Job Discussion Forums

[vitruvius]

Hello hello-

This is a question regarding what to charge for private English lessons.....right now I teach a class of 4 kids once per week. Our session is 1.5 hours. I charge 80RMB per kid per class (so, each kid pays 80RMB for 1.5 hours).

That means their parents pay 320RMB/mo. for their kids to learn English from the foreign teacher 1.5 hours every week. I know China is negotiation capital of the world, so I figured if they had a problem with the price they would have said something.

Does anyone think I am ripping them off? Or, are they getting a good deal? Or, is it a normal price? I just threw a number out there and they accepted it, so I figured it was ok.....I just really hope I am not charging too much.

Any input is much appreciated!!! -katie in TIANJIN, PRC

[burnsie]

No definately not! Actually I think you are doing yourself a dis-service. No wonder they jumped at the chance. Many people tout that 150RMB is the minimum for 1 on 1 on this forum, which if your a trained teacher for high levels (which I'm not) then it's probably fair.

Consider that they usually have to contend with 30-60 over students in a normal class setting. You also have to prepare a lesson each time for the small number of students.

I am currently charging 100 RMB an hour, min 2 hours for conversational work, 1 on 1, no breaks, they come to my home. I think it's low and if I take on any extra students (I have three now once a week) I will raise it to 120-130 RMB if I get anybody else interested.

I suppose when you think about it and sit down to see what you really do (not much except talk) it seems to us that we are ripping people off. I have thought about this a number of times.

When it comes to education the chinese will pay alot for their children to learn. I read a report on the expenditure on a normal family in China that 44% of an average family's wage goes on education for their children, by far the largest proportion of the monthly wage.

[Roger]

You certainly are making a good wage. So long as the parents don't baulk at paying it go on!

I once laboured for a slave-driver who loaned e to a well-connected self-employed man who previously had been an official author (you know, of the protected species).
This guy paid my boss as much as 20 students combined for an hour of English. He bought 6 hours a week, paying 20 times as much as others.

But he could afford it...
And he still had to drive me around town.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Should be at least 100 RMB an hour, full-stop.

However, that is the ideal minimum 1 on 1 charge.

If you have 4 kids in one class, then 80 RMB an hour from each student is fair I suppose.

This works out to what, 320 RMB an hour?

Not bad at all. Whatever you do, don't rock the boat.

[kev7161]

Let's see, not counting my apartment and other "perks", I make about 70rmb per 45 minute period each week at my school. My class sizes are right around 30 per class. I think 80rmb for 1.5 hours for FOUR kids is a really good deal for them and the family. These kids are getting intensive English from a native English speaker. Not only should their oral English improve, but so should their listening skills. I assume that with only 4 students you don't have to deal with constant Chinese background chatter that you would find in a typical Chinese classroom. They get to focus on the task at hand adn they are going to learn slang and spoken English shortcuts (a definite plus).

I'm not tutoring right now, but don't sell yourself short people. If you are happy with what you are earning, then be happy. I personally feel you could have charged a bit more and many Chinese parents would pay.

[vitruvius]

Thank you for your input! I teach a regular 17 hrs/wk. schedule at a high school here in Tianjin, so this private teaching thing on the side once a week is for extra cash.

From what I've heard, the going rate for a private 1 to 1 session is 100-150RMB, right? The one I teach is basically a "1-to-4" session since I teach four kids at once. Meaning, I still kinda wonder if the 80RMB per student is too much since they aren't really get a true 1 to 1.

Ooh, but then again, I am teaching 1.5 hours, not just one hour.

Anyway, I just would feel so bad if I was over-charging and the parents were making a big sacrifice to make the payments. But as was mentioned, Chinese parents in general spend a huge chunk of their income on the child's education.

So basically I teach 4 kids at once, and I make 320RMB for 1.5 hours. Does anyone else out there think I am charging too much? I'm not sure if I made it clear in my first message that it is a small class (4 kids), not a one-to-one session.

Thank you again for any comments! --katie, TIANJIN, PRC