Online ESL Teacher - Japanese Adult Students

Does the ESL grind feel like you're just filling seats?

You love teaching English. You're good at it. But somewhere between the back-to-back group classes, the unpredictable schedules, and the lack of real student connection, it stopped feeling like teaching and started feeling like crowd management.

What if you could teach one student at a time — someone who actually booked you, actually shows up, and actually wants to learn?

Here Is Your Solution

The Really Great Teacher Company is looking for a passionate, professional South African ESL teacher to deliver one-on-one conversational and assessment-based English lessons to adult Japanese students. This is a structured, fully remote role with a real platform behind it — and students who choose to come back to you.

Position Details

• Start Date: As soon as the recruitment process is concluded
• Location: Remote - work-from-home
• Students: Adult Japanese learners (all proficiency levels, beginner to advanced)
• Format: One-on-one, 25-minute conversational and assessment-based classes
• Language of Instruction: English
• Rate: $6.50 USD per hour
• Contract Type: Independent contractor agreement with The Really Great Teacher Company
• Schedule: Assigned shift; 5-minute break between consecutive classes
• Additional Classes: Option to cover classes for absent teachers
• Student Booking: Students book one class at a time; regular students possible if they enjoy your teaching

Requirements

• 3-year National Diploma (minimum qualification)

• Completed, accredited 120-hour TEFL certificate or equivalent
• Minimum 1 year of ESL teaching experience
• Demo lesson required as part of the application process
• Able to teach English across all CEFR proficiency levels — from absolute beginner to advanced
• Energetic, student-focused, and comfortable teaching online
• Schedule-aware and responsive: you are responsible for knowing your shift and adapting to changes

Skills & Personal Attributes

• Clear and effective communication
• Patience and empathy with learners at all levels
• Positive attitude and professional presence
• Strong time management and organisational skills
• Adaptability in a dynamic, student-driven environment
• Problem-solving mindset

Technical Requirements

• Computer: Processor minimum 2GHz / 4 CPU; RAM minimum 8GB
• Internet: Fibre connection with LAN cable; minimum 20 Mbps upload and download speed
• Backup power: Required (load shedding/power outage preparedness)
• Webcam and noise-cancelling headset
• Quiet, private, well-lit teaching space with a neutral background

For more information, view our online ESL teacher's tech checklist.

Benefits

1. Earn in USD: Your rate is $6.50 USD per hour — paid in a stable international currency, straight to you as an independent contractor.
2. Real One-on-One Teaching: No group classes. Every session is 25 minutes with a single adult student. You'll adapt to their level — from absolute beginner to very advanced — and actually see the impact of your teaching.
3. Teach Into a Market That Values Education: Japanese adult learners are motivated, respectful, and genuinely invested in improving their English. If they like you, they come back — meaning you can build a loyal, consistent student base over time.
4. Minimal Admin — No Report Writing Required: The client uses AI to generate detailed student reports. Your only contribution is a brief, encouraging message — around 2 minutes of your time per class. That's it.
5. Everything You Need Is Provided: Lesson materials are fully provided. You teach on the client's internal platform (linked to Zoom) — no lesson planning from scratch, no hunting for resources.
6. Free Professional Development via Inspire Academy: As a teacher with The Really Great Teacher Company, you get access to Inspire Academy — our free professional development platform designed to help you grow as an online educator.
7. Onboarding Support & Community: You won't be thrown in the deep end. Structured onboarding and dedicated support are available, along with a community of fellow teachers via the Evolve Program.