51Talk
51Talk Review
51Talk is another company from China and they teach kids and adults with their own material. According to a commenter here pay depends on experience, education and possibly nationality. South Africans can apply! An American teacher can earn up to $11 per 25 minute class.
Please leave us your comments and reviews of 51Talk.
45 Comments
John Mason
The information that they pay Americans $11 per 25 minute class is either incorrect or outdated. I’m American with a bachelors degree and a TEFL certificate and they recently offered me $5 per class. No thanks. The crazy thing is they pay so little but they expect so much from their their prospective teachers during the hiring process. The amount of details and information I had to submit, especially all of the technical info, was unusual and way more than what other companies ask for.
Nerita Ravidutt
How do South Africans apply as it doesn’t allow for a location to be put through? Please assist.
Anonymous
A few years ago I worked for them as a free trial teacher and loved it. It was the second best job I ever had online.
I honestly cannot say anything bad about them. I truly enjoyed the work and was making 18 dollars per class. But they began to change systems, adding new departments/divisions etc… moved to hiring cheaper teachers from the Phillipines and just basically going down hill with bookings. I took a leave of absence and when I checked on coming back the word was that it was not nearly as good as before. It is a same. It was doing fine until the Chinese Mismanagement Mentality System took over and ruined yet another great company.
Anonymous
HERE ME THIS UPDATE MAY2020
They pulled out and decrease all the incentives. DONOT APPLY TO 51TALK, THE TRAINERS WERE VERY RUDE. I LIKE THE STUDENTS. AFTER MONTHS YOU WILL HAVE LOW BOOKINGS 1 DOLLARS PER DAY. DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? WILL THIS MAKE US FREE FROM HOUSE BILLINGS? OFCOURSE YOU CAN ENJOY THE PERK OF WORKING AT HOME. NOT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Bill
Recently applied to this company only to be told they only hire filipino/filipina.
Guess they don’t want to pay much more than 80 – 90 pesos per hour.
princess
51Talk is very strict, they don’t value their teachers.. If you have rude and misbehave students and you file some concerns about it to talk to the students and the parents,sadly they will ignore it and won’t listen.
Mo
I’m curently working for another company online as a teacher, I’m non native, so if anyone can suggest some good company where they pay atleast 3$-5$ with materials provided already, that would be awesome.
This company looks like going down pretty bad.
Donnie Nkhoma
Which company are you working for MO?
Lynne
Thanks to all of you, it’s so valuable to know these things instead of finding it out after a long application process. Especially since they are on a “Hiring Now” list!
The writing is on the wall
If you get a job here, it may not be around for long. It was good while the getting was good. They were thrown off the NYSE recently (that means they don’t have enough money anymore, or their moral ineptitude was that bad), and quietly moved to the Nasdaq.
The share price dropped from $37 last year to $5 now and the losses are in the hundreds of millions, or LOSSES of $21 per share. They report the most recent quarter’s earnings this Friday, March 12, 2019. …. The reason this is worth mentioning is that the upper tier teachers are being tossed by the company left and right for very questionable reasons, rather than just growing a pair and putting on their grown up panties and saying “We’re not in a financial position to renew contracts on April 4 2019.” … It’s bordering on labor law infringement, because they are insisting on acting like we’re employees and trying to reprimand us — we are independent contractors. So if nothing else, their financial implosion is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. … So even if you are given a job, the losses are bad enough that they may have to close their doors. It was a good company with decent enough people. The kids were really really fun, smart, worldly, and just a great treat, as was the pay. But don’t expect it to last. I have nothing but gladness for having been here. But I hope the best, and plan for the worst in their case.
Teacher Tina
There is something wrong with the hiring process in 51talk, I have experienced it first hand. This company hired me in June but they still haven’t launched me. Now that I have this information, I am beginning to think they have no intention of doing it. I am quite disappointed. Why go through a long and thorough hiring process, interviews and two rounds of training, and not launch us? It’s unprofessional.
Tina
Do NOT work with them! I worked with them for 2 years, and I had a 2% absent rate out over 2,000 classes taught in 2018 and they fired me because it was “excessive”. They are not understanding. I could not even talk to a PERSON about my situation. They did not consider how many classes I taught, and how many regular students I had (some from the beginning of my two years) I felt totally cheated and thought my situation was very unfair. Do not put your energy into a company that does not even bother to LISTEN to you.
RonRon
HAWO/51Talk’s latest gimmick to purge themselves of the highly qualified $11/class or $22/hr 1v1 teachers is to freeze their booking pages so the teachers receive no bookings. The teacher’s ‘My Page’ and the teacher’s booking page is not available under a guise of a ‘Mandatory Performance Review’. These are not real reviews as the supposed violations to the teachers’ contracts are fabricated. Unfortunately, the two week interruption to your students’ education is real. This is a very devious Company who is trying hard to whitewash its true colors but what’s to be expected from a company registered in the Cayman Islands?
Tina
This happened to me! They said it was because “excessive” absences! But I had a 2% absent rate out of 2,073 classes I taught in 2018! I made a valid argument asking how that was excessive and I just got an automated response back! I had a feeling it had to do with my pay and they were trying to get rid of the highly qualified 22/hr teachers! Now, I know for sure.
Tired of liars
FAQ
Please email with any questions.
teacher_recruitment@51Talk.com
Getting Ready
What is 51Talk?
51Talk is the leading online English education platform. As part of its global community, 51Talk’s teachers can make differences in the lives of countless young learners from the comfort of their own homes. By joining our worldwide family of over 10,000 educators, teachers can constantly develop their professional skills and further excel in their teaching. 51Talk is a publicly traded company on the NYSE (COE).
What we are looking for?
We’re looking for experienced teachers who love working with children and making learning fun. Along the way, 51Talk will assist you with free professional development training and help you become the best teacher you can be. In order to join our community, you should:
Have experience in teaching young learners (Age 4-12).
Be a graduate with at least a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree.
(As an advantage) Have teaching qualifications or TESOL/TEFL/CELTA/TKT/CETYL certifications or other equivalent certificates.
(As an advantage) Have a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education/Elementary Education/Secondary Education.
How long is the service agreement for?
We require a one-year minimum commitment from our candidates.
Application
How does the application process work?
The process consists of 4 steps: interview, teaching demo, orientation, and training.
How can I schedule an interview?
Click the “Apply Now” button, which will take you to our application form page. From here, you can choose your preferred interview date and time.
The Basics
How long is each class?:
Each class is 25 minutes long.
Where can I work from?
This is a home-based position.
Is there a minimum number of hours required?
Yes, the minimum number of hours required is 30 peak time hours per month.
Can I cancel my schedule if suddenly I am not available?
Slots in your schedule that have not been booked may be cancelled. However, once a slot is booked, there can be no cancellations unless there is an emergency.
Can I ask for time off? What is the process to do so?
Of course you can. In order to do so, submit a request for extended absence to nestsupport@51talk.com. You are allowed up to 30 days maximum.
Is there a typical age range for the students I’ll be teaching?
Although we have a wide range of students, our largest group falls between 4 and 12 years old.
What level of English proficiency can I expect from my students?
The majority of students are relatively new to learning English.
Compensation
How much can I earn?
A teacher who is new to 51Talk begins with a base salary of $15.00 USD per hour. There are also bonus campaigns which can further increase earnings each month.
A promotion structure based on performance and training allows for base salary increases up to $22.00 USD per hour.
How can I earn more?
51Talk has a standardized promotional structure. The more you teach, train and learn,the more you can earn.
Referring a friend
How can I refer a friend to teach with 51Talk?
Click ” Refer Now” to refer a friend.
How much will I be compensated for a successful referral?
Successful referrals will be worth $200.
Just another online teacher
I applied for a position with a B.A. degree, two Cambridge University certificates, a TEFL and nearly three years of teaching experience. I was told I am not qualified enough by a person who showed up 13 minutes late for an interview. There were two other applicants in the “interview” with me and they listened while she interviewed me and asked me all kinds of personal questions. I was horrified. One of the applicants was a Jamaican and the other a Brazilian. I was the only native speaker. I still didn’t get the job. It was all very strange to me.
AnnaOHNo
Where do you get your information? Jamaicans are native English speakers. Please do your research. We have a dialect (that we learn at home and in society) that we use as well but our language is English.
Jelena Zobenica
Does anybody know the base pay per class for non natives?
Julie
I’m working there for about a year, and I’m a non native. They pay now 5$ for 25 min class, half of that if the student doesn’t show up. If he/she doesn’t show up you’re required to wait for 15 minutes, after that you’re free to exit the classroom.
Norah
I started working for them three months ago. I was hesitating because I’ve read so many bad reviews that I just wanted to give up, but the guy who was interviewing me and another one with whom I had a demo class were nothing but awesome. They helped me as I was nervous a bit, and it was the best interview and demo class I’ve ever had. Also, after the initial interview, there is training for using the virtual classroom that you should use for conducting classes later, and you have the ability to practice before you demo class. It’s very good. You can teach 1v1 classes as well as the group classes (four students). The materials are provided and it’s usually more than enough to cover the whole class. They have lots of incentives and bonuses, and you also have a guaranteed salary if you don’t get booked (which usually never happens because they have lots of students), but it’s great to have the stable income anyway. Although they told me that salary is on 12th every month, teachers get it in the first five days. Of course, you need to be punctual and responsible, but this is a serious company so it is completely legitimate that they want that.
If you want to apply, you can use this link: https://tms.51talk.com/na/index.php?referrer=5066470
Tired of liars
Do not lie there are no incentives. There is a “referral incentive that is the only reason you are giving your referral link. Don’t lie to people. I’m a native speaker and get paid a non-native fee. Exploitative company
Norah
Yes, they do, they started a new campaign where you can film videos, say some interesting stuff and get money. Also, they have regular attendance bonus and as I said the pay protect program, which ensures you get paid even when you don’t have the classes booked. It’s not my fault you are not satisfied, but you cannot call me a liar 🙂 Also, yes, that is my referral link, but I wouldn’t have it if I didn’t like working for this company, as I wouldn’t work for it, seems reasonable huh? Anyway, anyone can just go to the site and apply without using it, I just said my honest opinion.
Phathie
Hi Norah, after reading so many bad reviews ,yours was the only one that made me want to try out, so i went ahead and used your referral link to send my application, any tips? Please email me on phathiemoy555@yahoo.com, My interview is scheduled for 2 weeks from now, thanks
Mark Caines
I have been teachingwith 51talkfor just over a year and I’ve taught nearly 6,000 lessons. Non US/Canada but native speakers start on $5 per 25 minute lesson which increases with every 1,000 lessons taught. Even in September, I will teach 400 lessons and I’ve had a bad month if I only earn $2,500. I’m sure that some teachers have had bad experiences but amongst the teachers I know, there is a high satisfaction level. Software problems are rare and they are fixed in hours, not days. The pay is always early, there are so many students I close slots so I can have a cup of tea and your scheduled teaching hours are up to you. They get my vote.
Tired of liars
There are not that many students. I never get more than $500/month. Their new system ignored the fact I had hundreds of lessons and had to start from zero.
Jessy
I’ve been with the company for almost a year and had a very good experience with them. The pay is fixed now at $7.5 for 25 minutes class and $18 for a group 45 minutes class. There are some incentives as well. My communication has been really good with the support team and everyone involved so I can’t really give any bad reviews. The interview with a Chinese guy was easy and pleasant
Sofia
The recruiter I got was a Filipino man/woman, who was the most unprofessional person I’ve ever seen, I scheduled my interview and the first time, this person didn’t show up, I sent tons of messages and emails and got no response, I rescheduled my interview, after a I sent him/her a few emails as reminders, he/she was late for the interview, asked me to wait and 20 minutes later told me that they won’t hire me, yes, he/she didn’t even bother to talk to me at all (I have qualifications and expereince)
So don’t waste your time with this company but if you want to, just make sure not do it with MJ/Micah Jareno
Niko
I went through absolutely the same. On the day of the interview the guy didn’t even show up. I wasted an hour and a half waiting in front of the laptop hoping that someone will answer my countless messages. Then a woman from the recruiting team added me and rejected my video call. After another ten minute she called me on the phone, asked me a couple of of standard questions regarding my career background and education and that was all. Later during the day I received an email telling me me that my interviewer es in the hospital (?!) and that they apologize for the inconvenience. Anyway, I was turned down by them so I guess I should be lucky. Well, it was a valuable experience for me as I’m taking my first steps in online teaching. And yes, I’ve watched tons of videos and some of their tutors do have questionable level of English..
Vaughn van Zyl
I have read so many negative reviews on this company, but to my regret wasted time with an interview… they choose people with no skill and non native tongue and call it highly competitive as you can see on YouTube they hardly have well trained English speakers. i wasted my time with a 5 question interview, i got let go after 5 questions as the person with me in the interview got kept although my 7 years experience was rejected over the 0% experience Philippine…
just google reviews on Talk51 from teacher that used to work there.
Ri
11 dollars? I only get about 2.5 dollars per hour as a senior teacher.
Vinz
Bad reviews from many teachers who used to work for this company and many of them do not recommend it to others. In addition, if you are a non-native speaker you earn a dollar/25min. Not good.
Jessica
The pay is fair- up to $22/ hr depending on experience- if you’re a native English speaker. If you are not, you make less. This is based on what they charge the clients. You’re required to work a certain amount of “peak time” hours per week (early morning/ weekend). Hours can be unpredictable, as it’s based on what you’re booked for. The more clients you build up, the more solid your hours become. The customer is always right, and as it’s all online, you have to prove anything that goes wrong. You just get used to taking screen-shots. From what I’ve heard though, that’s the standard among online teaching companies. As long as you document issues, the company will remove any penalties incurred from it.
Az
Thanks for sharing that.
What hours do they offer and can you extend your hours if you wish please?
Thanks
RonRon
It is common knowledge that even with screenshots 51talk/HAWO often will not take the teacher’s side. Everything is run out of China but the good news is that you can take them to the NLRC (the Philippine labor board) for their injustices because they do operate and own lots of property in the Philippines.
Rio
51talk pays only Php 56.00 for a conducted 25-minute class. They are very strict when it comes to power interruptions, poor internet connections and emergencies. They do not consider their teachers and have so many deductions. They only pay half if the student is absent and will require the teacher to stay in the whole class time doing nothing. They do have incentives such as Php 2.00 for every class conducted especially during peak seasons. If I were you better not apply at 51talk….. you will be paid a lesser compensation with the effort you have exerted.
ghie
What??! An American teacher is paid $11 per 25 minute class while a Filipino teacher is paid $1 per 25 minute class. That’s a big difference! A big injustice! To think teaching materials are the same and Filipino teachers have more patience with children.
Joy
You are right. You don’t need a native American to teach Basic English. Business as usual. You know how some Filipino businessmen are. They would cut more than a half of the actual salary provided by 51talk China. Sucks!
Tired of liars
Well the majority of the Filipino teachers that do the interviewing, demos and training have poor English skills and horrendous accents. Not saying pay is fair but you are a non-native. The company pushed me into the non-native pay bracket despite the fact I am a native speaker so don’t complain.
LP
When I had my interview, I was told they don;t accept teachers to work flexible hours, but they must be online for the company at least 4 hours, peak Beijin hours. It isn’t what they say in the advert.
Z
Is 51Talk a Filipino company or Chinese? The students are Chinese students and the recruiters are also Chinese…
Travis
Base pay is $7.50 per 25 min class which works out to $15 per hour base rate. Can make up to $22 an hr. They have a lot of glitches in the system and it can take up to three days for them to repair the software. So for three days you are not making any money.
Lorenzo
Interested
Dee
Definitely Chinese They do have staff in Philippines, supposedly “support” staff……my experience was they supported the company NOT the teachers
Dee
I was with them for 2 years – started on about $4 per lesson, ended on $7……..inquiries about further increases repeatedly ignored
Aqeedah
Hey Travis are you still working for them?