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VIPKid has been an absolute life changer for my family! Since I got hired 321 days ago, everything has changed. Before I got hired, I had just accepted that being a stay at home mom probably wasn’t in the cards for me. Now, I’m entering the last semester of my last year as an elementary school teacher (at least for now) to teach online full time!. This post is just for fun for other VIPKid teachers, whether they are new or veterans, as well as those that are considering becoming VIPKid teachers. It’s probably a good idea to know what to expect when you become a
Here are some GIFs that every VIPKid teacher can relate to.
VIPKid is an online ESL program that allows you to be in charge of your schedule! Make $16-$22 an hour teaching at home!
Getting Hired
The hiring process is not just filling out an application. VIPKid wants teachers who can handle being on camera and have gotten feedback on their teaching. Because of this, they have an interview and a mock class (or more than one for some) that helps make sure teachers go into that first class ready.
The cool thing about VIPKid is that they know that every person that has the qualifications has the potential to be a great teacher. This is why if you have a not-so-successful mock class, they give you another chance (and another). After your mock class, you receive helpful feedback that either allows you to do better next time if you are asked to try again or helps you in your real classes if you are hired right away.
Either way, getting that notification that VIPKid has hired you is a proud moment!
Waiting for bookings
Being a VIPKid teacher is very different from being a brick and mortar teacher. To be honest, that’s why I’m switching! But one big difference is that when you are hired as a teacher of a classroom, the school puts kids in your classroom and you teach on that first day of school.
VIPKid is not like this. As a VIPKid teacher, you are an independent contractor. Similar to if you become a photographer or a musician, you have to get bookings to work. This doesn’t happen overnight. For a lucky few, they might fill their schedules by day 2 (timing sometimes is on your side-NOW is a REALLY good time to apply). Most teachers it takes some time to see some bookings start to trickle in on your schedule.
Opening your classroom for the first time and they’re already there!
Those who have already been teaching with VIPKid totally know what I’m talking about. Every teacher I talk to laughs about that first class.
You go into the classroom as early as it will possibly allow you to make sure you understand where all the buttons are, how to load the content, etc. You expect it to be a dead classroom and SURPRISE! Your trial student had the same idea and is also there. Sitting. Anxiously awaiting the start of class. Just staring into the camera. Gazing into your soul…
They can’t see you unless you turn on your camera, but that first time is a shocker!
Teaching a trial student
Sometimes you get a student who is taking a class for the very first time and they already understand some basic stuff and are pretty good at figuring out what you’re wanting them to do. But USUALLY, the trial kids are sweet little ones who are scared and have no clue what the heck you’re trying to teach them.
Using gestures and props, you try to get them to circle the A. They yell “A!!”
“YES! Very Good! A! Circle (gestures, holds up mouse, draws circle on a whiteboard, circles it on the screen) the A.”
“A!!!!!!!!!!!”
Want to make some extra dough working a couple of hours in the morning? Apply here to become a
Sitting during a student no show
The way I build my schedule I have 7-8 classes in a row, so I usually welcome no-shows (I get paid anyway!).
VIPKid asks that you stay in the classroom in case the student shows up late for the full 25 minutes… It’s a lot of sitting with your thoughts.
Some of us multi-task, but I always feel like as soon as I open something up and start working on it they show up and I’m all frazzled! Also sometimes that brain break is nice.
When the entire family is standing behind the student to watch you teach
When you become a VIPKid teacher, you go into it totally prepared to be on-screen with a little kid and maybe their mom who’s there to help them. It’s an interesting twist when you open that camera and Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles are there to watch your lesson. No pressure. Just making sure you’re good enough to teach our Bao Bao!
Usually, this is with those really new kids, and it seems to be that the parents are just as fascinated and interested in the process as the kid.
I’ve had parents take pictures of the screen while we’re doing the class (actually a lot) and I’m pretty sure they’re posting it on their social media with a caption “Bao Bao taking his first English lesson! Ah! I can’t believe he’s so big!” I KNOW this because this is what I would do.
Getting your first VIPKid Teacher check
That first check is not always much to write home about but the fact that it’s EXTRA money was so exciting to me! McDonald’s is on me, everyone! I made an extra 50 this month!
Now that my schedule has skyrocketed I feel like a queen when that check deposits!
When a parent doesn’t realize you can see them in the background and is walking around in underwear
Thankfully, I have not had this occur… But I’ve heard some stories…
My husband’s face when I talk his ear off about how awesome VIPKid is
God bless my husband… It’s just that I love it so much!
When you’re at the store and everything you see is a potential prop
I have since gone digital (if you are interested in learning
Interested in learning how to use digital effects in your online classroom? Check out Manycam (click the banner below). Keep an eye out future posts about Manycam and how I use it to create an exciting learning environment!
When your internet is being weird during a class
This is the worst! Probably the worst thing to happen when you are teaching a class is for your internet to go down… The best thing to do is panic.
When your student ends class with “I Love You, Teacher!”
It is amazing how attached you can get to these little kids that are half-way around the world… Once you start getting regulars, you really start to build a connection. I have 5 or 6 students who are just my favorites. They send me cards through the app and always want to show me their school projects that they made or want to learn about my kids! It’s such a sweet thing!
Happy Teaching!
Did you enjoy this post? Check out some of my other VIPKid content.
Why I’m Going Full-Time with VIPKid
VIPKid Personalities-Which One Are You?
If you applied for VIPKid through one of my links, don’t forget to shoot me an email letting me know, so I can help you through the process-meagan@purposefulmommy.com
I love this!!! It seems like such a fun opportunity and your descriptions for all of these scenarios were perfect!!
Thank you for reading and commenting! I hope it gave you a little chuckle!
Thank you so much for sharing! I have had a few friends who have been interested in getting started with VIP kid and I think this will help them get a better idea of what it entails. What a cool job!
It is so fun! Send them my way if they decide to apply! I would love to mentor them!
This is so fun, I have heard of VIPKids before but I haven’t known anyone that teaches. How awesome that this will allow you to be in control of your schedule and where you work!
It is really great. I love getting to work one-on-one with the students and it is so much fun!
Hahaha! So true! I just signed my second contract and I can relate!! I am one of the lucky ones who had dad AND granddad watching in their underwear. 😂
Good times! Your post made me laugh, and I am loving working for VIPKid too!
Hi! Just wondering how the bookings are going lately. I am thinking about applying for this type of teaching.
Bookings have been kind of low right now for many. Mine went down a bit but are back to normal. Covid had a big effect on bookings, unfortunately!
I am a brand new VIPKid teacher (10 days now!) and I roared at the gifs as they are bang on. I’m currently a prop addict who flipped out in joy because I picked up a box of toys for 25 cents a piece and it was all I could talk about that day! Until a few months ago I was a govt manager handling complicated development projects. This is more fun 🤩.
I’m so glad you are enjoying it! I agree it is so much fun! I am looking into going back into the brick and mortar world, and my husband asked if that meant I would ease back or quit VIPKid. I said, maybe ease back, but I don’t think I could quit! I love it too much and it’s such a great side gig.