World Education Connect Multidisciplinary e-Publication, Vol. V, Issue XII (December 2025), pp.268-276
Tricia B. Dela Cruz
EFL Teacher
Graduate Student, Tarlac State University
INTRODUCTION
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) has developed into a primary language of communication, education, and business worldwide. Therefore, the demand for proficiency in English has increased due to globalization. Consequently, non-English-speaking countries are experiencing a continuous growth in the number of learners enrolling in English language courses (Seraj et al., 2024). Considering this, numerous English tutors entered the field of freelance tutoring to provide accessible learner-centered EFL instruction.
In the Philippines, online freelance work has expanded significantly. Besides, an estimated 1.5 million Filipinos are currently employed as online freelancers, with English tutoring among the most sought-after due to the nation's well-established English proficiency (Lee-Tan, 2023). As a result, freelance tutoring has become a dependable source of income for many Filipinos. Moreover, the demand for online EFL tutoring is steadily increasing, driven by the personal and professional development needs of EFL learners.
Dunn et al. (2020) noted that freelancing is a flexible job that allows freelancers to work from anywhere and at any time. However, despite its advantages for freelancing, such as flexible schedules and instructional autonomy, freelance online tutoring also presents notable challenges. These online teachers encountered issues related to the adequacy of technology, concerning learners' challenges, instructional and assessment delivery, the complexity of technology, and self-management (Barrot et al., 2024). Thus, these challenges are often exacerbated by a lack of institutional support, leaving online EFL tutors to manage crises independently. Nevertheless, while existing studies have examined challenges in online teaching in general, limited research has explored the lived experiences of freelance EFL tutors, particularly within the Philippines.
This study addresses the gap by exploring the lived experiences of freelance online EFL tutors, focusing on how they manage diverse learners, navigate technology devices and platforms, apply tutoring techniques, create teaching-learning materials, utilize assessment tools, market their services online, allocate time for both personally and professionally, and how they illuminate effective strategies to manage crises. Furthermore, the study's findings develop a framework for effective online EFL tutoring.
https://doi.org/10.65494/pinagpalapublishing.53
