Qkids Review: 3 Teacher Employee Reviews You Have to Read
Review of Qkids – a platform where you can teach English online
Looking for a 100% work-from-home job where you have fun teaching young kids?
You’re not alone.
I recently had the pleasure of discussing with 3 teacher employees who work at Qkids. They teach English to 4-12 year olds online.
I have seriously considered applying to Qkids.
Everything about the Qkids job is ideal:
- $16-20 USD/hour (I’m in Canada so that’s up to $26/hour!)
- Low time commitment with some flexibility in your working hours (There isn’t a minimum amount of time you have to work per week so I can work for Qkids while doing my other job.)
- Interactive online educational platform with games and characters (I am always down for a fun game!)
The Qkids curriculum is preset so there’s no lesson planning required. It’s a work-from-home job so I can have more freedom to spend time with my daughter.
The only thing is…
if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you.I can’t imagine working with kids. While I love hanging out with my own kid, she uses up my reservoir of patience.
I also find it a huge responsibility educating this next generation. I have so much respect for people who can do this.
While working at Qkids is not for me, I think it would be a great opportunity for many people.
In my day job, I work for an after-school education company. I don’t work with the kids, but I have co-workers that do. They’re passionate about educating children. Qkids employment would be a great fit for them.
In this post, we’ll talk about:
- What is Qkids?
- What are the requirements for Qkids?
- How much do Qkids teachers make?
- What are the hours Qkids teachers have to work?
- How does it work with teaching lessons for Qkids?
- How do you apply to Qkids (including tips for success)?
- *Interviews with 3 Qkids Teachers* This is a must read!
If you’re familiar with Qkids, skip right to the interviews with the 3 Qkids teachers! Here are some questions they reviewed:
- What is your favorite part about being a Qkids Teacher?
- What is your biggest challenge in this role?
- What has been the most surprising aspect about being a Qkids Teacher?
- What kind of person is a good fit for this job?
- What is a typical day for you?
- What are your top tips for being successful in the Qkids interview process?
I loved reading their answers! There’s lots of great insight here so don’t miss this part!
Now let’s get started…
What is Qkids?
Qkids is an online education platform connecting teachers with 4-12 year old students in China.
Starting in 2015, the company now works with over 100,000 elementary and secondary students.
What are the Qkids requirements?
Here are the Qkids requirements. You must:
- Be able to legally work in the U.S. or Canada
- Have a Bachelor’s Degree
- Have a Teaching license or English teaching certificate (TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, ESL)
- Be digitally literate and can create an engaging learning atmosphere in the classroom
- Have a computer with a webcam and a headset with a microphone
- Have a stable Internet connection (The minimum upload speed is 2Mbps and download speed is 4Mbps. You can test your speed here. A cable connection is preferred.)
How much do Qkids teachers make?
How much does Qkids pay?
Qkids teachers make $16-20/hour. This is in US dollars. If you’re in Canada, you still get paid in USD! According to the Royal Bank of Canada, $20 USD = $26.14 CAD at the time of writing this post!
Let’s break down the rate:
The base rate is $16/hour. You can earn attendance and performance bonuses to bring it up to $20/hour. You might also work standby lessons which is $4 for 10 minutes, which further increases your rate.
What are the hours Qkids teachers have to work?
There is no minimum time commitment per week unlike most part-time retail jobs where the minimum is 8 or 12 hours/week!
It gets better.
The regular class time slots are outside of the usual Monday-Friday business hours:
- 7 Days a week: 5:30 AM – 8:00 AM (6:30 AM – 9:00 AM during the summer)
- Additional Hours on Friday and Saturday: 7:30 PM – 10:40 PM (8:30 PM – 11:40 PM during the summer)
You can easily add this to your 9-5 day job. If you’re a stay at home mom or dad, you can do this while your kids are sleeping.
Based on your availability, your class schedule is set once a week. If you can’t make a class, you can cancel a scheduled class 5 hours in advance! I don’t know of a lot of companies who would do this!
When you first sign on with Qkids, your contract term is 6 months. You can request to extend past this period. It just involves an evaluation of your performance up until that point.
How does it work with teaching lessons for Qkids?
You don’t need to do any lesson planning. The Qkids curriculum and lessons are preset. To prepare for the class, you should preview the lesson and have props to help with the teaching.
A few important notes about teaching classes:
- You will be teaching on the Qkids interactive platform which involves games and animated characters
- Each lesson is 30 minutes
- You teach between 1-4 students per lesson
- Qkids handles all of the scheduling and student assignment for each class. Qkids tries to match the same teachers and students, but you will probably see a few new students in every class.
- You don’t need to communicate with parents. Qkids will communicate with parents and provide occasional feedback.
How do you apply to Qkids (including tips for success)?
1) Gather all of the required materials:
- Resume
- Weekly availability
- A screenshot of your computer specifications
- 1-2 minute video including:
- Your location, education and experience teaching or working with kids and then
- Tell or read a children’s story
You can upload the video onto YouTube or Google Drive and send them the link to it or just send them the video file.
Here’s a helpful video on how to make the Qkids application video with examples:
2) Apply here. You can use the referral code XHOSFS.
3) If your application looks good, you’ll be contacted within 3 business days for the next steps:
- Initial screening
- 2 Interviews (referred to as Demo 1 and Demo 2):
- In the first one, they’ll test your knowledge about the Qkids teaching platform buttons and tools. You’ll have to demonstrate that you know how to manage the sound and optimize the video quality. You’ll also be asked questions about teaching and interacting with students.
- In the second one, they’ll ask you questions for around 25 minutes. You’ll then be asked to show your teaching skills.
- 2-5 Trial classes (You will receive feedback from the families on those classes. You will also get paid $8/class (Each class is 30 minutes).
- Background check
4) You’ll then receive your contract!
Now for the best part…
Interviews with 3 Qkids Teacher Employees
I’m excited to share exclusive interviews with 3 Qkids Teachers: Adalee Grace, Brittani Ray, and Julie Turner.
They’ve been with Qkids for between 6 months to almost 2 years.
It’s been inspiring and enlightening hearing their stories and advice about the program. From their favorite part to their biggest challenge to their typical day, these ladies have given open and detailed thoughts about their Qkids journey. I think you’ll enjoy hearing their candid perspective as much as I have.
1. Have you worked for other companies teaching English online? What makes Qkids different?
Adalee: I have taught for two other companies, but currently only teach for Qkids.
I like Qkids best for many different reasons, but a few at the top of the list would be:
- Qkids is by far the most flexible company with the most interactive and entertaining platform and the best staff.
- Many online companies do not allow you to cancel booked slots without occurring fees. Qkids will let you cancel a class anytime without fees if you give five or more hours of notice.
- They are also far more lenient on taking time off than many other companies. This is ideal for me being someone who loves to travel internationally.
The platform is also superior to any others that I have seen. Being a lover of education, I want to use a platform and curriculum that I really believe in. I want to use a platform that I feel is not only a lot of fun for the students, but will also effectively help them learn to speak English fluently.
I also learned quickly that with some other companies, the staff could be quite rude and hurtful over trivial matters. I can honestly say that I have never had a bad experience with anyone at Qkids. They are always so kind and understanding.
Brittani: Personally, I have not worked for other companies, but with that said I have looked into others. Qkids is much different because they offer flexibility and show true appreciation towards all their teachers.
The trainers are always there to show support and offer constructive feedback because they want to make sure we as teachers reach the highest potential. Qkids is always working for their students and teachers all while improving the platform, scheduling, etc. You really can’t find a company with more caring staff!
Julie: I have not worked for another online ESL company as I am pleased with Qkids and have no reason to teach with any other companies. My availability is typically fully booked and Qkids meets my needs when it comes to teaching English online.
2. What is your favorite part about being a Qkids teacher?
Adalee: My favorite part of being a Qkids teacher is that it gave me so much passion. I have always been passionate about education, language learning and other cultures, but working for Qkids gave me even more passion for children, education and culture.
It really gives me a drive to ensure that I give all my students the best possible experience. I am always brainstorming ways that I can improve my teaching techniques to help them effectively learn.
I also love my fellow teachers who are equally passionate. It really feels like a great big family. I have become friends with many teachers that I “met” through the Facebook groups. I have really enjoyed getting to know them. I have so much fun discussing classes and teaching techniques with them.
Brittani: My favorite part about being a Qkids teacher is the chance to connect with other students across the world and learn about diversity between cultures. It’s an amazing experience and isn’t something that many people get to say they’re able to do at their job.
Julie: My favorite part of working for Qkids is the flexibility and how it hardly feels like work because it is such a fun job.
I tell them what time slots I am available to teach and have control over my schedule. If I need to cancel, I am not penalized as long as I cancel by five hours before the scheduled class. If I need a week off to go on vacation, they accommodate and encourage me to have a good time.
I adore how understanding they are when l need to cancel due to a sick kid or a thunderstorm that knocks out the internet connection. The staff is super friendly and clearly have fun working for Qkids too.
3. What is your biggest challenge in this role?
Adalee: I believe that the biggest challenge teaching as a Qkids teacher is being able to effectively meet the needs of all four of your students in a classroom. I love group classes and find them to be a lot of fun and a great help in keeping the students engaged throughout the lesson. It makes the lessons fly by and keeps them full of life and entertaining.
However, when you have four students you will occasionally have students with various ability levels and that can be a challenge to adapt your teaching style to meet the needs of each student in your class. It is a challenge that I greatly enjoy, and I feel that it really helps me grow as a teacher.
Brittani: If I had to pick one thing that had to be considered a “challenge”, it would probably be not being able to speak Chinese myself. I do feel like this is something I want to do in my future after having the honor of working for Qkids English.
I feel like when teaching a child, a different language, it’s very beneficial to know their language also. I feel it would make for a stronger connection between the teacher and the student.
Julie: My biggest challenge while teaching English online with Qkids is sleep. I have a natural tendency towards being a night owl, but since working for Qkids I have found becoming an early bird really does have benefits. I get a feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning when I am finished with my classes which is a great way to start my days.
I still sometimes struggle to get a decent 7-9 hours of sleep, but I have been intentional about honoring my sleep and getting the rest my body requires. I have an alarm set on my phone that reminds me when it is getting late and to go to bed which tends to keep me on track.
4. What has been the most surprising aspect about being a Qkids teacher?
Adalee: I would say that the most surprising aspect of being a Qkids Teacher is just how much I love it. Because I have always worked with children, I have always been blessed with jobs that I truly love. Qkids has by far been the best job I have ever had.
In fact, it is such a great job, that it hardly feels like a job.
So, I suppose, I was surprised that it is true that when you work a job that you love, you will never work a day in your life. I am genuinely excited to teach every day and miss teaching every time I take even a day or two off.
Brittani: The most surprising aspect about being a Qkids teacher is the authenticity of this job and the relationships with staff and fellow Qkids teachers that I have been able to maintain because of this job. I wake up every morning to teach children my language through a very interactive platform… in my HOME. How cool is that?
I have to say, sometimes I pinch myself when I realize how “cool” of a job I have.
Julie: I have been pleasantly surprised with how Qkids listens and applies teacher feedback. From the most minor details to big requests, Qkids delivers all the time.
For example, in December of 2017, Qkids hosted a live event on Facebook for teachers to interact with the Qkids staff in China. A lot of teachers requested a phone app to help manage schedules easier. By the end of 2018, Qkids implemented just that!
They continue to make improvements to the phone app to this day. Another example is when they recently made a change to the teaching software that many teachers did not enjoy, so they kindly made a change to accommodate those requests. The teaching software really is top-of-the-line and they are consistent in making improvements so it just gets better and better.
5. What kind of person is a good fit for this job?
Adalee: This job is ideal for early birds as many hours are early in the morning. It is also better if you are an energetic person who is full of smiles and happy energy. That said, I truly believe that anyone can be a teacher. It will come more naturally for some and others may have to work at it a bit. If it is something you really want to do, you absolutely can achieve it with some practice and guidance.
The most important qualities to have are patience and a great love of children and education. If you are passionate about what you do and love what you do, the students and their parents will notice and love you for it, even if your classes do not always go perfectly.
Brittani: The person that would be a good fit for this job would need to be very interactive, and outgoing! This individual would need to be able to be silly and love kids! You also want to make sure you like working in your pajamas… if you wanted too! 🙂
Julie: Qkids is a great fit for a wide array of people and backgrounds who are native speakers and reside in the United States or Canada. Many Qkids teachers are homeschooling families like mine who enjoy earning a steady income from home.
The summer season is a busy time for Qkids and they typically have extended class times available in July and August. This is perfect for folks who teach at a traditional brick-and-mortar school and want to make extra cash during summer vacation. College students also find Qkids as a great way to earn money while working on their degrees.
Qkids tends to hire a lot of new teachers in the months of May and June in anticipation of the busy summer season, so now is a great time to apply.
6. What is a typical day for you?
Adalee: My day starts out at 5:45 when my alarm goes off and I jump out of bed with a smile on my face. (cue the hate of every person that dislikes mornings here) I have always been an early bird, so mornings are some of my favorite times. (Yes, I can feel the glares all the way from here :D)
However I still head straight to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and then sit and check my emails and messages until I realize that it is already 5:20 and jump up and run around like a crazy person putting my contact lenses in, makeup on, (can’t forget bright lipstick!) brushing my teeth and hair and setting out a few props.
I start teaching at 6:36 and finish at around 9:15.
After teaching, I hit the coffee again, eat breakfast, (oatmeal with Greek yogurt, every single day) reply to a few more messages and emails and do a bit of work for my other part time freelance job as a social media manager.
At around 11:00, I contemplate exercising but continue writing papers. (aka obsessively try to find the perfect jumpsuit from online boutiques)
I realize it’s 1:00pm and contemplate going for a run, before remembering I hate running, and continue writing papers. Typically, at this point in the day, I start googling cat memes and searching for cheap plane tickets… anywhere. 😀
I make myself a smoothie and think about running… nope. Still hate it.
Finally, at around 3:00, I reluctantly leave my computer, put on my sneakers and do a workout video. I feel amazing and accomplished, take a shower and make dinner. My husband arrives home around 5:15 and we go for a walk, have dinner and watch some TV. Around 8:00pm, I typically do a bit of work on my computer (freelance job) and then it’s lights out around 11:30pm.
Although that is a rather normal day for me, I also occasionally meet friends during the day, go for bike rides, go grocery shopping or I often speak to some members of my family (I have eight brothers and sisters!) on the telephone. I recruit and mentor teachers for Qkids as well, so I frequently respond to messages from applicants about the hiring process and often look for ways to recruit new applicants.
I stay very busy between teaching, my second freelance job, mentoring applicants, studying, cooking and working out (hey, let me have this :D). I really enjoy my quiet times at home and the flexibility I have to meet friends or family and spend some time outdoors. (and of course, online shop and watch random YouTube videos)
Brittani: On a day that I am working, I typically wake up super early to drink some coffee. I gather all my cool gear to make myself look very silly. I teach about three classes, and then I spend the rest of the day with my children. We usually go to the park to have a picnic, go shopping, or just work on some school work.
I also focus on my college course work until It’s time for me to teach again. 🙂
Julie: A typical day for me begins early in the morning! I like to have coffee and do some light yoga before I teach each day.
I enjoy this time when my house is quiet and I am setting my intentions for the day. Doing this helps me be energetic and fully prepared to greet my students at 5:35am (Central).
I typically teach four classes each morning Monday through Friday so I am finished teaching at 8:10 a.m. (Central). Qkids has time slots available in the evenings on Friday and Saturday so occasionally I will make myself available for those if I don’t have weekend plans.
7. What are your top tips for being successful in the Qkids interview process?
Adalee: Be full of excitement that you are applying for the greatest job in the world. Let that excitement drive and motivate you to fully prepare for each step in the process and to be full of energy, smiles and passion.
Always keep a smile on your face throughout your demo video, demo 1, demo 2 and every trial class. Use a lot of variation in your vocal range and facial expressions, use a couple of props and wear bright colors and lipstick. (to ensure you look cheery!)
Use TPR in each of these steps as well. TPR stands for Teacher Physical Demonstration and is basically like playing charades. Imagine you are playing charades and what you would do with your hands if you wanted the students to guess what you were talking about and try that in your demos and trial classes.
For example, you could pretend to swim if you wanted them to guess the word fish. You want to always remember that the students are not native English speakers and may have limited English ability. TPR can help them understand word meaning and keep the class upbeat and fun!
Demo 1 tip: A common mistake that teachers make is thinking it’s just a training session to go over the platform. You are in fact, demonstrating that you have already learned how to use the platform as well as demonstrating that you know how to teach the games in the practice classroom so be prepared!
Demo 2 tip: You will have an interview that will include questions about yourself, your experience with children and how you treat children of different ages differently, so you may want to plan how to answer these types of questions.
Trial class tip: When you hear yourself echo during a class, it is almost always coming from a student’s video feed so check each student’s volume individually to see if you can locate the source of the echo and turn that student’s volume down.
Brittani: My top tips for being successful in the Qkids interview process is to have FUN! You want to make sure you really show your personality so that your trainer can notice your unique teaching style. Always be yourself. I truly believe if you’re doing that, you’ll be successful. 🙂
Julie: My top tips for being successful in the Qkids interview process are to review the materials that they provide very carefully and practice! Teach imaginary students and become very comfortable with the tools and games in the practice classroom.
During the Demo 1 and 2 interviews, you will be asked to interact with the hiring staff as if they are a 5 year old, which I found to be a little awkward to do, so be prepared for that. They will test how you handle situations like mispronunciation or shyness during this time, so be sure to be patient, encouraging, and correct the mispronunciation.
During Demo 1, you will be asked to check your equipment and pings. If your pings are not below 80, they will not continue until that issue is addressed. During Demo 2 you will be asked a few questions and are expected to know the tools and the games very well. Be sure to apply any feedback they gave you after Demo 1.
Of course be animated, keep a smile on your face, and use many hand gestures.
8. Any other advice for anyone who wants to be a Qkids teacher?
Adalee: Never stop learning.
Just when I think I know it all, I realize that I do not know all that much. I love learning tips and techniques from other teachers and reading articles on education and what works or what does not.
Always remember that children may forget what you said, but will never forget how you made them feel, so strive to make them feel important, valued and respected.
We have an important job as teachers and what we do can really make a difference. We have the unique opportunity to help a child learn and to make learning fun.
I really hope that you will apply at Qkids and enjoy the experience as much as I do!
Brittani: Finally, if you’re looking into applying to Qkids, be ready to have the time of your life and love every second of it! You won’t regret your decision in joining the Qkids family!
Julie: If you want to be a Qkids teacher, I encourage you to apply! I know a lot of people are intimidated by the application video, but just push record and do it! It is such a fun gig and the income is such a blessing to my family.
9. What’s your background?
Adalee: I have always loved working with children and am very passionate about education.
I spent my summers babysitting and nannying as a teen. After high school, I traveled to Germany to spend a gap year working as an au pair before starting university. I ended up meeting my now husband of five months into my gap year. That year quickly turned into a four-year gap living and working in Germany and South Africa as a tutor, nanny and teacher.
I am now finally finishing up my Bachelors in elementary education and have returned to my home state of North Carolina where I live with my German husband. I have been teaching for Qkids for almost a year and a half now and have taught close to 2,000 classes.
We moved from Germany to my beautiful home state of North Carolina with the hope of moving to a larger city (we are definitely city people) so there would be work for both my husband and I. However, that did not go according to plan as my husband landed a great job in an engineering firm in a very small town where there were no good work opportunities for me.
I ended up having to commute an hour and a half round trip to my job as a result. Although I loved my job, the long drive everyday was exhausting, so I started to pursue what other options I might have. I discovered Qkids through an advertisement on Craigslist. (yes Craigslist! :D)
I love teaching English and other cultures, so I was very excited about the prospect and applied right away! I was nervous because I knew little about online teaching, but was eager to learn and get started! I landed the job and at first began only teaching a few classes before work during the week and teaching mostly on weekends, but then decided to quit my job with the long commute and go all in.
I have worked a few part time jobs on the side, but use Qkids as my primary source of income now.
Brittani: My background stems from children as I have been around children since I was little. I started earning my own money at seventeen years old; I was employed at a family owned childcare center. I have also been a nanny and worked in many other childcare centers before finding Qkids! I have earned many certifications within the Early Childhood Education degree at a college in my hometown and I am very close to earning my degree. In my spare time, I am working on writing my first ever… children’s book!
I found this amazing job online while I was looking for something close to home. After reading the job description, I thought it was too good to be true! I applied anyways and was very excited to learn that it was real and in fact, my dream job. I have now been with Qkids for almost six months and love every part of it!
Julie: In 2011, I decided to leave my job as a geologist at an environmental consulting firm to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool my kids. In 2014, I became an Affiliate Faculty for Southwestern College of Professional Studies teaching a six-week online science class three times a year. I fell in love with online teaching and wanted to do it more!
In summer of 2017, I was talking to my Dad on the phone. He was telling me about this cool new online teaching gig that my stepmom Debbie had just started. When I talked to her about it and learned more, I got so excited because it sounded like a dream job for me! Exactly what I had been looking for! So, I submitted my application that night and by morning I had an email from them offering me an interview!
The rest is history and I couldn’t be happier! Working for Qkids has had such a positive effect on me and my family. Being able to earn a steady income without having to leave the house or find childcare has been such a blessing. I love the flexibility and of course the students!
As of today, I have taught over 1500 classes with Qkids and have very much enjoyed my experiences with this company. They really do a great job of taking care of their teachers and are always making improvements to ensure that every teacher and student has the best classroom experience possible.
A big thanks to Adalee, Brittani and Julie for their participation! If you’re interested in contacting these wonderful ladies, you can find them at:
- Adalee via her Facebook Group
- Brittani via Instagram
- Julie via Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Interested in other work-from-home opportunities?
Here are additional work at home options that are well-paid:
- SEO Writer – make more than $20,000/month
- Virtual Assistant – earn $100/hour
- Transcriber – earn $100,000+/year
- Scopist (editing legal documents) – make $4000/month
- Pinterest Virtual Assistant – earn $30+/hour
- Etsy Seller – make $1500-3000/week
Other ways to make some money from home
If you only want to earn a little bit of side cash quickly and easily each day, here’s a list of legitimate survey companies with user-friendly sites that I’ve personally tried and liked:
- Swagbucks
- Survey Club
- Survey Junkie (only in US, Canada and Australia)
The more companies you join, the more surveys you’ll qualify for taking. If you like taking surveys and being able to voice your opinion and know that it’ll make a difference with brands and products, taking surveys might be right up your alley.
Related Work At Home Articles:
- 11 Work-from-Home for Stay and Home Moms and Dads Jobs
- 11 Legit Ways to Make $100 Fast
- How to become a Real Estate Virtual Assistant
- How to become a Proofreader working from home
- How to Sell Printables on Etsy Successfully
Enjoyed this post?
It would be great if you could share it and follow me on Pinterest and Facebook.
I would caution anyone to review this person, Adalee, at Qkids. In my opinion, she is not giving out correct information at times and is trying to lure people now to Palfish in order for her to make money. Her tactics, in my opinion, are not ethical and maybe giving out incorrect information that could be bad for you and the company. Should you choose to follow her make sure you check with the online company you are wanting to work with to ensure what she is attempting to coach is correct, or check with a trusted coach (Qkids) or Admin or mentor with Palfish.