Online teaching by agents? Scam or not scam. I'm alarmed at...

Seriously, your alarmed at 6 GBP an hour from agents for on-line teachers ? I can only assume you have never worked in Thailand, where in a lot of cases you don't even get a work permit, just told to do a visa run, for a "tourist visa" (which you pay for) then work illegally, whilst the agency subtracts 3% of your salary for "VAT" tax ?? (Speaking from experience here!) So, please do not be alarmed if agencies scam people, it's all part of their nature... Oh, and probably yes, some people will apply...

Six GDP an hour in Thailand, (300 baht) at the approximate maximum of twenty four hours a week, multiplied by four is 28,800 bahts. Add onto that free accommodation, visa costs, free internet, no tax and often meals whilst at school and that’s about an average for Thailand. Also, factor into the equation that the cost of living is probably a third of what it is in the UK. Twenty pounds an hour is pushing into the realms of fantasy for an ordinary TEFL teacher. 98,873 Thai baht’s a month, or in China 18,773 Yuan is going to be non-existent. A common mistake is to equate salaries and the cost of living in comparison to somewhere else. If you have a verifiable degree, some experience and are presentable, there is no need to work illegally. Apply directly to the school and cut out the agencies. Thailand teacher salaries are now so low there's really no reason to go below 30k a month.

There are many people around the world who consider teaching online a hobby. Said people will consider this as in America I would even volunteer for such things. That being said, currently working at a University and seeing how time is money avg pay 80-150RMB/hr. That pay is rather commiserate of such pay. Teaching now a days is a commodity and more the people pursue teaching gigs the lower the price will be. Keep in mind also average wage in China for example for people ranges from 5-15RMB/hr. Its a horse of a different color when you compare exchange rates and costs to students. In America i'm rather accustomed to 10$/hr as a public school teacher. 15$/hr as a tutor. No one ever became a teacher to get rich. If you want to, then move to the Mideast.

Yes, they do. I myself have done on-line teaching. When I was teaching at a small-town Chinese college and living on campus with only one other Western teacher, no night life to speak of, and no English TV --- well, it was an outlet and I saved that money to use when I returned to the States for the summer. Also, I taught on-line prior to coming to China as a way to "test" the quality of my TEFL training and to get to know the Chinese accent and to talk about Chinese culture. Get rich, definitely NOT!

It is odd how there are quite a few ESL Online websites based out of the Philippines that will not accept applications for ESL teachers outside of the Philippines and yet these websites advertise ESL courses with teachers who speak with a native American accent. How is that possible?