Job Discussion Forums

GregX999 · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 7

Does anyone have any experience teaching on a freelance basis right after getting their TEOFL/CELTA/TESL certificate? Is it more difficult to convince people to be your students if you have no previous experience teaching? And has anyone tried to get a job at a school after teaching freelance for a while? Do schools still count that time as "X years of experience"? Or are they usually looking for experience teaching in a school?

Thanks,
Greg

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

Generally speaking, it's easier to go the school route when you're a newbie.

First of all, in a new country, you need some contacts to get private students. If you don't know anyone, it's not that easy to meet enough new people who are willing to pay a private teacher. Not that you couldn't find some, but enough to support you could take some time.

Private students usually have to pay a teacher themselves, whereas students who are taking classes in-company are usually subsidized by their employers. So, yes, they are liable to want some experience - and remember that you are unlikely to be their first teacher, so they'll be able to make comparisons...

Further, having income only from private students can be pretty iffy. It's common for them to cancel lessons, even at the last moment.

If you did pull off the privates - to - school route, I think letters of recommendation from the students would be necessary to account for your time. The thing is, when you've worked for a school, that school can attest that you were reliable, responsible, prepared, and competent. Recommendations from private students may not have the same level of credibility with potential employers.

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

In order to make ends meet, you really need a lot of private students, perhaps 4-5 hours/day. That could take a year at least to get that many hours and then you would have to account (financially) for all that lost time and income. It would be much easier to get a job at a school. Most people build up their privates while they are working at a school. If/once they build up enough privates, then they might quit their school teaching job.

Tutoring is not really equal to teaching and does not carry nearly as much weight when applying for jobs.

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:20 pm Post subject:

Asia is a personal-contacts place. Once you have the contacts you can do quite well. But, new arrivals have no contacts - so no work.

Get your job - your first contacts will often come from there.

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

Also, privates tend to cancel, so be sure that they pay you after you give them a lesson, don-t wait until the end of the month.

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

a lot of those wanting private tutoring will most likely be found currently studying in a school. on numerous occasions students have come up to me at the end of a lesson and asked if i had time to teach them privately. getting a school position would be the faster route to getting privates i think.
best
basil