Teaching On 51Talk: What You Need To Know

With the plethora of online platforms offering English language lessons to learners, and teaching positions to English teachers and tutors, it is difficult to know which online teaching companies are legit.

We’re going to get to the bottom of this by asking those who know best: the teachers themselves. 

In this series, we’ll talk to teachers currently teaching online in 2025 and ask them the important questions.

Meet Natalie, a 51Talk tutor

Why did you choose 51Talk?

To be honest, I was just starting out online and I was submitting applications on any and every platform that was advertising for TEFL Teachers. 

The truth of the matter is that 51Talk chose me. 

I was invited for an interview and went through approximately 6 different steps before being officially appointed as an INET Teacher (International English Teacher).

What’s been your experience on 51Talk?

I have been teaching on the platform for a year now and I LOVE IT!! 

But, of course, as is the case with everything in life, it does have its pros and cons.

What are the requirements for 51Talk? Does 51Talk accept anyone?

To teach on 51Talk, you need:

• a Bachelor’s degree,
• proficiency in English, and
• availability to teach during peak Beijing times.

A TEFL qualification and teaching experience are preferred but not essential.

How do you apply to 51Talk?

I registered on an online jobs board which was advertising 51Talk positions.  I followed six easy steps:

• an application submission,
• a general Q&A session and orientation,
• two interviews – including demo classes,
• training and onboarding, and
• document submission and profile launch. 

The entire process took three days. 

I must also add that I did experience technical problems in my interview and the interviewer was gracious enough to rebook my interview.

My profile was set-up during the original Q&A session and then simply activated once I had signed my letter of appointment.

It’s also possible to sign up directly on the 51Talk website. You’ll go through the same six steps in the application process.

How easy was it to start teaching on 51Talk?

Getting students…..well now, there’s a whole different story! 

This was my first online teaching gig so I was clueless.  I didn’t realise that I had to wait for students to book classes with me.  Admittedly I also didn’t realise that the little voice note which I had to recorded for the interview, would actually be my ‘sales pitch’ …and it was REALLY, REALLY bad. 

I spent the first two months staring at a very blank screen, earning nothing but a few pennies and, of course, sitting with a deep, sinking feeling in my stomach.

But perseverance pays off!  This is something which I believe in.  Nowadays I barely have time for a slice of toast in the mornings – my booking schedule has filled up.  Why the change?  Simply because:

• 51Talk invited teachers to upload promotional videos;
• the platform has opened its doors to several new countries, which in turn has created an increase in students; and
• being a committed and passionate teacher creates lasting student-teacher relationships.

Read more: How To Get Started Teaching Online To Earn Money

Does 51Talk allocate students to you?

Students have to book teachers of their choice.  Students are only allocated in the event of another teacher being absent without notice.

Who are your students on 51Talk?

Students range from the ages of three  years old to…. infinity and beyond.  One moment you could be singing ‘The Teddy Bear Song’ and the next moment you will be in the boardroom teaching negotiation skills and language. 

Students are  from several different countries which makes it even more amazing.  There are Chinese students, Saudi Arabian students, Turkish students and so many more.  I learn with my students and I really do love and embrace this experience.

Classes are usually 1:1.  I have a great balance of adhoc and regular students.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I generally open bookings from 5am to 10pm (EST) every week day and 3am – 10pm (EST) on weekends.  Some days I am pretty fully booked and my legs, bum and back know all about it *hehe*.  But this is a personal choice. 

51Talk requires that 60 slots be opened for each two-week cycle.  They are very flexible and I love that there is no micromanagement in this respect.  I have heard that there are many other companyies out there who are not as flexible.

There are three aspects which I love about 51Talk:

• The lesson material and teaching platform are both interactive and AMAZING;
• the students are AMAZING; and
• the trainers are AMAZING!!

Prep time is quick and easy.  An electronic Lesson Memo is completed after the lesson, and this is really quick and easy.  

How does the student feedback system work on 51Talk?

I must be honest, the company is not very transparent with this type of information.  I am not privy to their booking systems or how lesson material is allocated.  Students can definitely leave bad reviews but I have no idea how they go about it.

Read more: The Realities Of Teaching English Online

Have you experienced any technical issues on 51Talk?

Over the past year I have not had to deal with downtime issues.  Technical support does sometimes take a while to respond to a query, but nothing that I can really complain about.  I have a strong back-up system so loadshedding hasn’t really affected me.

Does 51Talk offer support to teachers? 

This is where 51Talk  falls short for me.  They do have a great training platform but it is topic focused – there is no other forum/platform where you can communicate with other teachers, ask for advice or deal with general questions.  It’s training and then sink or swim.

If you want to appeal against an unfair penalty or share some suggestions, your ‘go-to-guy’ is a robot.  Everything is automated and run by AI.  It can be extremely frustrating.  

What’s the 51Talk salary?

Unfortunately the pay rate is low and there does not seem to be any type of increase or incentive program which contracted teachers can look forward to.  The current rate is $4 per 25 minute class.  

There is a lot of dead time wasted on open slots which makes the rates inadequate in that sense.  While I am also not at all opposed to penalties, unfair penalties are incredibly frustrating and annoying.

Payments are paid monthly, by the (12th) of each month.  More often than not I am paid earlier and to date the company has been efficient with all my figures and payments.

Is teaching on 51Talk sustainable as a full-time job?

Teaching on this platform is sustainable if you are prepared to put in the hours.

Would you recommend 51Talk? 

I would ABSOLUTELY recommend teaching on this platform.

 51Talk is definitely a great platform for both beginner teachers and experienced teachers alike.  I love the diversity of the students, the variety of the subjects and the range of teaching levels.  51Talk’s Air Classroom is FABULOUS!!  

Author Bio

Written by

Teacher in the Field

Edited by Kirsten Colquhoun

Teacher in the Field represents our TEFL Academy global community sharing their real-world experiences from classrooms and institutions across the world. From diving into TEFL to chomping down on chow mein in China, to navigating your first-day nerves in Spain, our collective voice brings authentic stories, insights, and practical advice right from those living the adventure. Read Teacher in the Field's story →