Attracting your own online students isn't easy. There is a lot of competition and you need to stand out from the crowd as an independent online English teacher. But when a student does choose you, it’s essential you keep them happy, so that they keep coming back.
Why does student retention matter so much?
Student retention is vital if you want to build a sustainable income as an independent online English teacher.
So, what can you do to help make sure your students keep returning to your classes, don't get bored over time, or worst of all, find another teacher?
I have been an online English teacher for over 10 years with my own online English teaching business. Over that time, I've made many mistakes, but now I know the secret of how to keep students happy. I’ve refined what I do so now my students tend to stay with me, buying multiple blocks of lessons month after month. One has been with me since the start and I count a number of them as friends.
Every retained student also saves you the hardest work in this business: winning a new one. If you’re still at that stage, our guides to succeeding in your first trial lesson and starting work teaching English online cover the attraction side; this post is about what happens next.
Here are the three secrets to retaining students
1. How do you build real relationships with online students?
Your student has chosen to learn with you, a person. They could have chosen to learn via an app, YouTube videos or online courses, but they selected you instead. They want that human connection. So, connect back; engage, ask relevant questions, and remember small details about your students’ lives. Encourage them when they feel unmotivated. Laugh, smile and empathise when appropriate. Your student wants to engage with you as a person. Engage back to build the relationship.
At the other extreme, though, they are not paying you just for a chat. This is not a conversation exchange. Be personable, but remain mindful that they're paying for your service. That’s a very good start to building the essential rapport.
Knowing your student well and what makes them tick yields other dividends, too. You’ll soon learn which lesson materials and approaches are likely to engage them best.
2. What should you give students between classes?
To make good progress with you, they need to be doing something between your classes. This keeps up the learning English momentum and shows you are invested in their progress.
Here’s my top tip. Send them a WhatsApp voice message after the lesson with phrases from the class so they can listen and repeat.
Or, send them something to read or listen to before the next class.
This is not only helpful to them, it shows that you are professional, prepared and looking ahead. You are also building expectation that there is always going to be a next lesson. It keeps the connection and builds you into their life.
3. How do you end every lesson on a high?
You must finish the lesson on a positive note. It could be you end a class with a quick review of what went well or a short game. Why not teach them an idiom of the day? It’s raining cats and dogs, for example. Have them guess the meaning first. Do something to make them smile as they leave.
The retention habits at a glance
| Habit | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Build the relationship | Remember small details, encourage, laugh and empathise – while staying professional | Students chose a person over an app; the connection is what they’re paying for |
| Bridge the gap between lessons | A WhatsApp voice message of key phrases after class, or something to read before the next one | Keeps momentum, shows you’re invested, and builds the expectation of a next lesson |
| End on a high | A quick review of wins, a short game, or an idiom of the day | Students remember how a lesson finished – make sure they leave smiling |
Why do online students leave in the first place?
It helps to know what you’re defending against. Students rarely announce they’re unhappy – they just stop booking. The usual reasons:
- They can’t feel their progress. Counter it with periodic reviews of what they can do now that they couldn’t before.
- Lessons feel samey. Vary materials and topics – knowing your student well tells you what will land.
- The connection never formed. That’s secret number one above.
- Life gets busy. Between-lesson touches (secret two) keep you part of their routine even in hectic weeks.
Knowing these three secrets, you will improve your student retention rates quickly and keep your learners coming back time and time again.
Develop and build your online English teaching skills, create stimulating lessons and enjoy building relationships that last.
Frequently asked questions
What should I send students between lessons?
Something short and personal beats a worksheet: a WhatsApp voice message with phrases from the lesson for the student to listen to and repeat, or an article or audio clip that previews the next class. It takes minutes, keeps their momentum going and quietly builds the expectation that there’s always a next lesson.
What equipment do I need to teach English online?
A reliable computer, stable internet, a headset with a clear microphone, a webcam and a quiet, well-lit space. For retention specifically, a messaging channel your students actually use – WhatsApp for many nationalities – is as important as the video platform, because between-lesson contact is what keeps students engaged.
How much can I earn teaching English online?
Independent teachers set their own rates and keep everything they charge, but the real earnings lever is retention: students who buy blocks of lessons month after month turn a trickle of bookings into a dependable income. That’s why the habits in this post matter more to your annual earnings than your headline hourly rate.
Want to find out more?
Louisa Walsh is a partner at Phone English, successfully delivering lessons for students and companies around the world.
She is also a tutor for the Global English Teach English online 20-hour course, and offers a 1-1 online English teaching coaching programme on Zoom, believing all teachers have the potential to become 5-star online English professionals. Why not join her?
Need fresh material to keep those long-term students stimulated? The Teaching English Online Starter Pack includes 20 ready-to-teach online lessons.