With schools worldwide shifting to virtual formats, qualified teachers now have unprecedented opportunities to teach online. Many educators are partnering with international companies to deliver English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to children across the globe. Given the abundance of international teaching platforms available for online English instruction, selecting the best option becomes crucial.
That’s where Qkids positions itself as a solution! But the real question remains: is this platform truly a leading online education provider and the right fit for you? Let’s dive into this comprehensive Qkids review to determine whether it’s the ideal choice for your next online teaching opportunity!
What Is Qkids?
Online teaching has gained tremendous popularity, and Qkids has capitalized on this trend. This platform connects children aged 4 to 12 with native North American English teachers or Europeans for online English learning. The Qkids curriculum centers around game-based learning, specifically designed to keep children engaged while acquiring new skills. The comprehensive curriculum encompasses phonics, sight words, vocabulary, reading, and even science components.
Is Qkids a Legitimate Company?
While it may not have achieved the same recognition as popular platforms like VIPKid, Qkids represents a solid choice for teachers seeking online English instruction opportunities.
Founded in 2014 and officially launched in January 2016, Qkids operates from Xiamen, China, with additional offices in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Beijing. The platform now serves over 1,100,000 students with support from 47,000 teachers and 1,000 employees.
The company has invested significantly in developing robust programs for both students and teachers. Their curriculum aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), while teachers must possess TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, or ESL certification.
Students undergo placement testing before program enrollment, and lesson plans incorporate American educational standards like Common Core.
Strategic partnerships include National Geographic Learning, Sterling Talent Solutions, TESOL International Association, and Star Publishing. The platform currently serves students across multiple countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, and Turkey.
How Does Qkids Work?
Qkids employs a narrative, game-based curriculum structure. Lessons incorporate games, animations, quizzes, and interactive activities designed to maintain student engagement within virtual classroom settings. Theme-based programs mirror unit study concepts, helping students connect and reinforce their learning.
Following placement testing, students receive appropriate program level assignments. They can enhance their learning with in-app and printed materials designed for pre- and post-class practice and review.
Like other online teaching platforms, Qkids provides various class ratio options, including 4:1, 2:1, and 1:1 instruction formats.
What Are the Requirements for Online ESL Teachers?
Most online teaching companies prioritize hiring native English speakers, though some may restrict applications to specific geographical regions like North America or Europe.
Requirements vary by company, but most platforms mandate teaching certification (such as TEFL) and prefer candidates with teaching experience. You’ll also need reliable internet connectivity and a dependable computer running recent Windows or Mac operating systems, complete with functioning webcam and microphone.
Does Qkids Require a Degree? What Other Qualifications Are Needed?
Qkids requires applicants to hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in any field of study. The company conducts thorough background checks and reviews teaching certifications for all candidates. Additionally, you must be a native English speaker currently residing and legally authorized to work in either the United States or Canada.
The Qkids hiring process maintains high selectivity standards—not all applicants who join the talent pool will successfully advance through the process. The following section outlines this process step by step.
Qkids Hiring and Interview Process
• Step 1: Submit Application
Begin by completing Qkids’ streamlined online application, which requests your name, location, photo, educational background, teaching experience, and additional qualifications. You’ll also submit a brief introduction video featuring basic information and a short teaching demonstration. For the teaching demo, choose between demonstrating three household objects or reading a children’s story. This application serves as initial screening to filter unqualified candidates.
• Step 2: Resume Screening Process
Following application submission, Qkids reviews your information and schedules demo interviews for qualified candidates. Expect contact within three business days regarding your compatibility with the company.
• Step 3: Video Interview Completion
The interview process consists of live teaching demonstrations. Your initial demo with a trainer evaluates computer specifications, internet connectivity, technology setup, personality, and proficiency with Qkids teaching platform tools and buttons.
A second demonstration with another employee provides deeper assessment of teaching abilities and previous experience. Each demo requires approximately 25-30 minutes.
• Step 4: Training & Supervised Trial Sessions
Successful candidates proceed to teach trial classes with actual Qkids students. Trainers evaluate these sessions and provide necessary feedback. You may complete additional trial classes after receiving feedback to demonstrate successful implementation of suggested improvements. Upon mastering the practice classroom environment, you’ll receive compensation for training time.
• Step 5: Background & Credential Verification
This verification often occurs simultaneously with demos and trial classes. Qkids confirms valid TESOL or TEFL certification and successful background check completion.
• Step 6: Contract Signing
Approved teachers join as independent contractors and execute a formal contract. At this stage, you’ll submit your schedule availability preferences.
• Step 7: Ongoing Evaluation
Contracts operate on 6-month terms with potential renewal options. Teachers receive regular evaluations through parent feedback and performance assessments.
How To Excel in Your Qkids Demos & Trial Classes
Success in demo interviews and trial classes may be more achievable than expected. However, several strategies can help distinguish you from other candidates and impress trainers to secure hiring.
Master The Platform Tools – Demonstrate solid working knowledge of the Qkids platform during demos and trials. Trainers expect evidence of practice, technical competency, appropriate equipment, and student engagement skills. Accomplish this by decorating welcome pages with stickers, utilizing spotlight features throughout lessons, and rewarding students with diamonds.
Study Teacher Notes Thoroughly – Prepare comprehensively by reviewing all instructions your trainer expects, ensuring you don’t miss critical requirements.
Incorporate Engaging Props – Make strong impressions by using purchased, printed, or handmade props like pointer sticks, magic wands, or emoji cards. Props enhance entertainment value and maintain student engagement.
Apply TPR Methodology – This unique teaching approach (common across online platforms) integrates frequent gestures and expressions, using physical movement to reinforce verbal instruction. Maintain animated presentation style with encouraging smiles, head nods, repetition, and body movements.
Rehearse All Slide Content – Interviewers may request demonstration of all or selected lesson slides, potentially jumping between sections. Practice every slide thoroughly to handle any sequence confidently.
Implement Feedback Quickly – When interviewers pause to provide feedback during demos, show that you can listen and incorporate suggestions in subsequent slides without losing composure or momentum—this earns valuable bonus points.
Establish Professional Teaching Space – Demonstrate your ability to work professionally from an interruption-free environment. Whether using a well-lit closet or dedicated office, decorate your space and ensure protection from household noise and distractions.
What Does Qkids Pay?
Similar to other online English teaching platforms, Qkids offers base compensation ($8 per half-hour class) plus performance and attendance bonuses. Their pay structure remains competitive with comparable platforms.
Performance bonuses provide an additional $1 per class for positive parent feedback, while attendance bonuses offer $1 per class for teachers meeting specific criteria. To qualify for attendance bonuses, you must teach minimum 15 classes weekly, provide advance notice for cancellations, and maintain consistent scheduling. With these incentives, educators typically earn $16-20 per hour.
Qkids Payment Process
Teachers receive payment via bank transfer (limited to U.S. or Canadian bank accounts). Payments occur around the 15th of each month for the previous month’s teaching activities, though Chinese national holidays may occasionally cause delays.
Qkids covers all transfer fees for salary payments. As independent contractors, teachers receive gross pay without tax deductions but must handle tax obligations during filing.
Please note: Canadian residents receive payment in U.S. dollars
Available Teaching Hours
Since you’ll be instructing international students, all Qkids classes operate during these established time slots:
- Summer Mornings 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. EST (7 days a week)
- Summer Evenings 8:30 p.m. – 11:40 p.m. EST (Friday & Saturday)
- Winter Mornings 5:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST (7 days a week)
- Winter Evenings 7:30 p.m. – 10:40 p.m. EST (Friday & Saturday)
While additional evening classes occasionally become available, securing your desired number of hours isn’t always guaranteed.
Is Qkids Worth Considering as Employment?
Like most online platforms featuring teacher-guided student instruction, working for Qkids presents both advantages and drawbacks.
Advantages
• Flexible Scheduling – Upon approval, you control your availability within Qkids’ operational hours. Their slightly different schedule compared to other ESL companies could benefit those seeking additional schedule coverage or finding other companies’ hours incompatible. However, some may view these hours as disadvantageous.
• Superior Curriculum – Qkids’ curriculum distinguishes itself among online English teaching platforms. Strong curriculum foundations enable educators to begin daily classes seamlessly with minimal preparation time. Having pre-developed teaching materials and curriculum eliminates lesson planning burden, which many teachers find appealing about Qkids.
• Comprehensive Teacher Support – Dedicated support teams (Training, Class Coordination, and Tech Support) provide teachers with necessary resources for success. Training and feedback begin during screening and continue throughout employment. Qkids prioritizes teacher success without favoritism, ensuring equal booking opportunities through their unique patented platform.
• Strong Teacher Reviews – Qkids enjoys widespread support from satisfied educators, with numerous positive testimonials available online. This reputation can provide confidence when considering new teaching opportunities.
• Generous Cancellation Terms – Qkids offers industry-leading cancellation policies. Teachers may cancel scheduled classes for any reason without consequences (with 5+ hours’ notice). Classes can also be canceled up to 30 minutes beforehand, though attendance bonuses may be forfeited.
Disadvantages
• Challenging Work Hours – While not unique to Qkids, the platform requires early morning or late evening teaching schedules. West Coast teachers might work until 1 a.m., while East Coast teachers could start at 4 a.m. However, morning people or night owls seeking work-from-home opportunities may find this arrangement ideal.
• Minimum Teaching Requirements – Qkids mandates at least 6 hours (12 classes) weekly commitment. Schedule changes require email submission, and the company expects consistent scheduling commitments. Those seeking flexible, irregular teaching schedules may find Qkids unsuitable.
• Selective Hiring Process – The application process maintains high difficulty levels, making initial acceptance challenging. While the platform prides itself on employing top-tier educators, approved teachers generally enjoy their work experience.
• No Pay Increases – Unlike some competitors, Qkids provides uniform base rates and bonuses for all teachers, without advancement opportunities or tenure-based pay increases. Everyone receives the same single-tier compensation structure.
How Does Qkids Stack Up Against VIPKid and Other Platforms?
While VIPKid ranks among the most recognized online English teaching companies, it may not necessarily be the best choice. The ideal platform varies based on individual needs and preferences.
Qkids operates similarly to Magic Ears (read our review here), another popular platform. Both use proprietary platforms and curricula with company-scheduled class times. Qkids features slightly more advanced curriculum than Magic Ears, including supplementary printed materials and student placement testing. Pay rates and bonus structures remain comparable between platforms.
Compared to VIPKid, Qkids provides more comprehensive curriculum and class structure support. VIPKid teachers work from basic slideshow models and manage external reward systems. Additionally, VIPKid teachers compete for teaching slots through profile-based parent selection. Qkids (and Magic Ears) eliminate this competition by handling class bookings directly, facilitating easier time slot fulfillment.
However, VIPKid offers significantly more working hours, potentially supporting full-time schedules. Both Magic Ears and Qkids limit teachers to morning hours plus some weekend or evening slots.
Several factors distinguish Qkids from competitors. While primarily serving Chinese students, Qkids maintains different hours due to expanded reach into France and Turkey. The platform also enforces more stringent requirements, creating higher hiring barriers than most competitors.
A significant operational difference involves scheduling structure. Qkids uses 30-minute classes with 10-minute breaks, compared to most platforms’ 25-minute classes with 5-minute breaks. This structure may result in fewer classes and lower hourly earnings within the same timeframe, though many teachers appreciate the extended break periods.
Many online educators find value in contracting with multiple companies to maximize overlapping time slots and optimize their teaching schedules.
Final Assessment: Qkids Review
If you’re considering Qkids to launch or advance your online teaching career, this platform offers an excellent opportunity for educators to expand internationally. Overall, Qkids represents a strong employer that has developed unique approaches ensuring satisfaction for parents, students, and teachers alike. Teaching with Qkids can provide enjoyable experiences while generating substantial supplemental income.
Have you worked with Qkids before? Share your experience in the comments section below!
