Job Discussion Forums

[DesertDawn]

Hello all,

I�m working in Budapest now and I�m just wondering what other EFL teachers here are charging. I suspect my rates have been too low (I've never charged more than 2000 Ft/45 min). I�ve talked to other teachers here, of course, but other opinions can�t hurt. If there�s anyone who wouldn�t mind sharing how much they charge private students and/or receive from schools, I would very much appreciate it.

Just for perspective, my qualifications are:

*Native English speaker

*BA in East Central Europe Studies (not that I want to try to define what that�s supposed to mean )

*CELTA

*Almost two years teaching through schools, four years combined private students and schools.

*Upper-intermediate knowledge of Hungarian -- enough to explain grammar concepts in Hungarian when needed (Oh, and Russian )

*Temporary residency visa in Hungary, including work permit (meaning I can be employed without restriction. I�m not attached to a school.)

Opinions and input greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

-- Marie

[BloodyIrish]

youre charging too little.

my details are

native speaker

MA in Irish studies

no TEFL cert

basic knowledge of hungarian

one year teaching english at a hugnarian university (two years teaching overall, one of those years NOT teaching english as a foreign language)

live in a small city.

and i cahrge the same as you. but you dont want to put customers off. definitely you could charge 2,500, maybe even 3000. tell me, where do you advertise your services (if anywhere?). the reason i ask is because i am moving to budapest soon, and want to know where is the best place to let yourself be known.

[DesertDawn]

Thank you, BloodyIrish, I was hoping to hear that!

This is a rant, but may be useful to someone:
The school I�ve worked at for two years (because until now I needed them for my visa) recently hired someone with no certificate, no experience, and no Hungarian � and started him out at more than I make. Then they had the gall to raise my wage to an amount that was still less than what this guy is making. Now, this person has a very out-going, sociable personality, whereas I�m fairly quiet and retiring. I know that makes a difference. Even though several times I�ve been the one to whom they�ve given the �difficult� students no one else will take, they still don�t think I�m worth even 2000 Ft/45 min. (I�m quitting at the end of the current course.)

To answer your question:
I usually take out small ads in the little district newspapers that are distributed free within each district. When you get a flat in Bp, if you don�t know where to look for the editorial office, just wait and a pile of these papers will appear in the entryway of your building some day with the address inside. If you live in a less well-off district, such as the 8th, you might want to advertise in the nearest moneyed district instead.

Believe it or not, I�ve also got students from free online classifieds sites like www.websas.hu (there are a few others, too, but I can't remember the names just now).

When I first started, I took out classified ads in N�pszabads�g and I did get students, but that paper�s distributed nationwide so I felt it wasn�t as efficient.

A lot of people recommend taking out an ad in PestiEst, but I�ve no personal experience with that. Maybe there�s too much competition there.

There are all kinds of private language teachers� ads stuck on bus stop shelters and buildings, so one would think those ads must be working if people keep posting them. I tried an ad �campaign� like that once, but didn�t get so much as an inquiry.

All the ads I put out are in Hungarian.

Also, I think specializing helps. Being a native speaker is an �extra� in a way, but my Hungarian flatmate also teaches and in his ads he puts things like �special slow-paced method� or �grammar points systematically explained in detail� (which are the things he's good at). Of course, you could also put �English for secretaries� and such, depending on your specialty.

(Apologies if I�m telling you things you already know. I just don�t know how different things are in the provinces.)

Thanks again for the advice!

-- Marie