Please read this guide carefully! This is a real job, and you will be rejected if you don't create a good application. After you download the app, I will send you a welcome message and walk you through the application process.
Palfish staff will look equally at your ability to hold the child's attention as well as your ability to teach. Parents generally want their class to be entertaining AND educational. Prepare accordingly.
Let's get started! If you haven't already downloaded the Palfish app, you can go here to download the application. It will text you a link to download the app from your phone's app store. Please note that Palfish only works on a phone or tablet.
Palfish staff will look equally at your ability to hold the child's attention as well as your ability to teach. Parents generally want their class to be entertaining AND educational. Prepare accordingly.
Let's get started! If you haven't already downloaded the Palfish app, you can go here to download the application. It will text you a link to download the app from your phone's app store. Please note that Palfish only works on a phone or tablet.
Setting Up Your Account
Once you download the app, you’ll see the following screen. Go ahead and enter your information. For the invitation code, enter 4trMI6. This will help expedite your profile verification and interview process.
Once you download the app, you’ll see the following screen. Go ahead and enter your information. For the invitation code, enter 4trMI6. This will help expedite your profile verification and interview process.
Next, you should see this screen (after a welcome screen)
You’ll want to click the button at the top that says “complete information”. From there, you’ll see a list of things to fill out. Yes, it’s a real job, so take some time to do this properly. For “teaching certificate” you only need one filled in. TEFL or TESOL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificates can be done online in an hour or two, I have more details further down. You can even do it for free! You need a TEFL or TESOL to teach on Palfish! |
For work experience, try to list anything related to children. Volunteer experience, personal tutoring, babysitting, being a parent, etc.
For text intro, you should follow this guide that PalFish released. Take ten or fifteen minutes to write something substantial, and follow the guidelines. This is what parents will see when they book you as their child’s teacher. For the audio intro, people often just read their text intro/profile. Personally, I made up my own, separate from my profile. It’s up to you! Remember to use clear enunciation without crazy vocabulary. Will a child or their parent want you to teach them? To prove your nationality, upload a photo of your passport. If you don't have a passport, you may use your driver's license + birth certificate. |
Don't forget to complete your sound test. Often, when new teachers will message me wondering why they have not been verified, it's because they haven't completed their this. It's on the main menu, towards the bottom by "Following".
You want to get paid, right? Palfish uses Payoneer, a payment service based in New York. They previously used PayPal, but after Paypal fees went up to 2.6%, Palfish switched to Payoneer which charges a flat fee (I pay $1.50 for transfers). You’ll need a Payoneer account to receive your salary, and from there you can transfer it to any bank in the world. Palfish pays you in Chinese Yuan, which is automatically converted to your local currency. If you use this Payoneer sign-up link, we both get a free $25 :-)
Getting Your TEFL or TESOL
This is probably the biggest roadblock for most new teachers, so I wanted to make a separate section for it. You can get your TEFL/TESOL in a couple hours, entirely online. Yes, it’s about $10-20 depending on which one you buy, and yes, it takes an afternoon. Personally, I think it was worth it to be able to work from home for over 3x the minimum wage.
Free TEFL?!?
While I cannot personally vouch for this program, some mutual friends of mine have used this free online TEFL program. If you absolutely cannot pay $15 for your certificate, this will probably work. However, I recommend that you go to groupon and buy a real course. They are super cheap, anyway.
You want to get paid, right? Palfish uses Payoneer, a payment service based in New York. They previously used PayPal, but after Paypal fees went up to 2.6%, Palfish switched to Payoneer which charges a flat fee (I pay $1.50 for transfers). You’ll need a Payoneer account to receive your salary, and from there you can transfer it to any bank in the world. Palfish pays you in Chinese Yuan, which is automatically converted to your local currency. If you use this Payoneer sign-up link, we both get a free $25 :-)
Getting Your TEFL or TESOL
This is probably the biggest roadblock for most new teachers, so I wanted to make a separate section for it. You can get your TEFL/TESOL in a couple hours, entirely online. Yes, it’s about $10-20 depending on which one you buy, and yes, it takes an afternoon. Personally, I think it was worth it to be able to work from home for over 3x the minimum wage.
Free TEFL?!?
While I cannot personally vouch for this program, some mutual friends of mine have used this free online TEFL program. If you absolutely cannot pay $15 for your certificate, this will probably work. However, I recommend that you go to groupon and buy a real course. They are super cheap, anyway.
Getting Your TEFL or TESOL Course
The easiest way to get the certification is to go to groupon.com and choose a TEFL package. Most teachers use the “international open academy” one, as it can be done in an hour or two and there’s no final project. Personally, I used TEFL Full Circle. I would not recommend it, because at the end I had to do a final project that had to be graded and the entire process took about 5 days. Stick with Open Academy.
Please note that all the courses say “120 hours” or “160 hours”. It won’t take you anywhere near that long to complete, it’s just a marketing gimmick they use to for getting accreditation.
You can use either TEFL or TESOL. It doesn’t matter. Palfish may require a B.S. degree in the future, but at present, it is the only high paying ESL company that does not require a four-year college degree.
Passing Your Course
Your TEFL/TESOL course will consist of a few pages of reading and a multiple choice quiz at the end. Most of it is really simple stuff that you will know intuitively. You can always skip straight to the questions and google the answers…..but there is some genuinely good information there and it’s worth a read.
Uploading Your Certificate
After you pass, you’ll get a PDF certificate. Just copy down the certificate number and enter that on the PalFish app. You only need ONE TEFL/TESOL/Teacher’s Certificate, not all three. Once you’ve completed one, you don’t need to complete any other ones. There are some programs that charge you extra for a PDF copy of your certificate, but you can usually “preview” your certificate in some way. Just use that to jot down the certificate number, and you’re good to go.
The easiest way to get the certification is to go to groupon.com and choose a TEFL package. Most teachers use the “international open academy” one, as it can be done in an hour or two and there’s no final project. Personally, I used TEFL Full Circle. I would not recommend it, because at the end I had to do a final project that had to be graded and the entire process took about 5 days. Stick with Open Academy.
Please note that all the courses say “120 hours” or “160 hours”. It won’t take you anywhere near that long to complete, it’s just a marketing gimmick they use to for getting accreditation.
You can use either TEFL or TESOL. It doesn’t matter. Palfish may require a B.S. degree in the future, but at present, it is the only high paying ESL company that does not require a four-year college degree.
Passing Your Course
Your TEFL/TESOL course will consist of a few pages of reading and a multiple choice quiz at the end. Most of it is really simple stuff that you will know intuitively. You can always skip straight to the questions and google the answers…..but there is some genuinely good information there and it’s worth a read.
Uploading Your Certificate
After you pass, you’ll get a PDF certificate. Just copy down the certificate number and enter that on the PalFish app. You only need ONE TEFL/TESOL/Teacher’s Certificate, not all three. Once you’ve completed one, you don’t need to complete any other ones. There are some programs that charge you extra for a PDF copy of your certificate, but you can usually “preview” your certificate in some way. Just use that to jot down the certificate number, and you’re good to go.
Official Teacher Application
This is confusing for many new teachers. Let me try to clear things up - there are TWO kinds of Palfish teachers:
You must become verified before you can become an official teacher. To become verified, complete the tasks circled in blue (“complete information” + “sound test”). Then, apply to be verified. As long as you made a good text intro, made a clear audio recording, and have some appropriate pictures in your profile, you will be verified within 48 hours. Next, you can tap the advertisement for PalFish Kid, circled in green. It will ask you to schedule a time for your interview. You must have your TEFL/TESOL to apply as an official teacher! Please follow the pre-interview checklist if you want to pass. You should get the results of your interview 2-3 business days. If you followed my advice, then congratulations! You are an official teacher! Go open your schedule :) |
Pre-Interview Checklist
1) Teaching background
This is simple, but important! Make sure you have a kid-friendly background for holding classes. It should have at least one PalFish logo visible, and ideally you should have some stuffed animals or other toys. Once you pass your interview, you will get a one-time bonus of $15 that you can use towards props. I bought these finger puppets and they’re really great for shy younger students.
2) A stand for your tablet/phone
You can get a cheap one on Amazon. You must ensure your device is stable during your interview, or you will not pass. You can’t hold it in the air! This is a common reason why people fail their interview.
3) Good lighting!
You need to look professional by having appropriate lighting. This also really helps when you’re doing an early morning class and look a little tired, too! You can find them for pretty cheap though I really recommend a nicer one with adjustable brightness and warmth.
4) A blue shirt - any shade will do!
You can really wear anything that’s blue! Cover up any tattoos and remove any piercings. Beards are OK. PalFish is pretty chill, but you shouldn’t look sloppy, especially to the parents of your students. If you're feeling fancy, here's a Palfish mug to complete the look!
1) Teaching background
This is simple, but important! Make sure you have a kid-friendly background for holding classes. It should have at least one PalFish logo visible, and ideally you should have some stuffed animals or other toys. Once you pass your interview, you will get a one-time bonus of $15 that you can use towards props. I bought these finger puppets and they’re really great for shy younger students.
2) A stand for your tablet/phone
You can get a cheap one on Amazon. You must ensure your device is stable during your interview, or you will not pass. You can’t hold it in the air! This is a common reason why people fail their interview.
3) Good lighting!
You need to look professional by having appropriate lighting. This also really helps when you’re doing an early morning class and look a little tired, too! You can find them for pretty cheap though I really recommend a nicer one with adjustable brightness and warmth.
4) A blue shirt - any shade will do!
You can really wear anything that’s blue! Cover up any tattoos and remove any piercings. Beards are OK. PalFish is pretty chill, but you shouldn’t look sloppy, especially to the parents of your students. If you're feeling fancy, here's a Palfish mug to complete the look!