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The Plain Chalk Field Guides · 55 Articles

Figure freshness: pay figures in guides are point-in-time research from the publication date. Listings are source-dated on the board; figures are checked on the date shown; automatic updates are not running. Numbers marked "est." are arithmetic estimates, not measured earnings.

Evidence-led guides, plain pay research and practical playbooks

No recruiter fluff. Every calculator shows the after-commission estimate first, every card links to the article's own page for its sources, and every guide is built for working teachers.

Start here

One question, one shelf. Pick yours. Every guide on this page sits on exactly one shelf.

Getting your first job (11)

New to all this. Start with the FAQ and the 30 day plan. The TEFL guides say which cert actually matters.

Pay and take-home (10)

Posted rates are not take-home. These guides do the after-commission maths. Read one before you sign anything.

Choosing a platform (11)

Too many tabs open. These comparisons sort platforms by region, specialty and who hires without a degree. Shortlist two.

Teaching kids or adults (6)

Kids and execs need different plans. These guides cover children, adults, business English, and students in China, Japan and Korea.

Getting paid (4)

Getting paid is the easy half. These guides cover payouts, contracts and frozen accounts. Boring until it saves your payslip.

Also on Plain Chalk: Payment rails and payout timing · Tax basics: the four questions, and who to ask

The craft of teaching online (13)

Trials that turn into regulars. Plans that survive Monday. These guides cover lessons, profiles and difficult students.

Showing all 55 guides Last updated 18 Sep 2026
Pay and rates 4 min read

How much do online teachers make?

Understand advertised pay, teacher-set prices, platform fees and unpaid time. A hypothetical teaching budget shows how to calculate your own earnings.

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Classroom and AI 8 min read

Plan your online teaching week

A practical weekly scheduling framework for online English teachers that accounts for preparation, feedback, time zones and recovery.

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Classroom and AI 10 min read

ESL vs EFL vs ESOL

A practical guide to English teaching labels, from ESL to EAP, for English teachers.

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Classroom and AI 8 min read

Handling difficult online lessons

Respond to silence, missed preparation, scheduling problems and inappropriate behaviour with clear teaching choices and appropriate boundaries.

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Classroom and AI 8 min read

Preply trial lesson templates

Three adaptable trial lesson templates for online English teachers: general conversation, workplace communication, and exam preparation.

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