An Honest PalFish Review By an EFL Teacher

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*NOTE* PALFISH IS ON A “HIRING FREEZE“ AND POSSIBLY ONLY HIRING FILIPINO TEACHERS. Here are some other opportunities to teach English online you may find helpful:

» Best Companies to Teach English Online
» Platforms to Teach English Online to Korean Students
» Platforms to Teach English Online to Japanese Students

As of the end of July 2021, changes have come to affect PalFish and all online tutoring companies based in China because of recent laws affecting China’s after-school tutoring industry. The primary changes include decreased demand/open teaching hours, pay cuts and the loss of jobs for foreign-based teachers (teachers that live outside of China).

Essentially, China has outlawed the employment of foreign tutors/teachers who do not reside in China. I believe this means a complete end to online English teaching jobs from companies based in China. But some are trying to pivot to an international market to work with students outside of China.

You can check out the official PalFish Facebook page for up to date information or download the app and try to apply there. At this moment, their last post dates from December 2021, stating they are *supposedly* hiring again. However, from what I can tell, no movement has actually been made to begin hiring teachers again.

As things are still uncertain, and Palfish claims to be going international, I’ve left this guide up for now in case they bounce back. Thanks!

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This PalFish review outlines all you need to know to get started teaching English online and has been updated to share the recent PalFish pay changes.

After teaching English in South Korea with the EPIK program for two years, I decided to try my hand at making money online via online English teaching. I decided to teach English with PalFish per the recommendation of a couple of friends, and ended up teaching with the company for about two and a half years.

It ultimately proved to be a fairly easy way to make a supplemental income online and required little work outside of the actual lessons I taught. As a lazy gal, I enjoyed the ease of getting started on the PalFish app and found that the Palfish teacher application was also pretty painless.

But over the years I’ve had increased issues with the conduct of the company as they’ve continued to decrease teacher pay and request more and more unpaid training.

This review details how to get started on PalFish, and my honest PalFish review so you can decide if it’s right for you. This teaching platform isn’t for everyone, and right off the bat, I don’t recommend it for full time work. However, it still remains as an easy way to make some extra money on the side, from home and online.

Read More:

• Pros and Cons of Teaching English Online
• 13 Companies That’ll Hire You to Teach English Without a Degree
• 29 More Companies to Teach English Online With

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!

What is PalFish?

PalFish is an English learning platform that connects Chinese students with native English teachers. All of the teachings take place on their app, so you need to have a smartphone or a tablet to teach your lessons.

Lessons run for 25 minutes each and are booked in half-hour increments giving you about five minutes in between classes if you’re booked back to back. PalFish has two different English programs, FreeTalk or their Official Kids Course. 

Download the PalFish App: Apple Store + Android

The intro slide to PalFish trial lesson Hello Monkey

PalFish Official Kids Course vs. FreeTalk

Here’s a quick summary explaining the differences between PalFish’s two teaching programs.

PalFish Official Kids Course

The PalFish Official Kids Course (OKC) is PalFish’s organized course where students are typically elementary-aged and pay for a package of lessons that are planned and administered via slides and activities in the app. Teachers used to make about $16/hour as base payment, but now earn only about $12/hour.

As an Offical Kids Course teacher, you’ll be teaching repeat students as well as prospective students in “trial classes”. These trial classes are students who have not yet purchased a course from PalFish but are doing a test lesson to see if it’s something they’re ultimately interested in.

As an OKC teacher, you’re rewarded for any trials you teach that result in a sale. I’ll explain in greater detail below.

To be an OKC teacher, you’ll need to fill out an official application form and submit prior experience, a 10-minute video recorded demo lesson, proof of native English ability, and proof of an ESL / TEFL certificate or teaching qualification. Your application then goes under review by PalFish staff. If accepted, you may teach the lessons and students in the OKC.

PalFish FreeTalk Program

The FreeTalk program is more of a language exchange where English teachers can set their own rates per minute – typically 3-5 RMB ($0.40 – $0.70) per minute – and have unstructured conversations with students of all ages, including adults. 

Teachers have more responsibility when it comes to planning FreeTalk lessons or conversation topics, and because you can set your rate, it gives you the potential for a higher hourly wage than with OKC.

FreeTalk does not require an application or interview process and you can begin tutoring students right away.

A slide from one of the PalFish trial lessons for level one students

What Are The PalFish Teaching Requirements?

PalFish is one of the more lenient online teaching platforms when it comes to their teacher requirements. 

For FreeTalk, there really aren’t any strict requirements, you can start tutoring as soon as you attract prospective students. However, the more you have to show on your resume – native English speaker, teaching experience, TEFL, degree – the more competitive you become as a tutor.

For English teachers seeking to join the Official Kids Course, these are the requirements: 

1. Be a citizen from a native English speaking country: USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada (PalFish does NOT hire South Africans)
2. Hold a TEFL certificate
3. OR a teacher’s certificate

Technically, that’s it! No college degree or experience required to teach with PalFish. However, those who do have teaching experience or a college degree will have a stronger profile and application while applying.

It can make a big difference to the Palfish hiring team as well as prospective students trying to choose an English teacher from the platform.

PalFish’s official requirements and payment summary as found in their app.

How to Choose the Best TEFL Certificate for Online Teaching.

There are a lot of different options when it comes to getting your TEFL certification and I know first hand just how hard it is to choose one that’s trustworthy and a good quality for the price. I struggled for weeks choosing a good TEFL course for myself.

If you’re just looking to teach English online and don’t have any intentions of moving abroad to teach too, a cheap online TEFL course should suffice.

If you’re hoping to go abroad or do something more with teaching, you’ll want to consider an online TEFL with an in-class student teaching component or even a CELTA, the most expensive and ‘official’ of ESL certificates.

My Personal TEFL Course Recommendation: ITTT International TEFL

ITTT International is great because they offer a wide variety of TEFL and TESOL course options that you can easily fit into your budget and your needs. They’ve been in the business for years and are a name that students and schools alike trust.

I have the pleasure of offering my readers a 20% discount off of any course of your choice! Just click from my link to learn more and sign up for your iTTT TEFL course here! Your discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

Check out my iTTT review to learn more!

Premium TEFL Certification: International TEFL Academy

If you’re looking for a premium TEFL certification, The International TEFL Academy may be a great option for you. They’ve been consistently ranked as the #1 TEFL provider by Goabroad.com and offer an immense number of resources for their students – such as a lifetime job assistance guarantee.

Check out where to apply for a free TEFL certification + TEFL scholarship!

When Are Peak Palfish Teaching Hours?

China had recently enacted a new law regarding after school tutoring schools that have significantly impacted and changed after school hours for Chinese students. As a way to decrease young students’ workload and be more accessible for families of all socioeconomic status, peak teaching times for PalFish have decreased.

Peak times are 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm China Time on weekdays, and about 8:00 am – 9pm weekends.

This can make it difficult for folks in America to teach full time with PalFish because those peak times are during our early mornings. But if you’re willing to wake up early or are just looking for supplemental income, you can earn anywhere from $150 – $300 per month just teaching the lessons during the peak times of 6:00 am – 8:00 am.

That’s what I did and those hours aren’t too painful. Perks of being an early bird!

A screenshot of my PalFish profile when I first started teaching

What Does PalFish Pay? Recent Pay Changes as of July 23, 2021

Recently PalFish has significantly decreased teacher pay for the Official Kids Course. They used to pay teachers a rate starting at 55 RMB per 25-minute lesson, or about $8/lesson and $16/hour. Now, pay has been decreased to 40 RMB/lesson or about $6.20/lesson, $12.40/hour for level 1.

PalFish rates are set at varying levels of income now starting at 40 RMB per lesson for level 1, up to 55 RMB for level 5, down from the 75 RMB rate that used to paid out for level 5.

That’s a pretty significant pay cut that’s negatively impacted many who earned their living through PalFish. Those who’ve put in hundreds of hours are experiencing up to a 40% cut in wages and are leaving the app as a result.

Your pay level is calculated using a variety of factors that are outlined in their teacher manual and tallied at the end of every month.

You earn points for each class you teach, every trial you teach that results in a sale, and even for a full month of no late arrivals to class, to name a few.

You can earn points for every OKC class you teach, for every trial you teach that results in a sale, and for a month without any lateness, among others.

You can also earn a commission of 300 RMB (~$40) for any new teachers that you refer that pass the interview as well as 200 RMB (~$28) for any new students you refer that makes a purchase. Each of these also results in additional points added to your monthly score.

So the more you teach and the more you sell, the higher your score and potentially the higher your per lesson earnings. It’s important to note that PalFish is a sales based company more so than a school. Repeat: PalFish cares more about the sales aspect than the well-being of the students and teachers.

Read more about PalFish’s salary and benefits for teachers.

A screenshot from the PalFish app detailing the pay scale system

How to Get Students on PalFish.

What makes PalFish a unique English learning company is that it’s set up like a social media platform. You have a profile that shares who you are, your qualifications, and the type of teacher that you present yourself to be.

You also have a wall of what PalFish calls “moments”, which are just social media posts like you would make on Facebook. You can write and share anything you’d like as well as photos to help attract students to you as a teacher.

I personally don’t find that it requires a lot of effort to find students on PalFish in comparison to the effort I’ve heard needed for VIP Kid. I probably post a moment once a week or less, when I find myself in a booking lull, and I book anywhere from 15 – 50 lessons a month depending on my effort and schedule I set that month.

The types of moments I post usually showcase who I am as a person – hobbies, family, etc. – in a way that’s educational and that a student would find enjoyable. Zero thought required!

Another way to attract new students is to go on a following spree. You can add students and teachers as friends on the PalFish platform, which sends them a notification and brings their attention to your profile. It’s like saying hey, what’s up, I’m here, sign up with me!

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Two examples of PalFish moments I’ve posted in the past

Your Employment + Filing Taxes As a PalFish Teacher.

Before teaching with PalFish, you should know that you will be treated as an independent contractor. This means that your income isn’t taxed when it’s paid to you each month.

PalFish pays their teachers via Payoneer, a company that’s very similar to Paypal, so you’ll need to set up an account with them before you start teaching.

As an independent contractor, you won’t receive a tax document from PalFish at the end of the year. But you can use your Payoneer statements as proof of income when it comes time to file your taxes.

Sign up for free with Payoneer here and earn a $25 reward after your first $1,000 in earnings!

In the United States, independent contractors still need to pay the taxes owed on their income at the end of the year. The tax applied to wages earned as a contractor in the US is typically around 15.3%, so it’s in your best interest to set aside that much each paycheck in preparation for tax season. You don’t want to be caught off guard with a tax bill at the beginning of the year.

I’m not a tax professional, so be sure to consult an accountant or expert who can help you and always check the current laws in the US or your respective country.

Pros of Teaching with PalFish.

Generally speaking, these are some of my pros when it comes to teaching the PalFish Official Kids Course. I personally find these to be positive aspects of teaching online with the PalFish app.

• They accept teachers from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, USA, and Canada vs VIP Kid which is just for Americans and Canadians.
• No degree required to teach English online with Palfish, just a TEFL certification for the Official Kids Course.
• PalFish does all the lesson planning in the OKC so you can just show up with zero prep needed outside of the actual lessons.
• Teach straight from your smartphone, no special equipment required.
• You can earn as much or as little as you’re willing to put in the effort for.
• There is little marketing of yourself required and you can get students much quicker when starting off than with VIP Kids.
• The PalFish application process is fairly simple.

Cons of Teaching with Palfish.

No job is perfect. Here are a few of the downfalls when it comes to teaching online with PalFish.

• PalFish is not the highest paying online English platform, but ~$12-$16/hour potential ain’t bad for teaching online on your phone.
• Teaching hours are during peak times in China (afterschool, weekend mornings), which may not fit well with your time zone.
• Many teachers find the prepared lesson material boring and sometimes difficult to fill the full 25 minutes.
• Teaching can get repetitive because you will teach a lot of trial classes – students testing PalFish before they buy – if you go with the OKC.
• Not a lot of break time in between classes if you’re planning on doing a lot of teaching (five minutes between each lesson if booked back to back).
• It’s pretty unlikely to get above level one or two (45 RMB or 50 RMB) per lesson as just a part-time teacher on the PalFish point system.
• PalFish has been consistently reducing teacher pay and perks, significantly affecting teacher’s earning ability. The biggest cut came July 2021 which saw a 25% pay loss for all teachers which quite frankly is frustrating and ridiculous.
• PalFish does not give teachers any benefits and makes it difficult to take time off or have absences excused for illness or mental illness.
• PalFish is not great for full time work

A brief description from PalFish of the video interview/class demo you must submit as part of your application

Some Quick PalFish Teacher Tips.

• Watch Youtube videos before applying and teaching; they will help you a lot with what to expect in the teaching and application process.
• Practice your TPR (Total Physical Response) and get comfortable with baby talk and exaggerated hand movements.
• Prepare basic props and/or flashcards for your trial classes.
• Set up a backdrop with your name, Palfish logo, and other decorations.
• No place or space for a backdrop? Find a clean wall to teach to reduce distractions. During your interview, they’ll want to see the PalFish logo and something behind you, however.
• Get yourself a blue shirt. It’s required.
• Find a dedicated pair of headphones with a microphone.
• Prepare to post social media “moments” and to follow students and friends to help you fill lessons.

PalFish Reviews: What Others Are Saying about Teaching with Palfish

I’m sure you want to hear more PalFish reviews that don’t just come from me. Here are two screenshots from Glassdoor that highlight the positives and negatives when it comes to teaching with PalFish.

I personally haven’t experienced that moments no longer affect student engagement, but if you’re seeking full-time hours, I have heard that it does require a bit of elbow grease and marketing on your end to fill enough lessons for a full-time paycheck at the end of the month. Which in that case, I actually don’t recommend PalFish for you. 

But as a part-time teacher, you really don’t need to do much more than sharing a few moments every month and follow a few new students every week. At least that’s my personal experience!

This reviewer has a point. Teaching with PalFish is not a typical teaching position, so if you’re looking for something much closer to a traditional full-time teaching job, this may not be the best option for you! Online teaching tends to be more sales focused with high turnover in students. You don’t always have long-term regulars.

In comparison to VIPKid, I’d say that PalFish requires less work, less marketing, and allows teachers to start earning an income immediately after getting your application approved.

On the other hand, from what I’ve read online, VIPKid offers a higher earning potential and may be a better option for online teachers seeking a full-time income. You’ll need to put in more effort than with PalFish, but you reap what you sow at VIP Kid.

In total transparency, I earned anywhere from $100 – $400 per month as a part-time PalFish teacher, depending on the amount of time I choose to put into it.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!