
About this episode
Shélynn Riel explores what it means to be a teacherpreneur and shares insights on how teachers can transition to entrepreneurship and leverage their skills to build flexible, impactful careers
Watch the episode with closed captions here.
What is Teacherpreneurship?
Shé describes a teacherpreneur as an educator who leverages their teaching skills to start and run their own business. This can include freelancing, consulting, creating educational materials, and more.
Essential Skills for Teacherpreneurs
Teachers already possess numerous skills that are useful in business, such as communication, organisation, flexibility, and empathy. Shé shares how these skills can be applied to tasks like marketing, lesson planning, and managing a business.
Paths to Teacherpreneurship
Shé outlines common paths, such as:
- Online Language Company Freelancer: A structured entry point where teachers work for language companies that handle logistics and curriculum.
- Marketplace Tutor: Teachers set their own rates and create course content while using tutoring platforms like Preply or Cambly to connect with students.
- Independent Teacherpreneur: Teachers establish their own brand, market their services, and have complete control over their business and teaching methods.
ABOUT
Shélynn (Shé) Riel is Bridge's Expert Series Webinar Moderator and IDELTOnline instructor. She holds a Master of Education in TESOL and over fifteen years of experience in education. Throughout her career, Shé has held positions of leadership in curriculum development and program administration at universities and non-profits in the U.S., served as a facilitator for various digital exchanges for global English teachers, and delivered professional development to teachers on the ground in Argentina, Bangladesh, and China. Her interests include holistic teacher development, learner identity, and decolonial ethics in the language classroom. She is the co-creator of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, which focuses on reflective practices for teachers around the world.
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CREDITS
Producer: Laura Wilkes
Editor: Haven Tsang
Thanks to our inspiring guest, Shélynn Riel
Production by Communicating for Impact
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