How to Teach English Online With No Experience (Beginner’s Guide + Success Story)

What qualities or skills are helpful when starting out as a new online teacher?

When I first logged into an online classroom, I was nervous. 

I didn’t have years of teaching strategies behind me, but I had patience, problem-solving skills and the ability to make complex ideas simple — skills I’d built through my years in accounting. Those turned out to be my superpowers!

These skills made the biggest difference:

• Patience: Your students will pause, repeat, and sometimes struggle — that’s normal. 
• Adaptability: Every learner is different. Some love grammar exercises; others want free-flowing conversation. 
• Time management: If you’ve ever worked around tight deadlines, you know how to juggle tasks. The same applies when teaching English remotely. 
• Digital literacy: You don’t need to be an IT specialist, but you should feel comfortable with Zoom, Google Docs, or Canva.  

Read more: What Skills Do You Need To Teach Online Effectively

If you’ve come from another career (like me), don’t underestimate how much of that experience transfers. 

In finance, I learned precision and clarity. Those skills are exactly what I use now when teaching accountants to structure clear sentences and presentations. 

Read more: 7 Easy Steps To Being A Successful Independent Online English Teacher

How do I identify the niche or subject area that best suits my strengths and interests?

One of the best decisions I made early on was to focus on a specific niche: Business English for accountants. 

Why? 

Because I knew the language of accounting, and I knew the struggles my students faced. That made me relatable and valuable. 

I worked alongside many talented accountants whose English held them back. 

My lightbulb moment came when a colleague froze during a presentation because he lacked confidence in his English. I realised there was a real need for someone who could bridge the gap between professional expertise and English communication. 

That drew me into online teaching.

Here are some common niches you might consider: 

• Conversational English (for everyday speaking confidence) 
• Exam prep (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge exams) 
• Business English (emails, presentations, meetings) 
• English for Specific Purposes (finance, law, medicine, IT, etc.) 

Think about your background. Were you in hospitality? Marketing? Healthcare? 

That’s your niche! Students love learning from someone who gets their world. 

Read more: Becoming A Freelance Teacher Online With TEFL

Once you’ve decided to embrace your entrepreneurial spirit, you’ll have a few decisions to make, like… 

What are the pros and cons of online platforms versus finding direct clients?

When I first started, I signed up to several platforms (like Langu). It was a low-barrier way to dip my toes in. 

The upside was clear: I didn’t have to go out and find students; they found me. 

Read more: Online Teaching Platforms You Need To Know

Pros of platforms: 

• Instant access to students 
• Built-in scheduling and payment systems 
• Reviews help you build credibility quickly  

Cons of platforms: 

• Commission fees eat into your income 
• You’re competing with thousands of teachers 
• Less freedom to set your own terms  

As my confidence grew, I realised I wanted more independence — and that’s when I started finding direct clients, especially accountants and finance professionals, through LinkedIn. 

Building a business around your niche gives you freedom and better income potential. 

If you’re brand-new to teaching English online, my advice is: start with a platform, but don’t stay there forever. Use it as training wheels, then move on to direct clients when you’re ready. 

Read more: How To Maximise Your Earnings As An Online English Teacher

What do I need to get started on a budget?

I’ll be honest, in my first few months of teaching online, my setup was basic. I had my work laptop, a headset I’d used in corporate meetings and good natural light from my office window. That was it. And it worked! 

Here’s the starter pack I recommend: 

• Laptop with 8GB RAM (don’t worry about gaming specs). 
• External webcam (optional but useful if your built-in one is poor). 
• USB headset or mic for clear audio. 
• Lighting: natural light is free, but a $10 ring light is worth it if you teach evenings. 

Avoid the trap of buying every gadget. You don’t need a green screen, fancy mics, or multiple monitors at the beginning. Keep it simple. 

Read more: Tips For Setting Up An Online Classroom

How can I create a professional yet authentic teaching space on camera?

When I started, my teaching space was literally my desk in the corner of my house. It wasn’t perfect, but I made it work. 

Here are a few tips that helped me: 

• Keep the background neutral and tidy. Students don’t need to see your laundry pile. 
• Add small personal touches — a plant, bookshelf, or motivational quote. 
• Control sound: close doors, use a headset, or teach in quieter hours if possible. 
• Use a folding screen in shared spaces to create a simple, distraction-free background. 

Read more: How to Design Your Ideal Online Teaching Setup

What makes a profile or introduction stand out to potential students?

Early on, I realised that students weren’t looking for the most qualified teacher; they were looking for someone they could connect with. 

Your profile is your shop window. 

• Write your bio in a friendly, conversational tone. For example: “I help professionals feel confident using English at work” works much better than “I have 4 years of teaching experience.” 
• Record a short intro video. Let students hear your voice and see your personality. A smile goes a long way.
  

Read more: Qualities Of A Good TEFL Teacher

How do I market myself on social media to attract my first students?

Once I decided to specialise in teaching accountants, LinkedIn became my best friend. I started posting simple tips like ‘3 phrases accountants can use in meetings.’ Slowly, professionals began reaching out. 

If you’re just starting, try: 

• LinkedIn for adult professionals. 
• Instagram or TikTok for younger learners. 
• YouTube for those who like making longer, explainer-style videos. 

Don’t wait until you have reviews. Share tips, stories, and snippets of your teaching style. That’s enough to build credibility in the beginning. 

Read more: How To Market Yourself As An Online English Teacher

How can I gather and showcase testimonials or credentials before teaching real students?

At first, I didn’t have reviews, so I offered a few discounted lessons to friends of friends. In exchange, I asked them to leave honest feedback. That gave me a base of reviews to display. 

Also, don’t forget to showcase your credentials: 

• Upload TEFL certificates.
• Share screenshots.
• Add badges to your profile.

These small things reassure students that you’re legitimate. 

Where can I find or create free, high-quality materials for my first lesson? 

One thing that surprised me in the beginning was how many free, high-quality resources already exist. You don’t need to create everything from scratch. 

Some of my go-to favourites are: 

• Breaking News English for articles and exercises.
• BBC Learning English for videos and listening practice.
• Canva or Google Slides for making professional-looking slides. 

The trick is to adapt them. For example, I’ll take a finance article and simplify it for a B1 accountant student, then build discussion questions around it. 

Read more: Top Resources For Teaching English Online

What should be on my tech-check list before every session?

Before every session, I always do a quick tech check:

• Test the internet speed. 
• Check the camera and mic. 
• Open lesson slides and backup material. 
• Test the meeting link. 

This simple 2-minute routine became my secret weapon against last-minute stress. 

Trust me, it saves embarrassment later.

How can I scale up from informal sessions to a sustainable online teaching business?

After a year of teaching casually, I realised I wanted this to be sustainable. That’s when I introduced lesson packages (like 10 lessons upfront at a discount). Not only did it give me more income security, but it also encouraged students to commit long-term. 

I started building a more professional online presence. 

Scaling doesn’t mean doing more lessons; it means doing smarter lessons and building systems around them. 

Read more: Attracting Corporate Clients for Business English

What are some common mistakes new online teachers make, and how can they be avoided?

Looking back, here are the mistakes I made: 

• Underpricing: I thought being cheaper would attract more students. Instead, it just undervalued my work. 
• Overpreparing: In my first months, I spent three hours preparing for a one-hour lesson — totally unsustainable. 
• Poor boundaries: I used to answer student messages late at night. Now, I set office hours
  

The best way to improve is to reflect. 

After every lesson, I ask: What went well? What could be better? That mindset helps you grow.

Nancy’s story shows that teaching English with no experience is not only possible, but sustainable. Don’t let a lack of teaching experience or an imperfect setup stop you from making waves in the ESL world. 

What matters most is your enthusiasm, making the most of the skills you already have, and a willingness to grow. As Nancy puts it: 

Moving from accounting into teaching was one of the best career shifts I’ve ever made.