Katharine, can you please tell us a little bit about your background?
I have been teaching English as a Foreign Language since 2003, giving me more than a decade and a half of classroom and online experience. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts and, after graduating, pursued a TEFL certificate in Guadalajara, Mexico. That training led to my first professional placement teaching English to business managers at an international company, followed by a position working with children and young adults. It was in that role I discovered that teaching English was the career I wanted to build.
My teaching career has taken me around the world. After Mexico I moved to a small town in China, then to a suburb of Moscow in Russia, and later returned to China to teach in Shanghai. While working in China I met my husband. We spent a period living in Chicago, where we started our family, and later relocated to his homeland in Scotland. Today I teach from our home in Glasgow, balancing family life with a rewarding teaching career.
How long have you been teaching with 51Talk and can you please share your journey toward this role?
After taking a few years away from full-time work to care for our children, I was ready to return to teaching but needed a role that offered flexibility and reliable pay. A friend recommended online teaching through 51Talk. From my first contact I found the program professional and well-organized. The onboarding and training were thorough, and within a short time I felt confident teaching in the online environment. The platform fit my needs as a parent and allowed me to reestablish a teaching routine. Four months in, I knew I had made the right decision.
What are the two things that you enjoy the most about working with 51Talk?
First, I truly enjoy interacting with the students. My classes range from very young children to university and adult learners. Building rapport with regular students and watching their progress is extremely rewarding. Older students often challenge me to explain ideas more clearly or to adapt lessons to suit their goals, which keeps my work stimulating. Having children at home also gives me easy access to visual aids and toys that help demonstrate vocabulary and concepts.
Second, 51Talk gives me opportunities for continuous professional growth. The structure supports ongoing development—training, peer feedback, and accessible mentors make it easy to improve and set long-term goals. The colleague who trained me remains a point of contact and checks in regularly. When questions arise, there is responsive support available to keep classes running smoothly.
Can you please share what a day in the life of a 51Talk English teacher may look like from beginning to end?
My days vary depending on the family schedule, but a typical weekday starts early. My two older children attend school, while my youngest is home with me. During his nap I usually schedule three classes. On Saturdays I often teach in the morning while my husband looks after the kids. I log on by 8am after a quick breakfast and teach for blocks of time that fit around family duties. I generally work 3–4 hours during a busy day and average around 10–12 hours each week. The flexibility lets me balance parenting responsibilities while maintaining regular student relationships and lesson planning.
If you were to recommend this path to other teachers, what would you tell them?
I would encourage teachers to give it a try. If you need flexible hours to complement another job or family commitments, online teaching with a reputable platform can be an excellent fit. You can take on as many classes as you can manage and grow into a new career path if you choose. The structure and support make it accessible to experienced teachers and newcomers alike.
Can you please share something special that we may not know about 51Talk?
Although classes are one-on-one between teacher and student, there is a dedicated team working behind the scenes to ensure lessons run smoothly. Early on I worried about potential technical issues, but the platform provides safeguards and real-time support so interruptions are rare. If a problem occurs, there are several ways to get immediate assistance through support channels. Likewise, students have a designated contact to reach for help with their account or technical issues, which reduces the pressure on teachers to resolve every situation alone.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a teacher for 51Talk, please apply through the official 51Talk recruitment page or contact their recruitment team to start your application process.
About Katharine
Katharine McAllister has been a TEFL teacher since 2002. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and earned her TEFL certificate from Via Lingua in Guadalajara, Mexico. Over the years she has taught English across three continents and currently teaches from her home in Glasgow, Scotland. When she is not caring for her three children, she pursues professional development and recently completed a Diploma in Legal Studies from Robert Gordon University in Scotland.