Switzerland is famous for its delicious chocolate (and cheese!), classy watches, and prosperous banks, but there’s much more to it.
The number of international students in Switzerland has recently soared, with an increase of over 40% compared to the previous decade. This is not surprising, considering the high-quality education that this country offers. But the advantages of living in Switzerland go beyond higher education. This country offers quality of life, job prospects and career growth opportunities in specific sectors, as well as a safe environment to live in–ideal conditions for any expat.
Is teaching English online profitable?
Since the 80s, English has been the common language for business, technology, and cultural exchanges, increasing the global demand for English language teachers. In recent years, digital platforms have boosted online teaching, making English language learning more accessible and affordable.
Online lessons have been beneficial not only for students but also for teachers. It offers them flexible opportunities to work from home, whether full-time or as a side hustle. As an online teacher, you have the clear advantage of planning your work schedule according to your personal preferences and commitments. You can choose when to teach and how much time you want to dedicate to your classes. You can also decide your learners’ nationality and age group – not everyone is comfortable teaching toddlers! The best part? Given the very nature of working remotely, you won’t waste time and money commuting to and from work.
The unique advantage of teaching English online is that it requires minimal startup costs–including equipment you might already have. All you need is a stable internet connection, a laptop, and a good headset, even better if it blocks the background noise. If you don’t have it already, you can get all this tech second-hand, and it doesn’t need to be top of the range, either.
What you can’t skimp on is your TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification. Whether you choose to work with an established online school (using their platform) or set up your business from scratch, you need to develop your teaching skills and show your potential students that you are reliable and professional. There are lots of courses to choose from, depending on what you are looking for.
Why teaching English online in Switzerland
With its multicultural and multilingual population, Switzerland is the ideal setting for expats and international students who want to start teaching English online. This country is the hub of international organizations and businesses, attracting a large number of professionals from abroad, eager to improve their English skills. Furthermore, advanced technology and state-of-the-art infrastructure make Switzerland the ideal base for your online teaching experience.
Switzerland, with its high standard of living and expensive costs, offers a great opportunity for those who teach English online: working with international clients allows them to earn in strong currencies like dollars or euros, which are often more advantageous than the Swiss franc. This approach makes it possible to supplement income without relying solely on a local job, helping to cover daily expenses and maintain the quality of life the country offers—all thanks to the flexibility and profitability of online teaching.
What to consider when teaching online
Choosing to start your teaching career with an established online school can be a smart move, especially if you don’t have any business experience and if you don’t want to be bogged down by the many admin, legal, and marketing tasks. The online school will do everything for you, including finding your students and booking their lessons. All you have to do is plan your lessons and show up. Some schools will let you choose your own hourly rate and then take a cut, but most of them will pay you per teaching hour, which is likely to increase depending on your students’ feedback and other factors, such as punctuality, attendance, and recommendation rate.
The terms and conditions can vary a lot among online schools. For this reason, choosing the right platform is crucial. Here are some of the most popular options:
Preply – A flexible platform where tutors set their own rates and specialize in different areas like business English, exam preparation, or conversational practice.
iTalki – Allows tutors to offer structured lessons or informal conversation practice. It has a large global student base and competitive earning potential.
Cambly – Ideal for those looking for a more casual tutoring experience. Tutors get paid per minute while chatting with students, making it great for flexible, low-prep sessions.
Other Options – Platforms like Engoo, AmazingTalker, and Lingoda also offer teaching opportunities with varying levels of flexibility and requirements.
If you have a knack for business, you can set up your own online teaching business. In this case, you need to carefully curate your image and services to attract the right clients: an attractive tutor profile is essential if you want to stand out in such a competitive market. Here are some tips:
- A professional profile picture can help you establish trust with your potential clients–after all, first impressions count!
- An engaging introduction video should show your enthusiasm for teaching, helping you make a strong impression with your warm approach and clarity of speech.
- A compelling bio should highlight your teaching experience, qualifications, and unique selling points. Some examples are tailoring your lessons to suit their individual needs, offering a Q&A session at the end of every lesson, or designing each lesson depending on the students’ personal interests.
How much does your lesson cost?
Pricing your own lessons can be tricky if you are new to online teaching. When just starting out, it might be tempting to offer lower rates than more experienced tutors can help attract students, with the intention of gradually raising your prices as you gain good reviews and credibility. Although this is good in theory, it might be difficult to put into practice. A better option would be to offer discounted prices for trial lessons, which is a great way to win over loyal students.
Another idea would be to increase your prices during peak hours in different time zones and keep your prices low at quieter times. Happy students love to share their experiences. Don’t be shy and ask them to leave positive reviews to help your business grow. To reach a wider audience, you need to promote yourself on social media. Make full use of LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and expat communities in Switzerland to let everyone know how you can help them improve their language skills.
Living in Switzerland and ready to hustle!
A safe environment, great quality of life, and excellent career and study opportunities are the main perks for expats and students of living in Switzerland. Online English teaching for international students is a flexible and convenient way to earn additional income and test your skills in a sector that offers plenty of opportunities worldwide.
