Whales English review for teachers in 2026: the Beijing kids platform reportedly pays $18–$26 per 50-minute group class but appears to have paused new teacher hiring. Requirements, schedule, pros and cons, and alternatives.
This Whales English review is for English teachers who want to know whether the platform is still worth applying to in 2026. Whales English is a Beijing-based online school that hires native English speakers to teach small groups of Chinese children, and it pays more per class than many rivals. The catch is that hiring appears to be paused, so this guide covers its current status, pay, requirements and the best alternatives.
TL;DR
- What it is: a Beijing-based online English school that hires native-speaking teachers to teach Chinese children aged about 3–18 in small groups of 2–3 students.
- 2026 status: still running classes, but recruitment of new foreign teachers appears paused. Its careers page listed no open positions in November 2026, and a March 2026 teacher review reported it was not accepting new teachers.
- Pay: reported at $18–$26 per 50-minute class, plus performance bonuses of up to $450 a month. Deductions apply for lateness, no-shows and technical problems.
- Requirements: bachelor’s degree, TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate, about one year of teaching experience, and a passport from the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
- Verdict: good pay per class for qualified native speakers, but a 12-month contract, fixed peak hours on Beijing time and uncertain hiring. Have a live alternative ready.
Last updated: November 2026
Table of Contents
- What Is Whales English? (2026 Status)
- Who Is Whales English Best For?
- Whales English Pay and Schedule
- Whales English Teacher Requirements
- How to Apply to Whales English
- Pros and Cons
- Whales English Alternatives
- Related Guides
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is Whales English? (2026 Status)
Whales English is an online English school headquartered in Beijing. It teaches Chinese children aged roughly 3 to 18 through live video lessons, using a subject-based curriculum modelled on the US Common Core standards. Recruitment listings describe partnerships with National Geographic Learning and Oxford University Press, around 50,000 registered students, and a student renewal rate above 83%.
Unlike one-to-one platforms, Whales English groups 2–3 students in each 50-minute class and keeps the same students with the same teacher across a semester. Teachers deliver pre-made lessons on the company’s own classroom software, so there is no lesson planning.
Is Whales English still operating in 2026?
Yes, Whales English still runs classes, and teachers report working there through 2025 and into 2026. Hiring is a different story. As of November 2026 its Breezy careers page showed no open teacher roles, and a teacher-written review updated in March 2026 stated the platform was not taking on new teachers.
The background is China’s 2021 “double reduction” policy, which restricted for-profit tutoring in core school subjects for children in compulsory education and barred companies from hiring tutors based outside China for those classes. The rules forced competitors such as Qkids and DaDa to close and pushed VIPKid out of its China-student business for overseas teachers. Whales English kept running, but with less demand and fewer new teacher contracts.
Note: older articles describe Whales English as a place to “study TEFL”. It is not a TEFL course provider. It is an employer that expects you to arrive already holding a TEFL certificate.
Who Is Whales English Best For?
- Qualified native speakers with a degree, a TEFL certificate and classroom or tutoring experience with children.
- Teachers who want a steady roster of the same small groups rather than chasing new one-off students every week.
- People in time zones that suit Beijing evenings and weekends, such as early-rising North Americans or UK teachers free on weekend mornings.
- Teachers comfortable with a 12-month commitment and performance metrics that affect bookings and bonuses.
It is a poor fit for non-native speakers, teachers without a degree, or anyone who needs complete schedule freedom. If that describes you, our guide on teaching English online without a degree lists platforms with more open requirements.
Whales English Pay and Schedule
Whales English has one of the higher advertised per-class rates among China-market kids platforms, partly because its lessons are twice as long as the usual 25-minute class.
| Item | What teachers report (2026) |
|---|---|
| Base pay | $18–$26 per 50-minute class, set at hiring by qualifications and demo performance |
| Hourly equivalent | About $21–$31 per hour of teaching time |
| Bonuses | Up to $450 a month for attendance, punctuality and student renewals |
| Deductions | Lateness, no-shows and technical disruptions reduce pay |
| Class length and size | 50 minutes (some 25-minute classes), 2–3 students |
| Peak hours | Weekdays about 6–9pm and weekends 8am–9pm Beijing time (UTC+8) |
| Minimum commitment | 12-month contract with fixed weekly slots; earlier listings asked for 8+ peak hours a week |
| Typical workload | One current teacher reports 10–12 classes a week |
Bookings are not guaranteed. Classes are allocated by availability, attendance history and internal performance scores, so new teachers often start with a light schedule. For a fuller breakdown of rates and bonuses, see our Whales English requirements and salary guide.
Whales English Teacher Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Native English speaker from the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree (BA or BSc) in any subject |
| Certificate | TEFL, TESOL or CELTA; 120+ hours preferred (in-progress certificates were accepted in some listings) |
| Experience | Around 1 year of teaching, ideally with children or ESL learners |
| Equipment | Windows or macOS computer, headset, webcam and stable wired internet |
| Teaching space | Quiet room with a clean, well-lit background |
If you still need a certificate, a 120-hour TEFL course meets the standard most online platforms ask for. Our pillar guide to the requirements to teach English online compares what other companies expect.
How to Apply to Whales English
When recruitment is open, teachers describe a process of about two weeks:
- Online application through the Whales English careers page, with your CV, degree and TEFL details and a passport-style photo.
- Screening to confirm you meet the nationality, degree and certificate requirements.
- Zoom interview of about 30 minutes, with questions on working with children.
- 10-minute demo lesson using slides sent in advance. Feedback is usually immediate, and some candidates get a second attempt.
- Onboarding covering the curriculum, classroom software and teaching standards, then contract signing.
- Open your availability and wait for students to be assigned.
If this is your first online role, our guide to landing your first online teaching job covers demo-lesson tips that also apply here.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Higher per-class pay than many China-market kids platforms | New teacher hiring appears paused in 2026 |
| Pre-made lessons, so no planning time | 12-month contract with fixed weekly hours |
| Small groups of the same students build rapport | Bookings depend on performance scores and are not guaranteed |
| 50-minute classes mean fewer transitions per hour | Pay deductions for lateness and technical issues |
| Monthly bonuses for reliable teachers | Strict nationality, degree and experience rules |
| Structured, academic Common Core-style curriculum | Exposure to Chinese regulation and falling demand |
Whales English Alternatives
Because Whales English is not reliably hiring, most teachers should apply to at least one active platform as well. These are the closest options for teaching children online.
| Platform | Students | Class format | Reported pay | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whales English | Chinese children 3–18 | 50 min, 2–3 students | $18–$26 per class | Degree, TEFL, native passport, 1 year experience |
| LingoAce | Young learners in Asia and beyond | Live online, ready-made materials | Varies by subject and experience | Degree or early childhood diploma; near-native English |
| Magic Ears | Chinese children, mostly 4–7 | 25 min, small groups | $8–$12 per class base; up to about $26/hour | Degree, 120-hour TEFL |
| 51Talk | Children | 25 min 1:1 or 45 min groups | About $15/hour | Degree, experience teaching kids |
| PalFish | Mostly learners in China | App-based, per-minute pay | You set your own free-talk rate | Smartphone, TEFL helps |
Magic Ears is the closest match in style but pays less per class. LingoAce has moved beyond the China market, which makes it less exposed to the rules that cut demand at Whales English. Former Whales English teachers also look at VIPKid for its non-China programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Whales English legit?
Yes. Whales English is a real online school based in Beijing that has employed foreign teachers since at least 2020, and teacher reviews describe a genuine hiring process and paid classes. It is demanding, though: contracts run 12 months, performance scores decide your bookings, and pay deductions apply for lateness or technical problems.
Is Whales English still hiring in 2026?
Hiring looks paused. In November 2026 the Whales English careers page showed no open teacher positions, and a teacher review updated in March 2026 said the platform was not accepting new teachers. Check the careers page before you apply, and apply to an active platform at the same time.
How much does Whales English pay per hour?
Whales English reportedly pays $18–$26 per 50-minute class, which works out at roughly $21–$31 per hour of teaching time. Teachers can also earn monthly bonuses of up to $450, but deductions for lateness, missed classes and technical faults can reduce your take-home pay.
Do you need a degree to teach with Whales English?
Yes. Whales English job listings ask for a bachelor’s degree, a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate, and around one year of teaching experience, ideally with children. Applicants also need to be native English speakers from the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
What hours do Whales English teachers work?
Classes follow Chinese school-age schedules: roughly 6–9pm Beijing time on weekdays and 8am–9pm on weekends. For teachers in North America that means early mornings, and for the UK it means late mornings and afternoons. Earlier listings asked for at least 8 peak hours a week.
How is Whales English different from VIPKid or Magic Ears?
Whales English teaches 50-minute small-group classes of 2–3 students using a US Common Core-style curriculum. Magic Ears uses shorter 25-minute group classes for younger children, while VIPKid no longer offers its China-student classes to overseas teachers after the 2021 tutoring rules.
Conclusion
Whales English pays well for qualified native speakers and offers a stable small-group roster, but new teacher hiring looks paused in 2026 and the platform still depends on a tightly regulated Chinese market. Check its careers page, apply to an active alternative at the same time, and use our guide to the requirements to teach English online to shortlist platforms that match your qualifications.
