Job Discussion Forums

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

I agree with Jon, some of the things I've heard here are absurd, such as "...it's too much like work!"

Yes, when motivated students pay you 5,000 yen for a private lesson, it IS work, and you should be trying your best to give a great lesson!

Let me ask you this, would YOU pay 10,000 yen for a Japanese lesson with a native speaker? Probably not.

Yet many Japanese people consider English so important that they spend hard-earned money to get a good lesson from you.

But, I will defend people who charge higher rates if they have good materials, lots of experience, enthusiasm, and the desire to give a professional lesson.

By the way, a private lesson at one of the big Eikaiwa is anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000 yen (for a 40 or 50 minute lesson), so charging even 8,000 yen for an hour is OK as long as you've got good materials and you can give a quality lesson.

pnksweater · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Jon Taylor · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 238 Location: Tokyo

quote]
I give quality lessons, even if it's for people who just want to chat. They get stuff they can use, and I review it with them to make sure they have actually learned it. Not just "anybody" can do that, Jon, and many don't.[/quote]

Glenski,

I agree entirely with your remarks.

I do however stand by what I said. I think that anyone can do this job and with motivation can make their classes interesting and useful.

There are however too many who are overe here for the wrong reasons and couldn't care less about their class content and whether or not it their class is beneficial to the student.

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

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

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Why complain about people overcharging? If they charge a lot and get it then they bring the average rates up.

I didn't teach any privates my first four years here. I'm only doing now, and at the price I am because it is part of my exit strategy. Get whatever you can both get and endure. I don't agree with people raising their rates on students they already have, unless they have been teaching them a long time. Otherwise it's a bait and switch and I know teachers don't like it when their employers do it to them.

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

With regards to my prices, I took a couple of things into account;

1/ what do the commercial schools charge?

Most dispatch companies that send teachers to corporations for business English charge the corporation about 10,000 yen an hour for the teacher.Then, they give the teacher about 3500 or 4000. I figured to go right down the middle.

Plus, most conversation schools charge around 10,000 yen a month per student for group classes. Again, the schools have name brand recognition that I do not. So, I undercut them a little.

2/ my personal convenience.

I teach in a comfy room about 5 minutes from my home. No commuting, no stress.

I choose the students I teach, the materials I use, etc.

Under these circumstances, getting 12,000 to 15,000 yen for 2 hours of my time is good compensation IMHO. IF I taught one hour classes, I would charge more. But a 2 hour class is easier to prepare for and arrange than 2 x 1 hour lessons.

If you can get paid more, please do. I am happy with my situation and my compensation. I figure they are a good blend.

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

With regards to my prices, I took a couple of things into account;

1/ what do the commercial schools charge?

Most dispatch companies that send teachers to corporations for business English charge the corporation about 10,000 yen an hour for the teacher.Then, they give the teacher about 3500 or 4000. I figured to go right down the middle.

Plus, most conversation schools charge around 10,000 yen a month per student for group classes. Again, the schools have name brand recognition that I do not. So, I undercut them a little.

2/ my personal convenience.

I teach in a comfy room about 5 minutes from my home. No commuting, no stress.

I choose the students I teach, the materials I use, etc.

Under these circumstances, getting 12,000 to 15,000 yen for 2 hours of my time is good compensation IMHO. IF I taught one hour classes, I would charge more. But a 2 hour class is easier to prepare for and arrange than 2 x 1 hour lessons.

If you can get paid more, please do. I am happy with my situation and my compensation. I figure they are a good blend.

Rorschach · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 130 Location: Osaka

Where are you guys who are earning 10000yen? I have never heard of this in Osaka short of group lessons. I have 4 private lessons at the moment - one at 3000yen, 2 at 2500yen and one at 1750yen. The last one is because the girl is a cousin of my girlfriend. I do it more as a favour to my girlfriend because the girl's parents aren't the richest people in the world and I came from a simliar situation back home, no kid should be denied advantages just because of money. Eventually I'd like to build up to 4000yen an hour with future private lessons but ultimately it depends on the students earning capacity.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Cynthia Tax · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Posts: 14 Location: Oman

Is teaching private lessons legal? Do employers try to stop you from doing it?

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

It is completely legal. Technically you should pay taxes, though doing so is quite uncommon. Employers have very little legal basis to stop you from teaching privates, though they may put something in the contract against it. Don't tell your employer you do it. I've heard that teaching privates while on JET is not acceptable, but again it is done.

Rorschach · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 130 Location: Osaka

Depends on your Visa really. Specialists in Humanties are cool to teach privates but those on Instructor Visa's are technically not supposed to. It doesn't really matter, I have never been asked to produce any documentation to students and most private lesson companies only want to see your Alien Registration Card. With regard to employers though it depends. I know Geos and Aeon don't want you teaching privates. Nova doesn't seem to care although it doesn't encourage it. I had to turn down a job interview because I told them I had private students. They told me to get rid of the students if I wanted a full time position with them. I ended up sticking wih my current setup.

callmesim · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 279 Location: London, UK

ECC has no problems with teaching privately provided you don't take students away from them and your work doesn't suffer.