Magic Ears Teaching Review
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Looking for Magic Ears teacher reviews from an actual Magic Ears teacher? Then, read on and be inspired by this Magic Ears teaching review!
Teaching English online is a fantastic side hustle to make a comfortable income at home. Whether you are a mom looking for a work-at-home option or you’re looking for a career change that allows you to work from home or anywhere, teaching English as a Second Language might just be the answer. You can easily sneak this side hustle into your schedule and make money without leaving home.
Today, I have Teacher Andrea Mahoney of Magic Ears sharing her inspiring Magic Ears teacher review, and how this work-at-home opportunity has changed her entire family’s life for the better.
If you are interested in teaching English as a Second Language( ESL) with Magic Ears and are looking for an honest review from an actual Magic Ears teacher, read on for Teacher Andrea’s teaching journey from what she calls a “failed” teaching career to now working as a full-fledged teacher.
Through Magic Ears, Teacher Andrea was able to return to her teaching practice and do what she does best. But she’s not only making money from home doing what she loves to do, she’s also able to take care of the most important people in her life—her family.
“I’m grateful I got over my fear, gave it a try, and sing/dance in my tiny spot… daily. I’m grateful for this income, especially seeing my oldest finish 10th grade. I hope Magic Ears helps us to help him continue his education. “ – Teacher Andrea, Magic Ears
“I’m teaching in this tiny spot between three doors, on a laptop that was gifted to me before we moved, on a “standing desk” that’s actually a little bookcase with a tiny beach bench . ” – Teacher Andrea, Magic Ears
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A Guide to Teaching English Online and Make $26 per Hour from Home
Real life story: how this mom teacher finally made her dream career a reality!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and background. What did your life look like before you became an English online teacher?
I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. I have worked with kids in some capacity since I was 12, walking over to my little sister’s school to volunteer in the classrooms, later helping with Girl Scouts, then starting college to pursue my dream of a degree in elementary education.
I taught in Las Vegas (2nd grade/special education) but I soon became pregnant with our third child and since I have high-risk pregnancies, I resigned from my teaching position.
For the next few years, I tried so many work from home type things, but as soon as it started to get going, I’d soon realized I was being pulled from my home. I was speaking at conferences, traveling, and again… I was missing the evenings and time with my family.
How did you become an online English teacher?
In 2017, we moved to Maine for my husband’s job. I figured I would easily be able to find something since all of our kids would be plugged into the schools here. We homeschooled for some years back in NV, so having them all in school would be new for me!
I applied for many jobs in our own school district and in other districts nearby. No luck, just a “we added your file to our database.” This went on for months, and it was stressful. I remember spending hours scrolling through the school job postings. I even applied for Ed Tech positions, bus aides and lunchroom positions. I would take ANYTHING!
In the fall of 2017, several people texted me about this online ESL company they heard of. I had excuses ready for all of them. ” Truth is… I was scared. I was still slightly traumatized from what I felt was my failed teaching career.
In November though, I decided to apply to this ESL company. I was hired and received bookings right away. I was so happy that my degree was FINALLY being put to use again to help my family!
However, about a month or so in with this company… my bookings dropped. I was no longer the “new kid on the block” being promoted, and my profile dropped to the bottom like others that came before me.
I heard about Magic Ears and I moved through the application process. I started teaching officially in February, which if you teach ESL to kids in China, you know this is a very slow time due to Chinese New Year. But I appreciated the slow start. It gave me time to prepare, reflect, and really get comfortable with the platform.
I soon loved the Magic Ears lessons, and, true story, our 100-year-old house shook when I was dancing to their LEGO ABC song. I was having a blast!!
You earned the ranking of Magic Master…What does it mean to earn this ranking?
It means 100% bookings for any slots you open!
What are the perks of teaching with Magic Ears?
First is that they understand life is full of unexpected situations.
For example, we had a sort of family emergency at the end of August, and I needed a few days off. I messaged Magic Ears, concerning both my classes and secondary positions, to please give me a few days. They responded with “take care of your family” and “not to worry.”
Magic Ears understood, and those days, I wasn’t worried about losing my job. We could heal as a family. I am so grateful I still had a job to return to, not to mention adorable and smart students.
Also, we live in Maine. We can have crazy Nor’easter storms that come whipping through, knocking out power and Internet. When we had storms brewing, I would screenshot the weather forecast to give Magic Ears a heads up. There are lots of big weather situations for many of our teachers and many of us open standbys to help those teachers flee their homes or bunker down, depending on what is hitting them.
Magic Ears does not penalize us for things like this, and I know this means the world to all of us. Even more so if we have experienced the opposite at another company.
Magic Ears offers incentives.
I make sure I hit the peak time incentive, and I make sure I am early to my first class of the day. Doing these two simple things ensures me an extra $2 PER CLASS. I do not want to leave money on the table, I need to maximize my earnings and time.
What was the most challenging part to get started as an online English teacher?
I would say the hardest part of becoming an online English teacher is feeling like you have to be just like someone you saw on YouTube. I used to train applicants for Magic Ears, and I always told them to find their own way to give praise. Just because you see someone do high-fives or thumbs up does not mean you have to do the same. Find things that come naturally to you, but also expand.
You don’t have to be fake. Find your own qualities and highlight those more in the classroom. If you like puppets, use puppets. If you don’t want to use them, don’t!
We can all be successful! Find fun ways to teach the lessons, but know that you don’t need to spend HOURS prepping for lessons. Grab your props, and use them playfully throughout the class.
How many classes do you teach every month and how much does a Magic Ears Tutor make?
We make up to $26 per hour as a tutor.
Right now, Magic Ears is hiring tutors. You can send your application here.
My income varies, as there are times I held secondary positions… but, for now, I am solely focused on just teaching. I’m teaching over 40 classes this week (my most ever). I tend to teach over 100 classes a month, and I know many teachers teach more than this!
This month, because of spring break for my kids and financial goals, I will be finishing out the month with over 120 classes taught (my most ever!!). Next month, I hope to do even more to pay off more medical bills, debt and cover some summer fun for the kids.
How did teaching English online with Magic Ears change your life?
Thanks to this work-at-home job, I now see the light at the end of the tunnel as we pay down debt.
Also, because my days are free to fully use as I can, I was asked to teach sewing to kids at a local fine arts private school. So, I get to teach amazing kids English early in the dark hours, then, 12 hours later, head to a small group of kids waiting for me to teach them how to sew.
I love that my degree is just NOW being used fully… like 10 years late, but I’m a “progress, not perfection” kind of girl.
Any advice you can give to our readers who want to succeed as an online ESL teacher?
Take the advice and tips.
Truly.
If a company is taking the time to reach out to me and help me to be better, I am going to listen. It may not be what I want to hear, but I have a choice: to take the tips and apply them, or put up a wall and not want to hear it.
Sometimes different people will notice something different in your classes and give you a suggestion. Thank them.
Just keep growing in your skills, and take the workshops (provided by the company). Never have I attended a workshop where there wasn’t at LEAST one thing I could take away and apply to my classroom.
If you are interested in working with Magic Ears, you can start the application process here.
For more information about Magic Ears, tutor requirements and application, check out this post.
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