមានប្រយោជន៍សម្រាប់មេរៀន។ មួយចំនួននៃការប្រើ 2D ដែលត្រូវបានប្រើជាញឹកញាប់របស់ខ្ញុំគឺជារូបភាពរបស់គ្រួសារខ្ញុំនិងផែនទីពិភពលោក។
ចាប់ផ្តើមមេរៀន vipkkid
ប្រហែល 5 នាទីមុនថ្នាក់ដំបូងរបស់ខ្ញុំខ្ញុំបានតាំងទីលំនៅចូលក្នុងតុរបស់ខ្ញុំហើយភ្ជាប់ខ្សែអ៊ីសឺរណិតរបស់ខ្ញុំទៅកុំព្យូទ័រយួរដៃរបស់ខ្ញុំ។ បន្ទាប់មកខ្ញុំបើកដំណើរការកម្មវិធីកុំព្យូទ័រ Vipkid ហើយចុចលើផ្ទាំងកក់របស់ខ្ញុំ។
នេះបង្ហាញពីប្រតិទិននៃថ្នាក់ដែលបានកក់របស់ខ្ញុំទាំងអស់ដូច្នេះខ្ញុំអាចចុចលើប៊ូតុងមួយដែលត្រូវចាប់ផ្តើម “ចូលក្នុងថ្នាក់រៀន” ។
នៅពេលដែលខ្ញុំនៅក្នុងថ្នាក់រៀនខ្ញុំអាចមើលឃើញកម្មវិធីកំណត់ពេលវេលាដែលប្រាប់ខ្ញុំច្បាស់ថាតើខ្ញុំមានរយៈពេលប៉ុន្មានរហូតដល់ពេលវេលាចាប់ផ្តើម។ Vipkid គឺតឹងរឹងអំពីការចាប់ផ្តើមនិងបញ្ចប់ថ្នាក់ទាន់ពេលវេលាដូច្នេះកុំយឺតពេល!
ជាមួយនឹង 10 វិនាទីរហូតដល់ម៉ោងរៀនខ្ញុំបើកវេបខេមរបស់ខ្ញុំហើយដោះមីក្រូរបស់ខ្ញុំនៅលើកាសរបស់ខ្ញុំ។ ឥឡូវនេះខ្ញុំអាចមើលឃើញសិស្សរបស់ខ្ញុំហើយសិស្សអាចមើលឃើញខ្ញុំ។ វាដល់ពេលដែលត្រូវចាប់ផ្តើមថ្នាក់ហើយ។
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បន្ទាប់ពីបាននិយាយថាសួស្តីនិងការកសាងការតភ្ជាប់ដំបូងនោះយើងចាប់ផ្តើមមេរៀន។
ការពិនិត្យឡើងវិញ VIPKID: តើអ្វីទៅជាមេរៀនដូច?
មេរៀននៅក្នុង vipkid ជាធម្មតាអនុវត្តតាមទ្រង់ទ្រាយដូចគ្នា។ ពួកគេទាំងអស់ចាប់ផ្តើមជាមួយនឹងសកម្មភាពកក់ក្តៅដែលនិស្សិតអនុវត្តជំនាញអានឬការសន្ទនា។ ជាមួយនិស្សិតវ័យក្មេងនេះអាចជាបទចម្រៀងចម្រៀងឬល្បែងផ្គូរផ្គង។ ស្វែងរកហ្គេមថ្នាក់រៀនភាសាអង់គ្លេសជាច្រើនទៀតនៅទីនេះ។
បន្ទាប់មកខ្ញុំណែនាំសម្ភារៈថ្មីដល់សិស្សហើយយើងអនុវត្តវាជាមួយគ្នា។ បន្ទាប់ពីអនុវត្តជាមួយគ្នាខ្ញុំលើកទឹកចិត្តសិស្សឱ្យអនុវត្តដោយឯករាជ្យ។ វានឹងមានសកម្មភាពវាយតម្លៃការយល់ដឹងរបស់សិស្សនៅទូទាំងមេរៀន។
សូមចាំថា Vipkid នឹងផ្តល់មេរៀនទាំងមូលសម្រាប់គ្រូដូច្នេះអ្នកមិនចាំបាច់ព្រួយបារម្ភអំពីការបង្កើតកម្មវិធីសិក្សាទេ។ គ្រូរំពឹងថានឹងណែនាំសម្ភារៈនិងលើកទឹកចិត្តសិស្សឱ្យចូលរួមដោយឯករាជ្យ។
នៅចុងបញ្ចប់នៃមេរៀន 25 នាទីសិស្សរបស់ខ្ញុំហើយខ្ញុំនឹងនិយាយលា។ ប្រសិនបើខ្ញុំមានមេរៀនមួយទៀតដែលបានគ្រោងទុកនៅពេលនេះខ្ញុំមានប្រហែល 5 នាទីរវាងថ្នាក់ដើម្បីទៅបន្ទប់ទឹកធ្វើឱ្យកាហ្វេរបស់ខ្ញុំធ្វើឱ្យកាហ្វេរបស់ខ្ញុំលាតសន្ធឹងនិងចាប់ផ្តើមមតិយោបល់ថ្នាក់។
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