I recently started my journey as an ESL tutor with RareJob this past April. It’s been an exciting adventure so far, filled with over 100 lessons and countless interactions with wonderful students. As someone who enjoys teaching and learning from others, this role has been a perfect fit. However, like any new endeavor, my first month working from home as an ESL tutor hasn’t been without its challenges. To commemorate this milestone and hopefully provide some guidance to fellow newcomers, I’m sharing five key takeaways I’ve learned along the way:

5. Remember to set your alarm!

If your schedule includes early morning lessons, mastering the art of alarm setting is crucial. I personally recommend setting multiple alarms to ensure a prompt start to your day. I book my morning lessons from 5 am to 8 am. Try to allocate at least 40 minutes before each lesson to review the lesson materials and familiarize yourself with your student’s profile. It’s also crucial to mentally prepare for the session. I’ve found it helpful to adopt a teaching persona that suits the student’s needs – speaking slowly and clearly for beginners or adopting a friendly and conversational tone for younger learners.

4. Perk yourself up with coffee Since I begin my day very early, coffee has become my indispensable companion in combatting drowsiness. It’s a lifesaver in preventing those untimely yawns, which, as a side note, are considered disrespectful in Japanese culture. If you do need a coffee or water break during the lesson, be sure to turn your camera off temporarily. The same courtesy applies to coughing or sneezing – your students will appreciate it! But don’t forget to turn them back on again! I’ve encountered a few times when I forgot to turn my audio on, and my student was a beginner and couldn’t tell me about it. He just made a noise that startled me!

3. Do an equipment check While it may seem obvious, ensuring your camera and headphones are in good working order before each lesson is essential. These are your primary communication tools, and their functionality is paramount. Also, if you’re aiming for the monthly video incentive, maintaining a clear and consistent video feed is necessary.

2 Jot down notes effectively Be ready with your notepad. I would admit this is my biggest challenge. Working with only one arm is such a drag. Having to multitask and type while listening and talking at the same time can really wear one down. But I’m practicing and optimistic that I can keep up with the others.

1. Remember to update your attendance! In my first month at RareJob, I encountered several absences because I failed to click standby 30 minutes before the lesson. There was also an instance when I was already in front of the computer but missed the deadline by a mere minute! Talk about unlucky!

I hope these insights prove helpful to fellow ESL tutors starting their journey. If you want to join the RareJob community, please visit rarejob.com.ph. Best of luck!

P.S. To all the new tutors out there, I’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips you’ve picked up along the way. Feel free to share your stories in the comments below!

Btw, thank you RareJob for picking me as one of the winners last New Tutor’s Assembly. I received this merch bundle last week 🥰