There are many online English teaching companies that hire South Africans so, if you are a South African citizen, read on. Like any other applicant, it will help you to have a Bachelor’s degree and a TEFL/TESOL certificate.

Below, I compiled a list of online ESL companies where South Africans can get hired. But if you are interested in going abroad to teach, then here is a good site that gives some tips for South Africans who want to teach abroad.

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ESL Companies that Hire South Africans

SayABC

SayABC is a dynamic and fast-growing online education platform that strives to bring the highest quality ESL learning experience to millions of young learners in China.

Cambly

Cambly lets you set your own hours and connects tutors with students all over the world. This means the peak hours can be 24/7. Cambly provides the lesson plans for you, and you can also just chat with students. Cambly also pays weekly.

Palfish

Palfish free talk will hire you to teach students from your phone. That’s right- Palfish lets you teach from your phone! Teachers on Palfish benefit from a schedule that is completely flexible. Teachers can open their schedule at times that suit them and there is no minimum or maximum lesson times. Note that Palfish free talk is different from Palfish official kids courses. As a Palfish teacher for free talk, you can teach adults.

IQBar

Presentation, practice, and production (PPP) is a framework for organizing your lessons.
Presentation, practice, and production (PPP) is a framework for organizing your lessons.

First Future

ITutor Group

UUABC

Ziktalk 

Hujiang

Liulishuo

TeleLangue

TalkActive

ESL Teacher Platforms that Hire S. African Tutors

Amazing Talker 

Amazing Talker is a platform that promotes ESL teachers to students. AT takes 30% of what you make.

Remember, you can also review the comprehensive comparison chart of ESL companies and search by companies that hire S. Africans.

The Best Online ESL Companies that Hire South Africans

It is important to research the online English companies you want to work for. Different companies are looking for different kinds of employees. Some want teachers from certain countries or with certain accents. Be sure to work for a company that supports you and is enthusiastic about your country of origin.

You can search by many categories on the chart above that will help you, if you are a South African hoping to teach ESL online. You can search by accent requirement specifically. Also, you can search by internet requirements.

When I worked for SayABC during 2019, they had many South African teachers working for them. The company was very supportive of hiring tutors from South Africa.

Unfortunately, many companies that ask for native speakers actually have policies in place that limit the amount of South Africans they hire.
South African Beach Front

Many ESL companies have a bias against South African applicants because they think teachers based in South Africa might have unreliable electricity or internet. Be sure to dissuade them of these prejudices immediately. Ensure you have a good quality computer (whether it is a laptop or desktop) and that you have a reliable internet connection.

Pro Tips to get Hired as an ESL Tutor from S. Africa

Go to https://www.speedtest.net/ and check your connection

Show off your office set up

Check your internet connection on https://www.speedtest.net/ to be sure you have a fast connection. Use ethernet cable, not wifi, so you have a stable connection as well.

Make sure you get a good quality webcam and headphones with an attached noise-canceling microphone. It is unfair, but I find that anyone applying to ESL companies while living in countries outside of the UK, America or Canada, need to go above and beyond to show they have a great interneet connection and great computer set up. I suggest making sure your tech set up is superior to other applicants to offset any prejudice the company might have.

Bottom line: Unfortunately, many companies that ask for native speakers actually have policies in place that limit the amount of South Africans they hire. The above companies will hire South Africans, though.

“Totsiens” and happy teaching!

Chat with teachers in our forum to learn what ESL companies hire South Africans and what companies are great (or not so great).

Learn More About Working for ESL Companies