Zebra English
Zebra English Review
Zebra English is another new Chinese company with 450,000 students. It looks like they hire non-native teachers but all teachers must have a bachelors degree, a TEFL certificate and experiences teaching K-12. Each class is 30 minutes, you set your schedule and Zebra fills it. So students don’t choose their teacher which is different from some of the other Chinese companies. Peak hours are 6pm – 10pm weekdays and 9am – 10pm on weekends. They pay $16 – $24 USD per hour depending on the incentives teachers achieve.
Please leave a comment or a review of Zebra English.
51 Comments
ERICA TYLER
Can anyone offer some updates about their experience with this company. I’m Black and tired of wasting my time with racist companies. I have a TEFL and a CELTA, an MA, and I’m a Cambridge Speaking examiner. I’m currently waiting to see if my initial app goes through. Then the dreaded video upload.
For the Black teachers who got hired, can you offer any tips?
mikedveenstra@gmail.com
I can’t vouch for this company, but I would recommend you try some European companies. They seem less racist.
Dora
I would NOT recommend it to anyone. I have been working for Zebra english for 6 months now and I offer 60 hours every week but I get booked with just 2 or 3 lessons a week. It’s a waste of your time !
Terry Knott
I was rejected straight out. Looking for younger people IMO. The interviewer was rude and distracted by others around her. Very little eye contact the minute the camera came on. I have also heard from people hired that they have very little or no bookings at all. Seems they are stacking papers and hoping for students. I recommend you pass on this company.
Amy Skipper
I had the same experience. Other companies wanted to hire me but the pay or bookings did not look promising so I passed. I was a successful VIPKID teacher until they started blocking the slots of more experienced teacher to get new, cheaper ones. My demos always get me an interviews but not with Zebra or Landi. I’m going to get a 120 hr. TESOL so I can interview with Magic Ears.
Tina
I was kicked out of the Facebook networking group for questioning if I was rejected die to being African American. But I read that another African American teacher was recently hired, so that’s good to know. I have tons of experience teaching Chinese students English online. And I thought the video went well, but I guess it didn’t.
Svetlana
They hire only natives.
Teacher
I just got hired by ZE and I’m loving how supportive they are so far! I believe they do only hire native speakers though. And you must have a degree and TEFL certificate as stated above. I definitely recommend them 🙂
Shan
Was any one able to reapply?
Cindy
I had applied to Zebra English. I have a TEFL Certificate, a bachelor’s and 2 years experience teaching English in a classroom. I’m a native English speaker. After I sent an introduction video, they rejected my application. I’m not sure what they want either.
S**h* **l*e*t
Watch your back if you’re interviewed by a woman who used to work for gogokid or vipkid. She hates them both and seems to be experiencing internal self-loathing for having worked there to begin with. If she finds out you have formerly or presently work there or for similar companies the interview may as well be over. If you’re scheduled with her better to reschedule with someone else.
She spent the entire interview yelling at me. I complained to zebraenglish using the recruiter email. I complained about how I was treated and that her yelling affected my ability to concentrate during demo 1. No answer. Though I did get the rejection email from no reply saying they were initially impressed but I’m not a good fit. They weren’t very picky during the end of 2019, but have recently become cocky. So unless you have a high tolerance for screaming, I’d stay away.
Jessica Henry
Hey Tiffany. I’m an African American as well. I went through the process and was hired recently(April2nd). Email them and get some constructive feedback as to why you were not hired. Join an online group if you’re interested. Best wishes.
Mandy Emm
Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your experience. How are bookings for you, is it a slow start or did you manage to secure quite a few once you got started? TIA 🙂
Bejazzy1
I was rejected to, after my video…I am African American…I think they are looking for mostly Whites because the parent books you.
Tiffany
I’m African-American. They seemed so excited to work with me, up until I sent in my introduction video. I used props, TPR, had high energy, a fun, clean background, appropriate clothing. Met all of their educational requirements…. Still got rejected. Asked for specific reasons why, will see how that goes.
This has happened to me with a couple of other ESL companies now, including Whales English and PalFish OKC. You pass everything, and then you send in a photo/video … instant rejection! It’s so frustrating. If they could just tell me a specific reason or reasons why I failed, then I could understand and avoid the same mistakes next time, but these generic responses just bug me because you put so much time, effort, and energy into your interview only to fail without a clue as to why.
Hannah
I am a native English speaker with a master’s degree in TESL. I also have four years of teaching experience working with learners of all ages. I don’t have a TEFL certification, though. I thought that after spending three years getting my MA in TESL, that would have led to a job with Zebra. But nope. I got a rejection that wished me good luck in the future instead. What does this company want?
Sean Hennessey
yeah, me, too…19 years teaching ESL in Mexico, a USA native with a B.A and they rejected me in less than 24 hours…surely 19 years teaching ESL is euivalent experience…weird
sheri
Does ZebraEnglish do criminal and academic background checks? I notice most Chinese companies are doing that now.
Anna
ZebraEnglish DOES NOT hire non-natives. Once they here where you come from, they’ll wave goodbye to you.
Todd Andrew Pruden
It is actually “hear.” I understand why they waved goodbye. lol
Indignant
You’re such a sad troll.
The sad teacher
Does anyone knows a company hiring non-native speakers? It is sad to see this type of segregation. Had I known about this , I wouldn’t have spent so much money on my education. Thank you for your help!
Native Speaker
Hahaha what do you expect? There are people who speak English better than you ever will be able to through studying. They are hiring these people. You’re super naive if you ever thought that your education was going to give you the same opportunities as native speakers.
Dora
Hmmm….that’s kind of rude! This person probably had to work harder than you to achieve this. There are many opportunities for teaching English, although it may be more difficult online.
Paolo
And I’ve met native English speakers who could barely speak or write in their own language. Who would like to learn from this kind of person? Why do you think others need to accept garbage just because is native speaker? 🙂
Todd Andrew Pruden
Paolo, I think you should do a grammar check before you post. “…just because is native speaker?” Completely wrong!! You are missing a noun. How can you teach English, if you cannot write simple sentences?
Anonymous Teacher
Went through the whole process, with extensive teaching background…never heard a word after my mock class.
Anna
Are you a native speaker?
Teacher2
Did you check their website, where you login, that’s where I found my rejection statement! I’m also a classroom teacher with two degrees and am currently working (successfully), online with another company. The consultant who did the mock with me was awful! Yes, I was nervous about using a new platform, yes I made a few mistakes, but to not even get a second mock…? Anyway, clearly not a position meant for me 🙂
Mmesoma Vivian
please which company are working with now? I’d like to appply
Rae Ann Upton
Which esol company or companies do you work now?
Manuel Vega
I applied last Thursday 12th. They quickly responded asking me for an introduction video. I sent it on Saturday 14th. They answered today morning thanking me for the application and telling the won’t be progressing with my application “at this time” and wishing me the best in my “other endeavors”. I’m neither native English speaker (I’m Spanish) nor working or living in the USA or Canada (I currently live in Ecuador) so they might not hire me for such reasons 🙁 who knows? I hope to have better luck with others, though.
Teacher Stephanie
Did the same thing to me. I sent a introduction video never heard anything, thought maybe it was due to the holidays a couple weeks later I sent a email back asking it had been received. Got a email back saying that it was received and have a great day Best regards. I sent them a email back letting them know that if they had the common decency to send a response back either way then I wouldn’t have sent a email wasting my time Best regards. That is one of my biggest pet peeves treat people with respect especially if you are a business trying to make money.
Nadia
I applied in Zebra and my initial application form clearly says I’m a non-native. They responded very quickly and I booked my interview for tomorrow. Let’s see! 🙂
Pearl Motaung
Hey Nadia,
How was the interview?
They asked me for an introduction video.
Sandra
I sent an introduction video last Friday. It’s Monday now and they haven’t responded.
Anna
Have they responded so far?
Anna
Hey Nadia. Have they hired you by now?
How was the interview?
Xiomara Carmona Reyes
I have been working for them for the past 6 months and can recommend them. Pay was done in the beginning through Paypal and now it is being done through a directly bank deposit. Lessons are fun and you play with the kids. They get coins and can use them tp buy things on the Zebra English store. Lessons are really stress free because the kids have already seen the vocabulary so there is no need to teach it. It’s opened to natives or people with native-like proficiency. Like most companies, you have to fill all the requirements with one of them being legally work in Canada and in the US. You don’t have to be a national of any of the 2 nor have to be living there.
Lai
hi!
please, how am I supposed to be able to work in the us/canada, if I’ve never lived there?
Brigitte White
@ Lai – You do not need to reside or to have previously resided in the US or Canada to be eligible to work there….. Being eligible to work legally in the US or Canada means you have to be either a legal resident – or a citizen – of the US or Canada. I am a US citizen – but do not reside in the States – Get it ? Ever heard of the Google search engine to research concepts you don’t understand? It’s a great tool!
Matthias Szobody
Xiomara Carmona Reyes, I have a question: does your contract specify your salary or the number of hours you are working? For administrative reasons it is preferable for me to have such a contract. I currently work with VIPKid but this company treats you as a subcontractor and nothing is specified.
Irene Salis
Sorry, my bad. It says you have to be eligible to work in the States. So it’s open to non NS as long as they are US resident/citizens
Sandi
When I applied to Zebra and going thru the hiring process ,I asked specific questions about the pay – I was told my application was no longer being considered.
Lynne
Sandi,
Did they state why your application was no longer being considered. I had a company tell me that but, at that time I did not have a TESOL. Some of these companies are difficult to figure out.
Thanks !
jim
Hi,
Zebra English websites states that teachers are paid by direct bank deposit, having worked in China previously I know bank transfers out of China are problematical at best, perhaps they mean they can pay by PayPal or Payoneer via their bank. What do you think?
Thanks
alex
Chinese companies can use Paypal but you will lose a lot in fees. How is it per hour when each class is only 30 mins?
Irene Salis
Zebra english websites clearly states that only native Americans eligible to work in the US can apply.
But “the list” is supposed to be for non natives.
Can you please clarify
Thanks
mikedveenstra@gmail.com
Hi Irene, I don’t see where it says “native Americans” only. Can you link that? https://www.zebraenglish.com/faq
Maria Varela Garrido
Native in this case doesn’t refer to nationality but to whether you’re a native English speaker. You can have the right to work in the US but not have English as your native language e.g. you’re a naturalised citizen.
Katherine Hernández Eslait
I want to work with this company, because I want to help other people learn and speak the English language!!