2020 global pandemic increases the demand for online coaching/tutoring; 2021 Chinese education policy accelerates the supply of independent teachers; 2022 offers rising opportunities to go independent to address a growing demand.

Read this trend analysis to gain an overview of trends in online ESL tutoring to help you become a successful independent tutor.

The global private tutoring industry has a revenue of US$93 billion, close to the GDP of Kenya. 85% of this is spent on children. 20% of the tutoring is done online. Online tutoring is growing twice as fast as in-person tutoring.

Before the Chinese Double Reduction Policy, the size of the Chinese online ESL tutoring market for children was similar to the rest of the world combined.

The global pandemic and the 2021 Chinese education policy have created a rising opportunity for independent teaching.

The pandemic has impacted education for 1.6 billion families. Parents and students have struggled. But the pandemic’s negative impacts have been offset, to some extent, by online coaching and tutoring.

In 2021, the Chinese Double Reduction policy shook up the entire Chinese children’s tutoring industry including online ESL. Both demand and supply went through re-adjustment. This has accelerated the process for teachers to move into independent tutoring.

Teachers need to address broader issues beyond their teaching roles. One of the biggest challenges is to find one’s own students.

It is estimated that for every independent ESL tutor (native speaker), there are 52 students for tutoring. Why is it so hard to find them?

Some common barriers to recruiting students are

• Lack of networks: not enough potential clients to start with
• Lack of understanding: try to sell before listening
• Lack of focus: say yes to every student/client
• Lack of client perspective: put one’s own needs before client’s needs
• Fail to communicate: unable to articulate value clearly to target clients

In order to run a successful teaching business, you need to make long term decisions on

• How do I build my business in the long term?
• What should I teach and how do I teach?
• How do I get new students consistently?
• How much do I charge my students?

Our digital course ‘From Good to Great – Level Up Your Teaching Business‘ combines strategy with pedagogy and shares the methods to help you build your business success for independent teaching.

Read full report ‘2022 Online Independent Tutoring Trends‘

Register for our digital course ‘From Good to Great – Level Up Your Teaching Business‘