Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

back to the OP. I seriously considered starting my own school and had the legal right to do so in Peru. I decided against it due to the paperwork and possibly bribes that I would have had to pay.

I did privates for years though and it can be stressful, especially with kids since you're a middleman. The parents really pressure their kids to study and the kids don't want to, so often don't,. YOu give homework at their parents bidding and then they}, the parents, complain that it's too much. So you give less homework and they complain that it's not enough. It's hard to find a happy medium.

Start up costs can be high as well depending on rent.

If I were to start my own school, I'd start with small group classes at my house and then branch out.

Though I have a couple friends who managed schools, both their own and other people's, and they said the stress isn't worth it. I'd think they'd make lots of money, but they also have a lot of overhead and have said there are better ways to earn money.

That being said, I think if you planned well in advance and started small it could go well. For example, if each student paid say $10 per class and you have 5 students enrolled in your home, that's 50 in your pocket. You could then hire a teacher and pay them 10 an hour and pocket the rest. Work smart, not hard.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Well done for getting us back on track, Naturegirl. I agree with everything you say. Re one-to-one: one temptation is to do business clients. Yes, they may pay more, but you have to be careful as they tend to cancel with just enough time to get a refund but not enough time to give you a chance to arrange an alternative session. Because of business travel, this tends to happen a lot. Groups are more cost effective, but overheads do build up, as you say.

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

The biggest challenge (at least in China) is getting a(n invitation letter to secure an F) visa.

... or is it? I saw this ad posted May 6 on
[url]thebeijinger.com/forum/Practical-Advice/Visa-Issues[/url]:

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

Maybe figures are being played with in a fast 'n loose way here, but I can't imagine any teacher worth his or her salt taking on a language class in someone else's home for 10 bucks an hour. Why would you do it for someone else when you could just as easily do that for yourself?

I value whatever free time I have too much to take on private students. I have done so from time to time in the past, but think it would be hard to have to depend on it as your sole source of income.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

I'm looking at working evenings and weekends, essentially what I'm doing now. The school I'm at charges $17/hr ($613.00/6 mo. course) for kids and $22/hr ($790/ 4.5 mo course) for adults. My take home is $1,900/mo with free accommodation (worth about $600/mo in Beijing). To gross $2,500/mo would require about 25 students. The clincher will be how well I market what I'm doing so that it doesn't just end up as a tutoring service and also foreseen and unforeseen overhead costs. I've got a fair amount of savings but I don't want to be left in the unfortunate circumstance I was in 6 years ago in Beijing where I worked for a small school with a great curriculum and a well-laid out school but not enough students to make a go of it.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

My wife and I started our own school. It was not easy, but doable. Not going to give you all a play-by-play (might as well ask KFC their secret recipe) but all I will suggest is make sure you cross your t's and dot your eyes because the very moment you start making a lot of money, jealous Chinese teachers who have their own schools turn their knives on you. They find whatever means needed to keep their students and steal yours. Here are some things my students' parents have heard from other English teachers in the neighbourhood:

1. Foreigners can't teach English as well as we can.

2. They can't explain the concepts and the kids won't understand.

3. They might take the money and run off one day.

4. Can you trust a foreigner with your child?

5. They only come here for money and don't care about your child's education.

6. Foreigners don't know grammar.

7. They don't know how to prepare for exams.

My easy answer is that I prepare kids' oral English for going abroad. No native Chinese-speaking teacher can provide that service. As for the other "reasons"... students' parents seem to think I have all those bases covered reasonably.

Your best bet is to get the Chinese green card, no matter what. It's your only sure-fire ticket of being legal and left alone.

As for private tutoring, I did that until I had too many students so I had no choice but to turn them into classes.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 4:34 am Post subject:

These are fairly universal comments made by some local teachers - good list, by the way. An easy retort is also made about pronunciation, which, certainly in Russia, carries a lot of weight.

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

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

johnslat · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject:

Dear Teacher in Rome,

A back-up plan??? Wouldn't that fall more under the heading of career advancement? Very Happy

Regards,
John