Guest article written by James Stewart

It’s often said that to be happy in life, people must do what they love. Effective teachers are especially lucky, because not only are they passionate about their craft; they have the unique ability to impact the lives of students every day.

By compounding their many life experiences into a uniquely personal teaching style, all teachers have something different to offer their students. However, the four walls of a classroom typically bind a teacher’s instruction. And so in the practice of a teacher’s passion, there are limits to how far it can go, and how many students they can reach.

This bottleneck has existed for as long as there have been teachers, but as technology has advanced, this impediment has all but disappeared. For teachers wishing to spread their positive influence to as many students as possible, there are new ways to connect and support students beyond their classrooms, at any time, from any location. Also, this opportunity provides educators and students with the ability to prepare for the evolving 21st-century.

The basics of a good education fifty years ago have changed almost overnight. The same routines and classroom requirements are no longer enough for success in college, career, and citizenship in the 21st-century. To fully participate in today’s global community, students must also master the 4 C’s, and these include creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.

As the demand for access to high-quality education has grown, particularly in China, companies like 51Talk have risen to satisfy this demand. Globally, 51Talk also creates an ecosystem to support the needs of 21st-century learners.

With an extensive audience of students in China, 51Talk has created a platform that connects students with teachers in North America for online, one-on-one English lessons.

Through 51Talk, students benefit from the tutelage of experienced teachers, while the teachers are enabled to positively impact the lives of countless students all from their homes – and earn money while doing it.

Many teachers want to experience the enriching cultural exchange that comes with teaching in a foreign country. However, they are unable to uproot their lives to do so. For those facing this problem, 51Talk provides the solution by enabling this cultural exchange to happen from the comfort of their homes, no passport required.

Whether a teacher is looking to experience another culture or is merely looking for a rewarding way to make an extra source of income, 51Talk enables teachers to practice their passion without borders.