Job Discussion Forums

MR_BELG · Joined: 22 Jun 2015 Posts: 3 Location: Belgium

Hi everyone,
Chicago native here teaching in Belgium. I've been teaching here for 2.5 years now and I am trying to become completely self-employed. The language schools are simply taking too much money.

A few months ago I attended an ESL teacher's conference here in Belgium, and one of the presentations was about this very topic. The presenter suggested that we offer "packages" instead of simply selling our services per hour. She pointed out that, from the client's point of view, we are worth what we charge per hour because this is the only thing that the client sees. Meaning that they will be blissfully unaware that we spend time preparing lessons, doing placement evaluations, meeting with HR personnel, traveling to the site, grading homework, etc....

So my question is: I'm at the point where I need to create the packages. In addition to incorporating the above points I mentioned, is there anything else that I should (or could) include in the packages? Does anyone know of a website with such an offering that I could check? Thank you in advance for any assistance!

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Have you tried contacting the presenter who spoke on this topic?

MR_BELG · Joined: 22 Jun 2015 Posts: 3 Location: Belgium

I checked for her website, but it wasn't similar to what I'm doing....

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I have never seen posts from anyone teaching in Belgium ! I met someone who had been teaching there but he took my advice and went to work in Saudi Arabia !

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

A company I used to work for invoiced the clients in the way you describe, with the invoice breaking down into travel, materials development and teaching time (yours could include the time you spend correcting homework or preparing). Another company I worked for invoiced separately for pre-course testing... Where I work now (where students are private individuals mostly) there is an annual enrolment fee (covering pre-course testing, materials, etc) before the cost of the lessons.

I think that - within reason - you could work out a package structure that compensates you fairly for your time and expertise. You could even use it to set yourself apart from the competition.

MR_BELG · Joined: 22 Jun 2015 Posts: 3 Location: Belgium

Thanks for the replies. It is also an issue of being competitive with the local schools in the area. Thankfully, there aren't too many of them at the moment.