Job Discussion Forums

wallyd · Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

I have a few questions about teaching privately after hours. I've heard that most ALTs have plenty of spare time and it's quite normal for many to supplement their income with some private classes. I would really like some info and personal experiences about doing this. How do you get private students? Realistically, how much extra money can you make? Is it really as common as I've heard? Do your bosses/BOE know or care about making a little extra money on the side? How many extra students do you have?

Any comments or advice would be much appreciated!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You don't have to be an ALT to teach privately. FT teachers do it, too. It all depends on how much time you have, and on what days.

Many people get their private lesson students by pirating the conversation school classes where they teach. It can be a ticklish thing with the employer, because he may put a clause in your contract against this, but essentially there is nothing he can do to you when you are on your free time. Play it safe, though, and be discreet.

Others advertise. Recently, a few web sites have sprung up that allow people to register themselves as available private lesson teachers. You can do this, wait for potential students in your area to contact you, then they pay a fee to sit with you for one free lesson. If they want to continue, you can make whatever deal you like. Here are some examples of those sites.
http://www.nativeconnection.net
http://homepage1.nifty.com/y-dream-support/englishteacher/
http://www.findateacher.net
www.eigotown.com/database/teacherdb_eltnews/teacher_form.shtml
http://www.go-girls.jp/english/?GSID=626d07c639bec762408e16b841f587e3
http://www.a-kaiwa.net/english/index/indexFrameset.html
www.teacher-navi.com/home_english.html

Other ways to advertise include posting your name on job info boards around the city, putting an ad in newspapers, tacking up signs wherever they are allowed, and handing out business cards to whomever you like. Once you get started, if you are good, business news spreads fastest by word of mouth.

Celeste · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:05 am Post subject:

My mistake, I thought someone wanted help or advice Smile

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

Glenski's advice is good. Make a plan before starting anything.

It also depends on where you live. In a relatively built up and prosperous area, you can charge more. Here in Aichi, most of the eikaiwa type schools will pay you about 4000 yen an hour for business classes, so you can use that as a starting guide.

Also depends on your visa status. If you have a spouse or permanent visa, you are pretty much safe. If a company or school is your sponsor, it gives them more moral authority in how you spend your time.

I personally do not like private (that is, one on one) lessons. I prefer groups. The pay is steadier, the classes are easier to teach and prepare for. ALso, please act like a professional if you are charging a fair amount. I insist on using a text for each class. "Free conversation" is very difficult after a month or so without any reference material.

As an example, I teach a group in my home town. 11 students, each pays 6000 yen a month for the class. The class is once a week for 2 hours, a total of 8 hours of instruction a month. Payable in advance, no refunds for missed classes. I have a text and copy it for the students. I also rent a room at the local community centre for the class. This is dead cheap, only 1500 yen per class, or 6000 yen a month.

Other class is a business class at a large corporation in my city. Let's just say the company's name rhymes with "Boyota". 6 students, each pays 10,000 yen a month. The company pays half the cost for them. Same class time, once a week for 2 hours. I teach them at their company in a conference room.

Check how much the large Big 4 schools charge and act accordingly.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Just make sure you don't do privates anywhere near where I live as I will definitely tell your BOE what you're doing if I find out. That's taking bread off my table as a school owner, so don't expect any favours from me. Evil or Very Mad

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

Temper, temper.

A little competition is good for the soul, David.

What people choose to do on their own time is their own business, as long as it does not interfere with their employer. If it interferes with YOU, c'est la vie. Particularly people who do not need their school to sponsor their visa, or those who work with the approval of their sponsors.

king kakipi · Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 353 Location: Australia

[quote]Just make sure you don't do privates anywhere near where I live as I will definitely tell your BOE what you're doing if I find out[quote]

And let me clarify where you live David......ah, Japan. Bug ger, so do I. Better contact my four privates tomorrow and tell them no more lessons then (unless we are all willing to relocate to Korea for English lessons).

Many thanks for letting me live in your country David.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

[quote="king kakipi"][quote]Just make sure you don't do privates anywhere near where I live as I will definitely tell your BOE what you're doing if I find out

king kakipi · Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 353 Location: Australia

Thank you David. I will stay in Tokyo well away from you because you have REALLY scared me (splutter).

PS What would you say to the teacher (not me; but I have heard of one) whose entire income consists of that derived from privates? Are they entitled to make a living?

PPS And there is nothing about limiting out-of-ours activities in my ALT contract, and as I am on a spouse visa, I can do what I like, right? My four privates are all disenchanted ex-eikaiwa types; but obviously they went to the wrong eikaiwa (ie not yours, David)

PPS What does 'TFB' mean?

Love and kisses

King Kapitalist

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

Dave, you mind giving us a clue as to where you DO live? I certainly wouldn't want to step on your toes as I go about my business.

You sound a little bitter and resentful. Bad experience in the past, perhaps? Some disgruntled students got away from you?

With an attitude and hair trigger temper like yours, I wouldnt blame them.

kovac · Joined: 12 Apr 2003 Posts: 78

I once met a guy who scoured language exchange classifieds in metroplois, et all for language exchanges though his Japanese ability was virtually zero to one...he used to arrange lang ex with 3-4 people at the same time same place and upon meeting them all at the same place same time, outright just asked "ok, now were all here, how about you give me 1000 yen each for english conversation".....

Unbelievably, he did this alot and had regulars.....I never approached students about private lessons nor did I seek it....most folk that do are spending 1 hour in a starbucks bumbling out "jimi na hito kaiwa" in english for "seiyou suuhai shugi na hito"...might be harsh..but true...I cant believe the brass neck some people have when it coms to "private" lessons....its like aural/verbal prostitution....

Some folks seems so mercenary about privates...heavens sake, if you like a person who is a student, go for dinner or a drink, go to something that is culturally beneficial for both of you...dont just pick up a wad of notes to nod and say "uh-huh"....I pride myself on being a working professional (even though being an english teacher in Japan is scraping the barrel) but the whole privates thing..I would rather retain my integrity and be poor than cheat myself and others.

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

Actually, Kovac, I do both. I can socialize with my students, and I can socialize with my friends. They can all feel free to ask me questions about English, society, whatever. We usually spend half the evening speaking English, half speaking Japanese.

However, when you are talking about taking my time at a regular interval, requesting specific information, and so on, I am going to charge. I do a good job, deliver quality lessons, and my students learn from it. I am not sure what the point of your post is. Are you saying that we should just be a free educational resource to all who request it? Or that people who are our friends/acquaintances/coworkers are somehow entitled to use our professional services for no charge?

I wouldnt dream of asking a friend who is a doctor to operate on me for free, or asking a mechanic to fix my car for nothing. The prices I charge for my private classes are, on average, less than half what the students would pay if they went to some Eikaiwa chain. Plus, they get the added bonus of ME as a teacher, not some pimply faced rookie fresh off the banana boat. It's a good deal all around.

kovac · Joined: 12 Apr 2003 Posts: 78

"Are you saying that we should just be a free educational resource to all who request it"

yes of course you should ! Lend a hand, gimme a boost, help me out, share the load, do me a favour, gimme a dime, lend me some time, can ya help a brotha out ?

Ive had mechanic buddies repair my motor and even buddy doctors gimme a BP, cholestoral and blood sugar check for free...

of course, dont go educating every man woman and child you see for free...but...lend a hand...

Ok, you may prep a good lesson, structured and all...socialise, fraternise, exchange, etc...in Japan... Language seems to be treated like a commodity....Language and communication IS NOT A COMMODITY...nor should it be paid for or sold...for that matter neither should education....

Education...money....shamefull bedfellows...information wants to be free as it should be....you gonna charge a buck ?

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

I agree to an extent.

I dont go and charge people by the word every time I open my mouth and speak English. Same way if I ask for friendly advice from someone about a problem, they provide it. "Hey, whats that knocking sound my car makes?" "Probably the cheap brand of gas you use" "Thanks".

BUT, if someone wants to schedule my time in one or two hour blocks, they pay. Same as if I schedule regular visits to the dentist, I pay, even though he is a family friend. If I see him at the shops and ask a question, he answers. Same if someone casually asks me a question about English.

Have to disagreeabout language not being just a commodity. Language is not a commodity, true. BUT, information and education ARE. We all paid for our education, information, etc. (or at least our parents did). There is plenty of English floating around the world for people to use for free if they want. If they want benefit of my time and education (which I paid for) in a professional way, they pay.

I feel no obligation to be a walking dictionary for anyone who feels the need to brush up their English. I generally reply in Japanese to them. If they wish to carry on the conversation at that point, fine. If their English is much better than my Japanese, fine we will use English. Whichever is easier to communicate. But I am not here to be a human tape recorder. I have a family to feed. [/quote]