NPCE - What is VIP Kid?

[Bernadine]

It's online English classes, right? Is it an MLM? Or do you get something for referrals?

If it sounds too good to be true, it must be, right?

ETA- oops, sorry, meant to post on ML.  But maybe you all know.

[sugarbear]

I think it is online English teaching but I do not get the sense that it is an MLM. I’m guessing that established teachers get a bonus for referring new teachers.

[af1212]

A friend of mine does it. You are teaching English to people in China. You set up a “classroom” which for her is a tri-fold board decorated in a cutesy way and sit in front of it and teach English over Skype or something similar.

She does get a referral bonus or something if she signs on a friend who stays employed for xxx weeks but I don’t think it’s MLM-like. I think it’s just a one-time bonus.

The appeal for her is that she has a regular job during the day and is a single mom. She puts her kids to bed and works from like 9pm-1 am which is daytime in China. So she is making $$ but doesn’t have to pay a babysitter.

[pugz]

not an MLM. I know lots of people that do it but they do get a bonus for referring people (but don't make money off of them or have a team or anything)

the hours in the US are brutal depending on your time zone. I know people that get up and teach from 4-6am, but they make great money.

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

Not MLM. Lots of teachers I know do it. There are a few other ones out there with a similar structure.

[Jalapeñomel]

If I get one more teacher trying to hawk this shit to me, I may explode.

I’m not remotely interested in getting underpaid to work in the MOTN to teach English to kids.

And they do get referral bonuses.

[underwaterrhymes]

It’s not MLM.

The hours generally suck for the teachers because you’re teaching kids in China.

The pay isn’t horrible - H looked at doing it as a PT job - and was offered $21 an hour (but he lived in a China for a year and taught there). He ultimately decided not to do it because it would be exhausting to work his regular job, raise two small children, and do this on the side.

One of my friends has been doing it for some time and recently traveled to China to visit some of her students. It looked like an amazing trip.

[wildrice]

MY sister does this! She actually loves it, but she does work really early - starting at 4 or 5am most days. She is a SAHM and it works well with her H's schedule because she can work while he gets up with the kids and it doesn't interfere with other family time/childcare time while he's at work. The downside, of course, is that she's exhausted, but she really enjoys the kids and I know the extra income has been helpful.

[calmcosmo]

Not MLM but I agree with jalapenomel that the pay is bad and the hours are worse. My highly educated and experienced friends falling all over themselves for $21/hr in the middle of the night makes me sad. I’m a military spouse so many of my peers are extremely underemployed .

Teachers get a referral bonus but it isn’t pyramid shaped or an MLM. Just a one time recruitment thing.

[fumbalina]

It is one of many similar programs in China where Americans teach English with a "no prep" curriculum. There are referral bonuses that are used to help with recruiting since it is not as easy as advertised.

The scheduling is painful in most time zones since the most popular time is after school to sign up kids. The kids are exhausted and you need to keep them awake, interested and engaged. This means you really need props and ideas for engagement.

Then there are many teachers so you are in competition for the students and if you do not have a hook that helps find you, you are going to have a hard time actually earning money. This is because you are paid per session not per hour. There are similar ones that do pay per hour.

[ilovecandy]

It is a no prep they provide the lessons teaching English. I do it but I only do a couple hours in the morning a couple days a week. The time zone changes suck I know many people who do it overnights and such.

It is in my opinion nice for extra money but I wouldn't rely on it for consistent income. The teacher who have been there since the first year or two have been able to make it their jobs but that is mostly by recuriting and mentoring.

I do not recruit. I only teach and like I said you don't get consistently booked (I do have a few regulars). You could be a lucky one who does but there are so many teachers it is getting harder.

I do it for extra spending money and don't ever rely on it. I enjoy it but I also don't put as much in as a lot of people I typically do 7am-10am 2-3 times a week. (And again not usually fully booked).