Teach ESL online in Korea with a new company that emerged a few years ago onto the scene. NaoNow opened its doors in 2019/2020 and boasts a small but growing community of students and teachers. Their higher pay rate makes them very popular as well as their range of student ages and subject offerings.
NaoNow is co-founded by Rachel and Gale Mullen who are a mother-daughter duo from Yale and Penn. Rachel graduated from Yale as President of her class and dropped out of medical school for Nao Now. Gale was an attorney for over 20 years and has six children.
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Company Features:
NaoNow is a friendly company to teach ESL online to Korean students with some great features for new and experienced online ESL teachers. Among them are:
- they don’t require any minimum hours
- they boast a small close-knit teaching community
- they require little to no preparation for classes
- they offer a competitive pay scale (see below)
- they offer classes for kids aged 4 up to adults
Hiring Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Native English speakers with neutral accent
- Bachelor’s degree (or working towards one)
- TESOL / TEFL certificate recommended
Hiring Notice (May 2024)
Currently, Nao Now is seeking experienced teachers with at least one year of experience teaching young beginner ESL learners, preferably online, who also hold a TESOL/TEFL certification.
They are looking for 3 characteristics in their prospective teachers:
Smiles, Positivitiy & Energy.
They wants passionate teachers who are excited about teaching and bring that positive energy into their classrooms. This doesn’t mean you must be over the top or “clown-like” but be sure to smile and exude positivity with your students.
What is it like teaching at Naonow?
NaoNow functions like many other online ESL companies out there. You get hired, and cross your fingers you will get bookings! What separates NaoNow from others is that they are not over-hiring and they want you to teach from day one.
Once you are hired, you will be given some introduction training to teaching their classes on Zoom. They provide the PPT files for you to be able to teach with. You do not need to create your own lessons.
They are very student-focused and want the students to be involved in choosing what they learn about. This means that within the level the student is placed in, there is some autonomy for the student to choose the lesson of the day.
There are 5 levels with each level having 30 lessons. They also have writing lessons to teach from as well.
How do bookings work?
At NaoNow, parents will book the teacher. You will log into your dashboard, open up your availability and wait for bookings.
Bookings Tip:
Try to open up as many slots as possible when you get hired, especially during peak times.
NaoNow peak times are: 6pm – 9:30pm KST (1 hour ahead of China)
They are not over-hiring and want to give you bookings from day one.
They also have a partnership with an American high school so there are additional possibilities to get bookings.
NaoNow is also looking at entering other markets so now is a great time to get hired!
What does NaoNow pay?
Nao Now does pay well, there is no doubt about it. They pay more than most companies that I promote on my website. However, it is important to be realistic about what you can expect from the start. They hire two teacher roles:
NaoNow Mentors (can teach any student)
NaoNow mentors are the most common type of hire. You can earn between $16 – $22 / hour. Note that it is normal to start at $16 – $18 / hour.
Trial tutors – (teaching only trial lessons)
The trial tutor position is much more competitive and you really need to stand out in the interview process to snag this position.
The rate of pay for a trial tutor is $26 / hour.
In addition, you can also make an additional $10 / student if they convert and start taking classes.
Teachers can be paid via bank transfer or WISE.
What is the interview process like?
Like most online ESL companies, they follow a similar roadmap to getting hired:
- Apply via their application form.
- Provide a 30-second elevator pitch showcasing yourself.
- Interview – 30 min slot. You will teach a 12 minute demo followed by feedback and your questions answered.
My NaoNow review
Like with any company, it is important to do research by looking for reviews and videos online related to the company.
Keep in mind that there are always positives and negatives so the only way to know if they are right for you is to apply and give it a shot! From what I have seen, I believe they are worth applying to if you fit their requirements.
I appreciate Nao Now’s commitment to giving teachers classes as well as their no minimum teaching hours required policy. The pay is good compared to other companies and they provide good support once hired.
Leave a comment below if you have any questions or feedback related to NaoNow!
Looking to go independent as an online ESL teacher?
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