iTutorgroup Review: Is it Worth it? [2021]

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[iTutorgroup has changed dramatically since writing this review. Before the pandemic, it was considered a good company to work for, but they seem to have introduced pay cuts. See my other online jobs.]

Overview:

iTutorgroup is the one of the largest and oldest education platforms online at present.

Tutorabc is the name of its English learning platform for Taiwan, Japan and Chinese students.

iTutorgroup provides a host of tutoring solutions from mandarin classes to mathematics. You can have some mandarin classes as compensation for teaching at iTutorgroup.

For this review, we will be talking about iTutorgroup as a platform for English language teachers.

Teachers can teach adults and kids in Asia. They are open 24-hours a day so that teachers can set a very flexible schedule.

Requirements:

iTutorgroup requires teachers to have:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• ESL Teaching Certificate or at least one year of recognized teaching experience
• Native speakers from any location
• Computer with webcam and headset with microphone
• Stable internet connection (2 Mbps upload and 10Mbs download speed)
• A commitment of 5 peak hours per week

Salary – How Much does iTutor Pay?

• Expect up to $21 per hour.
• Opportunity to earn easy bonuses for your time, such as an attendance bonus.
• They offer giveaways and prizes to teachers who participate in their competitions or during certain times of the year.
• Depending on your contract, teachers may be entitled to raises.
• Payday is on the 10th of each month

Teachers are paid via wire transfer to their bank account, which sometimes incurs fees depending on your bank.

Sign up to iTutorgroup and contact us at hello@tprteaching.com; if you have any concerns with your application, we would be glad to assist you.

Lessons:

• Junior 25-minute sessions (1-3 students)
• Adult 45-minute sessions (up to 6 students)
• Lesson material provided

 Lesson Types:

If promoted, you will have the opportunity to teach a variety of sessions:

• JR (junior and super junior) sessions- teaching students from ages 4-17
• Demo sessions- trial or demonstration classes with clients
• Special sessions- lecture-style classes with larger groups of students
• Special 1-on-1 sessions- teaching students who have requested a particular teacher and material

Schedule and Bookings:

• 24/7 booking system
• You can book extra time slots up to 4 hours before the class is set to begin.
• Fixed schedule can be updated once per month.
• Extremely flexible schedule- you can cancel up to one hour before the lesson.
• You can check the hours for your timezone by clicking here.

Bookings and pay is not guaranteed.

The company books your schedule. Some teachers find that their bookings remain consistent, with a 90% booking rate.

However, some teachers have reported not being so lucky.

The best way to deal with this situation is to book your schedule well in advance and maintain a clean profile with higher student ratings. You can also reach out to the support team and ask for more bookings.

It really is possible to receive bookings 24/7. Students take classes even in the AM.

You may also be interested in: The Best English Teaching Companies in 2022.

Peak hours (BJT)

• Monday – Friday: 19:30, 20:30
• Saturday and Sunday: 08:30, 09:30, 10:30, 13:30, 14:30, 19:30, 20:30

Reviews – What do Teachers Think of iTutor?

You can find a ton of poor ratings for iTutorgroup online. To save you some time…

Pros of iTutor

The reviews are mixed for iTutorgroup.

The main benefit is the high level of flexibility, as you can cancel up to one hour before classes begin.

There is also 24/7 hour IT system on call to support you.

You can work around the clock with their open schedule, and your schedule will even be booked up in the AM.

You can also receive Chinese lessons free of charge, having worked a certain amount of hours each month.

Pay is always on time.

Cons of iTutor

Now to discuss the cons of iTutor.

It is known for being one of the lower-paying online ESL company. This is the main problem that teachers have with this company.

There are financial penalties for missing classes or canceling too late. You need to give four hours’ notice if you wish to cancel a class.

Teachers have reported that their schedules are not being booked. Your booking rate may suffer if your cancellation rate is quite high.

There are also a lot of technical issues that can happen in the online classroom. Teachers need to be equipped to deal with these problems. The training and IT support can help with this.

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Sign up to iTutor and contact us at hello@tprteaching.com; if you have any concerns with your application, we would be glad to assist you.

Application Process:

The application process can be completed in 3-4 days. Follow the steps below to complete the application process:

1. Submit application
2. Screening of application
3. Interview and Mock Class
4. Contract and Training

Submit Application

iTutorgroup wants to make sure you can meet the minimum requirements to teach with their company. You will have to fill out the online application on their website here.

Demo Interview

After completing your application online, and passing the inital screening, you will be asked to complete a demo lesson.

The demo usually lasts 3-5 minutes, and you are expected to complete a short and sweet lesson. Instructions and demo slides are provided before the demo interview.

They will assess the following criteria, and rate you on a scale from 1-5:

• Overall presentation
• Modelling
• TPR
• Speed
• Composure
• Commendation
• Props
• Accent
• Creativity
• Classroom Management
• Energy

Teachers can choose between a live or automated demo interview.

Contract

The contract is for 6 months and can be renewed after 6 months. If you want to resign before then, you need to give the company 30 days notice.

Taxes

Teachers are responsible for their own taxes as independent contractors.

My Experience with iTutorgroup

I worked for this company when ratings applied. This meant you could earn up to $40 per hour.

I remember at one point, I knew that if I added classes in the later evening that I could acquire a group of adults, and hopefully, the lesson would go well enough for me so that I would earn $30 in 45 minutes.

I quickly learned that it would be difficult to depend on iTutorgroup for bookings and I found the group classes quite taxing. I had other options, so I decided to leave iTutorgroup.

The rating system has since been removed and now they have fixed pay for certain classes.

If it’s your first time teaching online, this company really teaches you various skills, such as how to handle group classes and deal with different issues that could potentially happen in an online environment.

I am grateful for all the skills I’ve learned from working with such a company.

It depends on your situation whether this company would suit you or not.

Recommendation:

iTutorgroup is a good income supplement that offers great flexibility.

I don’t want to give this company a glowing recommendation because some teachers have found that their booking rate was not at the level they expected it to be. This is why you should teach with more than one online ESL company.

Saying that, teachers have had varying results, and some think that you will maintain a high booking rate if you avoid canceling your schedule.

Classes can be nice to teach or full of tech issues. Students can give you feedback, but this does not affect your pay.

iTutorgroup gave me great confidence to teach levels (beginner to advanced) online, and I quickly learned what language learners, with a wide variety of needs, were looking for.

While I think there are many better options out there, if you want some experience teaching online, you may want to try it. But you are just a number (there are over 25,000 consultants).

You’ve been warned!

Useful Links:

• Gogokid Online Teaching Company
• Magic Ears Online Teaching Company
• Dada Online Teaching Company
• Qkids Online Teaching Company
• SayABC Online Teaching Company
• Palfish Online Teaching Company

Caitriona Maria

Education writer at TPR Teaching | https://www.tprteaching.com

Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.