There are plenty of practical ways to earn extra income as a TEFL or TESOL teacher, and the good news is that most of them build directly on the skills you already use in the classroom. A lot of teachers start by offering private lessons—online or face‑to‑face—because the hourly rate is usually much higher than school work. Specialising in something like IELTS, TOEFL, business English, or English for specific professions can also help you charge premium rates.

Another option is to partner with established training providers. For example, if you’d like to earn extra income simply by recommending accredited TEFL/TESOL courses, you can become an agent for London Teacher Training College. Agents earn 25 British Pounds commission on every enrolment they refer, and it’s a straightforward way to add a reliable side income. You can find more details on the main site.

Some teachers also create digital products—lesson plans, worksheets, flashcards—or run conversation clubs and weekend workshops. Others do paid writing for education companies or language‑learning blogs. The key is choosing something that fits your strengths and feels sustainable.