Interview with Inkeri Martin, English Teacher at 51Talk

We are excited to share our first interview featuring Inkeri Martin, an English teacher with 51Talk.

51Talk is China’s leading online English education platform. Its mission is to make high-quality education accessible and affordable by connecting millions of students across China with North American teachers for live, one-on-one interactive English lessons.

1. Education and Teaching Background

After finishing her undergraduate studies in 2001, Inkeri began her teaching career as a substitute in several school districts in Oregon. Raised in a bilingual Finnish/English household and having attended elementary school in Finland for extended periods, she pursued teaching opportunities in her mother’s native country. In 2003–2004 she taught a first-grade English immersion class at Jalavapuisto Elementary School in Espoo, Finland. That year proved to be an unforgettable professional experience.

Upon returning to Lake Oswego, Oregon, Inkeri taught kindergarten through second grade in the district she had attended as a child. Over the next decade she worked primarily with early elementary students. In 2010 she completed a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics with a TESOL certification and earned an English Language Learner (ELL) endorsement for K–8 instruction. Following that, she served as one of the district’s ESL teachers, supporting students from diverse language backgrounds across multiple schools. Last summer her family relocated to Palm Beach County, Florida, and that move led her to discover 51Talk.

2. Why 51Talk? What Excited You About Joining?

After relocating, Inkeri wanted flexibility so she could be available to her children as they adjusted to new schools and routines, while continuing her professional growth. A posting for online English teachers caught her attention because of the flexible schedule. She completed the interview and training process and quickly embraced the opportunity.

Beyond flexibility, Inkeri was inspired by the chance to teach young learners in China. She has long championed early second-language learning for its cognitive benefits, cultural awareness, and future opportunities for students. Being able to offer high-quality language instruction through technology has been deeply rewarding for her.

This advocacy is reflected in her family life: her two children attend language immersion programs (Mandarin and Spanish) and also study Finnish online. Her family previously hosted an exchange student through AFS, which further shaped her appreciation for cross-cultural learning.

3. A Typical Day as a 51Talk Teacher

Inkeri’s day starts early. She prepares the night before, wakes by 4:30–5:00 a.m., and usually begins teaching by 5:30 a.m. She logs into 51Talk’s teaching platform, checks her internet and equipment, and enters each virtual classroom on time. Lessons are 25 minutes long, so careful pacing is essential to cover the planned material.

After each lesson she completes a brief lesson memo to provide praise and specific practice suggestions for the student. She pauses mid-morning for an hour to get her children ready for school, then resumes teaching until around 10:00 or 11:00 a.m., depending on bookings. Later morning lessons often include adult learners, and Inkeri finds working with adults equally rewarding because those lessons also target comprehensive language skills.

After her teaching block she shifts focus to family life: volunteering at her sons’ dual-language school, managing household tasks, and driving children to activities. The schedule gives her the best of both worlds—professional fulfillment and family involvement.

4. What Inkeri Enjoys Most About Teaching with 51Talk

First, Inkeri values the international connection. Working one-on-one with students from another country is incredibly fulfilling. She enjoys watching students discover new vocabulary, gain confidence, and make measurable progress in reading, writing, and speaking English. These lessons also provide cultural exchange that benefits both students and teachers by building intercultural understanding.

Second, Inkeri appreciates the depth of 51Talk’s instructor training. The platform offers comprehensive online courses covering teaching strategies, language acquisition, and effective communication with learners. These resources support continued professional development.

Third, she has taken on special projects, such as teaching large online classes of 20–100 students. Those experiences were challenging but rewarding, and they allowed her to use platform tools—like chat—to check comprehension and answer questions. As 51Talk expands, she looks forward to additional responsibilities and growth opportunities.

5. Advice for Teachers Considering This Path

Inkeri believes teaching with 51Talk suits educators at many stages of their careers. After hiring, teachers complete training and prepare equipment. She recommends engaging fully with the training materials—watch the videos, review lesson clips, and read documents provided by trainers. Although the initial preparation requires effort, the well-structured lessons (aligned with Common Core principles) mean teachers can focus on instruction rather than extensive curriculum planning.

Be patient as you learn the platform and reporting procedures. For Inkeri, early nerves centered more on technology and administrative tasks—submitting reports on time, ensuring stable internet, and checking headset performance—than on teaching itself. Once those technical details were resolved, teaching became smooth and deeply satisfying.

About Inkeri Martin

Inkeri Martin is an English instructor for 51Talk, with more than a decade of classroom experience in the United States and abroad. She taught in the Lake Oswego School District near Portland, Oregon, and brings a background that includes first-grade English immersion and upper-elementary English subject classes in Finland. Inkeri holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics with TESOL certification. She is certified to teach English as a second language to grades K–8 and has been active in promoting early language learning in her community. She has also written an op-ed about Finland’s language immersion model for The Oregonian.

About 51Talk

51Talk is China’s leading online English education platform. Its mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable by providing live, one-on-one lessons with North American teachers. Using an “anytime, anywhere” approach, 51Talk offers on-demand 25-minute lessons that fit teachers’ schedules. This flexibility attracts a growing community of North American educators who want to teach from home while gaining professional and cultural experiences. Beyond supplemental income and career growth, many teachers value the chance to connect directly with students from another culture.

Please stay tuned for more interviews with educators who are growing their teaching careers with 51Talk.