5 Ways to Know if VIPKID is Right For You!

Ok, let’s get the boring stuff out of the way before I get to MY thoughts about if VIPKID is a good fit for you!

VIPKID has 3 basic requirements:

*possession of a Bachelor’s degree (does not need to be teaching-related)

*one year of experience working with children (mentoring, coaching, babysitting, tutoring)

*eligibility to work in the United States or Canada

As long as you meet all three of these requirements, you potentially could be a good fit for VIPKID. Everything from this point on represents my own thoughts and beliefs.

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5 Ways to Know if VIPKID is Right for You!

#5- Do you have a “classroom space” and a laptop/desktop/iPad?

VIPKID is a virtual teaching platform which means that you will be teaching a student who lives in a different country, through a Skype-type application. It is expected that you have a space with an educational background- numbers, letters, shapes, colors, maps, periodic table. This does not have to be a large space! The only decorating that needs to be done is the small space in your background that would be shown on camera---some even decorate a closet wall and make that their “classroom.”

You can see that there is a very small portion of my background visible during a lesson. Depending on how I angle my webcam, it might be a bit smaller or larger...but an entire room would not be visible to a student.

I hope that it might be obvious to anyone thinking about teaching for VIPKID, but you will certainly need a computer/ipad. You cannot teach from a phone.

If you do not own a computer or feel comfortable working with a computer, then this might not be the right fit for you!

#4- Do you enjoy working with children?

Another “duh” kind of requirement, but I do fear that some jump into this virtual teaching world for the wrong reasons. If you plan on choosing to wake up early/stay up late to teach children a second language, I strongly suggest that spending time with children is something you truly enjoy! These kids are young! They range from 4-14 years old and they are learning a second language. I don’t know about you, but that sounds hard and I don’t think that I could have done it at those ages.

They are working hard. They are nervous. They lack confidence. They DESERVE someone who is going to nurture their curiosity, demonstrate patience and know how to motivate each child as an individual.

There are many other ways that you can earn money at home if working with children is not your thing!

#3- Are you creative? Does working with toys and puppets sound like fun?

Something that I love, love, love about VIPKID is that they provide teachers with lesson plans, a reward system and guiding questions for the advanced/struggling student.

Because we do not have to spend hours lesson planning, there is time and energy left to add some creativity and fun to lessons!

Any good teacher knows that each child is different. You may teach a lesson on “Winter Weather” in very different ways depending on the amount of knowledge + vocabulary that a student enters the classroom with. So while a VIPKID teacher does not have to create the lesson, a GOOD VIPKID teacher will modify the lesson to excite and motivate students.

Are the days of the week a little boring to you? YUP! Is there a chant/song/visual that you share with the student to help them understand and remember those days?

Not sure how to introduce “Greetings” to a 4 year old with zero English knowledge? Break out the puppets or grab a stuffed animal from your baby’s room!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used my son’s trucks to demonstrate “large, larger, largest.”

Make it fun!! (Going back to #4--These kids are working hard, very often after a long day at school where they have already worked hard. Show them how much FUN learning English can be!)

#2 Do you want to reduce your commute time?

Even better! No commute at all! My “commute” takes about 3 minutes as I tiptoe down the stairs, through the kitchen to the coffee machine, and down another set of stairs to my basement classroom. It literally could not be easier! No traffic. Bad weather- it’s alright! Saving lots of gas money. And the minute your class is over, you’re done! You could jump right back in bed if you really want!

Sadly though, you no longer have an excuse to just “swing by” McDonalds on the way home from work. Or am I the only one whose guilty pleasure is a “hamburger” and large fries?

#1 Does flexibility sound amazing to you?

As a previous classroom teacher for 14 years, flexibility is not something I ever knew. Vacations were scheduled around school schedules. Doctor appointments were always after 3pm. Need an oil change? Save it for a Saturday. I had two personal days a year--TWO. Imagine trying to cram a year’s worth of appointments into two days...and on top of that, you still needed to plan full substitute teacher days, leave stacks of copied papers, directions for every little transition, and notify parents that you would not be available.

I didn’t know any different at the time. Now I do!

I get to open up my schedule however I want and whenever I want. The schedule that I create for this week is different than my schedule for next week. When I go on vacation I have the choice to teach for VIPKID on the road or to take the time off completely. I do not have to leave sub plans. I do not “use” one of my two days. I do not have to tell parents that I will be unavailable.

You will open up your time slots a week or two in advance after looking at your schedule and availability.

VIPKID does not have a minimum number of classes that must be taught each month. You can teach as much or as little as you want. It is 100% in your hands! There is nothing more freeing than the flexibilty to live your life and schedule work around it!

So what do you think?

Have a computer?

Like kids?

Get paid to play with toys?

No commute?

Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility?

If you think that VIPKID might be right for you, shoot me an email! I’d be happy to answer all questions honestly!

onesmartcookieESL@gmail.com

I made this video to help answer some essential questions about VIPKID and the hiring process, so head on over!

If you’re ready to apply NOW click here! As a hiring coach I will provide 1:1 guidance, tips and tricks, printables, links to teaching videos to help you to feel confident as you become a VIPKID teacher. You will also have access to our private Facebook group for all current VIPKID applicants!

You have NOTHING to lose!