Hello Hivers! I hope you are all in great shape today. It has been a while since my last blog due to a hectic schedule at work. In today’s blog, I am going to share my extraordinary adventure as an online ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. Using the word "extraordinary" may seem like an exaggeration, but that is how I describe it. My heart and soul love teaching, but on an online platform? " You got to be kidding me" that is my ridiculous overstatement every time the topic slips into my mind. At first, it was beyond my wildest imagination!
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was not required to learn any social media platforms to communicate; instead, I relied solely on chat through Messenger and the traditional sending of text messages. Manipulating different communication apps was new to me, and since I am residing in a countryside, signals from telecommunication providers are always devastating, and I have no access to what is happening globally except what I have read on Facebook posts, which can be accessed using mobile data. Aside from not being tech-savvy, I don’t even have the slightest idea what equipment to use. In layman’s terms, I don’t have the guts and I am not qualified at all to apply to any online opportunities.
The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has brought a potentially damaging disruption to the education system. Everything has changed. Worldwide virtual learning is the panacea to the global crisis in education.
As a teacher, I am typically inevitable of such change. I've realized that I'm already a thousand miles behind in terms of technology. It was then that I challenged myself to venture into something that could enhance myself and keep me up-to-date with the technology-driven way of teaching.
My perspective on "online teaching" gradually changed. I started upgrading myself. And one of my friends suggested I apply at 51Talk. I researched the company and armed myself with the necessary information.
I took my first leap in the application process on November 11, 2020. I signed up using the link provided. Then I received an email to schedule my interview. After passing the interview and being scheduled for my technical check, without second thought, I submitted my confirmation for another round of screening. To my astonishment, I did pass the technical check. The steps that followed were orientation and training. It was during the training that they let you do the initial demo if you passed the initial demo. You can proceed to the final demo, wherein a Chinese evaluator will be the one to decide if you are hired or not. Maybe my lucky charm worked on them that day; I got the job.
I have been working with them since 2020 as a part-time teacher from 18:00–20:00 every day. I am so grateful to the company for the opportunity to grow professionally and hone my teaching expertise, which others have been denied. The company has its ups and downs, which most companies do; in my case, I was able to adapt to the company’s rules and regulations. Though the hourly rate is not as high as on other ESL platforms, I was able to sustain my postgraduate education and finally finish it in December 2022.
I have proven that nothing is impossible as long as you have a strong determination to learn the things you are passionate about. Despite all our limitations, we should never yield to our dreams and continue learning until we achieve them and are successful.
The first step is always the hardest. Just have the courage to do it, and everything will be in place.
Thank you so much guys. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. I hope to see you again. Godless and keep safe everyone!