The Philippines is one of the most popular countries to outsource ESL jobs for many different reasons. It goes way back to 1762 when British invaders went ashore to the archipelago. That day is the beginning of the country’s eagerness to learn English. It was rekindled when the Americans colonized the country for many years. Filipinos are known to have great hospitality and give a warm welcome to visitors even to foreigners. One of their ways to show hospitality is to learn about the languages and cultures these foreign visitors bring when they arrive in the country.
Soon, the country adopted the educational system of the Americans. From then on, the English subject has been a major part of educational curriculums in the Philippines. There are even university courses that mainly focus on learning the English language such as AB English, English and Literature, Education Major in English, etc.
Media and Arts Influence
Then came foreign television programs and movies where Filipinos became hooked. These various influences made English a major requirement in the Philippines. You will see English usage from newspapers, politicians speaking in English during sessions, books, product labels, advertisements, and even songs! Truly, Filipinos are exposed to English at a very young age and this has been the situation since the early colonization of the country.
When Did ESL Began in the Philippines?
ESL or English as a Second Language started in the early 2000s in the Philippines. The internet was just booming way back then and the Philippines. Being a third world country, are often left behind with such technological advancements so it took some more years for the ESL industry to catch the attention of the Filipinos. Later on, the internet became a trend in the Philippines and the invention of video calling applications came with it. Many non-English speaking people saw the huge capability of Filipinos to teach English and slowly, ESL companies started to penetrate the country. Nowadays, the Philippines ranks 6th in the list of countries with most English speakers- quite an achievement for a country which is hundreds of miles away from English speaking countries.
Which Countries are into ESL Online Learning?
Many countries started to entrust their English learning journey to Filipino ESL Teachers. This demand for ESL teachers started to rise when people and businesses began moving across the world. The demand for English soared up because of globalization and since most languages that do not use the alphabet is harder to learn, it is better to study the universal language: English. Countries such as Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand rely on ESL teachers found across the world. There are even teachers who live and teach in real schools in these countries because of the lack of skilled locals who know how to speak English.
The countries mentioned above also prefer to have Filipino teachers for their warmth, enthusiasm, and technicalities in English. Filipino ESL teachers are very keen when it comes to grammar and sentence constructions. Another factor is that it is cheaper than hiring a native speaker as a teacher. And lastly, Filipinos are more versatile and humble when teaching as they are willing to adjust their teaching strategies and skills to meet the level of their students.
Qualifications of Teachers
Most ESL companies require their teachers to have at least a Bachelor’s Degree or College level. But since the Philippines is also one of the countries where BPO jobs are popular, citizens who do not have a college-level may adapt good English communication skills. Aside from this, ESL jobs in the Philippines require their teachers to undergo examinations, interviews, and mock calls. This way, ESL companies can gauge the capability of an applicant which will determine if they can attend to the learning needs of their foreign students. It’s important to have good speaking/writing skills in English and of course, a pleasing personality that can make students feel comfortable during class. But skills and degrees aren’t the sole requirements for teaching online—you need to have the proper devices to perform the task.
Teaching Equipment
All online jobs require good working equipment and online ESL jobs aren’t an exception. When applying for an ESL job, you need to have the following:
- A noise-canceling headset
- Laptop or Desktop at least iCore 3 and 4GB of RAM to easily navigate the tools and must have at least with Windows 7 Operating System
- Webcam/Built-in camera
- Quiet Working Environment
- Internet Connection (Must be DSL and Upload Speed must be at least 3MBPS)
- Most companies require mastery in using Skype
Some companies have more qualifications such as strictly white background, higher internet speed, certifications, etc. A number of companies have their teaching platform so there’s no assurance that Skype will be the main tool for teaching.
The Accent
Even if the Philippines has a high demand for online ESL jobs, not everyone gets accepted. Many may think it’s easy to get accepted but in reality, online teaching isn’t as it seems.
Accent is one of the main reasons why some fails their application on becoming an ESL teacher. People from Korea and China are very particular with the accent. For example, Koreans are highly influenced by the United States so they look up to those who can project neutral-perfect American accent. So, if you are thinking about entering an ESL career, having a good accent is a major plus factor. However, be careful to overdo it as you still have to ensure that your students can easily understand your words when you are teaching.
Energy and Enthusiasm
You may think that it is simple since it’s just online but NO. ESL jobs in the Philippines aren’t that easy to manage. Just like a classroom setup, you will be facing students from different walks of life, age brackets, and capabilities. Some will be boring, some will be smart, there will even be a time when your student is actually better than you in speaking English and they just want to keep practicing it! So, energy is a huge factor to make sure you engage your students. By exerting the right energy and showing your enthusiasm in teaching, you can easily get noticed by the student. Since it’s virtual, getting your student’s focus and attention is a real piece of work so, make sure to do it properly!
Why Many Filipinos Choose ESL Jobs?
Philippines is known to have worse commuting system. With heavy traffic jams, unfinished roadworks, an endless number of commuters, and hot weather- it’s often unbearable to just even travel to work. And since many Filipinos have access to the internet and possess good English communicating skills, online English teaching became their main choice of career.
Women, especially mothers who want to stay at home yet still earn a living saw online teaching as a perfect opportunity to grab. And in return, good source of income is the promise of English teaching companies for the warm welcome the Philippines workforce has given to them.
Aside from this, many are in progress to get their certifications such as for TESOL while teaching in several ESL Companies such as AcadSoc. This training certificate isn’t only a piece of paper as it can allow teachers to teach abroad. It’s also a good way to increase one’s teaching credentials in the English language. These are just the tip of the iceberg why Filipinos are deciding to start their ESL career and the list could go on!
Things to Consider in Starting an ESL Career
The first thing you will think about is, “Am I qualified to be an ESL teacher?” This same question can only be answered by YOU! If you think you are passionate, excellent, and enthusiastic enough to teach the art of the English language then you surely are qualified! Most companies accept teachers even though they do not have any teaching experience so why not give it a try?
The next thing to check is, do you have the proper equipment to teach? Investing in quality equipment can be expensive at first but you will surely earn it back once you started teaching. A good noise-canceling headset, computer, and reliable internet connection will your ticket to saying goodbye to commuting every day to work!
Last is to find a company that will help you start your career. You can always search online for companies that have high student demand and reliable materials to use. AcadSoc is one of the leading ESL companies in the Philippines. They are providing ESL jobs to Filipinos all year round! With over 40,000 students in China, you can earn more money than you expected! Plus, they give a chance even to those who do not have teaching experience. The company also has branches in Hong Kong, China, London, and New York- proof that it is standing strong to cater to qualified ESL teachers like you. A very exciting teaching opportunity is just a few clicks away! Apply now and be an online ESL Teacher with AcadSoc!
