This article is part of Fud’s Meet the Mentor series, where experienced and proven side hustlers talk about their experiences and share personal advice to start, sustain, and scale your business. 

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Looking for a reset and wanting a break from the political climate in New York, Joe Martine decided to get certified to teach English in 2005. As a native English speaker, Joe believes he possesses a natural skill valuable to non-native English speakers who want to learn the language.🙌

Though initially planning to teach in Asia for several months, his teaching journey has led him to Germany, where he would eventually meet his life partner, start a family, and engage in the most rewarding work of his career.✨

Joe discovered that native English speakers are in great demand in Europe for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), thus, becoming a lucrative side hustle for Joe.💸

He prioritizes building sincere relationships and rapport with his students to teach English more effectively. By practicing the language through meaningful conversations, Joe focuses on using English as a communication tool rather than a lesson to be studied in class.

This approach quickly became his selling point as more students sought his services, expanding his network and opening up more business opportunities for him. The distinctive value he provides and the increasing demand from students allowed him to charge up to 4x more than the average teaching rate in Germany.🔥🔥🔥

Through teaching ESL, Joe also developed an avenue and audience to showcase his creative side projects. Likewise, he was able to explore new ventures because of his expanding network and supportive clients turned into friends.

Joe is one of Fud’s mentors and experts, encouraging native English speakers to leverage their innate ability to start a profitable and fulfilling side hustle. 

With over 15 years of experience, he shares his teaching philosophy, insights, and tools to help you get started in teaching ESL.💯

Here, he gets candid about the challenges, purpose, and impact of teaching ESL and being a mentor on Fud.

How much is the initial investment and potential earnings for teaching ESL?

I initially invested nearly $1,000, but later found that it could be done for under $50. 

In 2005, when I started, I earned €15 per 45-minute lesson. Now, my earnings range between €30 to €60 per lesson, depending on the client and their specific needs.🙌

What are the challenges of teaching ESL?

My significant challenge was grappling with feelings of imposter syndrome, believing I was underqualified for the role due to my lack of prior teaching experience and a comprehensive understanding of language rules. I often felt like I had sneaked in through the back door. 

However, I realized that genuine interest in my students👂and engaging in authentic conversations💬 were the keys to building a connection🔗. People crave the opportunity to converse with a native English speaker, and this genuine interaction became the foundation of my teaching approach.🔑

Can you highlight the turning point when your side hustle started achieving success?

The pivotal moment arrived when my authentic conversational approach garnered increased demand and expanded opportunities. Students began requesting private lessons, fostering genuine relationships, leading to invitations and additional business opportunities.🤝

Over the years, I developed a distinctive philosophy on teaching grammar essentials, creating profound "aha" moments for my students.💡

Recognizing the value I brought, I adjusted my fees accordingly, marking a significant step in the trajectory of my side hustle.🚀

What are your top tips for starting a side business or hustle?

For anyone looking to start a side hustle or business, the present moment offers unprecedented opportunities with all the necessary tools and information readily available.💻📲🎙️

Age should never be a deterrent; it's never too late to embark on something new. Surround yourself with individuals from whom you can learn, and leverage the resources at your disposal.

Additionally, staying adaptable and open to continuous learning will be instrumental in navigating the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship.💼

The best advice I can offer to aspiring entrepreneurs or those starting their own side hustle is to GO FOR IT!🎯🏃

Believe in yourself, and you can achieve anything. Discover your self-worth; don't wait for someone else to define it for you. Embrace the journey and take that leap of faith.👣

How is your experience working with Fud as a Mentor?

Joining Fud as an Expert and Mentor was a natural progression for me as it perfectly aligned with my values.❤️‍🔥

I've long sought a platform to share the knowledge and experiences gained from my ESL teaching journey. Having already brought friends into this transformative journey, one of them found love and started a family, showcasing the remarkable possibilities.✨

The onboarding process, orchestrated by the Fud team, is one of the best I've encountered. Their guidance has been instrumental in refining and streamlining my ideas into effective presentations. The team's unwavering support and encouragement have accompanied me every step of the way.💯

One notable highlight has been mentoring my subscriber, a deeply fulfilling experience as I see reflections of my own journey in his. Fortunately, there have been no significant challenges so far, and the entire process has been remarkably smooth.🙌

The best time to start a new venture is NOW. Let Joe help you jumpstart your journey to teaching ESL.

Download the Fud app and subscribe to Joe Martine’s membership program to get downloadable classroom materials, learn teaching techniques, gain one-on-one coaching sessions, and more!💯

📢 It’s time to take action and put more 💵💵💵 in your pocket!

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