Magic Ears is an online interactive
language teaching platform founded in 2016. Initially, they operated
exclusively out of Beijing China, but have since expanded their operation to
ZhengZhou, China, and the United States, with a new office located in
Nashville, Tennessee. Magic Ears has a very
efficient platform where a single tutor teaches four students simultaneously, a
setup which has helped them lower costs to better serve lower- to middle-income
families, and make the learning experience more interactive and fun for both
tutors and students.
Their website utilizes state of the art technology to create a more
user-friendly experience, and they try to foster a work atmosphere in which
tutors are encouraged to help and support each other.
Working For Magic Ears
The two biggest differences between Magic Ears and other ESL platforms
are the four student virtual classroom setup, and the curriculum, which is
apparently very easy to teach, allowing tutors a lot of creativity and room to
cultivate a unique teaching style, while still giving them plenty of guidance.
Most tutors I found online were also impressed with the slick web
interface, as well as the community trainings on the platform which make it
easy for newbies to get help from more experienced tutors.
At the beginning of each month, you log in to Magic Ears as a teacher,
select which times you are available throughout the month, and they system
automatically books you for classes. This means you don't have to promote
yourself, which should remove a lot of stress from the process.
Magic Ears has a ranking system for tutors which determines how much
work they can get. When you first start, you'll have to go through a brief
trial period, during which your schedule will be somewhat sporadic. But once
you've successfully completed 10 sessions, the restrictions are lifted, and
you're able to put in a lot more hours.
One key point that's stressed in the company's hiring literature is the
generous amount of work available. Everyone gets bookings, usually at least a
few every week. As you become more experienced and prove yourself, the number
of bookings will increase.
Magic Ears Pay Rate
Magic Ears tutors are
paid from $18 to $26 per hour, which puts them well above the average compared
to other ESL platforms. Payments are delivered via Paypal or direct bank
transfer, depending on your preference.
Scheduling at Magic Ears
The company has no minimum hour requirement for tutors, and it looks
like you can choose, for the most part, when to put your time in. But, as with
most sites like this, certain hours are much better for making money than
others.
For US workers, the peak period is from about 7:00 am EDT to 9:00 am
EDT, so if you want to do well with Magic Ears, it'll help to be an
early-morning person.
Requirements to Apply
Magic Ears is looking for people in the US and Canada who've either
attained a bachelor's degree or are currently enrolled in college. You'll also
need a quiet, clean place to teach, with good lighting conditions to help
optimize camera performance.
Tech Requirements
Tutors are expected to have a strong Internet connection, and a decent
computer with a camera and a headset.
Magic Ears Application Process
To apply, simply go to their website and fill out the online form. If
selected, they'll show you an introductory video demonstrating how the platform
works, then you must attend a 30 minute training session, and teach a 25 minute
class to real students.
Assuming you pass all the tests with flying colors, they'll put you
through a background check which takes three to five business days to process,
and ask you to sign a contract agreeing to work for six months.
Feedback
I used Glassdoor to find reviews from current and former Magic Ears
tutors.
The site currently has an average of 3.7 stars, which is pretty good for
an ESL company, and most of the reviews are extremely positive. Tutors seem to
enjoy the four-student classroom setup, and the curriculum is easy to work
with.
It can apparently take some time to build your ranking up enough to
start getting a large number of bookings, but it sounds like this is a really
good job once things get going, so it's probably worth the wait.
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