Job Discussion Forums

[Mark]

Just out of curiousity,

What's the going rate for privates these days?

[Glenski]

Without sounding too flippant, the going rate is whatever you can get. On average, I've seen people charge 3000 to 5000 per person per one hour lesson.

Groups don't have to be charged per head. And, if you want to charge on a flexible plan that makes it cheaper for the students as the class size grows, I have some information on that. Feel free to email me.

[David W]

Personally I charge 15,000 yen for four 45 minute lessons a month. For group classes I charge 4,000 yen a month but won't start a class until I have 3 people. But Glenski is right, the rate is whatever the market will stand. However I would guard against "fishing" for a higher rate. Japanese people don't tend to be great bargainers (my wife aside ) so don't expect them to ask for a lower price if you say for example the rate is 6000 an hour. They will just go elsewhere rather than negotiate a lower price. Set your price and stick to it.

[Glenski]

David,
Are those figures you cited for one person? I can't imagine you'd charge 4000 yen for a whole group.

I don't really know about haggling or dickering about prices. I know a few students from my old language school who, when I proposed my payment plan for private lessons, wanted me to give them a special rate because I already knew them. Fortunately, one other student in the room knew better than to argue, leaned over to the woman proposing the lower rate, smiled, and said (using my words spoken earlier), "This is business!" That meant I had set a rate and was going to stick to it. Why? Because I don't teach for fun; I teach to make money that pays for my rent, food, clothing, etc. You gotta keep that in mind.

I answered an ad from a Japanese professor recently. He wanted lessons at his home, which was a little out of the way. It would take half an hour by subway, plus 10 minutes by a taxi or bus to get to his home. He only wanted to pay 2000 yen per hour, wouldn't give information on the bus schedule near his own home, and strongly hesitated on paying me for travel. His excuse? The previous teacher had taken the 2000 yen fee and asked for nothing more. Yup, that ruins the market. Needless to say, he didn't become my student.